After returning to the Skylark, Riberra Sami immediately contacted Kahailo via Den Den Mushi.
"Kahailo, how long until you arrive? We've run into a small issue here—the shipbuilding quote is higher than expected. Of course, the quality is top-tier. We're still short on the final payment, so bring the goods over as soon as possible. I'll also contact Jillian."
"Understood, boss. We should arrive in about seven days."
Kahailo's voice came through the Den Den Mushi, but immediately after, a faint roar seemed to mix into the transmission.
"Roar—!"
Riberra Sami frowned. "Kahailo, what was that noise? Did you run into an attack?"
The Den Den Mushi mimicked Kahailo's slightly awkward expression.
"Well… it's nothing serious. Just… not something I can explain clearly over the call. You'll understand once we arrive."
"Alright, keeping secrets now, huh?" Riberra Sami shook his head helplessly. "As long as everyone's fine. Seven days, right? Got it. I'll contact Jillian now."
After ending the call, Riberra Sami did a quick calculation.
Mad Shark Barnes—115 million Beli. Gale Ryan—45 million. Morris—80 million.
That totaled exactly 240 million Beli.
This amount would be enough to cover the remaining payment for the ship.
In addition, the utility Dials brought back from Sky Island could also be sold to Jillian. The money earned from that could be distributed among the crew—everyone wins.
Riberra Sami had never been someone who liked hoarding money. After becoming a pirate, even less so.
To him, the crew who had followed him through life and death were already like family.
Sharing the spoils together was only natural.
The next day, Riberra Sami brought Tom to the dock where the Skylark was moored.
"So this is the backup vessel you mentioned?" Tom looked up at the uniquely designed Skylark. "Quite an unusual design."
He leapt onto the deck and crouched down, knocking on the planks beneath his feet.
"This is… Gale Wood?" he said with slight surprise. "This kind of wood is lightweight. While it has some flexibility and durability, its strength is clearly inferior to standard shipbuilding materials. It's rare to see an entire ship built from it."
He stood up and walked to the side of the ship, his gaze falling on the wing-like structures folded along both sides of the hull.
"What are these? Decorative elements?"
"No, those are sails," Riberra Sami explained.
"Sails?" Tom nodded thoughtfully and slowly circled the Skylark, examining every detail.
When he reached the main mast, his hand paused as it brushed against it.
He leaned closer, carefully feeling the texture, and the surprise in his eyes deepened.
"This is… Wind-Perching Wood?"
He then quickly moved to the helm, only to find there was no traditional rudder—just a control system based on Dials and levers.
"This kind of specialized structure and lightweight design… could this be the legendary Ascension Vessel used to reach Sky Island?"
"Correct. It is an Ascension Vessel."
Inside the cabin, the space was unusually open, with almost no partitions—everything designed for maximum weight reduction.
"The main mast integrated with the keel…"
Tom turned around, his eyes shining as he looked at Riberra Sami.
"This really is an Ascension Vessel! Does that mean… the route to Sky Island has become stable?"
"?? I just said it was… never mind." Riberra Sami shrugged. "Whether it's stable or not, I can't say. But the people of Sky Island don't seem as hostile to us Blue Sea folks as the rumors suggest."
Gade, standing nearby, couldn't help but complain:
"Well, they can be annoying! Lots of shady merchants—and they'll even twist things back on you!"
"Yeah, and some of their laws are really biased against Blue Sea people. You can break the law without even realizing it, and their enforcement teams always side with the locals first."
"Oh? Is that so? Hahaha!" Tom burst into laughter at Gade's tone.
"Seriously! We even had to pay some ridiculous entry fee at Heaven's Gate!"
Tom seemed somewhat interested in these anecdotes, but his attention was still mostly captured by the ship itself.
He looked over the Skylark again, especially the Jet Dial propulsion system, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of a craftsman encountering new technology.
"Incredible… truly an incredible ship!"
The sunlight in Water 7 always carried the damp scent of the sea and the shimmering reflections of the canals.
On the deck of the Skylark, moored near Tom's workshop, a canopy had been set up on one side.
Riberra Sami reclined on a lounge chair, with a small table beside him holding Water 7's specialty—a plate of Aqua Meat—and a glass of chilled fruit juice.
He picked up a cube of Aqua Meat, hesitated for a moment, then popped it into his mouth.
Instantly, a fresh, sweet flavor burst across his taste buds—but it was quickly followed by an overly fatty, slippery texture.
"Ugh… the taste is good, but the texture is terrible!"
Riberra Sami frowned, forcing himself to swallow before quickly gulping down some juice.
"It's like chewing on unrendered fat. Disgusting."
Aldo, who was tearing into the Aqua Meat beside him, looked up, speaking with his mouth full:
"Huh? Boss, I think it's great! Fresh and soft—perfect with rum!"
He raised his wooden mug as if to prove his point.
Riberra Sami shot him a look. "You've been chewing dry rations for a month up in Sky Island. Of course everything tastes like a delicacy to you now."
"Hehe, that's true!" Aldo grinned, continuing to devour his food.
The other crew members resting on deck let out amused laughter.
What a peaceful day.
Riberra Sami shook his head and picked up the latest issue of World Economic News that a subordinate had just bought.
As the most widely circulated official newspaper, even though its content was polished and propagandized, it was still an important source of information about the seas—especially regarding the Navy and the World Government.
Reading the news had become one of Riberra Sami's habits since arriving in this world.
He skimmed through the headlines.
Most of it was the usual—pirate suppression here, tributes from kingdoms there, some lavish banquet hosted by a World Noble…
Until a military report, not particularly eye-catching but significant in content, caught his attention.
[Victory Report from the Grand Line Front! Commodore Garp Successfully Repels the Roger Pirates at Broken Halberd Strait!]
Below it was a somewhat blurry sketch—clearly drawn from a distance. Towering waves, a battered pirate ship retreating into the horizon, and amid the smoke onshore, a burly Marine figure standing tall.
The next piece was a promotion notice.
[Promotion Order]
For outstanding performance in a major operation, Marine Headquarters Commodore Monkey D. Garp has been promoted to Rear Admiral. Continue to uphold justice!
"Garp… repelled Roger? And got promoted to Rear Admiral?" Riberra Sami raised an eyebrow.
From what he remembered, Sengoku's promotion speed should have been slightly faster than Garp's around this time. But now, Sengoku was still a Commodore, while Garp had already become a Rear Admiral.
What caused that difference? Could it be because of me? Hard to say…
"Boss, what are you reading? More good news?" Aldo leaned over and glanced at the paper. "Oh, Garp. I've heard of him. They say his fists are insanely strong. And the Roger Pirates… tsk, what a terrifying bunch, managing to escape from a monster like that."
"Yeah. They're all monsters. Which is why we need to grow faster—and stronger."
Riberra Sami recalled his earlier call with Jillian, where he had detailed the types and quantities of Dials (mostly utility types), along with the shipment worth 240 million Beli that Kahailo would soon deliver. He had instructed Jillian to bring sufficient funds to Water 7 within a week.
By my calculations… Kahailo should arrive in four more days.
That roar… hopefully it's not trouble.
Until they secured the new ship, paid the remaining balance, and replenished supplies, Riberra Sami hoped their time in Water 7 would remain this peaceful—at least on the surface.
He stretched lazily, tossing the newspaper aside and picking up a grape.
"Aldo, tell the crew not to drink too much tonight. Keep the watch rotations sharp. We're here to resupply and build a ship—not to go on vacation."
"Got it, boss!" Aldo thumped his chest, then grinned. "But… the rum here in Water 7 really is good. Just a little—just a little!"
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