Hearing Iceburg's scream, not only Lin Yuan, Tesoro, Erza, and Emile couldn't help but laugh.
Enel gave Iceburg a disdainful look, thinking to himself that this guy was really ignorant.
However, it's understandable that Iceburg confused. Tom and Cutty Flam were also dumbfounded at the moment. They had never even seen 10 billion Beli, let alone nearly 200 billion Beli.
Even the cost of building the Sea Train is only around eight billion Beli, and that's with the support of the World Government.
At this moment, Tom, Iceburg, and Franky ( Franky will be mentioned again from now on for easy identification) were all looking at Lin Yuan as if he were a fool.
Having lived this long, I've never heard of anyone possessing so much wealth, not even a Celestial Dragons family.
"Hehe, sorry, Iceburg, I didn't mean to make fun of you. Let's continue. Can you get the materials for twelve ships?"
Iceburg stared intently at Lin Yuan, and finally relented.
"We can collect enough materials for about three ships at most. We don't lack other materials, but there's one thing we don't have enough of: the Treasure Tree Adam."
" The Treasure Tree Adam? Can other materials be used instead?"
Iceburg shook his head and explained.
" The Treasure Tree Adam is the toughest wood in the world and can be used to forge the keel. Although the Ark Maxim is primarily designed for flight, the keel is still essential; after all, amphibious capability is preferable for any construction project."
Lin Yuan couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Although three ships were already quite a lot, they didn't meet his expectations. He closed his eyes and kept calculating in his mind. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.
" Iceburg, I wonder if other metals can be used to replace the dragon bone?"
"Well!"
Iceburg did not answer immediately, but instead looked at Tom.
Tom had always been very satisfied with his disciple, but he frowned slightly upon hearing Lin Yuan's words.
" Lin Yuan, dragon bones not only need to be hard, but also very tough. I haven't heard of any metals having this property yet."
Hearing this, Lin Yuan was not disappointed at all; on the contrary, he asked with some excitement.
"So that means if a metal with these properties exists, it would be perfectly fine to use it as a substitute for the keel?"
"That's right, but that's impossible!"
Tom thought it was feasible, but he didn't believe Lin Yuan could find the metal.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuan was already thinking to himself that it didn't matter if he didn't have this metal; he could just make it himself. All he needed to do was find that fruit.
"Alright, Mr. Tom, since that's the case, let's get down to business. I hope you can help me build the Ark Maxim. Apart from gold, I'd like to purchase all the other materials from you. As for funding, you don't need to worry about that at all."
Tom was taken aback. He had already made it very clear to Lin Yuan that he couldn't leave this place now, nor could he build ships for others.
It wasn't that he didn't want to participate in the construction of this groundbreaking spaceship, but rather that he was forced into it.
Iceburg and Franky also knew about Tom's situation, and both of them showed resentment on their faces.
Before he could refuse, Lin Yuan continued.
"Don't rush to refuse. As a condition for your help, I can free you from the World Government's surveillance. As for the timeframe, you can decide for yourself."
Upon hearing this, Iceburg and Franky immediately stood up excitedly and walked directly to Lin Yuan.
"Are you telling the truth? You can save the teacher?"
"Sure, as long as you help me manufacture it, I can handle whoever the enemy is, even if it's the World Government or the Navy, it doesn't matter."
Lin Yuan didn't care about the World Government or the Navy. Although he didn't want to start a war with them now, rescuing Tom was a piece of cake. He could just take him away and dump him on Sky Island, where no one would be able to find him.
Once his strength continues to increase, he will have no fear of either the Navy or the World Government.
Even if they are discovered, the World Government will be powerless against them, compared to the threat posed by Golden Lion Shiki, who can control the island and destroy everything.
The threat posed by a dozen or so of my own spaceships would be no less; at worst, I could just equip them with some terrifying weapons.
Upon hearing Lin Yuan's affirmative answer, both Iceburg and Franky became excited.
If Lin Yuan can really help, then Teacher Tom won't be executed by the World Government after he builds the Sea Train.
"Teacher, please say yes!" X2.
Iceburg and Franky both urged Tom to agree.
Tom looked at Iceburg and Franky and couldn't help but sigh. If he could, he wouldn't want to die either. He just liked building ships, but he was implicated by Roger and sentenced to death.
Although the World Government granted him a ten-year reprieve for building the Sea Train, he knew that once it was completed, he would be executed.
Moreover, he harbors an even bigger secret, which the World Government seems to have already begun to uncover.
"Mr. Lin Yuan, I am currently under the supervision of the World Government to build the Sea Train, which is also my dream. Therefore, I cannot help you build it until I complete Sea Train."
"Besides, the World Government is too terrifying. I don't want to bring danger to you because of me, so..."
" Mr. Tom, I can wait. It's not too late to build it after you've fulfilled your dream. As for now, to show my sincerity, Enel, you guys deal with those Nezumi outside."
"Yes, boss! I've had my eye on them for a long time!"
Enel revealed a cruel smile, then vanished instantly, followed by the sounds of battle outside.
Tesoro, Erza, and Emile vanished from their spots in an equally swift manner.
" Lin Yuan, what are you doing? They're from the World Government!"
Tom was shocked, a look of anxiety appearing on his face, while Iceburg and Franky, though relieved, were equally worried.
"Don't worry, I know who they are. They're just CP9. They'll be replaced soon anyway, so I'm just helping out. Besides, you don't want the World Government to find out about Pluton's design blueprints, do you?"
How did you know!
Tom was shocked and looked at Lin Yuan in horror. Iceburg and Franky also felt a chill run down their spines. They had only known about this recently, and they never expected that Lin Yuan knew about it.
Tom's expression shifted between anger and unease; he even seemed ready to fight Lin Yuan to the death. He absolutely could not let this matter leak out.
"Hehe, don't worry, Mr. Tom. It's just Pluton; I don't care. If we add a powerful weapon system to the Ark Maxim, its threat won't be much less than Pluton's, let alone a dozen of them. Don't forget, Pluton can't fly."
"As for those guys outside, they probably already know something, so for your safety, let's deal with them first!"
Enel had just whispered what the people outside had overheard to Lin Yuan, and he learned that they were already suspicious and considering whether to report the matter to the World Government.
This is the real reason why Lin Yuan ordered the enemy to be dealt with.
Seeing that Lin Yuan didn't seem to be lying, and that a battle had indeed broken out outside, Tom and the other two looked a little better.
"Um, Lin Yuan, can you really save the teacher?"
"Hehe, don't worry, my word is my bond, I never lie!"
"Boom..."
Meanwhile, Enel and his group's battle intensified, with explosions rang out one after another.
"Hehe, the show's about to begin!"