In the days that followed, Riberra Sami and his crew spent an unexpectedly peaceful period in Water 7.
At first, Riberra Sami remained constantly on edge, wary of a sudden Marine crackdown at any moment.
After all, the commotion he had caused was no small matter—and he had even killed a relative of a Marine Admiral. Under normal circumstances, retaliation from Marine Headquarters should have descended like a storm long ago.
He had even prepared for an immediate evacuation.
Yet one day passed, then two… a week, then two weeks.
The anticipated Marine pursuit, covert agents—none of it came.
The canals of Water 7 remained as busy as ever. The rhythmic sounds of hammering from the workshops continued unchanged. It was as if they were nothing more than ordinary visitors.
This unnatural calm instead left Riberra Sami feeling faintly uneasy and puzzled.
Still, no trouble was better than trouble. For now, he could only suppress his doubts and focus on what lay ahead.
During this rare month, aside from daily training to stabilize his newly awakened Observation Haki, Riberra Sami devoted most of his time to strengthening the crew as a whole.
Among the items he had brought back from Sky Island, the combat-type Dials usable in the Blue Sea were undoubtedly precious force multipliers.
Unfortunately, their numbers were limited. With over a hundred crew members, they had to be distributed carefully.
In the end, the Dials were prioritized for combat personnel. Even then, only about half of them could be equipped with one each.
Riberra Sami personally trained them—teaching the characteristics of each Dial, how to integrate them into their fighting styles, and how to time their activation to maximize their effectiveness.
This wasn't just about handing out weapons—it was about shaping an entirely new tactical system. Perhaps in the future, it could serve as a decisive trump card.
Meanwhile, Aldo took the opportunity to train Sakins relentlessly. Aside from eating and sleeping, the man barely had a moment's rest.
Time flew by, and soon it was the agreed day for the ship's delivery.
To welcome their new vessel—the one that would carry their future dreams—the crew even prepared a fine bottle of champagne, intending to follow the old maritime tradition of smashing it against the bow for good fortune.
When they arrived at the private dock behind Tom's workshop, the massive new ship was already waiting silently in the waterway.
At just a single glance—the smooth yet powerful lines, the towering masts, and the faint sheen of Adam Wood under the sunlight—the crew couldn't suppress their amazement.
"Whoa——! Is this really our new ship? It's incredible!"
"Look at the bow! That must be the Flaming Fang the boss mentioned—it looks terrifying!"
"It's way bigger than the Skylark and the Spearfish combined!"
"Launch it!" Tom's booming voice rang out.
The champagne shattered.
Amid rhythmic shouts and the grinding of rollers, the massive ship slowly slid into the water, sending up huge splashes before settling steadily on the surface.
The ship was officially launched.
Riberra Sami led his eager crew aboard.
Instantly, the ship erupted into lively excitement.
Crew members ran across the spacious deck as if exploring a new continent, diving into layers of cabins and letting out exclamations of awe.
"This kitchen is amazing! Cooking will be so much easier now!"
"Check out these quarters! Everyone gets a bigger bunk!"
"A training area! There really is a training area onboard! The boss wasn't lying!"
"Hahaha! Come look! There's a huge empty room here with a triceratops drawing on the door—this must be Toriji's den!"
Riberra Sami didn't join the commotion.
He walked alone to the railing, gently running his hand along the wooden surface.
The texture was firm yet warm, filled with vibrant life and unimaginable strength.
This was Adam Wood—the legendary material said to have withstood the greatest wars in the world. Just touching it gave a sense of absolute reliability.
"So, Captain Riberra Sami? The feel of Adam Wood isn't something ordinary timber can compare to."
Tom's hearty laughter sounded behind him as he walked over, pride evident on his face.
"It truly lives up to its name," Riberra Sami said sincerely. "Just standing here, you can feel how extraordinary it is. Mr. Tom, thank you for building a ship like this."
"Gahahaha! If anything, I should be the one thanking you! Being able to use such materials to realize such an interesting design—what a joy!"
He slapped the thick mast beside them.
"So, Captain Riberra Sami—are you satisfied? But a ship this magnificent deserves a name worthy of it. How about naming it now?"
"A name?" Riberra Sami paused. "Let's just call it Spearfish."
Tom's smile immediately collapsed.
"How can that be?! That was your previous ship's name! Every ship deserves its own unique soul—and its own name!"
"Well… we've changed ships several times, and they were all called Spearfish…" Riberra Sami muttered helplessly.
Ah! What do I do? The reason I kept reusing the name is because I'm terrible at naming things!
What should I call it? The Ultimate Indestructible Ship? The Supreme Great Vessel?
Ugh… this really isn't my strength…
His gaze drifted unconsciously toward the bow.
The ferocious ram gleamed coldly under the sunlight, its metallic surface reflecting a chilling light—yet within it lay the power to ignite ships into flames.
A name suddenly surfaced in his mind.
"…Flame Fang."
Riberra Sami lifted his head and looked at Tom.
"Since its ram can burn through enemy ships, let's call it the Flame Fang."
"Flame Fang… the fang of flames…"
Tom savored the name, his eyes lighting up.
"Gahahaha! Excellent! Fierce as fire, sharp as fangs—unstoppable! A perfect name! It suits her perfectly! Captain Riberra Sami, would you like me to give you a full tour of the Flame Fang?"
"With pleasure." Riberra Sami's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Meanwhile, in the waters near the Sabaody Archipelago.
Inside the prison hold of the Gilded Dice, the harsh creak of a heavy iron door broke the usual suffocating silence.
A beam of long-forgotten sunlight pierced through the opening, illuminating dust dancing in the air—and stabbing painfully into eyes long accustomed to darkness.
The prisoners stirred.
Whispers, muffled sobs, and cries of fear intertwined.
"The door's open… have we arrived?"
"Sabaody… I don't want to go to the auction house! Help!"
"Someone… please save me…"
"No… don't sell me…"
A tall figure stood at the doorway, backlit by the light. He idly played with a ring of keys as his sharp gaze swept across the faces inside—some numb, some terrified.
After a moment, his eyes locked onto a particular cell.
The key slid into the lock.
Click.
The door opened.
Inside, Barnes and Ryan—dulled by prolonged captivity and torment—slowly raised their heads, trying to make out the figure before them.
"Barnes. Ryan."
A calm voice called out.
"Come out."
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