Chapter 118: Capital of Water 7
With a wave and a smile, Adrian bid farewell as he departed from Arabasta. His journey continued through the Paradise, spanning over a month.
In the year 1499 of the Sea Circle Calendar, during late October, Adrian arrived at the Capital of Water 7.
This sprawling city, "Water 7," is an over sized city-island structure situated on the open sea. Its intricate network of waterways not only facilitates transportation across the flat water surface but also features uniform and symmetrical channels extending down from elevated areas.
The unique geographical culture of Water 7 has bestowed upon it the prestigious reputation of being the "Capital of Water" of the open sea. Legend has it that eight hundred years ago, shipwrights from this very city crafted an invincible warship named "Pluton."
In recent decades, Water 7 has regained worldwide fame, thanks to a prominent shipbuilding company: 'Tom's Shipbuilding Company'. Owned by the legendary shipwright "Fish-man Tom," this master craftsman was also responsible for constructing the Pirate King Gol D. Roger's ship, the "Oro Jackson."
However, life in the Capital of Water has faced challenges. Ever since the public execution of Gol D. Roger, by the Marines and the World Government, his dying words ignited the Great Pirate Era, leading to increased chaos caused by pirates on the Grand Line.
Adding to the city's struggles, Water 7's unique geographical location exposes it to an annual onslaught of a massive tsunami known as "Aqua Laguna." Additionally, the city grapples with limited wood and steel resources.
Despite these hardships, Water 7 remains a renowned shipbuilding hub, often relying on resource imports from other islands to sustain its thriving shipbuilding industry.
In recent months, spurred by the Great Pirate Era, tragic reports of pirate attacks on ships carrying steel and wood have become a daily occurrence on the open sea.
The scarcity of external resources has exacerbated internal conflicts within Water 7. Shipbuilding companies, both large and small, now engage in direct confrontations to secure customers.
Tom, the legendary shipwright of Water 7, known for crafting ships for Gol D. Roger, is now under investigation and scrutiny by the World Government's special forces.
Rumors even suggest that Tom might face the death penalty due to his association with the Pirate King.
Amidst these internal and external challenges, the once-celebrated shipyard, known across the seas, teeters on the brink of becoming an isolated island swallowed by the sea.
"It's really a dilapidated and desolate city…"
Surveying the ocean city that starkly contradicted his expectations, Adrian, who had just arrived at Water 7, couldn't help but release a deep sigh.
Beneath the bridge on the northeast coast of Water 7 lay a waste processing plant.
For centuries, the people of Water 7 had piled up the remnants of abandoned ships here, forming a colossal mountain of debris.
Over time, this mound of ship wreckage had transformed into the primary material collection site for Tom's Workers' Studio, affectionately dubbed the "Under-Bridge Warehouse."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The organized knocking yielded an unexpected response. Adrian knocked three more times, and this time, a weak and weary voice finally answered.
"Who's there? The door isn't locked; just come in…"
As Adrian pushed the door open, an intricate aroma enveloped him—a potent blend of alcohol, rotting food, fishy odors, and acrid sweat. The mere sniff will send shivers down one's spine. The intense and stimulating scent even triggered the Logia-like ability of the ghostly body!
At this moment, lying in the center of the room, there was a young lad with a black headscarf wrapped around his head. He sat dejectedly on a dirty floor, clutching a bottle of alcohol.
This seemingly unremarkable youth was none other than Iceburg, the legendary fish-man shipwright and devoted disciple of Tom.
"Stranger?" Iceburg's bewildered gaze shifted to Adrian. "Are you here to build ships or repair them? But it hardly matters now. Mr. Tom has been captured by the World Government, and Tom's Workers' business has stopped! It's over!"
The last sentence was almost shouted by Iceburg, clearly expressing the intense dissatisfaction and resentment that had accumulated in his heart at this moment.
"Is this how the renowned Tom's Workers treat their guests?" Adrian shook his head. "Had I known, I would have looked for another shipbuilding company."
Iceburg's face briefly contorted with remorse before settling into indifference.
At this moment, he was not the seasoned "Mayor Iceburg" he would later become. Instead, he was a young man seething with anger over his teacher's arrest by the World Government.
"It doesn't matter…"
Iceburg lifted the bottle in his hand, intending to take a sip, but found that the bottle was already empty for some unknown reason. A few drops of wine dripped onto his dry and chapped lips.
"With Mr. Tom taken away, is there any reason to keep Tom's Workshop?"
Adrian leaned forward. "I believe the unparalleled legendary shipwright won't meet his end so easily. His true 'mission' has not been completely fulfilled yet!"
And what, exactly, was Fish-Man Tom's true mission?
Not the Pirate King's ship, the "Oro Jackson."
Certainly not the blueprint for the invincible battleship "Pluton."
Fish-Man Tom's enduring legacy lay in the interconnected "Sea Train," bridging the Water 7 islands with the surrounding world! 🌊🚂
Whether in symbolic or practical terms, the ability to bridge oceanic barriers and unite islands through the "Sea Train" holds immense significance—comparable, if not surpassing, the ancient weapon "Pluton"!
In Adrian's eyes, within the pirate world, only one other creation rivals the Sea Train's importance: the Ark Maxim, capable of taking people to the moon.🌙
One connects the seas, while the other spans through space—both groundbreaking achievements!
"I don't believe Mr. Tom will die."
A complex voice echoed from behind the Iceburg, accompanied by a mermaid who had already begun a startling transformation.
"Miss Kokoro!" Iceburg didn't need to turn around to recognize the speaker. "Have you lost hope?"
Miss Kokoro?
If I remember correctly, this Miss Kokoro should be close to fifty years old by now, right?!
Even if a fish-woman was beautiful in her youth, once she passed a certain age, she would become quite unpleasant to the eyes!
More importantly, my Kokoro certainly doesn't look like that!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone