"You want to touch my ship? Touch the Black Pearl!?"
On the docks, Jeremiah stood before the Black Pearl with his arms spread wide, his face twisted in fury like a mother hen protecting her chicks.
Facing him were several engineers from Moth Chasing Flame.
Ken stood at the front, holding a stack of blueprints.
"Please calm down, Captain. We're only asking for your opinion."
"Impossible! If you want to touch my ship, you'll have to step over my corpse!"
One of Moth Chasing Flame's researchers tried to reason with him. "This modification is free. Castel will cover all refitting expenses."
"I refuse! The Black Pearl is everything to me. Don't even think about putting those two ugly wheels on her!"
"But it could improve her speed—"
"Still... no! Don't think I don't know!" Jeremiah snorted. "Even with paddle wheels and steam power, your ships can't even reach ten knots. The Black Pearl is faster than that with the wind at her back!"
"And have you considered this? The Black Pearl has a wooden frame. If you just cram a steel Steam Engine into her like that, you'll ruin her!"
"Don't worry, Mr. Jeremiah," Ken hurriedly reassured him. "We'll also replace the lower deck with metal while we're at it."
"A metal lower deck?" Jeremiah furrowed his brow, then glared at him again. "Still no! I absolutely will not let you put wheels on both sides of her!"
"Don't worry, don't worry, no wheels." Somewhat flustered, Ken pulled out a blueprint. "We're planning to use a propeller for propulsion."
"No wheels? Then how will the ship move? You little runt must be lying to me." Jeremiah shot Ken a fierce glare, but his gaze could not help drifting toward the blueprint in his hands.
It showed three views of a