As York's laughter gradually subsided, Stussy looked at him with gleaming eyes.
"Are you planning to incorporate Vegapunk and his MADS research institute into our crew?"
"You guessed it." York kissed her cheek. "Do you remember the ancient scientific blueprints we found in the Tree of Knowledge back in Ohara?"
Stussy nodded, her expression turning serious. "Of course. The mechanical and structural theories in those texts were terrifying. The technology of the past was far more advanced than anything we have today."
"Exactly," York smiled. "And to replicate that ancient technology, one specific Devil Fruit is indispensable: the Paramecia-type Brain-Brain Fruit (Nomi Nomi no Mi)."
York leaned back, outlining the plan. "A major characteristic of that fruit is that the user's brain has infinite storage capacity. As they absorb knowledge, their head grows larger and larger, eventually becoming as massive as a giant's."
Stussy blinked. The image of the young Vegapunk's comically massive head from their brief meetings in the Underworld suddenly made perfect sense.
'So it wasn't a birth defect,' she thought. 'It's a Devil Fruit mutation.'
"Before he officially establishes MADS, Vegapunk is already a rising star in the scientific community," York continued. "With your Mirror World, we can easily transport him to Ohara's library to read those ancient texts. Once we bring his Brain-Brain Fruit into the fold, resurrecting the technology of the Ancient Kingdom is just a matter of time!"
Stussy's imagination raced, visualizing the sheer military and economic power that kind of technology would bring.
"I'll contact them immediately and confirm a meeting location!"
"Wait a moment!" York caught her waist, pulling her back before she could step into a mirror. He whispered in her ear, "There's no rush tonight. Let me properly thank my capable intelligence officer first."
Stussy's face flushed. "You're impossible~~"
The next day.
Stussy successfully confirmed the rendezvous point with Vegapunk via Transponder Snail.
Before departing, York walked out to the training grounds to find his crew.
"Ivankov!"
"Captain York?!" The teenager stood at attention, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Pack your things. I'm taking you with us this time."
Ivankov's face lit up. "Are we finally leaving the sky?!"
While Skypiea and the Golden City were beautiful, the isolation was stifling for a teenager eager to see the world.
York chuckled, then turned his gaze to Ginny. Her eyes were wide with anticipation.
He reached into his coat and casually tossed a swirling, pineapple-like Devil Fruit to her.
"Ginny, you're fourteen now. In two more years, you'll be old enough for combat missions."
"This is the Paramecia-type Barrier-Barrier Fruit (Bari Bari no Mi). Eat it. Master its defenses. If you train hard, I'll take you out to sea in two years."
Ginny fumbled to catch the fruit, hugging it to her chest. She bowed deeply. "Thank you, Captain York!"
Ivankov bowed alongside her. As the de facto big brother of the Sorbet trio, he was thrilled to see Ginny and Kuma (who already had the Paw-Paw fruit) given such incredible opportunities.
York patted Ivankov's shoulder. "Don't worry. I already have a specific Devil Fruit in mind for you. I'll acquire it sooner or later."
Leaving the kids to celebrate, York walked over to the edge of the cloud platform where Dragon was meditating.
"Dragon, I'm heading down to the Blue Sea. Coming?"
Dragon opened his eyes. "Where are we going?"
"To recruit the world's greatest scientist. And... to find a shipwright. Sailing around in a stolen Marine warship makes us look like amateurs. We need a proper flagship."
Dragon stood up, brushing off his green cloak. "A new ship? I'm in. I've been cooped up on this cloud long enough."
Several days later.
The stolen warship, now flying the Crimson Harvest Pirates Flag, sailed off the edge of the White-White Sea.
Gravity took hold. The massive galleon plummeted from ten thousand meters in the air, entering a terrifying freefall.
But just before panic could set in, a massive, howling vortex of wind surged from the deck.
Dragon stood at the bow, his hands raised. The Wind-Wind Fruit roared to life, generating a powerful updraft that caught the warship from all directions. Escorted by the localized hurricane, the ship glided smoothly through the atmosphere, landing with a heavy SPLASH in the Blue Sea.
York stood at the railing, taking a deep breath of the salty ocean air. "It's harsh compared to the sky, but it brings back memories."
Stussy checked the Log Pose on her wrist.
They sailed forward, following the magnetic pull. A day later, they bypassed the rolling plains of Long Ring Long Land, waiting just long enough for the Log Pose to lock onto their true destination.
Two days of sailing later, a massive, fountain-like silhouette appeared on the horizon.
Water 7.
The fabled City of Water. It was a crucial stop in the first half of the Grand Line, but because it was an affiliated nation of the World Government that paid the Heavenly Tribute, pirate ships couldn't dock openly.
Dragon used the wind to guide the ship into a secluded, rocky cove hidden from the main ports.
Walking through the city's intricate canal streets, York noted the atmosphere. It was vastly different from the prosperous, booming metropolis it would become decades later.
Right now, Water 7 was a dying city.
The streets were sinking due to the annual Aqua Laguna storms. Trade was drying up. Shops were shuttered, and tourists were scarce. Only the grand, ancient stonework of the waterways hinted at its former glory.
Vegapunk's message stated he wouldn't arrive until the following day.
With time to kill, York and his crew began asking the locals for directions. They had a very specific target in mind.
The citizens of Water 7 were accustomed to pirates. Aside from World Government contracts, pirates were their primary source of income.
Following the directions of a few helpful shipwrights, York's group navigated the canals until they reached a scrap yard located beneath a massive stone bridge.
A sign hung above the workshop: Tom's Workers.
Coincidentally, a massive, imposing Horned Turban fish-man was just stepping out of the workshop doors, wiping grease from his massive hands.
York stepped forward, a confident smile on his face.
"Hello, Mr. Tom. My name is York. I'm a pirate, and I'd like to hire you to build my crew a ship."
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