Fishman Tom lifted a fully built ship with one hand. It was dozens of times longer than he was tall.
With a hearty grunt, Tom tossed the ship into the air and hurled the three masts from his shoulder with his other hand. They landed perfectly in the slots prepared for them.
The ship crashed down onto the sea, sending up a huge splash.
Tom laughed heartily and clapped the dust from his hands.
"As expected of the world's greatest shipwright. Your skill is truly a work of heavenly craftsmanship..."
A whoosh cut through the air. Leon had already sensed the danger, and he stayed where he was, kicking up with his right leg to send the cannonball hurtling toward him into the sky.
The sudden explosion brought Iceburg out of the little house.
"What are you doing now, Franky!"
Seeing Franky standing there with a guarded look, Iceburg followed his gaze and spotted the strange Marine standing in front of the house, wrapped in bandages from head to toe.
Leon quietly studied the boy before him, who wore a yellow shirt on top and swim briefs below. He was clearly going through a rebellious phase.
The cyborg, Franky.
He was the first member of the main crew Leon had encountered since coming to this world.
"Since we go way back, I'll let you off this time."
"I hope you'll build me a Gundam someday as an apology."
Iceburg and Franky didn't quite understand what the strange Marine meant, but he didn't look like he was there to arrest Mr. Tom.
"Hey, you two! I made a grand entrance!"
"As men, you ought to welcome me with a grand entrance of your own!"
Tom came over at the sound of the commotion, accompanied by an upright-walking frog.
"Hello, young Marine. I'm Tom, a shipwright."
"My name is Leon. I've heard a great deal about you, Mr. Tom."
Leon held out his hand. Tom looked a little surprised, then opened his huge mouth to reveal two rows of sharp teeth and burst out laughing.
Their hands clasped firmly together.
"So, young Leon, are you here to arrest me, a Fish-Man?"
"?"
"I'm here to ask you to repair a battleship for me, Mr. Tom."
"Me? A battleship?"
"Gahahahaha! You're an interesting young man. Come inside and let's talk."
At Tom's invitation, and for reasons Leon couldn't explain, he entered the little house of Tom's Shipbuilding Company, where Tom was in a very cheerful mood.
Tom sat across from Leon, with Iceburg and Franky standing behind him, their faces tense.
"I forgot to introduce you, young Leon."
"This is Yokozuna."
Tom pointed to the stern-looking frog beside him.
Yokozuna stood and bowed. Leon returned the bow solemnly.
Yokozuna.
Anyone could tell from the name that he was a sumo wrestler. And...
Leon studied the frog Yokozuna's protruding pupils. This wasn't an ordinary frog. He was a frog who might be able to enter Sage Mode!
"And these are Iceburg and Franky. They're both my apprentices."
Those two were just minor characters. They couldn't compare to the frog sage.
After they introduced themselves, Tom turned to Leon with a serious expression.
"Young Leon, forgive me for asking, but there are so many shipwrights in Water Seven. Why insist on having a Fish-Man who has committed sins repair your ship?"
Leon nodded. "What you really want to ask, Mr. Tom, is why I, a Marine, would seek out a shipwright who once built a ship for the Pirate King, right?"
"The reason is simple. You're the best shipwright in the world, as far as I know!"
"Besides, put a skull flag on a ship and it becomes a pirate ship; put a seagull flag on it and it becomes a Marine ship."
"But what's the difference between a pirate ship and a Marine ship, apart from the flag?"
Leon's words made Tom burst into laughter again.
"Young Leon, you're the most interesting human I've met since Roger!"
"After hearing that, I'll use everything I've learned in my life to repair your ship. But..."
"Granny Kokoro!"
Franky suddenly spoke up. A tall, middle-aged woman with long green hair down to her shoulders pushed open the door.
"Oh? We have a guest."
Granny Kokoro exclaimed in surprise.
Even as a middle-aged woman, Granny Kokoro's figure was enough to captivate anyone from behind. It was just a shame you couldn't turn around to see her face...
It looked like a giant version of the Big Head Son cartoon, with a crescent-shaped mouth taking up half her face...
"Hello, I'm Leon."
Leon greeted her politely, then lowered his head, forcing himself not to look at Granny Kokoro.
Leon! Hold it together! Be polite!
Granny Kokoro simply smiled and didn't ask anything.
She began serving everyone food, thoughtfully handing Leon a portion too.
Leon had just eaten his fill, and now he really couldn't bring himself to refuse.
Rice with curry...
He'd just have it to cut the richness.
The mood in the little house immediately grew more cheerful. Everyone tucked into their food, while Granny Kokoro told them what she'd heard earlier.
"Oh, right! I heard another merchant ship carrying lumber was robbed by pirates."
"Ever since the Pirate King was executed, pirates have suddenly become much more numerous. This city is doomed. It's been completely swallowed up by the Age of Pirates."
"And with the floods caused by the 'Gods of Water,' we already have to import all our lumber and iron from the outer islands..."
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