"Please, you absolutely must stay on the ship this time. Even if the ship docks, you cannot disembark until we reach the destination. If you get hungry or thirsty, just tell me, and we will arrange everything for you."
"By the way, if you do, really, truly, accidentally, walk off the ship, please do not wander around. Stand right where you are and wait. We will definitely send someone to find you!"
"I beg you, please cooperate with our work. You have to realize that your previous Foreman almost lost his job because of you. He's still in prison now! I heard the man was crying his eyes out back then, a grown man in his forties! He kept insisting he was falsely accused!"
"Helmeppo, during this period, you stick with him. Watch him closely and don't let him wander off. He is going to the same destination as you. Once we arrive, you two disembark together!"
"Please, please, please remember what I just said. I'm begging you at this point. I believe you are aware of how severe your Directionally Challenged problem is."
"I am not Directionally Challenged!"
Glaring at the Registrar, who had solemnly spouted a heap of nonsense and labeled him Directionally Challenged, Zoro raised an eyebrow in irritation and growled in a low tone, "I told you, I didn't get lost. I just got on the wrong ship."
However.
As the Legend of this excellent Carpenter who was 'slightly' Directionally Challenged began to spread, no transport ship that encountered him could to be negligent these days.
One had to understand the consequences of him going missing.
Back then, not only was the entire ship investigated, but the whole Shipping Route was scrutinized as well. Especially after news broke that his previous Foreman was suspected of embezzling wages and committing murder for money, the Registrar, Auditor, and Captain of that ship were all hauled in for interrogation.
It scared the hell out of a lot of people! At the time, all sorts of wild rumors started circulating, unpaid wages, high salaries being a scam, companies tricking people into sea labor, Pirates kidnapping civilians, murder for profit... It caused mass panic among everyone heading out to sea for work.
After all, the rest area where he vanished was only thirty meters away from the docking pier!
Him saying he got lost?
Who would believe that? After giving repeated instructions and seeing Zoro wave his hand impatiently, the Registrar finally turned and left.
Helmeppo, who had been specifically detained to watch over Zoro, curiously scanned the swordsman from head to toe, noting the Three Swords at his waist.
"So, you're the Directionally Challenged guy everyone is talking about lately?"
"I told you I'm not Directionally Challenged!"
"Okay, okay, you aren't Directionally Challenged! After all, who could possibly get lost on a thirty-meter path?" Seeing Zoro staring at him with an increasingly unfriendly gaze, Helmeppo quickly changed the subject. "You must be hungry, right? Let's go eat first."
Hearing the word "eat," Zoro lowered his hand from his sword hilt.
Indeed, ever since he boarded the ship last time, he hadn't eaten a full meal until today... when he finally found another Recruitment Site.
Already experienced in these matters, he didn't wait for Helmeppo's hospitality and ran toward the canteen on his own.
He was starving.
Watching Zoro walk confidently in a completely different direction, Helmeppo asked in confusion, "Are you going to the toilet first?"
"Who's going to the toilet? I'm going to eat!"
"The canteen is over here."
"..."
*Smack!* "I finally understand why people can never find you." Helmeppo slapped his own face, his tone pleading. "Please, just stay put during this trip. If it comes to it, I'll bring your food to you!"
"No need. I know the way!"
Zoro scoffed and, without looking back, walked directly in the direction Helmeppo had pointed.
He was just a 'little' unfamiliar with the layout of this ship earlier, how could he possibly have gone the wrong way?
Soon enough.
Under Helmeppo's watchful stare, the two arrived at the Ship Canteen without getting lost. They served themselves large basins of food and found a spot to sit.
Just as they sat down, and right as Zoro was about to dig in, a voice rang out.
"Specifically consulted the World's Greatest Swordsman, and personally designed by the Greatest Swordsman himself, a Private Training Room with various Specialized Training Equipment, allowing you to easily train your body and Swordsmanship even while sailing!"
Seeming to catch a specific phrase, Zoro abruptly raised his head, looking suspiciously toward the source of the sound. He immediately saw a huge screen displaying a luxurious, imposing ship.
"They've been playing this advertisement for the past few days. The new ship launched by Kuma Shipyard, the 'Dawn Breaker'. It sounds really good, but the price is just too expensive." Helmeppo sighed. "You don't need to look at it, I reckon you can't afford it either!"
"World's Greatest Swordsman?"
"That training room is indeed said to be designed based on suggestions from the World's Greatest Swordsman. As for whether it's true or not, I don't know." Helmeppo nodded while eating, then seemed to recall something, his tone turning regretful. "I actually want to buy it too. If it were the old me, perhaps I could have afforded it, but as for now... *sigh*!"
Unfortunately, his old man had already been caught.
He had taken a ship out to sea to work because he couldn't show his face in his hometown anymore.
"The current me is no longer the old me. Do you want to hear my story?"
"No!"
This guy was not only annoying but also terrible at making conversation! If this were the past, Helmeppo would have had him tied up long ago!
"I..." Zoro ignored Helmeppo, whose face had gone stiff. He gripped the Katana at his waist tightly, staring intensely at the screen. 'I definitely want to meet him!'
Does this guy like the ship that much? Helmeppo looked at the serious swordsman and couldn't help but be drawn in by that burning gaze.
That was a look full of dreams! But snapping back to reality, he sighed again. While shoveling rice into his mouth, he said, "Stop dreaming. With your wages, you'd probably have to save for over ten years. Besides, aren't you hungry?"
*Growl~*
"Then hurry up and eat!"
"Right, eat!" Reminded by Helmeppo, Zoro came back to his senses, realizing that sustenance was the priority.
As for the dream of challenging the World's Greatest Swordsman...
Better to wait until he was full first!
--**--**
After the advertisement was broadcast.
Dante paid it no further mind.
He believed that with these ads... they would definitely catch everyone's eye! Of course, no one had come to place an order in the past few days, presumably, it would take some time for things to ferment.
At least until the news spread throughout the Four Blues.
Yes, Kuma Shipyard intended to do business not just in the East Blue, but in the Three Blues as well.
Since a ship is an oversized item, relying solely on Kuma's paws to deliver them to the other Four Blues wouldn't work. Therefore, the idea of expanding to the other Three Blues was currently a bit difficult logistically.
According to general Dock rules, Pirates who wanted to buy a vessel basically needed to come to the shipyard to customize their own ship, and then sail it away once it was finished.
But they were doing things a bit differently.
Their Dock was in the East Blue.
So, the Marine 16th Branch planned to first find a location near Whisky Peak, close to Cactus Island, to establish a Ship Handover Point. When someone called to customize a ship and paid the deposit, Dante would build it and then send it over via Reverse Mountain for the handover!
However, this plan was still being formulated and hadn't been implemented yet, for now, considering the East Blue market was sufficient.
At this moment.
Dante was on the phone, speaking cheerfully. "Sir, Sir, I feel I'm not qualified yet. I still need to gain experience here in the East Blue. Let me consider it? Please, let me consider it. No problem, once I've thought it through clearly, I will definitely tell you!"
*Click-clack.*
As the phone worm hung up, Dante sighed helplessly and rubbed his forehead. "Why have they suddenly set their sights on me? People are even bringing up my reputation? Which guy has gone blind?"
Speaking of which, noticing something, he raised his head to look at Robin and Viola, who were silently watching him from across the table. He waved his hand, picked up the newspaper on the desk, and spoke while reading, "Don't worry, I won't go. Why would I go to that kind of place when things are fine here?"
Isn't it great here? It was rare to have built things up to this level. He had a secretary, a house, subordinates, and even a ship. His daily life was flourishing, life was getting sweeter, and the female pirates were getting more beautiful. Why run to Headquarters just to suffer?
Just as he finished speaking.
Before Viola and Robin could breathe a sigh of relief.
Noticing that their Boss, who was staring at the newspaper, had suddenly frowned, Robin and Viola also furrowed their brows, asking with confusion and concern, "Boss, has something happened?"
Upon hearing this, Dante still didn't raise his head. Instead, he continued looking at the newspaper in his hands, his eyes narrowing slightly as he muttered.
"Edward Weevil..."
===============
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