Western-Style Tactics: Orders Obeyed Without Question

Tom's Shipyard, main dock—

The Kong here was tall and vast, large enough to accommodate a small warship.

Sunlight poured down through the skylights in the ceiling as hammering, sawing, and shouted calls rose and fell.

At the center of the dock, a massive fish-man with horns and a mountain-like build was bent over an enormous blueprint.

He was Tom, Water 7's legendary shipwright.

Tom was pointing at the plans and patiently explaining them to several young apprentices beside him.

"Here, where the keel connects to the stem post, use more rivets."

His voice was loud yet gentle.

Even when the apprentices were so nervous that their hands shook and they struck crookedly, he merely laughed and patted them on the shoulder.

"Don't panic! Try again! Building a ship is like raising a child—you can't rush it!"

Just then, footsteps sounded from the dock entrance.

Kokoro walked in with Lin Nuo.

"Tom! A new customer is here. He says he wants a ship built," Kokoro called out.

Tom raised his head. When he saw Lin Nuo behind Kokoro, he frowned.

"Kokoro, didn't I say we weren't taking new orders for the time being?"

"We still haven't gotten rid of Silver Axe's group, and our material supply channels have been cut off. Taking new orders will only make people wait—"

"Mr. Tom, this is Lin Nuo." Kokoro hurried forward and quickly explained the situation in a lowered voice.

"He just helped us deal with the troublemakers at the rental office. He said... he wants you to build him a ship. In exchange, he'll help us deal with Silver Axe and the outside trouble."

Tom's gaze passed over Kokoro and settled on Lin Nuo.

He carefully examined the white-haired young man with Black Wing.

"You... could you be that 'supernova' who defeated