Over the next few days, the sea serpent continuously transported materials.
The secluded bay where the explorer was located completely transformed into a bustling shipyard.
"Ding, the Host has been detected using Ancient Ship Technology to modify a ship. The blueprint construction, originally 9999 gold coins for one-click completion, is now only 5999 to take home."
5999?
That's longer than my life.
I've already spent most of my money unlocking technology; where am I going to get that much gold for you!
I'm truly speechless!
Roger decisively closed the system pop-up.
Since he mastered the technology and understood the principles, it wasn't like he couldn't do it himself.
Anyway, he had pirates under him, so it could serve as a test of their willpower.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"Creak—Creak—"
The sound of hammers hitting wood, saws cutting timber, and the pirates' rough shouts blended into a cacophony.
Under Roger's personal command and supervision, an unprecedented ship modification project unfolded vigorously.
The first step was to dismantle!
Led by Gibbs and Billy, the crew, though grumbling inwardly, strictly followed Roger's orders.
They carefully removed the interior hull planks of the explorer, piece by piece, using crowbars and hammers.
This exposed the ship's original rib and keel structure.
"Captain, come quick and look!"
Billy, engrossed in dismantling, suddenly shouted as if he had discovered a new continent.
Roger walked over and saw Billy pointing at a newly removed inner hull plank.
The back of that plank showed subtle signs of decay and wormholes.
"This... it hasn't even been a month, how could it be rotten?" Billy asked, incredulously.
"Because the inner hull planks don't directly contact seawater, but the humidity in the cabin is very high. Over time, it will naturally rot," Roger explained.
"The anti-corrosion treatment we did before was mainly applied to the outer hull; the inner layer was just simply brushed once."
The surrounding pirates listened, all feeling a chill of fear.
They now understood that if Roger hadn't insisted on dismantling and rebuilding, in another year or so, the internal structure of the explorer would have rotted from the inside out.
By then, no matter how shiny it looked on the outside, it would just be an empty shell that would crumble at a touch.
"The Captain is brilliant!" Hanson exclaimed sincerely, now utterly impressed by Roger.
The Captain not only had foresight but was also meticulous, even foreseeing such hidden risks.
After this small interlude, the last lingering doubts in the crew's minds completely vanished.
They no longer viewed this modification as a pointless endeavor but truly accepted Roger's decision from the bottom of their hearts.
Their enthusiasm for work also grew.
Once the old was dismantled, the new began to be installed.
Roger took out his redesigned blueprints based on the "Double-Layer Hull Planking" and "Keel Reinforcement" technologies.
The new inner hull was not only thicker in material but also more complex in structure.
The installation position of each plank and the angle of each reinforcing rib were precisely calculated.
Under his guidance, the crew, like playing a super-difficult jigsaw puzzle, meticulously pieced together specially treated hard wooden planks.
"Billy, your plank is off by half a degree! Take it apart and start over!"
"Hanson, the tenon and mortise of this rib are one millimeter too shallow! Take it back and re-grind it!"
"You guys, pay attention when filling the asphalt! Every gap must be filled! If I find a single air bubble, tonight's rum is all gone!"
Roger's demands were almost pathologically strict.
He was like the most demanding foreman, patrolling back and forth on the ship, not letting go of any tiny flaw.
The pirates were tormented by him, groaning in misery, but not a single one dared to slack off.
Because they had seen with their own eyes the astonishing changes the explorer was undergoing under this extreme craftsmanship.
The hull became visibly thicker and sturdier.
The sound of knocking on it was no longer the dull "thud, thud" of wood, but a metallic "clang, clang" echo, like striking a hard rock.
"My goodness, our hull must be this thick now, right?"
Billy gestured with his hand, indicating it was about as thick as his forearm.
"With a hull this thick, let alone 6-pound cannons, I don't think even 12-pound solid shot could penetrate it!" an excited gunner said.
"Couldn't penetrate it? I feel like we could ram and sink those British bastards' shoddy ships!"
The crew caressed the indestructible hull, their faces filled with an unprecedented sense of security and pride.
With the double-layer hull completed, the next step was the core of the entire modification project: watertight compartments.
The core black technology of Ancient Ship Technology!
Roger divided the ship's interior from bow to stern into six independent areas.
The bow was the anchor chain locker for storing ropes and anchors.
Next were two cargo holds for storing goods and combat supplies.
The middle of the ship housed the crew's quarters for living and resting.
Further back were the independent kitchen and food storage compartment.
Finally, there was Roger's own Captain's Cabin, and a brig for important guests (Elizabeth).
Each compartment was completely separated by double-layered, thick wooden planks, also filled with asphalt and oakum.
The passages between compartments were also fitted with heavy, waterproof doors with rubber seals.
When the last bulkhead was installed, the entire internal structure of the explorer had become like a complex honeycomb.
"Captain, this... is it finished?" Gibbs looked at the independent "small rooms" before him, still somewhat disbelieving.
"Is it finished?" Roger smiled.
"The real show is just beginning."
He shouted to Billy:
"Billy! Go, pull out that plug at the bottom of our anchor chain locker!"
That plug was a drain hole Roger had deliberately left.
"Huh? Pull it out? Won't water get in?" Billy froze.
"Just pull it out when I tell you! What's with the chatter!" Roger glared at him.
"Oh."
Billy reluctantly ran to the bow.
With great effort, he pulled out the drain hole, which was tightly plugged with canvas and wood.
"Splash—"
Cold seawater immediately surged in furiously through the bowl-sized hole.
"Water's coming in! Captain! Water's really coming in!" Billy shrieked in fright.
The crew on deck also grew tense, each staring intently at the bow, fearing the ship would sink.
However, something strange happened.
Although seawater continuously poured in, it was all confined to the foremost anchor chain locker.
The bow only sank slightly, then stabilized.
And the other compartments, including the cargo hold right next to the anchor chain locker, didn't let in a single drop of water!
Although one part of the explorer was damaged, its entire body remained steadfastly afloat!
"My God..."
"It... it really didn't sink!"
"It's incredible! This is simply the magic of the Sea God!"
On deck, there was first a deathly silence, then an outburst of cheers more fervent and wild than when gold coins were distributed!
All the pirates looked at the proud Roger with eyes normally reserved for deities.
They finally understood!
They finally understood Roger's magnificent design!
This wasn't shipbuilding; it was witchcraft!
Meanwhile, in a nearby room, Elizabeth, who had clearly seen everything through the door crack, no longer had a look of schadenfreude on her face.
Instead, she was completely stunned!
She realized that her hope of escaping this ship had become incredibly slim.
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