"You three stay here and guard the ship."
After the Ghost Hand Pirates' vessel docked at the port, Rowan gave instructions to a few deckhands before heading ashore with Robin.
The deckhands didn't hesitate. Though not strong, the Ghost Hand Pirate Flag atop the mast represented power and notoriety few fools dared provoke those who sailed under it.
"Let's go."
Rowan's calm tone carried authority as he led Robin inland, away from the port and deeper into the Flower Country.
Although a pirate nation, the Flower Country was not like Amazon Lily it wasn't a society based purely on plunder. This island kingdom was also one of the West Blue's largest hubs for timber trade.
Walking through the streets, laborers carried square and round logs of every size and hue, sweat glistening on their brows as they moved the wood from warehouses to the docks.
"Where's the ship timber market?" Rowan asked, spotting a deckhand in short sleeves. He reached into his pocket, flicked a silver coin with practiced ease it spun in the air before landing perfectly back in his palm.
The deckhand's eyes widened at the coin, ignoring the guns and swords at Rowan's waist. "Ship timber trading is on the south bank, sir. This side is for house timber only."
Rowan flicked the coin again, sending it spinning toward the deckhand, and then turned to Robin. "Let's head south."
Even amid the Flower Country's bustling streets, pirates were a common sight but most carried themselves professionally, weapons at the ready but disciplined. Street fights were tolerated, but only in designated open spaces, where the kingdom provided oversight and cleanup.
"The naval force here… it exists to maintain order, right?" Robin asked, observing the organized chaos.
"Seems so," Rowan said with a wry smile. "This world is sick governments and Marines only pretend to act. Justice and order are rarely the same."
Few dared approach them. Though Robin's notoriety as the Demon Child was known, anyone foolish enough to challenge her would first have to get past Ghost Hand Rowan, feared for slaughtering both pirates and Marines indiscriminately.
Soon, Rowan and Robin reached the south bank.
Here, the scale of trade was immense. Timber stacked high enough to block the sun, each log too heavy for a dozen men to move without carts. Workers rolled the largest pieces to the docks for loading onto waiting ships.
"It's Ghost Hand Rowan!"
Even amid the chaos, the mere mention of Rowan's name caused pirates to part, whispers of his 64-million-Berry bounty spreading like wildfire.
A hunchbacked old man approached, one of the timber merchants. "Excuse me, do you two need ship timber? We have the best wood for keels and masts of all types."
"Show me," Rowan replied simply.
Robin's knowledge complemented his own; she could converse intelligently about timber types while Rowan focused on observation and negotiation.
The old man gestured to massive logs. "That's red oak, over there ironthorn wood, here iron sandalwood…"
"For speed, which timber is best?" Rowan asked casually.
"For a fast ship," the merchant said without hesitation, "a light hull of iron pear wood for the keel. Mast? Iron sandalwood it withstands strong winds."
Rowan considered it, then glanced at Robin. "And for a vessel around forty meters?"
"Forty meters?" the merchant chuckled. "Perfect! We just received a few pieces suitable for a ship of that size. Including mast, it's only nine million Berries. Want to take a look?"
Nine million Berries. Rowan paused, slightly stunned not because it was expensive, but because it was unusually cheap for quality timber.
He stroked his chin. "Do you have… Adam Wood?"
Even Robin's eyes widened. Adam Wood the legendary timber used in ships like the Thousand Sunny was prized for its combination of speed, durability, and resilience.
The merchant froze, almost spitting water. "Adam Wood? Do you know how rare that is?"
"I'm just asking," Rowan said calmly.
The merchant hesitated, scratching his head. "I don't have any here at the moment… but a forty-one-meter branch arrived not long ago. It'll be auctioned in two days. Only someone with one or two hundred million Berries could afford it otherwise it's wasted money."
Rowan's interest did not waver. He looked at Robin and smiled faintly.
"Fortunate. A branch of Adam Wood, and the size is perfect… though the price is steep."
Robin nodded knowingly. As an archaeologist, she understood Adam Wood's reputation and rarity.
Rowan's expression remained calm. "We'll manage. Two days is plenty of time. First, let's locate the White Bear Pirates."
With that, the Ghost Hand Pirates continued deeper into the Flower Country, the promise of legendary timber and high-stakes piracy ahead.