Chapter 104: Merely Logistics, That's All
White clouds obscured the sun, and shadows swept across the sea. The sparkling surface of the water gradually lost its shine as deep blue waves relentlessly beat against the shore.
The rhythmic tide, uninterrupted by any sound, increasingly emphasized the silence aboard the ship.
Kaku's words were plain, yet they struck everyone's ears with a chilling coldness.
He was merely stating objective facts, which only made them seem crueler.
"The Grand Line's weather changes erratically. You've sailed this far; you must have some understanding of it by now."
Kaku leaned against the ship's rail, looking around at the crew members surrounding him.
"Sailing on such a sea without a professional shipwright responsible for daily maintenance... the ship's lifespan will naturally shorten drastically."
As he spoke, he pointed towards the mast and the mizzen sail at the stern. "In your eyes, the mast is just a giant piece of wood, the sails are just two pieces of cloth, and the rigging is just a few ropes."
"But to a professional shipwright, these things are incredibly detailed. Even every single plank on this ship, in my eyes, is a completely different entity."
"There are many other influencing factors, such as the materials used for this ship, the craftsmanship, and so on. Having said this much, you should be able to understand."
As his voice fell, a cool breeze blew past, chilling them to the heart. All of them stared at Kaku, stunned.
Hearing this...
Although the crew felt unwilling, it wasn't that they couldn't understand. They cherished the Going Merry, but that couldn't change the facts that had already occurred.
From the moment a ship is born, it will continuously age until it dies, just like people. They, and the Going Merry, would all have to face this inevitable day.
"Damn it!!"
Usopp clenched his fists. "We should have found a shipwright sooner!"
"Don't be like that, Usopp. It's not anyone's fault."
Reiner turned to Kaku again, asking probingly, "You just said this ship's lifespan isn't long. How much longer can it sail?"
"In terms of time, I can't make a very specific assessment," Kaku said, shrugging.
"Aren't you a professional shipwright?"
Usopp sounded somewhat dissatisfied, loudly questioning, "One moment you say the Merry won't last long, the next you say you can't assess it! What exactly do you mean!?"
Kaku paid no mind to Usopp's agitated words; the man was simply too concerned about the ship. With so many years as a shipwright, encountering such situations was naturally unavoidable.
"I can only see the ship's problems, but your journey is unpredictable."
Kaku explained coolly to the group:
"Where you will go next, what severe weather you will experience, how intense the battles you encounter will be – all these factors determine when the ship will reach its end."
"But at the very least, even if it's repaired, it probably won't make it to the second half of the Grand Line. And you..."
Kaku looked at Luffy.
"You said you want to circumnavigate the world, right? This is why I'm telling you the ship's lifespan is short. This vessel is fated not to accompany you for the entire journey."
The moment Usopp heard that the Going Merry was destined to be abandoned during their voyage, his emotions immediately flared up.
After all, he truly was the one on this ship who best understood the hardships the Merry had endured along the way!
"If that's the case, then what you said earlier wasn't good news at all!"
Usopp's face was filled with unwillingness, his eyes reddening with emotion. "Even if it's fixed now, won't we still have to replace it later!?"
"If someone has a serious illness, being able to cure it is certainly good news," Kaku used the most direct analogy. "You can't just say, because you've entered your twilight years, that getting sick doesn't matter, and just sit there waiting to die, right? Besides,"
"Just now, I was merely giving you another option. With some repairs, it can still sail for a while. You can consider replacing the ship later in the future."
"We absolutely don't want that!"
"Exactly! No ship can compare to the Going Merry!"
"Um... can you think of a way?" Nami couldn't help but speak up.
"Our budget is quite ample. If we increase the budget, is there a way to do it better? Even if it's just to extend its sailing time... After all, none of us are willing to abandon the Going Merry."
Kaku hadn't expected them to be so resistant to the idea of 'replacing the ship'. In his view, it was a very normal thing; almost all pirates went through this experience.
Back then, the Pirate King also replaced his ship here – the Oro Jackson.
From his experience here, for almost any pirate who made it to the New World, replacing their ship could be said to be an inevitable event.
"Well, it's not entirely impossible."
Kaku scratched his head. "Increase the budget, and we can use better materials. We can naturally do a better job, even modify it extensively. But in that case..."
"Your ship repair costs would be considerably higher than buying a new one. And even if you do that, wanting to complete the entire journey with this ship... honestly, the chances are extremely slim, and the risks are very high."
This ship, with simple repairs, could still sail. But to spend a fortune on major repairs and modifications... rationally speaking, it was completely not worth it!
Besides, just like a doctor treating an illness: if the patient doesn't die, they can work miracles, even extend life a bit. But rejuvenation and resurrection – those two things alone are impossible.
"How could this be..."
Nami was clearly very disappointed with this outcome and retorted:
"Didn't you say the main structure has a few broken frames that need replacing? Doesn't that mean the main structure can be dismantled and replaced with new parts? Then why not just replace all the other worn parts along with it?"
"Doing that would be completely meaningless."
Kaku gestured towards the inside of the hull, patiently explaining, "The so-called lifespan of a ship mainly refers to the degree of wear and tear on the keel and main structure. A ship's keel is like a human spine, and the other main structural components are like a human skeleton, built up piece by piece around the core."
"Replacing surface damage is one thing. But if you dismantle and replace the entire skeleton... that's essentially building a brand new ship. Even if the exterior is restored to look exactly the same, it's no longer the original ship. This point... you will be the ones to feel it most strongly when the time comes."
"So, compared to repairing, I actually recommend you replace it directly. I have no other intention; it's just a choice made from an objective perspective."
"I absolutely refuse!"
Luffy slammed his hand hard on the suitcase on the ground, yelling excitedly,
"You said it could be repaired, right!? Since that's the case! We have lots of money! Spending a bit more doesn't matter! Just repair it for us! We believe in the Going Merry!"
"Fine. The decision is yours."
Kaku said unconcernedly, "I respect your feelings for this ship, but feelings cannot change facts. My recommendation remains unchanged; the most rational course of action is still to replace the ship."
"Hey! You bastard!"
Usopp seemed to have noticed something, pointing at Kaku and denouncing loudly:
"You've been trying to persuade us to get a new ship from the very beginning! Could it be that you're deliberately saying the Merry is about to die just to earn more money from us!?"
"I knew it! You guys are all crooked merchants! Completely untrustworthy! You have no idea how strong the Merry has been throughout our journey! How could she possibly not hold on!?"
"I've said all I can. Believe it or not, it's up to you."
Kaku ignored Usopp's accusations. "I am confident my diagnosis is not mistaken."
"As a professional shipwright, providing you with correct feedback based on the ship's objective condition, and offering more rational advice, is part of my duty."
"Usopp, calm down first."
Sanji exhaled a smoke ring, looking directly into Kaku's eyes and speaking coolly,
"He's not lying. Although I'm not a shipwright, the confidence and seriousness in his eyes are genuine. He's the kind of person who is worthy of the name 'shipwright'."
"It's regrettable," Chopper's eyes welled up. "Although I also wish he were lying, I'm afraid what he said is all true."
They say people of the same kind have an inexplicable connection. Although one was a chef and the other a doctor, they both saw in Kaku's eyes his confidence in his professional skill and his respect for his profession.
In fact, although Kaku was a World Government intelligence agent, undercover as a shipwright by Iceburg's side...
He was very dedicated to his work – both as a spy and as a shipwright.
He could ruthlessly strike down friends he had known for years when his mission reached its conclusion, yet he could also, before shedding his shipwright identity, offer the most objective opinions without reservation to his targets, the pirate crew Nico Robin was part of.
He truly, from the bottom of his heart, considered himself a shipwright.
"In any case, you will still have to face this matter in the future."
Kaku calmly looked up towards the distant shipyard.
"The reason I suggested you replace the ship here is because Water 7 has world-class shipyards. Whether it's construction sites, equipment, shipbuilding experience, or even the shipwrights themselves – all aspects are top-tier."
"Since your budget is ample, replacing the ship directly here is naturally the most rational choice."
"It's not that just because this ship is still usable, you absolutely must sail it until it sinks into the sea. You are all too emotional right now. Calm down and reconsider."
As Kaku spoke, his gaze shifted back to Luffy, his expression turning serious:
"As captain, you also need to consider the risks of continuing to sail with this ship. To gamble the lives of everyone on board because of sentimentality... is a bit too willful."
He walked up to Luffy, took out a booklet from his coat, and handed it over.
"This is a ship price catalog. It has various price ranges. You can use it as a reference."
"Whether you ultimately choose to repair or directly replace the ship, that is your own decision. I am merely telling you the objective situation."
"When you've decided, come find us at Dock One again."
"We... understand." Luffy took the catalog, stunned, and remained lost in thought for a long time.
Afterward, Kaku jumped off the ship and, once again displaying his agile figure, hurried back to the shipyard.
Aboard the ship, the crew members wore varied expressions.
Everyone was clearly dejected by the assessment of the Going Merry.
Reiner also lowered his head, lost in thought. When they received this ship, Merry Butler Klahadore had indeed mentioned that it was a ship he designed for Kaya a long time ago.
Besides, as Kaku said, the Grand Line's weather was extremely perilous. They hadn't had a professional shipwright on board to maintain the Merry throughout their journey. To put it bluntly, if the keel hadn't still been intact, there wouldn't even be a chance for repairs.
After a period of silence, Zoro was the first to speak.
"The result is clear. Facts cannot be changed. Instead of moping here, let's discuss what to do."
"Anyway, whatever Luffy ultimately decides, I will respect his decision."
Seeing everyone's varied expressions, Zoro spoke up first to state his position, perhaps also to remind the others that this decision ultimately had to be made by the captain.
"Everyone, don't be too disheartened either," Reiner reminded them. "Didn't he just say that if we spend more money and use better materials, they can repair it better? Although it's unlikely the Merry can accompany us for the entire journey, he didn't completely negate the possibility."
Reiner carefully recalled Kaku's words. It wasn't that he didn't believe him; on the contrary, Kaku was a very professional shipwright, and his assessment should be correct.
His exact words earlier were, 'The possibility of completing the entire journey with this ship is extremely slim, and the risks are very high.' Precisely because Reiner believed in his professional skill, he knew that if the Merry had truly reached its end, Kaku would have directly stated that the Merry must be replaced, rather than using the word 'recommend'.
Meaning, there's still a slim chance!
Moreover, Kaku also said he was a wood craftsman; in terms of design and such, his abilities were likely inferior to Iceburg's and Franky's.
He planned to find that big oaf Franky. With his wild ideas, perhaps he could make that slim possibility even greater. And also...
Reiner gathered the several suitcases on the ground. Two of them were very light – they had already been swapped out by the Franky Family. They should be going to buy Adam Wood now... hope it can be put to good use.
"Anyway, let's not rush into a decision. We still have to stay here for a while."
Frieren picked up the two empty suitcases. Reiner stood beside her at the ship's rail.
"This situation isn't necessarily without a turning point. I'll take a trip into the city and see if I can find a better way."
"Really, Reiner!? Please! You absolutely have to find a way to properly repair the Merry!" Usopp's eyes lit up with hope upon hearing this.
"Don't get your hopes up too high either. I'm just going to try one more slim possibility."
Reiner lit a cigarette and waved his hand. "Ultimately, the one who can directly decide the Merry's fate isn't me. Everyone still needs to prepare for the worst psychologically."
With that, Reiner and Frieren jumped off the ship and headed straight towards Water 7.
Walking into the city, Reiner inquired about the Franky Family.
They were quite notorious in Water 7, so it was easy to get their location. He then headed towards the coast in another direction.
On the northeast coast of Water 7 stood a solitary, huge building – the Franky House base, also a ship-dismantling yard.
The people here were once homeless vagrants, taken in by Franky. Besides running the dismantling business, they also worked as pirate hunters.
Inside the house at this moment, a group of people, all clad in black armor resembling water tanks, with only their limbs and heads exposed like black turtles, were reveling with joyous smiles on their faces.
"What a bunch of idiots! Didn't expect it to be this easy!"
"Their bounties are way too inflated! Hahaha!"
"With this, Big Bro's dream of many years can finally be realized!"
Zambai laughed loudly, tilted his head back, and downed a mouthful of rum, then slammed the cup heavily onto the table.
"For this day, Big Bro has waited for so many years! Hope he can successfully buy the Adam Wood timber."
"Every time before when we saved up money, it ended up being squandered by us," Mozu/Kiwi chimed in. "Didn't expect someone to be carrying so much money on them, and with no guard at all!"
"Well said! Hahaha!"
"Cheers to the Boss!"
The group drank heartily. For so many years, they had lived under Franky's protection.
They knew their leader's dream: to one day build a dream ship, for which timber from the Treasure Tree Adam was indispensable.
Unexpectedly, now, with their help, the Boss was finally about to realize his dream! They couldn't help but feel excited and thrilled.
BANG!!
Suddenly...
A violent sound erupted as the main door was kicked open with force. The sudden commotion startled everyone, and they all turned to look towards the entrance.
A blond man in a blue shirt, accompanied by a little girl with white twin tails, walked in uninvited towards them. The little girl even held two suitcases in her hands.
"Who are you!? How dare you trespass into Franky House!?"
"Doesn't look like they come in peace."
"Isn't that obvious!?"
Zambai instantly recognized the newcomer; the money had been stolen from him by Zambai and his underlings. He drew his sword, pointed it directly at Reiner, and alerted the others behind him:
"He's a subordinate of the Straw Hat crew! Looks like he's here to get the money back!"
Hearing this, the others who hadn't seen Reiner before also began to recall information.
They also worked as bounty hunters part-time and had naturally heard of the recently famous Straw Hat crew.
"I remember now!"
An orange-afro-haired man looked mockingly at Reiner. "Bounty five million Beri. Straw Hat Logistics – 'Black Snake' Reiner."
"Logistics? Isn't that just a chore boy who does dirty and tiring work?"
"Hahaha! Dare to come looking for trouble without even bringing the big shots!"
After recalling Reiner's information, the group became even more fearless, bursting into laughter.
Merely logistics, that's all!!
"Don't laugh too happily, you lot."
Reiner pulled over a chair and sat down. Unconcerned by their mockery, he crossed his legs and said coolly:
"Calling me a chore boy isn't entirely wrong. Logistics, well, it involves doing all sorts of miscellaneous things. For example, cleaning up trash, gathering supplies... or killing and robbing."
Large amounts of sand erupted from Frieren's staff, swirling continuously. Reiner's expression was mocking. "Are you ready for a beating, little trashes?"
(End of this chapter)
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