"A ship powered by steam, like the sea train???"
"One that can dive underwater???"
"Capable of converting steam into an energy burst to make the ship fly???"
"Equipped with retractable propellers on both sides to hover in midair???"
"If technology permits, hidden propellers that can switch to propulsion rotors at will???"
"A compact ship, but with room for two small vehicles: one mini-submarine and one land vehicle???"
"???"
Edward was stunned.
Customers spending big money demanded excellence—that much he understood. But as he listened to Maude's increasingly exaggerated demands, the septuagenarian craftsman was utterly dumbfounded.
Maude, noticing Edward's slightly dazed expression, counted on his fingers and grinned, "Oh, and one more thing..."
Thud!
Edward collapsed to the ground, frothing at the mouth, unconscious.
"Grandpa Edward!"
Keynes, startled, rushed over, crouched down, and checked on Edward. He quickly rummaged through the old man's dirty clothes, pulling out a small emergency medicine bottle. He shook out a few pills and fed them to Edward.
After taking the medicine, Edward's condition stabilized.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Keynes turned to Maud and Lafitte, offering an apologetic smile.
"Sorry about that. The old man is getting on in years, and his health isn't what it used to be."
"Understandable."
Maude nodded calmly, assuming Edward had fallen ill. He walked over to the cluttered workbench, found some paper and a pen, and said, "I've got about fifty more requirements and suggestions. I'll just write them down so you can give them to him once he wakes up."
"Alright."
Keynes agreed, not noticing the slight twitch in Edward's body nearby.
Maude wrote quickly and neatly.
Before long, he had completed the list of fifty requirements.
"I'll leave the paper here."
He placed the list on the table, casually resting the pen on top of it.
"Got it."
Keynes moved Edward to a bed in the workshop and offered another apologetic smile to Maude and Lafitte.
Maud didn't mind, leading Lafitte out of the messy, foul-smelling workshop.
As they walked down the corridor, Lafitte glanced sideways and asked, "Maude, where do you come up with ideas like that?"
"I didn't come up with them; I read them in a book."
"A book? A storybook?"
"More or less..."
Maude chuckled, unwilling to explain further. He couldn't very well say it came from a manga titled One Piece, could he?
He was willing to reveal the existence of the Hunter's Notebook to Lafitte but would never disclose his identity as a transmigrator.
Most of his outrageous demands came from the technology this world's "science tree" might plausibly achieve. Tossing all those ideas at Edward was like casting a net to see what possibilities might emerge—hopefully resulting in an exceptional ship design.
With any luck, they might end up with a ship straight out of the future.
Lafitte, unaware of Maude's true thoughts, silently offered his condolences to the old man.
Still, he couldn't help but anticipate the new six-hundred-million-beri ship.
The two returned to the VIP room.
Once Keynes came back, Maude finalized all the remaining arrangements with him.
It now depended on how long the Thomas Shipyard would take to acquire the Treasure Tree Adam.
If things went smoothly, they could have their new ship in less than two months.
If not…
It might take a long time.
That wasn't a scenario Maude wanted. But regardless of his wishes, some things were beyond his control.
The only thing he could do was offer more money to speed things up.
With the new ship sorted, Maude and his crew left the Thomas Shipyard.
"The cost of building the ship might not be enough. Then there's furniture and other necessities..."
Maude pondered their finances.
Since looting a fortune from Arlong's territory, this was the first time he'd worried about money.
Still, this expenditure was necessary.
The new ship wasn't just their means of traversing the seas; it would also be their future home.
No matter how much it cost, it was worth it.
"If we need money fast, we'll have to... rob other pirates."
"But this isn't lawless territory. Even if there are plenty of pirates around, we can't be too blatant."
Robbing pirates—black eating black—was always his preferred method.
But Dick City wasn't a place without rules. Despite the lack of a Marine presence, the soldiers of Ahab Kingdom and the city's strict regulations were factors to consider.
If he acted too recklessly, it might draw unwanted attention from Ahab's soldiers.
While Maude didn't fear such attention, he didn't want it interfering with the new ship's construction.
As he mulled over his options, Maude led his crew out of the shipyard and onto North Street.
Suddenly, gunshots rang out.
Dozens of bullets whizzed from the shadows, targeting Maude.
Sensing the attack, Maude didn't move.
Lafitte stepped to his left, deflecting the bullets with his Haki-coated cane.
Gaya moved to his right, drawing her hatchet and skillfully knocking the bullets away.
The sudden gunfire sent Benny scrambling between Jim's legs, where he collapsed in relief, as if it were the safest place.
Bailey, perched on Maude's shoulder, yawned lazily at Benny's reaction.
The attack caught the street off guard. Once the shots ceased, the residents ducked behind obstacles, cautiously observing Maude's group.
Gunfire in Dick City wasn't unheard of, but a brazen attack like this was rare.
Who had this group provoked?
The residents wondered silently.
Maude, his expression calm, glanced in the direction the bullets had come from.
The auras he sensed retreated without a second volley.
Quick to abandon the attack, they were decisive, if nothing else.
Lafitte twirled his cane with a flick of his wrist, his eyes cold. "Should we pursue?"
"Of course."
Maude's eyes narrowed as he smirked. "Don't leave anyone alive. And don't forget to search their bodies."
"Understood."
Lafitte returned the smirk and darted after the fleeing gunmen.
Gaya hesitated briefly before pursuing another group.
Maude watched them leave, then turned his gaze to a few men ahead who radiated unmistakable killing intent.
Facing him directly, they clearly had confidence—and strength.
"Heh…"
A cold smile tugged at Maude's lips.
He had intended to follow Dick City's rules and keep a low profile until the ship was finished.
But since others had already drawn their blades and guns…
Kill.
Kill until the rats didn't dare emerge.
Kill until no one in this city dared provoke him.
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