Blueprint for the New Ship!
Two weeks ago, Lafitte still vividly remembered how absurd some of the demands made by Maude were at the time.
From his perspective, the current level of shipbuilding technology made fulfilling those requests nearly impossible.
Now, as he looked at the design plans, his suspicions were confirmed—most of Maude's demands were unrealistic.
However...
"Steam engine."
Lafitte muttered in surprise, narrowing his eyes at the detailed schematic of the steam engine beside the ship's design.
His requirements for the new ship were simple: sturdy construction and superior maneuverability.
He hadn't expected Thomas Shipyard to deliver a steam engine.
While Lafitte was pleasantly surprised, Maude felt a tinge of disappointment.
Even though Edward was an experienced and skilled shipwright, he could only fulfill a fraction of Maude's requirements.
Someone like Franky was truly one of a kind.
Maude had considered approaching Franky, but he wasn't Luffy.
He lacked connections and the protagonist's luck.
Attempting to contact Pluton directly would probably lead to a swift and untimely demise.
Despite his disappointment, Edward's blueprint wasn't bad.
After all, Edward was the veteran shipwright who designed the Moby Dick for the Whitebeard Pirates. His meticulously crafted design, while not flawless, was comprehensive and well thought out.
"Lafitte, Gaya, what do you think?"
Although Maude found the blueprint satisfactory, he still wanted to hear his crewmates' opinions.
Gaya squinted, smiling. "It's great."
Her main concern was the size of the kitchen, and this design met her needs.
"Hoho, no objections from me," Lafitte said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Then it's settled."
Maude turned to Keynes, who had been patiently awaiting their decision.
Seeing no issues, Keynes reminded them,
"A steam engine is a complex piece of machinery. To address potential malfunctions and handle regular maintenance, I recommend recruiting a qualified mechanic before the ship is delivered."
"We understand."
Maude nodded.
The challenge was finding a mechanic who met their standards. While technical expertise was negotiable, combat prowess was non-negotiable.
Fortunately, the ship's main propulsion relied on traditional dual-mast sails, supplemented by a maneuverable aft sail.
Even if the steam engine malfunctioned, the ship wouldn't be stranded.
Without dwelling further, Maude inquired about the shipbuilding timeline.
"Keynes, with the design and materials finalized, how long will it take your shipyard to complete the construction?"
"Fifteen to twenty-five days, at most."
Keynes responded confidently, not even factoring in the time needed to transport Treasure Tree Adam to Leviathan Island.
His confidence reflected the capabilities of Thomas Shipyard.
In fact, to fulfill this massive order, the entire shipyard would focus solely on the project once Treasure Tree Adam arrived.
"Perfect."
Impressed by their efficiency, Maude said, "I'll settle the remaining balance within a week."
"Understood."
Keynes smiled and left after handing over an updated budget.
"Eight hundred million, huh."
Maude held the budget sheet Keynes had left behind.
Two weeks ago, he had prepaid 630 million berries. Just purchasing Treasure Tree Adam cost 650 million, leaving a deficit of 170 million Berries.
"Such extravagance..."
Gaya's expression was complex.
Eight hundred million—what could that buy?
She calculated silently. Eight hundred thousand sheep!
Lafitte took the budget sheet from Maude, scanning the breakdown. "Whether we can cover the balance within a week depends on Bailey."
He glanced at Bailey, who was lounging on the sofa, drinking beer with his legs crossed.
"Right."
Maude smiled.
The new ship was about the same size as the Thousand Sunny, but the cost was four times higher.
He vaguely remembered that Franky had purchased Treasure Tree Adam for 200 million from the black market, while they had to pay 650 million—over triple the price.
But the two situations weren't comparable.
If he could get Franky's technical expertise, Maude would gladly pay double the ship's current cost.
With 170 million left to gather, Maude's luck couldn't have been better; he had stumbled upon the gladiatorial tournament in the Ahab Kingdom.
Starting with 30 million, Maude believed he could turn it into 200 million within a week, provided everything went smoothly.
...
Two days later, the preliminary rounds ended.
Out of 6,211 participants across four matches, only 11 advanced, including Bailey and Bepo.
This meant that in just two days, the massive coliseum had claimed over 6,200 lives.
How many of them were enslaved humans?
No one cared.
Three days after the preliminaries, the 11-to-6 elimination round began.
Maude was ready to rake in profits from the betting pool.
However, he received some unwelcome news from the coliseum staff.
Bailey… had gotten a bye.
A stroke of luck for most competitors, but for Maude, it was a setback.
"No problem. We've got another solid candidate to bet on."
Maude remained composed.
"Who?"
"Bepo."
At a tavern nearby, Bepo was feasting when he suddenly sneezed twice.
"That must be the bear making waves during the preliminaries…"
"...," Law silently sipped his drink.
Meanwhile, in an alley on East Street, Buffalo held a Den Den Mushi, his expression slightly tense.
The snail now resembled a figure wearing a pink feathered coat and red sunglasses.
"Fuffuffu…"
Doflamingo's cold laugh echoed from the Den Den Mushi.
"Law is on Leviathan Island as well…"
"Young Master, I can capture him!"
Buffalo was brimming with confidence.
If not for Bepo's participation in the tournament, he wouldn't have known Law was on Leviathan Island.
"Wait for Baby 5 and Lao G to join you before acting," Doflamingo cautioned, curbing Buffalo's overconfidence.
"Understood."
Buffalo nodded.
"Fuffu…"
The Den Den Mushi's red sunglasses gleamed.
"There's a prominent Vice Admiral heading to Leviathan as well. Once your business is done, leave immediately."
"Got it!"
The call ended.
Buffalo stashed the Den Den Mushi, a cold glint in his eyes. "Trafalgar Law… hmph."
Back at the coliseum, Bailey's bye meant one less fight for Maude to wager on.
Still, he placed a 10-million bet on Bepo.
As the main event approached, Maude was about to head to the coliseum when two unexpected guests arrived.
"Revolutionaries?"
Maude was surprised as the man and woman introduced themselves plainly upon entering.
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