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OPI Chapter 16: The Administration Department arrives in the Capital of Water
🕑 Added 2023-10-14 02:45:01 +0000 UTCIn the first half of the Grand Line, even if there are tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of various islands in this sea area, the existence of one island is enough to rank in the top five.
It is a huge island, one of the largest on the Grand Line. It is a gigantic city but part of its streets are located under water. It shows the greatness and magnificence of man-made things everywhere, but it does not have much advanced technology. The stone houses on the streets always reveal an ancient atmosphere.
Rivers, bridges, and docks are the main painting styles of this maritime city. The gray of the marble, the blue of the waterway, and the yellow of the town together form an extremely beautiful oil painting.
Dense waterways flow between cities, and creatures named 'Bulls' that look like horses with fish fins leisurely shuttle through the streets and alleys carrying people and goods on their backs.
Because there are seven large shipyards on the island, it is also known as the 'Water Seven'.
It is an island recognized as having the largest number of the best shipbuilders in the world.
Originally, the atmosphere on the island was harmonious, lively, and full of laughter. Although the shipwrights sweated profusely every day, everyone was smiling.
But ever since the 'Pirate King' Roger was publicly executed on January 1st, along with the strange rumor of a huge treasure, the number of pirates coming to the island has gradually increased.
These pirates, who had no regard for laws and rules, relied on their own weapons and force and often refused to pay after receiving new ships, triggering conflicts with shipwrights again and again. .
The shipyard, which cannot receive money, is gradually unable to pay the shipwrights' wages, nor can it afford shipbuilding materials from outside the island. Along with the increasing number of pirates, maritime trade, which was already dangerous due to the complex and changing climate, became even worse because of this.
For a time, gloomy clouds began to fill the sky over the 'Capital of Water' at a speed visible to the naked eye.
I saw a large group of seagulls playing on the beach. They were suddenly disturbed by something and flew into the blue sky like a white cloud.
A resident who was fishing nearby heard the noise and looked up, his eyes suddenly widened.
They saw a ship, a large ship that was estimated to be forty high and about one hundred and fifty meters wide. Its bow was covered with a layer of armor with blue background and gold patterns.
Some older people immediately thought of the warships of the Navy Headquarters, because those beings that can be called 'war beasts' came from their water capital.
“Look! That’s the symbol of the World Government!”
“It’s the World Government’s judicial ship!”
The appearance of this huge ship made the entire city of Water 7 to become noisy for a while, especially when a group of marines armed with muskets escorted the fishman Tom, whose arms were bound, in public, which caused many people to exclaim.
This tall fishman, nearly three meters tall, is a very famous shipbuilder on this island.
However, when the onlookers heard that Tom was arrested for building a ship for Roger, the Pirate King, quite a few people felt that this was not surprising.
After all, Roger and his group have caused a lot of trouble to the entire world in the past ten years, especially the fact that they destroyed a kingdom for their partners, which is well known to everyone.
There seems to be nothing wrong with calling him guilty for building a ship for such a vicious person.
However, the development of things went beyond everyone's expectations. Tom, who was originally going to be taken to Enies Lobby for execution, got the favor of the judge because he proposed to build a 'sea train' to connect various islands including Enies Lobby and the Water 7. Thus receiving a ten year suspended sentence from the judge.
At the same time, it also received support and cheers from residents. Everyone hopes that Tom can save the city of Water 7.
“Tahahahaha, I managed to survive!”
As soon as he got home, Tom laughed so much that he burst into tears, which showed how happy he was. But perhaps only he himself knows that he is happy because he can continue to study the 'Sea Train'.
“What's so funny about this? When you were sentenced to death, I was very sad for you, no one had managed to return alive from Enies Lobby.”
Mermaid Kokoro, who is now the secretary of Tom's studio, holds her slender waist with both hands and looks at the other person helplessly.
“But then again, if all this goes well, then they can probably forget about Roger.”
[Toc, toc, toc.]
At this moment, there was a gentle knock on the door of the studio. Sitting in front of the dining table, Iceburg, Cutty Flam, the two teenagers and the sumo frog named "Yokozuna" looked at each other.
Kokoro walked over and opened the door and found five men wearing black suits and leather boots standing outside. One of them stood in front of him, while the others stood guard on both sides.
At a glance you could tell where these people came from.
“People from the World Government?!” Kokoro frowned and asked worriedly: “Isn’t the verdict about Mr. Tom already determined? What else do you want?”
In the room, Cutty Flam, Iceburg, and 'Yokozuna' had already stood up. Cutty Flam in particular had an angry look on his face, but he was immediately blocked by Tom who stepped forward.
"Excuse me, we are not members of Enies Lobby, but representatives of the Administration Department. My name is Coulson, and I am a senior director." The man in black at the front smiled politely.
“Administration Department?”
Tom and others looked puzzled. To be honest, they had never heard of it.
“The adults in the World Government are very concerned about and attach great importance to the research on the ‘Sea Train’, so our Administration Department will try our best to assist you in your work.”
"How can you help me?" Tom asked with a cheerful smile, and he didn't seem to mind at all.
However, Iceburg behind him suspected that this was actually surveillance, but he was rational and did not speak out, and at the same time stopped the irritable Cutty Flam from wasting time.
“We will not interfere with your research, but we will improve your research environment.”
“For example, all kinds of materials required by the major shipyards in the Water 7 will be provided by our Administration Department at normal market prices, and then the navy will be responsible for escorting them to ensure that the shipbuilding business on the island will not be overly affected.”
“There will be a thousand naval troops stationed here temporarily to ensure that the Water 7 will no longer be harassed by pirates and to provide security services for your research work.”
Hearing this, several people were shocked. Is the World Government so kind?
Tom was stunned for a moment, but when he came to his senses, he laughed heartily.
“Tahahahaha, this is really a big help. This way, the residents of the island don’t have to worry about their lives. I’m here to thank you for everyone, thank you World Government!”
At that time, his favorable opinion of the World Government improved greatly, even though the Enies Lobby judge had only suspended his death sentence for ten years.
“At the same time, our Administration Department will fully provide all the materials you need in the process of researching the ‘Sea Train’, including labor and scientific research personnel.”
"In spite of the poor environment of this hulk island, we will also build an exclusive manufacturing plant for the 'Sea Train' and provide a studio with the world's most cutting-edge equipment."
Tom and others fell silent because they didn’t know what to say. The other party was giving them so many benefits that they almost treated them as nobles.
"I think there should be a price for these, or are there any restrictions?" Young Iceburg asked softly.
Coulson nodded.
"During the first year, the supply of materials to the major shipyards will be completely covered by the World Government, but starting in the second year, the supply will be reduced by 10% each year. In other words, if the 'Sea Train' project is not completed within ten years, by then we will only provide 10% of the shipbuilding materials to Water 7.”
“So, please Mr. Tom, please complete the sea train as soon as possible, and then the World Government will have a surprise for you.”
