Amazed by the immense wealth of the Maude Pirates, Keynes refrained from jumping to conclusions.
Though he couldn't accurately estimate the value of the massive pile of berries and gold before him, his trained eyes told him one thing for certain—the amount far exceeded the four to five hundred million berries he had initially suggested.
That said, Adam Wood, as a shipbuilding material, was notorious for its wildly fluctuating price.
Often, even having the money wouldn't guarantee obtaining it.
If someone in the underworld market happened to release a supply and you were lucky enough to have a prior reservation, it might only cost two to three hundred million berries.
But without reservations or connections, and with bad luck, the price could easily double or even triple due to scarcity.
Then there was the question of the ship's size.
For four to five hundred million berries, one could acquire enough Adam Wood to construct a medium-sized ship.
However, if the goal was a larger vessel, ten billion wouldn't even be close to covering the cost.
These figures didn't even account for labor, transportation, design, and shipbuilding fees.
In short, such a ship wasn't something the average pirate could afford.
For a fledgling pirate crew just entering the Grand Line to possess such terrifying capital was beyond anything Keynes had encountered in his career.
Still, promising anything before clarifying the buyer's exact needs would be foolish.
"The materials budget should suffice."
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Keynes maintained a professional smile, choosing his words carefully.
"As I mentioned before, Adam Wood is a rare material that money alone can't always buy."
"Considering factors such as timing and availability, without additional payments to expedite the process, the worst-case scenario could mean waiting up to six months without securing a source."
"Additionally, Adam Wood has an inherently high base price. Depending on your requirements for the ship's size, the budget fluctuations are calculated in hundred million. Please be prepared for this possibility."
"Based on these conditions, if you've made up your mind, we can proceed with drafting the contract."
Keynes elaborated on the potential variables involved with acquiring Adam Wood, speaking in a roundabout way to deliver a specific message:
Your money might not be enough.
If there's a funding shortfall during the later stages of construction, even with rare materials like Adam Wood, the ship could still become an unfinished project.
Lafitte, keenly aware of Keynes's implications, glanced at Maude, who was seated on the sofa.
As the navigator, Lafitte desired nothing more than a top-notch ship. However, he hadn't expected Maude to be so willing to spend lavishly, insisting on a vessel crafted entirely from Adam Wood.
Initially, Lafitte believed six hundred million berries would be more than sufficient.
But now, it seemed that amount might still fall short of their requirements.
With a sigh, Lafitte lamented inwardly.
It was a pity that opportunities to earn money, like their ventures in Arlong Park, were likely one-of-a-kind in the entire world.
Noticing Lafitte's hesitant gaze, Maude smiled reassuringly and gestured with a confident hand.
He then turned to Keynes and said calmly, "Money isn't an issue. But I expect every single berry to be spent wisely. As for additional payments, that's fine—so long as the process is expedited."
"Understood. I'll have the contract prepared immediately."
Keynes's smile grew even broader—this was shaping up to be a monumental deal.
Maude nodded.
True to form, Keynes displayed exceptional efficiency. Within minutes, he had his staff prepare the contract and sent two middle-aged employees to assess the precise value of the piles of berries and gold.
The final tally amounted to roughly 630 million berries.
This exceeded Maude's expectations by 30 million.
Maude picked up the pen and glanced at the contract before him.
Lafitte and the others watched in silence.
630 million!
With one stroke of the pen, all their funds would be committed—and more might still be needed later to cover additional costs.
And all of this just to build a single ship.
Lafitte hesitated, conflicted.
Requesting a better ship had been his long-standing desire, but he hadn't anticipated that it would require every last berry they had.
Initially, he had planned to reserve at least 200 million for future contingencies.
Before Maude signed the contract, Lafitte spoke up hesitantly, "Maude…"
"It's fine."
Maude cut him off.
He understood Lafitte's dual concerns—wanting a top-tier ship but also wanting to retain funds for their plans.
Yet, some decisions required prioritization.
"I have the best navigator in the world. Naturally, we need a ship to match."
Maude smiled at Lafitte, then confidently signed the contract.
Lafitte's expression shifted subtly. Tipping his hat lower to obscure his eyes, he tapped his boots lightly against the floor.
Gaya glanced briefly at the slightly emotional Lafitte.
A few seconds later, Maude completed the signing, feeling a mix of awe and anticipation.
630 million…
This was what it felt like to splurge. At the same time, he eagerly anticipated the results this money would bring.
Watching Maude sign, Keynes was overjoyed.
A young and affluent client like Maude was the type he might never encounter again in his lifetime.
With the contract signed, the next step was designing the ship.
Thomas Shipyard had a peculiar designer, one who had crafted the Moby Dick for the Whitebeard Pirates.
Given Maude's insistence on having only the best, Keynes recommended this elderly designer.
"Mr. Maude, Edward is our shipyard's finest designer, but he has a difficult temperament. If he offends you in any way, I hope you'll be forgiving."
"Understood."
Maude nodded.
Still, Keynes was uneasy. Worried that Edward's eccentricity might cause friction, he reiterated his concerns.
Maude, however, remained unfazed, merely nodding in acknowledgment.
He wasn't concerned about Edward's temperament. The designer's credentials alone—having crafted the Moby Dick—were enough for Maude to care only about the outcome, not the process.
Before meeting Edward, Maude left Gaya and the others in the VIP lounge and took only Lafitte along.
The Thomas Shipyard was vast, and Edward preferred solitude, having set up his workshop in a remote area.
As a result, it took Maude and Lafitte 15 minutes to reach the workshop.
Upon arrival, Keynes knocked gently on the door.
Several seconds passed with no response.
Offering an apologetic look to Maude and Lafitte, Keynes knocked again.
After several attempts, the door was finally flung open with force.
Standing there was a short old man, barely 1.5 meters tall, sporting disheveled, greasy hair and wearing thick glasses.
A swarm of tiny flies buzzed above his wild hair.
As the door opened, a sour stench wafted out.
Edward's face was full of anger, and he held a large axe in one hand.
Seeing Keynes, Edward's scowl softened slightly—it was, after all, the son of his employer, someone he'd watched grow up.
Edward cast a sidelong glance at Maude and Lafitte before addressing Keynes.
"What do you want?"
Keynes, well aware of Edward's temper, got straight to the point, explaining the situation in just a few sentences.
Hearing this, Edward looked at Maude with surprise.
Clients like Maude, willing to spend extravagantly, were exceedingly rare in the Thomas Shipyard's history.
Moreover, Edward found Maude's youth astonishing.
"So long as the money's there, you'll be satisfied."
Edward's gaze lingered on Maude as his irritable demeanor eased.
A wealthy client who could fund his creative ambitions was a treasure.
His long-dormant passion flared up.
"You know about Water 7's Sea Train, Tom's Workers?" Maude asked with a smile.
"Oh?"
Edward's expression shifted slightly, puzzled by the sudden question.
What was he getting at?
Maude's grin widened.
His mind brimmed with ideas, waiting for the right outlet.
Hopefully, this old man could handle it.
Edward shuddered inexplicably, his expression momentarily dazed.
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