The following afternoon, the weather was cool. The sea breeze carried a piercing chill, and vast clouds blotted out the sun, making it difficult for the light to break through.
The waves had grown more turbulent, heralding the approach of a storm.
After negotiating with Iceburg, the Going Merry passed through Water 7's front harbor into the backstreets, then used the Water Gate Elevator to reach the upper shipbuilding island.
It was then pulled along the main canal by Dock 1's massive machinery and placed inside the dock.
Dock 1 had halted all construction for the day and opened fully to the public. Large numbers of residents from the backstreets had gathered inside and outside to seek shelter, and the place was clearly packed to capacity.
And the man most revered by the common people of this island, Water 7's mayor and the general manager of Galley-La Company, Iceburg, was currently standing on the Going Merry's deck with the Straw Hat Crew.
"This is truly unbelievable."
Iceburg smoothed back his meticulously styled purple hair. "You actually sailed this wreck of a ship all the way from the East Blue, across Reverse Mountain, to get here. Your navigator must be quite capable."
"Hey, what did you say, bastard?!"
Usopp stepped forward and pointed at his nose. "You called the Going Merry a wreck?! You're supposed to be a shipwright—how can you be so unprofessional?!"
"Don't get so worked up, long-nose."
Iceburg waved a hand dismissively. "I respect every ship that has ever been built. I can tell from many details that the person who designed this ship put a great deal of care into it.
"But objectively speaking, both the materials and craftsmanship of this ship are quite ordinary."
"So what?! Even if it can't compare to the ships your shipyard