"This is the Water 7, huh? What a spectacular place!"
"This island even reminds me of life on Fishman Island… how fascinating."
Walking through the city where waterways and streets intertwined, Michael's companions, most of whom had barely seen the world beyond their hometowns, kept letting out waves of admiration.
Whether it was Jack, Yamato, Sandasonia, or Marigold.
Aside from their homelands, they had never been anywhere else.
This trip was an eye-opener for them.
"To be honest, I still don't get it. Why exactly did you come to the Water 7?" Garp walked alongside Michael, his tone filled with curiosity.
"You said you don't need a new ship, and even if you did, you could just ask Vegapunk to upgrade your Seraphim… So why bother with the shipwrights of the Water 7?"
Garp's words made sense.
After all, the Water 7's main clients, besides civilians and pirates, were the World Government.
The Navy wasn't listed as a primary client mostly because the shipwrights lacked the technical capability.
You can't ask a bunch of craftsmen building wooden sailing ships to support steel warships, right?
And the Navy's dominance came from its ironclad ships and heavy artillery.
Those technologies were never going to be leaked to the shipwrights here.
"True, the Navy and the Water 7 never had much cooperation before. But don't forget what the Water 7 relies on the most nowadays."
"What they rely on… isn't it their shipwrights and shipbuilding skills?"
"Garp, old man, looks like you haven't been keeping up with the times." Michael chuckled and continued,
"What they rely on the most now is the Sea Train designed by shipwright Tom."
"Sea… Train?"
Garp frowned, thought for a moment, then vaguely recalled something like that.
Years ago, Tom had been sentenced to death by the World Government for building the Pirate King Gol D. Roger's ship, the legendary Oro Jackson, out of Treasure Tree Adam.
But the presiding judge back then was a fair yet humane man. When Tom explained the concept and design of the Sea Train to him, the judge, even under pressure from the World Government and Celestial Dragons, changed the verdict—Tom would atone for his crime by completing the Sea Train. The day the first train was completed, his charges would be erased.
"Right, I remember now. That old fishman! So since the first train's been completed, his crimes should be cleared, right?"
"That's the problem… The first Sea Train was finished two years ago, but they've still refused to reopen his trial and declare him innocent." Michael shook his head, his eyes turning cold. "Even after I sent T Bone and Shu under my name to pressure Enies Lobby, we never got a straight answer… which means something bigger is going on behind the scenes."
"You're saying someone's threatening Enies Lobby over this?"
"You already guessed it, so don't play dumb with me… Trust me, old man, riddles don't suit you."
Michael's lips curled into a faint smile, sending a chill down Garp's spine.
He had seen that smile many times before…
It meant someone was about to be in trouble.
"Honestly, the World Government isn't even being subtle. They're practically desperate… but I get it. After all, we're talking about the blueprints of the Ancient Weapon."
"Ancient Weapon… You mean Pluton!?" Garp sucked in a breath. "I only heard rumors that the blueprints were secretly passed down in the Water 7… You're telling me it's true?"
"Not just true—Tom himself had them." Michael said firmly. "Otherwise, why would building a single ship warrant a death sentence? They wanted to pressure him into handing over the Pluton blueprints to save his life… but the World Government didn't expect Tom to have the Sea Train on top of that."
"They've delayed it all this time, waiting for one last chance before Tom walks free."
"Haven't you noticed CP's secret activities on the seas have decreased these past two years? Most of them have been sent here to spy on the Water 7 instead."
At those words, Garp immediately scanned the surroundings.
He hadn't paid much attention before, but now that he looked closely, he spotted three CP agents among the dozen or so passersby nearby.
Their acting was good, but they couldn't hide those subconscious movements.
All CP agents used Rokushiki as their standard combat training. And since Garp had refined the Navy's current version of Rokushiki himself, spotting someone trained in it was child's play for him.
"Three CP agents among just a dozen people… That's quite the ratio."
"Well, the World Government ordered them to find the Pluton blueprints at any cost…"
Michael didn't bother with the CP agents and kept walking forward.
He was more interested in observing the city itself.
After all… in the coming years, this place would become the Navy's most important partner, bar none.
"Dad! Where are we going now?" Marigold ran up beside Michael, subtly shoving Garp aside with her shoulder.
Caught off guard, Garp felt a sudden burst of force against his arm!
But this was Garp—he immediately reacted and neutralized the strength with ease.
From the outside, it just looked like Marigold had pushed him aside, leaving him briefly stunned.
"You little brat, your strength keeps growing… " Garp grinned at her. "Oh, and starting today, you and Sandasonia should become my disciples! Whether it's mastering Rokushiki or your Devil Fruit abilities, you're both perfect candidates to inherit my skills."
"Eh!?"
Marigold froze, memories of her big sister's suffering under Garp's 'training' flashing before her eyes. Tears welled up as she looked pitifully at Michael.
"Dad, I don't want to be the old man's disciple!"
"Ahem… Marigold, be good. It's for your own good."
Michael spoiled his children plenty… but he never stopped them from getting stronger.
Only Sandasonia stood to the side, expressionless, pointing at herself.
"What about me? No one's speaking up for me?"
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