The World's Number One Shipwright

"Bad news."

"Teacher Garp, the Dog Head Warship probably can't be fixed."

Garp immediately pulled a downturned mouth expression.

"Bastard! What do you mean 'Dog Head Warship'! That's my—Hero Garp's personal warship!"

Having already anticipated Garp's reaction, Leon's face showed a knowing smile.

"But there's also some good news..."

"On my way back, I happened to buy a replacement for the Dog Head Warship!"

"Oh?"

Under Garp's puzzled gaze, Leon slowly pulled a dog-head hat from his pocket.

"Here, this. Doesn't it look just like the dog-head emblem on the Dog Head Warship?"

"Even if you switch to a standard-issue warship, as long as Teacher Garp wears this and stands on the bow, doesn't it still represent the standard of Hero Garp?"

Listening to Leon's words, Garp's forehead was already covered in dark lines.

Thump!

Garp's fist was still as fast as lightning, his skills undimmed by age.

"You damn brat! Do the words 'respect your teacher' mean nothing to you!?"

"We're planning to stay here for a week to record the magnetic force."

"Within that week, I want to see a warship exactly like the old one!"

"Otherwise... aren't you a pretty good swimmer?"

"Then from now on, whenever I go out to sea, I'll just have you pull the ship along in front!"

Under Garp's threat, Leon sighed and walked out of the Marine base, a big lump still on his head.

"Does nobody have any sense of humor these days?"

With Leon's current physical condition, the lump faded away in no time. He followed the road to a shop that rented out Bulu.

These creatures called "Bulu" were a major feature of Water Seven and the main mode of transportation here.

Spending 500 Beli to rent a single-seat Bulu, Leon officially entered Water Seven.

But before long, Leon noticed that the Water Seven of now was a bit different from the one he remembered twenty years later.

Right in front of him, a group of burly shipwrights were holding tools meant for repairing ships, ready to brawl!

"Damn Morgan Shipbuilding Company! How dare you steal our clients!"

"I think you're asking for trouble!"

"Hmph! You people from Da Qi Shipbuilding Company have the nerve to say that!"

"If you hadn't secretly lowered your prices, would we have no clients at all!!!"

The two sides were at a standoff, the atmosphere tense.

"You Morgans can't get clients because you're incompetent, and you still have the gall to blame others!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Then let's see what skills you Da Qi people have!"

"Come on, brothers! The ones afraid to die won't even make good ghosts!!!"

"Hang those damn Morgans from the lampposts!!!"

With no further words, the two sides clashed directly.

Blades bit into flesh, blood and foam flew everywhere—a scene so brutal it would need full censorship to air.

"Full of spirit, huh..."

Leon calmly walked past them, with no intention of intervening.

Leon didn't have the ability to make opposing sides burst into tears and shake hands just by showing up with some kingly aura.

Besides, the root of their conflict wasn't here. Only when Fishman Tom built the extraordinary Sea Train could Water Seven truly be saved.

The streets were nearly empty, and the occasional figure hurried past.

The Bulu beneath Leon, which had been calm, suddenly grew restless. Its four legs paddled frantically underwater, carrying Leon at high speed to a shop built by the water's edge.

"Takoyaki! Freshly grilled Water Water Takoyaki!"

The Bulu twisted its head around, showing a row of clean white teeth, staring at Leon with pleading eyes.

"So you're hungry, huh?"

Leon patted the Bulu's head.

Tender and smooth Water Water Meat was another specialty of Water Seven. Even though he'd just eaten, since he was here...

"Give me ten servings of takoyaki... and ten servings of fried meat patties too."

The shopkeeper, delighted at the start of business, didn't bother to check whether Leon could actually finish all that food and swiftly packed it up.

The freshly baked Water Water Meat actually bounced in Leon's hand.

He fed a piece to Bulu, who had been eagerly waiting beneath him.

Leon picked up a piece of Water Water Meat and put it in his mouth; he didn't even need to chew much.

The Water Water Meat slid down Leon's throat as if it were alive.

"This!"

If this were the world of Cooking Master Boy, Leon would surely hear a ding in his ear, a flash of Lightning streaking through his mind, followed by a fantasy.

A shrunken Leon swimming through a world full of Water Water Meat...

Full and satisfied, Leon didn't forget to ask the shopkeeper about the whereabouts of the shipwright Im.

Only the world's greatest shipwright could possibly repair the Dog Head Warship within a week.

But the moment Leon uttered the name "Im," the shopkeeper's friendly expression suddenly shifted.

Eyeing Leon's Marine uniform, the shopkeeper cautiously glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before lowering his voice.

"This Marine sir, what do you want with that guy?"

"I heard he's a fine shipwright, and I want to ask him to fix my ship."

"I thought the Marines were finally making a move..." The shopkeeper let out an obvious sigh of relief, but still warned Leon carefully, "That guy's connected to the Pirate King."