Chapter 393: The Airship
Tom furrowed his brows as he studied the section of the blueprint Charlotte had handed him.
"Mr. Charlotte, I think I can give it a try!" Tom said confidently.
Charlotte glanced at Tom, then looked toward Caesar Clown.
After a moment, he nodded.
"Alright. I'll leave the ship in both your hands. But the contents of this blueprint must never be leaked."
"Yes, sir!" Tom's face lit up with excitement.
To participate in building such a vessel was a milestone in any shipwright's life—enough to make his name live on in shipbuilding history.
"Alright, lads! We've got work to do!" Tom bellowed to his crew.
Last month, he had built a vessel for the Roger Pirates capable of navigating the New World's violent seas.
Now, he was building a ship unlike any other—for a man whom his old friend once revered.
Tom felt that this year was the most fulfilling of his life.
The blueprint Charlotte had just shown him—even a partial page—was unlike anything he'd ever seen.
Tom's skills were honed with the help of the Pluton blueprints, and now this—something perhaps even more intricate.
---
The Poseidon was soon brought into Tom's Shipyard.
The entire Rockefeller Pirates crew disembarked.
Looking out at the vibrant city of Water 7, everyone decided to go exploring.
Charlotte, too, tried to take a walk through the city…
But the streets were eerily empty.
Once bustling markets now stood abandoned.
"…Am I really that terrifying?" Charlotte turned to his wives with an exasperated look.
Elena and the others covered their mouths and giggled.
Seeing Charlotte frustrated was oddly delightful.
Charlotte sighed and returned to the shipyard.
---
Inside Tom's shipyard, Tom was in shock after examining the full blueprint Caesar Clown showed him.
"This... this is a flying ship?!"
Caesar, who had been inspecting the facility for necessary materials, waved off the question.
"What's the big deal? It's just a flying ship."
He then spotted a piece of precious lumber on the lot.
"Hey, Tom, didn't expect you to have Adam Wood lying around!"
Tom chuckled.
"This is Water 7—the greatest shipbuilding city in the world. While Adam Wood is rare elsewhere, it's not so uncommon here."
But Tom's attention stayed locked on the Ark Maxim blueprint.
Even more sophisticated than the Pluton blueprints.
Pluton focused on firepower and speed.
But Maxim could fly.
A ship soaring through the skies—wasn't that every shipwright's dream?
---
"Alright! Let's get started," Caesar declared.
"The captain gave us only a week. Have your crew gather the materials listed here!"
He handed Tom a checklist he had already compiled.
Tom looked it over and nodded.
"None of this is too rare. I'll have everything prepared shortly!"
And just like that, Tom's Shipyard roared to life with the sound of hammers, saws, and commands.
Meanwhile, Charlotte sat in his quarters flipping through over a month's worth of newspapers.
Having stayed on Skypiea, he had been unaware of the latest world events.
Now, thanks to Morgans' newspaper, he caught up.
One bold headline stood out:
> "Roger Pirates Break Through Hero Garp and Admiral Blockade to Enter New World Again!"
Charlotte chuckled.
The navy had never succeeded against Roger.
And now… they'd tried to blockade Sabaody Archipelago?
Would they do the same to him?
Charlotte had to be prepared.
---
A week passed.
And the new Poseidon was complete.
It was a hundred-meter-long steel juggernaut—reborn.
The most notable changes were a pair of retractable wings and a revamped control room.
"Mr. Charlotte!" Tom called with pride. "I guarantee—this ship is one of a kind in the world!"
Charlotte smiled as he gazed at the ship.
"Is that so? I hope you're right."
"Dad! Dad! I wanna build a flying ship too!" Robert and the other kids bounced with excitement.
"We'll see how you do in the future," Charlotte replied with a grin.
Over the past few days, Charlotte had also "acquired" the Pluton blueprints from Tom.
Not the most ethical means… but who could resist?
He'd heard that Wano once housed a completed Pluton Battleship, though it was reportedly destroyed in a volcanic eruption.
Perhaps… he'd take a look when he returned.
---
As the Poseidon departed from Water 7, Tom stood at the port and waved goodbye.
The ship sailed into the open sea.
On deck…
"Activate flight mode," Charlotte ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
The helmsman pressed the necessary switches.
The ship's wings extended outward.
Tesla approached a crystalline orb and placed his hand upon it.
"100,000 Volts!"
Electricity surged from Tesla into the device.
Energy conduits lit up as power surged throughout the ship.
Caesar Clown monitored the readings closely.
The ship slowly lifted off the sea.
Everyone watched, breath held.
"It's flying!" someone yelled.
Crew members ran to the railing to witness the miracle.
Charlotte smiled.
"Success."
The ship rose higher and higher, until it reached 5,000 meters.
Then, the rear thruster cannons ignited.
The ship accelerated—twice as fast as it had moved on water.
Charlotte's lips curled up into a smirk.
A new plan was forming in his mind…
> An airborne fleet was on the horizon.
But there was one problem to solve—energy.
Tesla… was just one man.
---
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