May the Wind Be at Your Backs, My Friends

As he spoke, Doto looked at Kuta with a solemn expression. "I want to keep this ship as a collector's piece."

"Keep it?"

Kuta stared at Doto, utterly baffled.

He shook his head, raised his Wine Gourd for a drink, then asked curiously, "May I ask why, Mr. Doto? This is just an ordinary little boat. It couldn't be more ordinary."

"Heh!"

Doto took the cigarette between his fingers, turned to blow a smoke ring toward the Freedom, then smiled at Kuta. "To you, it's an ordinary little boat. To me, it's a ship with a lot of meaning!"

"I believe that one day, because of all of you—because of you—it won't be ordinary anymore."

"I'm not putting my faith in the ship."

He looked Kuta in the eye, his expression resolute. "I'm putting my faith in you! I believe you'll leave your own legend in this world."

"Haha!"

Seeing Kuta's bewildered expression, Doto couldn't help grinning smugly. "When that happens, I'll make

a fortune in Beli just from ticket sales!"

"Heh!"

Kuta took a sip of wine and chuckled. "You're a clever one. You've certainly got a head for business."

Others didn't know how strong he really was, but he did.

Doto's guess was remarkably accurate. Kuta would stand at the top of the world someday, and that day wasn't far off.

If Doto had his first ship, and had built his second one too, the man might really have stumbled onto a gold mine.

But opportunity often came with danger.

Given the threat Kuta posed to the World Government, Doto might end up receiving the same treatment as Tom, the shipwright who built the Oro Jackson for Pirate King Roger's crew.

Still, that was Doto's choice. Kuta couldn't decide it for him.

And if Doto wanted to keep