The ship was silver-white from bow to stern, and the figurehead was a winged horse with its wings spread. Because the lower cabins had three decks, the overall superstructure was taller than other great ships.
From the keel to the top of the mainmast, the ship's height looked to be at least over one hundred meters.
At that moment, Iceburg began to read out the ship's specs. "A custom large three-masted sailing ship, total length one hundred fifty-eight meters, with three masts, three mainsails, nine auxiliary sails, and a displacement of twelve thousand tons. There are five and a half decks of cabins in total, three below and two and a half above."
"As requested, the rooms, kitchen, dining hall, lounge, and study are all arranged above. Below, the first lower deck is a multi-sport level. The second and third lower decks are for entertainment and leisure, including a swimming pool, café, library, bar-dance-karaoke hall, wine cellar, small casino, aquarium, small maze, treasury, general stores, ice room, timber hold, and more."
"Good. I'm very satisfied."
Hearing Iceburg's description, Yami smiled with satisfaction.
Carina and Nami's eyes shone even brighter.
"The base build cost for this vessel was originally eight hundred fifty million belli."
Iceburg said, "But we added quite a lot along the way, so construction reached one billion eighty million. With my shipbuilding and fit-out fees, the total is one billion two hundred million belli."
"No problem. Come with me to the harbor in a bit and I'll pay the remainder."
Yami's easy manner made Iceburg smile slightly as he asked, "Every custom ship needs a name. Have you decided on one?"
"Pegasus. Let's call her Pegasus."
The answer came from Carina and Nami at the same time.
"Pegasus, the winged horse of myth?"
Iceburg glanced at the figurehead and nodded. "So that's it. A fine name."
Yami's expression turned a touch odd.
When he heard their choice, a certain Devil Fruit flashed through his mind.
The Animal-type Horse-Horse Fruit, Mythical Model: Pegasus.
In the original tale, its eater was a mount named Stronger, the poisonous steed of the Blackbeard Pirates.
When Stronger first appeared, it wasn't a user.
Only after Blackbeard defeated Wang Zhi and seized Hachinosu, when the crew showed themselves again, did Stronger become a Mythical Zoan user.
Barring surprises, the Pegasus model should be on Hachinosu, either tied to Wang Zhi or to one of his officers.
Of course, it could belong to someone else.
That fruit had collector's value.
If the chance came, Yami intended to get it.
Next, the three followed Iceburg aboard to inspect the interior.
They had barely stepped inside when Carina and Nami cried out in delight. "There's an elevator!"
"Yes. I installed a lift in the superstructure so you can move between decks quickly."
Iceburg smiled.
"That's wonderfully considerate." Carina and Nami cheered.
Yami nodded in approval.
They began with the two and a half decks above. The decor and furniture matched their tastes.
The study and the studio in particular filled Carina and Nami with satisfaction.
After finishing above, Yami went down to the three lower decks.
Compared to the upper decks, the lower ones held the largest square footage.
As long and wide as the ship was, that's how long and wide the space on those decks ran.
Unlike above, where the main deck swallowed most of the area.
The first lower deck held five separated courts.
A football pitch, a basketball court, a tennis court, a volleyball court, and a combined space for billiards and table tennis.
After checking the turf and equipment, they moved on to the second and third lower decks.
When everything had been inspected, Kalifa handed Carina and Nami an itemized list.
The list showed purchase prices and invoices.
Everything aboard matched the list.
Yami shook Iceburg's hand again, then had Lucci and the others help with offloading and moved the ship toward the port.
"Mr. Yami, there are only three of you?"
Watching Carina and Nami head back to carry things, Iceburg blinked.
"Yeah. I only brought two maids."
Yami smiled.
"Not going to hire a navigator and a helm team?"
Iceburg reminded him. "Unlike a small single-masted sloop, getting a large ship underway is a major operation. In heavy weather, you'll need several people just for helm and sail."
"It's fine. My two maids are very capable."
Yami was confident.
"All right then."
Iceburg didn't press the point.
Soon, Nami and Carina had moved all the valuables off the old ship.
Iceburg, Kalifa, and even Lucci stared wide-eyed at the bags of gold, the corners of their eyes twitching.
Good grief. These people really were loaded.
Paulie, who loved to gamble, kept swallowing, itching to grab the lot.
The next second that notion was doused in ice water, and a chill ran down his spine.
Lucci and Kaku's pupils tightened, their bodies tensing instinctively.
"Divine Judgment!"
Nami hopped onto the rail, lifted her hand, and unleashed a colossal lightning pillar that swallowed the old triangular-rigged sloop.
In an instant, the sloop shattered in the bolt as if shelled by a barrage of cannons, the hull burning to cinders in the electric heat.
When the pillar faded, only a short stub remained, slowly turning to charcoal in the flames.
The sloop that had carried Yami for months had reached the end of its life.
One strike ensured they would never get a ship's spirit.
But selling that vessel was out of the question, and abandoning it was worse.
So ending its life was the only choice.
"L-Logia, Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
Staring at the seemingly pure, cute orange-haired girl who had just destroyed a ship with a single blow, Kalifa's eyes trembled and she whispered the name of that legendary power.
"Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
Iceburg was just as shaken as he looked at Nami, finally understanding Yami's confidence.
A maid who was a Rumble-Rumble user.
If that news got out, it would cause no small stir across the world.
Lucci and Kaku instinctively lowered their heads, deciding to report it as soon as they returned.
"The balance. Check it."
Yami pointed to the six chests Carina and Nami had set on the ground.
He was quite pleased with Iceburg's and the others' reactions.
After obtaining the More-More Fruit, Yami no longer worried about hiding his identity.
If not for the fear of delaying the new ship, he wouldn't even have had Robin stay in subspace before.
Now that the ship was finished, he had no scruples.
He and Nami needed opponents.
Only by fighting strong foes could their wills rise quickly.
Yami no longer lacked strength, only the realm of will, the "heart" in mind-technique-body.
If the mind couldn't keep up with the body, Haki wouldn't awaken, and Devil Fruits wouldn't either.
Iceburg knew nothing of Yami's thoughts.
He shook his head at Yami's words. "No need. I trust you."
Between the sacks of gold and a maid who wielded a legendary Logia, Iceburg understood that Yami was no ordinary figure.
A man like that didn't lack money, and he had no interest in cheating anyone.
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