1.3 Billion Beli

Chiu Chiu's sudden ability to speak greatly shocked the three people present. They had never expected this golden bird to be able to talk.

But then came an angry roar. "You dead bird, you're the one with hemorrhoids on your mouth! How dare you speak to my master like that? Believe me, I'll beat you to death!"

Housen rolled up his sleeves, exposing his solid muscles. His fierce and imposing aura was on full display as he stepped forward to hit Chiu Chiu.

But Mark stepped forward and stood in front of Chiu Chiu.

"Sorry, brother... my companion didn't mean any offense. I apologize to Master Jerry on his behalf," Mark said calmly.

Only then did Housen's expression improve somewhat. He snorted coldly and said no more.

However, just as he was about to return to Jerry's side, Mark spoke again, though this time his voice was somewhat cold.

"However, my companion is not some dead bird, either. I hope you'll keep your mouth clean. I don't want there to be a next time."

The air around them grew several degrees heavier.

Housen felt uncomfortable all over under Mark's gaze.

Ever since Chiu Chiu had come aboard, it had not traded insults with anyone in a long time. But Jerry's one hundred million Beli labor fee had truly shocked it today.

Mark knew its temperament. He, too, was somewhat annoyed by the outrageous price of one hundred million, but there was nothing he could do. He was the one who had come looking for this man.

Baroen hurried forward to smooth things over. "Housen tends to speak without thinking. Please don't take it to heart. I apologize to this golden bird gentleman on his behalf."

After saying that, he gave Mark and the others an apologetic look, then quickly pulled Housen away.

Only then did the atmosphere ease somewhat.

Jerry chuckled. "You're all young people. There's no need to make things so awkward."

Then he beckoned Mark and the others. "Come inside and talk."

After saying that, he glanced at Housen and Baroen before turning and walking into the house.

Housen and Baroen followed him. Mark and the other two exchanged glances and followed close behind.

The interior of the house was old and worn, as though it had been there for many years.

After following Jerry into the room, Mark and the others took their seats.

The hostility from earlier had vanished completely.

Jerry smiled and said, "One hundred million for labor isn't much. If you want to build a top-tier ship, I'll need to hire many shipwrights from the island, and it'll take around three months."

"They alone will cost a great deal of money. Besides, didn't you come to me because of my shipbuilding skills? You get what you pay for. The price of one hundred million... is already discounted for Crocus's sake."

As he spoke, Jerry opened a drawer, took out a model sailboat, and placed it on the table.

Mark and the other two were immediately drawn to the model.

It was a three-masted sailboat, with one main mast and two secondary masts. Its overall structure resembled Whitebeard's pirate ship, and the model appeared to have been designed after the Moby Dick.

The bow used a streamlined design. Unlike ordinary sea-going sailboats, parts of the hull were shaped for water flow, making straight-line acceleration more effective.

The ship was not designed to be lavish or grand. It was extremely simple.

Yet the moment Mark laid eyes on its design, he fell in love with it.

"1.3 billion. Deal!" Mark examined the sailboat model from top to bottom. "But you have to reproduce this ship's design exactly, one-to-one."

Seeing how reluctant Mark was to put down the model, Jerry smiled.

"I came up with this ship's design myself over the years. As far as water resistance, wind resistance, and protection against natural disasters go, I consider it top-tier."

He took the model back and continued speaking.

"The exterior design is first-rate, and the internal design is even more so."

Jerry said to Housen beside him, "Go get our test course!"

Housen gave a grunt, stood up, and entered the wooden door beside him. Before long, he carried out a huge oval object.

Housen placed the object on the table, instantly filling the entire tabletop.

Only then did Mark see that the oval object was filled with water, with unknown mechanisms and gears faintly visible beneath the surface.

"Watch closely!" Jerry placed the model into the water, then fiddled with the oval object. Immediately, the mechanisms in the water began to turn, and the current surged.

The water current simulated natural disasters!

A vortex!

Within the vortex, the three-masted sailboat model was like a lamb awaiting slaughter, drifting helplessly with the current.

Just as Mark was wondering what Jerry intended to do,

the three-masted sailboat suddenly seemed to activate some kind of switch. Three air blasts exploded from its stern, and with a whoosh, they propelled the ship out of the vortex before it landed steadily on the water some distance away.

Daisy and Chiu Chiu widened their eyes.

When Mark saw that, it immediately felt familiar.

Wasn't that the Sunny's Gale Cannon used for escaping? The difference was that the Sunny had one nozzle, while this ship had three.

Jerry was very pleased with their expressions.

He then tested the ship against tsunamis, thunderstorms, and snowstorms.

After all that, the ship remained completely intact.

Once the emergency defensive layer was deployed, it could protect against thunderstorms and snowstorms. When facing tsunamis or vortices, the Gale Cannon could be used for an emergency escape.

Moreover, according to him, the ship was also equipped with a main cannon fired by compressed air. As long as it was loaded with suitable shells, it could instantly launch them at a speed of 500 meters per second.

The force carried at that speed was enough to sink a Marine headquarters warship—the kind used by vice admirals during a Buster Call.

Mark was extremely satisfied with the ship.

"We want this ship now. You find the materials yourselves. I'll only be responsible for paying," Mark said decisively.

Jerry adjusted his glasses.

"Don't worry about the materials. For the main structural sections, we'll use Adam Wood, the hardest wood in the world. The hull will also be made from premium ironwood. With one billion for materials, you'll definitely get your money's worth."

"When can construction begin?" Mark asked.

"Any time!" Jerry answered readily.

"Good. But I only have five hundred million right now. My pirate ship is worth something too. Aside from the 32-pound cannon, leave me four 24-pound cannons, and you can handle everything else. See how much it can cover. As for the rest... I'll make up the difference later."

Mark wanted to keep those cannons for the sake of the new ship.

Once he had a crew in the future, cannons would be essential. Thirty-two-pound cannons were rare even on the black market, and 24-pound cannons were not cheap either. After considering it, Mark decided to keep them.

"Five hundred million... and a pirate ship..." Jerry looked somewhat troubled.

He had long suspected that the people before him were pirates. However, Solomon Shipyard did not care about a client's background. As long as they paid, the shipyard would build or repair ships for them.

"Setting aside the pirate ship you mentioned, if you only have five hundred million right now, the cost of the shipbuilding materials may be a little higher."

"Why?" Mark asked.

At this point, Baroen explained, "If you want to build with Adam Wood, you'll definitely need to buy a section of trunk. A single trunk section alone costs more than seven hundred million. Master Jerry has a good relationship with the material suppliers. If we buy one trunk section together with some premium ironwood in one purchase, they'll definitely throw in some extra materials. That would be just enough to build the ship you want."