Renedia, ten years old this year, was adopted by her master from a young age and taught the skills of a boatman.
Like her master, she dreams of making the world safer for navigation, aiming to build ships that can sail the seas safely.
After the king's death, she couldn't possibly stay in the Nadia Kingdom, and willingly boarded the ship.
Under the dark of night, on the deck of the ship, Renedia said to Sage, "I helped you escape, so I guess that repays you for helping me defeat Murdoch. This ship is also yours now, just drop me off at the next town."
"Once you're on a pirate ship, you think you can get off?"
Sage chuckled and said, "Forget it, the Navy is here. Their surveillance methods are quite advanced and they'll find you eventually. Join my pirate crew."
"I refuse!"
Renedia shook her head and said, "Being a pirate won't let me build ships, and I want to keep building ships."
"You won't be able to build anything without materials. How long will it take you to find materials in the East Sea? And once you find them, how many years will it take to get them?"
Sage said, "Why not think about it differently? You want your ship to gain fame, right? Then why not follow this ship? I'm a pirate and will eventually head to the Grand Line. If a ship can safely traverse the Grand Line, won't it gain fame?"
"Instead of spending years, even decades, waiting for materials and finding someone to support your shipbuilding, why not join me? With the time you're waiting, I'll have reached the New World."
"After all, you steal the materials for shipbuilding. Being a pirate shouldn't be an issue for you, right? Once you gain fame and gather materials, won't you be scared your ship won't get famous?"
"Well... that kind of makes sense." Renedia used her small hand to touch her chin, pretending to think like an adult.
"Have you been to the Grand Line?" Sage continued to ask.
"No..."
"Neither have I."
Sage said, "But you've heard of it, right? The climate and routes of the Grand Line are unique, incomparable to ordinary seas. This ship may sail smoothly in the East Sea, but is it really ready for the Grand Line? If it breaks, you won't even be able to repair it since you crafted it, you should care about its after-sales, right? Or do you lack confidence?"
"Nonsense! My shipbuilding skills are the best!"
Renedia rolled her eyes, "I don't need your twisted logic. I originally wanted to gain fame first before going to the Grand Line to compete with boatmen worldwide... Fine! Let's just go! From now on, I'm your employee, boss!"
She's just a little girl, but her perspective and intelligence aren't low, of course, she wouldn't limit herself to the East Sea.
"Hahaha, call me captain!"
Sage shouted to everyone else, "Everyone, bring out the good wine, let's celebrate having a boatman on board!"
"Oh!!" the pirates cheered.
A boatman, and a high-tech one at that, why not have one?
Ships definitely need maintenance and repair, they're no perpetual motion machines.
If Renedia can build such a big ship, why would he go for ordinary talents?
Too young?
She can be trained over time.
Even if Renedia has no combat ability, with such skills, Sage can make her an officer. Moreover, she's an ability user with considerable strength.
"Umm..."
Amid the cheers, Pearl raised his hand, eagerly asking, "Can you make another Iron Person? I really want one!"
"Get lost, Turtle Shell!"
Renedia raised her brow, "Isn't it obvious? An Iron Person is controlled by my ability. Without the ability, it's just a pile of barely movable scrap metal. Are you a turtle for wanting to live in a snail shell? You'd be better off being eaten by a Sea Beast; their massive body could give you shelter!"
"I have a question!"
Gin stepped up, with a firm gaze, "I am Gin, not a monkey!"
"A monkey can be named Gin too! If you're unhappy, kill all the monkeys, but then you'll be the only monkey left in the world, and you'll find no peers, Black-skinned Monkey!" Renedia shouted.
Well...
Her temper is still pretty fiery.
"Sage, we need to recruit more crew."
Lily looked at the empty deck and said, "This number of people just won't cut it."
She could tell the ship's seamless operation was thanks to Renedia's abilities because, with just thirty-something people, they couldn't operate such a large ship.
"Indeed, it's not enough."
Renedia replied, "This ship is even bigger than a Grand Line Navy battleship. The standard capacity is a thousand, max up to fifteen hundred, with 380 cannons; 300 on either side, 80 between the front and back, with a main cannon at the bow. Maintaining the masts needs over a hundred people, and thirty can't adjust in a storm fast enough."
"No hurry, I don't plan to enter the Grand Line yet."
Sage waved his hand, "Let's see along the way if there are suitable pirates, ask them to join our ship, but for now..."
He glanced at the pirates already drinking, squinting his eyes, and said, "Starting tomorrow, training begins."
Recruiting pirates is necessary, but enhancing the current crew's strength is crucial too.
With this base, entering the Grand Line is impossible.
A territory lord should exploit his subordinates, not be exploited by them; if they can handle it, why should he?
Let's start training with a few qualified ones...
...
The next day.
"Captain, do we really have to do this? I'm really scared of pain, I'll go crazy, really, I'll go crazy!"
At this moment, Pearl was held by several pirates, while the rest weighed iron rods in their hands, waiting for Sage's order.
The jewel-studded throne had been moved to the deck by subordinates, and Sage sat on it, expressionless, "Hit him."
Bam bam bam!
The iron rods mercilessly struck Pearl.
The excruciating pain made Pearl's eyes spin as he howled in agony.
This 'Iron Wall' Pearl isn't weak; he can block cannon blasts with just an Iron Shield, with a big physique and strength, but there's one thing, he's really afraid of pain...
"How can you train Tekkai if you're afraid of pain? Change your fear of pain first. Instead of relying on an external Iron Shield, isn't it better to use your body as a shield? Hurt now, it won't hurt later."
What Sage was having Pearl practice was Tekkai, one of the Six Styles.
By controlling the acceleration of blood flow, the body hardens. The principle... well, men understand.
"But I see Lady Lily do it so easily!" Pearl shouted in panic.
On the other side of the deck, Lily walked back and forth, each step landing several times on the deck.
"She's not training Tekkai, she's doing 'Soru.' Focus on mastering Tekkai first before looking at anything else." Sage waved his hand and said, "Hit faster, this is too slow."
Bam bam bam!
On the deck, only the sound of iron rods hitting and Pearl's wails were heard...