Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Luo Ya left behind a stack of Beli and disembarked amid Leisel's profuse thanks.
Maynard was waiting at the dock with his arms crossed.
"Dezi, I got the shipbuilding materials. I'll leave the rest to you."
"Treasure Tree Adam doesn't come much bigger than this. It's enough to build a large pirate ship."
"No, it doesn't need to be too big. Ten-odd meters long and five or six meters wide will do. Ideally, it shouldn't need sails. Give it some kind of flame-powered engine."
"You've got a lot of demands, kid. Pick up the Treasure Tree Adam and follow me. You can tell the shipyard guys yourself."
With that, Maynard turned and headed for the shipyard on the island.
Luo Ya lit a cigarette, hoisted the Treasure Tree Adam onto his shoulder, and hurried after Maynard.
When they arrived at the shipyard, the owner had already come out to greet them, having heard that the shipbuilding material was the rare Treasure Tree Adam.
"Just look at this Treasure Tree Adam! The material, the grain! Leave it to our shipyard, and we'll build you a fine ship."
The owner stroked the enormous trunk with a lovestruck expression, like a stalker.
After explaining what he wanted to the owner, Luo Ya turned to Maynard. "When it's ready, send the supplies straight to the shipyard and load them aboard. Get plenty of food, fruit, and drinking water.
"Also get some good liquor and cigarettes, set aside a few hundred million Beli, and—"
Thump! Maynard cut off Luo Ya's endless chatter with a punch.
"Brat, want me to get you a few dozen Devil Fruits to collect, too?" Maynard's sandbag-sized fist had landed hard on Luo Ya's head.
Ignoring Luo Ya, who was crouched on the ground clutching his head, Maynard asked the owner, "How long will it take to build the ship the way this kid wants?"
"About a month. Cutting the Treasure Tree Adam will take the most time," the owner replied.
"Good. We'll come pick it up in a month." Maynard nodded for Luo Ya to follow, then turned and left.
Over the next month, Maynard taught Luo Ya a lot about sailing, including Log Poses and Eternal Poses.
At least Luo Ya learned to read the Poses and figure out which way to go. According to Maynard, that was about as much as an ordinary person could manage.
In this world, perhaps hard training could take someone's strength to the highest level. But being a navigator was purely a matter of talent.
He'd just have to find a crew member who knew how to navigate. As long as he could tell which way to go and avoid getting lost, that would be enough.
"Kid, your ship's ready, and the supplies have all been loaded. Go start your own voyage."
Maynard's booming voice woke Luo Ya from a drowsy sleep. Still groggy, he made his way to the shipyard, where the finished ship had already been lowered into the harbor.
Led by the owner, he didn't have to walk far before a wooden ship came into view.
The ship was seventeen meters long and five meters wide. It had no sails, and was divided evenly between the deck and the cabin.
The cabin had four levels. The lowest was a cold-storage room for food and drinking water, stocked with all kinds of fruit, food, and drinks.
The third level was a storeroom, filled with fishing gear, as well as items like parasols and deck chairs. The other half of the level was a training room, equipped with all kinds of exercise equipment.
The second level held the bedroom and bathroom. Five neatly arranged suitcases sat in the bedroom, containing exactly one hundred million Beli.
The top level, flush with the deck, was the pilothouse. It had a control panel and a helm. The dining room and kitchen were right beside it.
The ship's power source deserved a mention: it was one of the high-tech marvels of the pirate world.
A complete mechanical system converted flames into power, just like the small sailboat Ace had once ridden.
It could be charged with fire, and eight propellers were installed along the ship's sides. There were also two Jet Propellers at the stern.
At full speed, it could go several times faster than an ordinary sailing ship.
The only pity was that it didn't have the Coup de Vent Franky had invented in the original story, which used cola as fuel to make a one-kilometer jump through the air.
That would have to wait until he got to Water 7.
After boarding, Luo Ya went to the pilothouse. Beside the helm was a hidden compartment. He pressed a button, and a metal orb rose into view. Luo Ya placed his hand on it.
Flames poured into the orb. The energy gauge filled up in just ten minutes.
"Treasure Tree Adam really is incredible. The whole ship's made of it, so it's light, yet sturdy enough to withstand massive waves. You should give it a name," the owner said solemnly.
"How about the Wave Breaker? It suggests riding the wind and breaking through the waves," Maynard proposed.
"Lame. So lame. This ship's going to be called the Black Pearl!" Luo Ya declared, settling the name with a wave of his hand.
"The Black Pearl? What's the story behind that name?"
"You wouldn't understand. Captain Jack Sparrow said the Black Pearl was the fastest ship on the sea, and that it could never sink." Luo Ya held up a finger and wagged it in front of Maynard.
"Ha. Never sink, huh? I'll be watching, kid." Maynard patted Luo Ya on the shoulder.
"Okay, okay! Let's throw a huge party to celebrate the birth of the Black Pearl!" Luo Ya shouted.