Chapter 375: A Towering Tree Grown Overnight!
Water Seven.
Directly opposite Shipyard No. 1, what was originally Scrap Island piled high with various broken ships, has now been transformed by the Construction Department into the Sea Train Research Base, clean, orderly, with well-arranged buildings and wide, flat streets. It is also the future Sea Train Main Station.
Looking down from above Water Seven, one can see an expanse of seashell-white roofs.
The visual effect is very beautiful. Recently, many local Residents or Tourists who came to order ships specifically went to the higher levels of the City just to admire it.
Gradually, some people began to call this Sea Train Base the 'Snow Seashell'.
At this moment.
The Port here has been temporarily blockaded by the Marines. Many Staff and Researchers who heard the News are specifically standing outside the blockade line, gazing out at the Sea Surface.
And inside the blockade line.
Deputy Division Chief Jerome, who is from the Administrative Department Maritime Affairs Division and also serves as the Base Commander, is standing together with Mr. Tom and the current Mayor Manan, talking and laughing.
Behind them are Ms. Kokoro, Iceberg, Franky, four Division-Level Officials from the Maritime Affairs Department, and Officials from the Water Seven City Government.
"Almost here, right?"
"Didn't they say they'd be here at one? It's already one twenty-five..."
"Hey, you know how the Climate is in the Grand Line, how can it be truly on time?"
"But they should be coming from Underwater... Ah, they're here!"
Just as the surrounding crowd was discussing animatedly, the Sea Surface within the Port suddenly surged upwards, bulging at a speed visible to the naked eye.
[Roar————]
When the massive Creature Underwater tore off its 'sea cloak', large waves of water splashed in all directions. Immediately, a Rainbow formed above under the Sunlight, creating a beautiful Scenery.
"Wow!"
Instantly, exclamations rose continuously In the Court.
A giant Green-Shelled Sea Turtle appeared in the Port, accompanied by two equally giant Flounders on either side. Their entire bodies were covered by a transparent bubble, and various houses built with Seashells or Coral were constructed on their backs.
"So many Fish-men!"
"Where are the Mermaids? Didn't they say many beautiful Mermaids would come?"
These otaku men and women who have long worked and lived at the Base strained their Necks and widened their Eyes, searching for what they desired in their Hearts on the three Giant Beasts.
But after looking for a long time, all they saw were Fish-Man Soldiers wearing Armor and holding Steel Forks, or clearly middle-aged and elderly Fish-men with Wrinkles.
Let alone Mermaids, there weren't even any female Fish-men.
On the other side, Deputy Division Chief Jerome and the others ignored the noise outside and greeted the guests from Fish-Man Island with smiles, who were walking down from the back of the Great Sea Turtle by stepping on Wooden Boards.
First, the Sea King Army's Fish-Man Soldiers ran down, standing tall and straight in neat queues on both sides.
Then came the Ryugu Palace's Left Minister, a Catfish Fish-man, leading Fisher Tiger, who is already an Officer in the Sea King Army, and an unfamiliar old Fish-man behind him.
"Welcome to Water Seven, I am Jerome, the Base Commander here!"
Deputy Division Chief Jerome took the initiative to greet them first.
Although Mayor Manan was the host, he didn't dare to contend with a World Government Division-Level Official for this. He could only wait for Jerome to finish before stepping forward solemnly and shaking hands with the Left Minister.
"I am Mayor Manan here. On behalf of all the Citizens of Water Seven, I express my sincere gratitude for the help provided by Fish-Man Island!"
The Left Minister smiled and said, "You are too kind. Water Seven has also paid us sufficient compensation. It is a fair transaction between us, there is no need for this."
"No, no, no, if our Island can stop being invaded by the 'Aqua Laguna' just by paying Money, then this is definitely a great grace!"
Mayor Manan said in a deep voice.
For this Island, the most famous Shipbuilding Island in the World, while its Wealth is not so abundant that it doesn't need consideration, it is still quite wealthy.
"Hehe, this must be Mr. Tom, right? I've heard a lot about you for a long time, and finally, we meet today!"
After exchanging a few words with the Mayor, the Left Minister turned his Gaze to Mr. Tom beside him.
"His Majesty Neptune asked me to convey to you that once the Sea Train Research is completed, if you have time, you must return to Fish-Man Island. He will hold a celebratory banquet for you in Ryugu Palace!"
"Ryugu Palace, huh? If I have the chance, I really want to see it..." Mr. Tom said with emotion, then smiled and asked, "Can I bring a few people with me then?"
Upon hearing this, Iceberg and Franky behind him immediately showed expressions of anticipation.
"Of course you can, but not too many~"
The Left Minister teased them, then introduced the elderly Fish-man behind him, a Bonito Fish-man with silver-white skin.
"This is Engineer Boyle, the highest person in charge of managing and maintaining the Air Reservoir!"
"Oh, right, you can also call him Dr. Boyle, because he has been granted Doctorate Qualification and an Epithet by the World Government's Academy of Science."
Hearing these words, everyone, including Deputy Division Chief Jerome, was moved.
One was a World Government Division-Level Official, another was the Mayor of an Island directly under the World Government.
The other was the World's number one shipwright who had already stepped halfway into the Academy of Science and was promised that as long as he developed the Sea Train, his Crime would be Washed Away and he would be granted Doctorate Qualification. Therefore, they all understood what an Academy of Science Doctor represented.
Such individuals would receive a high degree of attention and Protection from the World Government. According to the latest regulations, the severity of the consequences for harming them is basically second only to the Celestial Dragons.
"Hello everyone, the Project to build the Air Reservoir in Water Seven will be fully under This Old Man's responsibility from now on. I hope everyone can fully cooperate!"
Dr. Boyle said with a serious expression.
"Of course, you can tell us whatever you need!"
Mayor Manan eagerly agreed, then asked expectantly, "May I ask how long this Air Reservoir will take to complete?"
"It will take at least four years!"
"Huh?"
Everyone was stunned. Deputy Division Chief Jerome looked at Dr. Boyle in confusion.
"Why does it take so long?"
"Because we need to plant trees first, Yarukiman Mangroves, and they need to reach a height of at least twenty meters. This growth process will take about three years."
Seeing that they still didn't understand, Dr. Boyle continued to explain.
"For bubbles to last a long time, besides needing air, they must also have enough Mangroves. And the bigger the bubble, the more are needed."
"But I remember there weren't many Mangroves on Fish-Man Island?"
Mr. Tom asked with a confused expression, scratching the back of his head.
"That's because next to our Fish-Man Island is the Sun Tree Eve, which is itself the World's largest Yarukiman Mangrove!"
Speaking of this, Dr. Boyle's eyes showed a look of reverence. He had always felt that the existence of the Sun Tree was the greatest grace to the Fish-Man Tribe.
"But if it's just planting trees, it doesn't seem like you need to come in person, right?" Mayor Manan asked.
"This Old Man came this time to observe the situation of this Island on site, and then determine the planting position of each Mangrove and the future placement location of the air reservoir."
At this point, the Left Minister interjected, smiling, "So this time we not only brought enough Mangrove saplings, but also brought a lot of soil suitable for their growth."
"Yes, after seeing it, This Old Man will go back. I'll bring people and equipment back in three years!"
"I see..."
Mayor Manan nodded, feeling a bit disappointed. He had thought it could be completed within a year, thinking he wouldn't have to worry about next year's 'Aqua Laguna'.
But he immediately regained his spirit. Three or four years is three or four years, at least there's hope, right?
"Do you need manpower for planting trees? We in Water Seven can gather many young and strong people to help!"
"No need, we have already invited professionals from the Sabaody Archipelago who are responsible for tending to the Mangroves." Dr. Boyle shook his head.
"Water Seven only needs to provide enough Guides to take them to the planting locations, and then look after those Saplings in the subsequent time..."
Two weeks later, the forty Mangrove saplings brought by the Left Minister and the others were successfully planted in their corresponding positions in Water Seven. During this time, Dr. Boyle also completed his investigation.
But on the morning of the day after they were preparing to return to Fish-Man Island, successive exclamations rang out in Water Seven.
"This! What's going on?!"
Because the 'Snow Seashell' is located outside Water Seven, the overall changes in Water Seven can be easily observed from here.
Dr. Boyle, Mr. Tom, the Left Minister, Tiger, and others stared dumbfounded at the Yarukiman Mangroves on the Island that had grown into Towering Trees.
Now, Water Seven looks like a large blue Cake with dozens of green Candles stuck in it...
"Hehehe, this gives me a reason to recommend myself. Although it's troublesome, I helped them so much, they shouldn't treat me badly, right?"
A tall Figure with curly black Hair stood on the City Gate Platform of Shipyard No. 5 on the other side of Water Seven, gazing at his Masterpiece and laughing loudly.
"I must reach the higher-ups of this World's Food Chain and meet those Celestial Dragons standing at the top. I'll start by joining the Marines..."
(End of this chapter)