The next day, Kakarot and his companions stood at the edge of Zou, full of energy. The salty sea breeze swept freely among them, stirring their clothes and hair.
Kakarot tilted his head slightly upward, gazed firmly at the boundless sea, cleared his throat, and declared:
"Everyone, our time on Zou has drawn to a close. Now, we are about to embark on a brand-new journey..."
Before he could finish, the impatient Lilith could no longer hold back. She planted her hands on her hips and stamped her foot lightly, her eyes filled with eagerness,
interrupting loudly, "Brother, stop dragging this out! We've been itching to set off and see the wider world outside!"
Kakarot gave a helpless smile, his eyes full of affection, and said, "All right, all right. Looks like everyone's spirits are running high. Let's set off, then!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he flew down using the Flight Technique.
"I really don't know how Brother trained his Armament Haki. He can even fly!"
Although this was not Lilith's first time seeing Kakarot fly, she was still very envious.
Iris and Emily exchanged smiles, each gently taking one of Yueli's hands. They spread the snow-white wings on their backs and flew slowly and gracefully toward the sea.
Sunlight spilled over their wings, refracting into multicolored rays of breathtaking beauty.
The others all used Geppo, their feet rapidly alternating as they stepped on the air like phantoms,
as though descending steadily along invisible stairs, leaping surefootedly toward the sailing ship on the sea.
A medium-sized sailing ship rested quietly on the water, like an exquisite leaf floating on blue silk.
Eight people aboard were eagerly awaiting them.
Before long, Kakarot was the first to land firmly aboard. Iris, Emily, and Yueli followed, drifting down lightly and as silently as flower petals.
Then the others using Geppo arrived safely one after another, and the deck soon became lively.
"Wow! This ship is so beautiful!" Lilith, Vian, and Emily could not help exclaiming in unison as soon as they landed aboard.
Lilith ran around excitedly, touching things here and looking at things there, her eyes sparkling with delighted surprise.
At that moment, the eight people aboard hurried over to greet them. A yellow-haired woman of mixed Mink Tribe ancestry wore a smile on her face,
and said, "Comrades, Lord Shu Laibao assigned us here. From now on, we'll be this ship's crew, and we'll do everything we can to help you all."
Kakarot quickly waved his hands and said with a smile, "We're all fellow minks. Just call us by our names from now on. I'm Kakarot."
As he spoke, he patted the woman on the shoulder, his eyes full of friendliness.
The others followed with introductions of their own, and the atmosphere immediately became relaxed and friendly.
The yellow-haired woman nodded slightly and replied with a smile, "My name is Nasha. I'm a navigator and a dog mink."
"Those twin sisters are Fanny and Fenty, the cooks." As Nasha spoke, she pointed toward two white-haired, rabbit-eared girls nearby.
Everyone looked in the direction she pointed and saw the two rabbit-eared girls nodding shyly at them, their cheeks faintly flushed.
They wore clean aprons and still held some cooking utensils, as though they had just been busy preparing food.
"Those four burly men over there are sailors and shipwrights. Their names are Tara, Tal, Vail, and Wick," Nasha continued.
Everyone turned their attention to the four men, each a full three meters tall.
The two in front were cattle minks like Ailik. They had burly builds and bulging muscles, and looked immensely strong.
The two behind them were horse minks, with athletic builds and eyes that showed resolve and composure.
Everyone greeted them. "Nice to meet you!" "From now on, we're companions who'll adventure together!"
"The last one is the helmsman. His name is Slade. Our caravan found him during our trading travels.
"He's a bear mink and the strongest of the eight of us. He's also fairly young, only seventeen." As Nasha finished her introductions, a hint of pride entered her voice.
In fact, everyone had noticed Slade long ago. After all, he was four meters tall like Ailik, and stood there like a small mountain.
He radiated a powerful presence, like a slumbering giant beast. Though he had yet to move, they could feel his latent strength.
Kakarot stepped forward, held out his hand, and said sincerely, "Welcome aboard. From now on, we're companions who'll share life and death!"
The others echoed him. "Yes, welcome!" "We'll venture across this sea together!"
"Nasha, could you tell us about this ship?" Lilith asked curiously, her eyes full of anticipation.
"Of course," Nasha answered with a smile. As she spoke, she led everyone around the ship.
"The ship has smooth lines overall, with a slightly upturned bow, like a sea beast cutting through the waves, full of vitality and strength."
Nasha pointed at the bow, her eyes filled with pride. "The hull's deep blue blends into the sea, while golden wave patterns gleam along both sides, like a blessing from the ocean."
Everyone looked where she pointed. The dragon's head at the bow was so lifelike that it seemed about to soar into the air at any moment.
The dragon's head had been intricately carved from sturdy oak. Every scale and whisker was rendered in minute detail, fully displaying the craftsman's exquisite skill.
"Three masts tower overhead, and the mainsail bears the Sickle and Hammer design Kakarot described," Nasha continued.
Everyone looked up. The mainsail snapped in the sea breeze, its striking and distinctive Sickle and Hammer design seeming to speak of their beliefs and aspirations.
"The hull has a sturdy structure. It's built entirely from Treasure Tree Adam and other precious woods, with a hull thickness of 1.5 meters. Iron plates reinforce key areas for greater protection."
Nasha patted the hull, producing a dull, solid sound. "Each of the three decks serves its own purpose. The upper deck has the wheelhouse, lookout platform, and cannon positions;
"the middle deck holds the living quarters, including cabins, the kitchen, and so on;
"the lower deck stores cargo and supplies and houses the engine room.
"Meanwhile, an advanced watertight compartment design keeps the ship safe if it's damaged."
"The ship is eighty meters long and thirty meters wide, combining maneuverability with stability. It's fast and has a large cargo hold. Fully stocked, it can sail for about three months."
Nasha explained in detail, "The living facilities are comprehensive. The kitchen can produce delicious meals, the cabins are neat and comfortable, and the infirmary is fully stocked with medicine.
"There's also a Den Den Mushi breeding room, so there's no shortage of Den Den Mushi to use."
"The captain's cabin is at the forward end of the middle deck and measures about sixty square meters." Nasha opened its door, and everyone went inside.
"Just inside, a huge solid-wood desk stands in the center, with nautical charts, a telescope, and an adventure log on top. It faces a broad window for an easy view of the sea.
"Behind the desk is a solid-wood bed with a blue silk bedspread. The ceiling above it is painted with a starry night sky."
Lilith ran to the desk and curiously leafed through the nautical charts, muttering, "Wow, there are so many interesting places here!"
"On one side is a solid-wood bookshelf filled with books on navigation, history, and related subjects, along with information about the Grand Line;
"on the other side, a display cabinet holds precious souvenirs collected on adventures," Nasha explained.
Next, everyone went to the training room on the lower deck. "The training room is on the lower deck and measures about eighty square meters.
"It's spacious, with specially made rubber flooring that offers good elasticity and traction."
As she spoke, Nasha stamped her foot on the floor to demonstrate its elasticity.
"Large mirrors are set into the surrounding walls so crew members can correct their posture. There are also weapon racks holding blades, swords, staffs, and clubs.
"In the center is a huge punching bag made from sea beast hide and filled with special mineral granules."
Seeing the punching bag, everyone gathered around it. Some reached out to touch it, feeling the toughness of the sea beast hide.
"There's also basic exercise equipment, including dumbbells and barbells. Several vents overhead ensure air circulation." Nasha looked up and pointed at the vents above.
By the time she finished, Lilith and the other girls' eyes were already shining. They eagerly began looking around, chattering as they started choosing rooms they liked.
Lilith darted excitedly from room to room, saying nonstop, "This room has such a great view!"
"That room feels so cozy!" The others were all absorbed in exploring their new surroundings as well.
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