A few days later.
"Teacher Tom, come quick, the live broadcast has started!" Franky excitedly called out from the couch, waving to Fish-man Tom who had just entered the room.
The living room was bright, spacious, and tidy, with sunlight streaming in through the windows, filling the air with a faint floral fragrance.
Behind him, a high-definition virtual projection from the Image Snails displayed seven warships, bearing the scars of battle, slowly entering the vast port of G-1 Branch.
As for why it wasn't eight ships.
That's because two of them needed to continue escorting the cargo ship to Red Port. Although the distance between the two was almost 'face-to-face,' there was still a gap, so to emphasize the importance, warships were required to escort them until the very end.
The warship holding Kaido was currently at G-1 Base, receiving services from the Coating Craftsman. Once the Bubble Coating was applied, Vice Admiral Garp would escort it through Fish-Man Island in the depths of the sea, heading to Impel Down in the first half of the Grand Line.
At this moment, the worldwide live broadcast had resumed. Anyone following the event, whether nobles, royals, men, women, or children, turned on their Image Snails.
Those who couldn't afford Image Snails flocked to local squares or open spaces, gathering in large, dark crowds, creating a buzz of excitement.
Everyone was discussing just how much treasure ONE PIECE held.
Meanwhile, some combat enthusiasts were heatedly debating whether Marine Admirals or the Emperors of the Sea were stronger.
The newly promoted Vice Admirals, Akainu and Kizaru, as well as the absent but still well-known Vice Admiral Aokiji, also became hot topics of conversation.
Honestly, the recent super naval battle had opened the eyes of people across the seas and indirectly intimidated the royal families and pirates in various regions.
Especially the pirates from the four seas, who had previously been a bit arrogant with even a little strength, thinking they were top-tier in the world, and eagerly rushed toward Reverse Mountain.
But now, about 80% of the pirates had given up on the idea of venturing into the Grand Line! Otherwise, they'd be marked as high-priority targets as soon as they entered, and what if a Marine Admiral came after them? That would be pure suicide!
At the same time, the world's people had gained greater confidence in and reliance on the Marines' strength, naturally leading to increased reverence and obedience toward the World Government.
"Keep it down! You're so noisy, Baka-Ki!" Iceburg, with his blue-purple long hair wrapped in a white towel, angrily set down his cup of black tea.
When he first met Franky years ago, he thought the name sounded a bit odd, so he casually changed it to Franky. As their relationship 'heated up,' it turned into 'Baka-Ki' during their lively arguments.
"What did you say, Baka-Yama!!"
Franky was equally furious, immediately turning to start a shouting match. Fortunately, at that moment, Mermaid Kokoro, the secretary, walked over and gently pushed him back with a slender finger on his forehead.
"Alright, alright, here, try this cake I just made." As she spoke, she placed a plate of cream cakes on the coffee table, then looked at Tom, who had sat down on the couch, and asked with a smile, "So, how's work going?"
"It's still stuck on the problem of the wheels derailing from the floating tracks in the sea. That's a real clanging big issue, hahahaha!" Tom the Shipwright laughed heartily, tears even springing from his eyes.
"I can't help you with that."
Kokoro stood behind the sofa, watching the military cargo ship that had already arrived at Red Port on the screen, and smiled. "I just noticed how this place is becoming more and more impressive. It's changing day by day. In just a few months, there's not a trace of the old Scrap Island left."
"Exactly! If I hadn't been living here all along, I might not even recognize the roads now. It's so clean, so wide, and there are so many barracks!"
Franky, with a mouthful of cream cake, nodded vigorously, the rich aroma of the cream filling his mouth.
Even the usually composed Iceburg chimed in, "Although that idiot Franky never says anything useful, this time the World Government has really done a good job. Not only are all the shipyards operating smoothly, but the smiles on the faces of the island's residents have also increased. Since the Navy stationed here, there hasn't been a single pirate attack."
Franky flared up, "What did you say, you dumb Iceburg?!"
"Hahahaha, I used to have some prejudices against the World Government too, but now it seems they're a clanging good government after all. It was all a misunderstanding!" Mr. Tom laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face.
"But seriously, with them here, we can focus entirely on our research and development. That's a huge help!"
If we pull our perspective up from this cozy living room, we can see that the former Scrap Island, located next to Water 7, has been completely transformed.
To ensure the style didn't clash with Water 7, the construction department built spacious, near-modern factories using large blocks of stone and laid down solid stone roads.
Considering that this place would not only be the base for manufacturing the Sea Train but also the future hub for its maintenance and adjustments, they constructed a massive train station along the coast. This station is large enough to accommodate seven Sea Train tracks leading to major routes in the Grand Line.
Although it looks quite empty now, once the Sea Train is fully developed, various facilities and shunting equipment will fill the space. One can only imagine how bustling it will be then.
"By the way, I called Fish-Man Island yesterday. I just wanted to check in with my family, but it turns out there have been big changes there recently, and it's also related to the World Government."
Kokoro slapped the back of her head, excitedly recounting what she had heard, her tone full of joy and excitement. She ended with a happy laugh, "In the future, will our Sea Train also go to Sabaody Archipelago? Let's go check it out together, okay?"
"Sabaody Archipelago is the last island in the first half of the Grand Line, so of course the Sea Train will go there," Mr. Tom nodded, then sighed.
"However, what I truly admire is that the World Government not only returned all our enslaved brethren but also established a naval branch on Fish-Man Island and allowed the Neptune Army to station and patrol on Sabaody Archipelago. This is truly a remarkable act of benevolence. It seems that the era of equality between Fish-men and humans is finally upon us!"
Seeing the two adults engaged in serious conversation, Iceburg and Franky stopped their noise and instead focused on the live broadcast showing wooden crates being unloaded from a cargo ship, while also listening intently.
"It seems we need to speed up the development of the Sea Train!"
"The sooner it's built, the sooner it can connect the islands, bringing people closer together. Perhaps one day, more Fish-men and Mermen will come to Water 7 for leisure. This would be my contribution as a Fish-man to the World Government's kindness and benevolence, as well as an expression of my gratitude."
After saying this, Tom stood up, his massive frame towering over the room. He no longer cared about the live broadcast or the treasure of the Pirate King. His heart was filled with fervor, and he wanted to return to his work immediately.
Franky and Iceburg exchanged a glance, then reluctantly turned their heads away. Yet, they stood up in unison and followed him, even though Franky had been shouting earlier about wanting to see the One Piece.