This was, of course, the work of the ship spirit, Merry.
Within her small body resided a mysterious power intrinsically linked to the ship itself, allowing her to influence the vessel's essential nature to a certain extent.
Zoro, unable to contain himself, had already stepped forward to train. Sweat poured down him as he launched a barrage of strikes against the newly arrived golden stele.
Fists, elbows, knees—he used them all in rapid succession, producing dull, rhythmic thumps.
He even attempted to cut into the stele with Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu. The keen blades only managed to leave faint, shallow white scratches; there was no way to sever it.
"Hah. This thing really is a born training tool," Zoro remarked, sheathing his swords and breathing heavily.
Sanji lit a cigarette and leaned against the gunwale, eyeing the two ostentatious golden monoliths on the deck. He frowned. "Hey, Luffy. Isn't having two huge things like this on the deck a bit too conspicuous?"
Wasn't money the very reason most pirates took to the sea?
These two massive golden steles standing here might as well be a sign screaming, "WE HAVE MONEY!"
It was practically a pirate lure.
Before they even reached Water 7, they'd likely be swarmed by countless pirates drawn by the scent of gold.
Moreover, if certain opportunistic Marines caught sight of this, there'd be no small amount of trouble.
Luffy nodded. This was precisely why he had gathered everyone. Standing between the two golden steles, he clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention.
"Listen up, everyone. I've decided—we're going to build a new ship!"
Hearing this, Usopp was the first to jump up, his face a mask of shock and disbelief.
"Hey, Luffy! You can't be serious?!"
"Of course I am. A captain's word is final."
Luffy, are you abandoning the Merry?
The words remained unspoken.
To Usopp, the Merry was more than just a ship. It was a precious gift from Kaya, a home that held all their memories from the moment they set sail from the East Blue.
However, when he saw little Merry sitting quietly on Luffy's shoulder, her small hands clutching tightly to Luffy's straw hat, her tiny face bearing not the sorrow of abandonment but an expression of nervous anticipation, Usopp's rushed words died in his throat.
He realized this might not be what he thought.
"Usopp, you've grown up," Sanji noted.
Zoro and Sanji both looked poised to restrain an irrational Usopp if necessary.
They could joke around on normal days.
But on a ship, there was only one person who gave orders, and that was the captain.
In Zoro's words, This isn't pirate playtime. Everything must be carried out under the captain's decision.
"So what's your plan, Luffy?"
"We build a bigger new ship—one strong enough and spacious enough to carry the Merry inside it. We'll keep the Merry on the new ship and take her along with us on all our adventures!"
Luffy laid out his thoughts.
Changing ships was a common occurrence for pirates.
On the contrary, not changing ships when necessary was an irresponsible act toward both the crew and oneself.
Luffy looked around at his nakama and spoke seriously.
"You've all seen it. Our crew is growing. Future adventures will definitely bring us stronger enemies and harsher weather.
The Merry is amazing! She's our first home! But her size is a real disadvantage. If she gets badly damaged in battle, or if we hit huge waves, not only would the Merry be in danger, but those of us who are Devil Fruit users falling into the sea would be an even bigger problem!"
As the ship's navigator, Nami had checked the Log Pose and her charts. The next island was Water 7, known as the City of Shipbuilding.
They had the world's best shipwrights there!
Now, with all this gold, they had more than enough funds to commission a top-tier vessel. Besides, they had always taken excellent care of the Merry. Her seaworthiness was certainly intact. Perhaps they could even have her refitted and upgraded while preserving her core, making her even better.
Luffy had expected Usopp, who treasured the Merry like a precious gem, to be the most opposed. Instead, Usopp spread his hands, his tone surprisingly calm.
"Oh, so that's it. Well, it's the captain's decision."
"Usopp, not bad! I thought you'd be crying and carrying on," Luffy exclaimed in surprise.
"Hey, don't underestimate me, you jerk!" Usopp declared confidently. "I'm a brave warrior of the sea. I know what the right call is."
Besides, even if Luffy hadn't said it, Usopp and the others had noticed. Little Merry had been secretly worrying—worrying that she wasn't sturdy enough, wasn't big enough, that one day she wouldn't be able to carry them any further.
Having Luffy bring it up and make the final decision was a good thing.
The solution Luffy proposed was likely the best one possible.
Letting the Merry become the heart of a new ship, taking her along to adventure in even farther seas—how could that be called abandonment?
This was an upgrade!
An evolution!
Everyone chimed in with their own thoughts.
Little Merry couldn't hold it in any longer. With a waah, she burst into tears.
Nami, Vivi, and the other girls spent a long time comforting the little ship spirit, whose tears were ones of overwhelming joy.
With Usopp not opposing, the other nakama naturally had no objections.
Sanji imagined a larger, better-equipped kitchen on the new ship. Zoro thought a bigger training space sounded good. Chopper looked forward to having a dedicated medical room. Robin hoped for a quieter study... The proposal to build a new ship passed unanimously!
Several days later, at the edge of the clouds on the lower White Sea.
The Going Merry rested quietly at the border of the fluffy, cotton-like white clouds.
"Make sure you come back to visit!" Conis called out, tears glistening in her eyes as she bid them farewell.
"Take care, everyone!"
"I'll definitely come back!"
"Thanks for the Waver!"
Friends from Skypiea who had heard the news all came to see them off.
Conis, Gan Fall riding Pierre, and the Shandia warriors led by Wiper "The Warrior" had all gathered here to send them on their way.
Soon, at the summons of Conis's unique whistling call, a Skypiean specialty—an Octopus Balloon—slowly emerged from the clouds.
Its round, plump body rapidly inflated into a massive gas bag. Several sturdy tentacles expertly and gently coiled around various points on the Merry's hull.
Under the crew's amazed gaze, the Octopus Balloon began to rise steadily, lifting the Going Merry smoothly away from the White Sea and carrying it downward, toward the boundless blue of the Blue Sea below.
Beneath the clear, azure sky, the Merry, towed by the Octopus Balloon, descended like a slow-falling, colorful balloon.
Soft, white clouds seemed to drift just overhead, close enough to touch.
Looking out from the bow, an endless blue ocean stretched before them, the horizon curving gracefully in the distance.
The Merry sailed parallel to the sun in the sky, bathed in golden light.
***
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