Chapter 194: Ancient Weapon, Pluton

The moment Tom, the legendary shipwright, arrived on Onigashima, Kaido immediately ordered him to construct a Sea Train connecting Onigashima and Wano Country.

Surprisingly, Tom was eager to take on the task without a hint of resistance.

To support him, Kaido secretly sent his subordinates to fetch Tom's apprentices while preparing all the resources Tom might need. If the Sea Train between Onigashima and Wano was successfully completed, Kaido's next step would be to connect Wano to the Ailen Island via another Sea Train.

The Sea Train's importance to the Beasts Pirates far exceeded that of battleships.

Due to his massive size, Wadatsumi was stationed on the ocean floor between Onigashima and Wano, under Jack's orders.

While the distance between Onigashima and Wano wasn't particularly far, the only way into Wano was by flying or navigating up the treacherous waterfall, which attracted pirates from all over seeking entry for various reasons. By stationing Wadatsumi underwater, alongside a squad of Fish-Men guards, Wano's defense was significantly strengthened, ensuring a secure passage along the planned Sea Train route.

With all logistical arrangements complete, Jack conducted inspections of the various factories in Kuri before sparring daily with Black Maria and Yamato.

As for Teren, after Jack forced him to eat the Mark-Mark Fruit, Jack couldn't even stomach the roasted skewers Teren prepared—the overwhelming stench of urine was unbearable. Jack suspected Teren might have "enhanced" the skewers after cooking them.

Fortunately, Jack had decent cooking skills himself. After training with Maria and Yamato, he would prepare his own skewers to replenish his energy. Considering their current circumstances and age, Jack wasn't in a rush to have children.

There was no telling what traits their offspring might inherit. Fish-Men genetics were unpredictable, and the child's appearance could be anyone's guess. For example, though Jack was a purebred Fish-Man, his appearance showed little resemblance to his heritage, aside from his sharp teeth and unique eyes.

If a child took after Yamato or Black Maria, it would be fine—but if the child ended up looking like Finder? That would be hard to bear.

As for ways to prevent such outcomes, Jack didn't bother. With his mastery of martial arts, he could absorb their vitality with just a slight move, though he occasionally felt guilty about it—wasting millions, if not billions, of lives in the process. To honor their sacrifice, he'd eat a few extra skewers.

Time flew by, and the Fire Festival arrived once again.

Tom's apprentice, Iceburg, chose not to join the Beasts Pirates due to his personal dreams and didn't show up. However, he publicly released the blueprints for the Sea Train, which Tom claimed was typical of Iceburg's personality. Kaido made no further attempts to recruit him.

The World Government had gone mad searching for Tom but eventually gave up. To prevent leaks, Tom disguised himself whenever he traveled and was personally guarded by King during events like the Fire Festival. Tom didn't mind this arrangement. Immersed in the design and construction of the Sea Train, he found immense joy in his work.

Kaido spared no effort to support him, sending skilled shipwrights to assist and promptly providing whatever materials Tom required. This enthusiasm only made Tom work harder, as creating was his greatest passion.

Though Jack didn't fully understand Tom's mindset, he respected it and occasionally treated the shipwright to meals in the Gourmet District. Notably, Tom developed a peculiar fondness for Teren's infamous skewers, devouring dozens in one sitting despite the strong stench.

Unlike the Sea Train connecting Water 7, which took over a decade to build, the one linking Onigashima and Wano was completed in just over a year, thanks to Kaido's unwavering support.

The train's spacious design accommodated even the largest members of the Beasts Pirates, ensuring Jack felt comfortable riding it. It also featured a diving function, utilizing coral bubbles from Fish-Man Island. This innovation allowed the train to travel underwater, directly connecting to Fish-Man settlements below.

The Sea Train was a massive success, earning unanimous praise from the Beasts Pirates. To staff the railway, Jack selected over a hundred non-combative Fish-Men, providing them with stable jobs as operators and maintenance workers.

As preparations began to extend the railway to the Ailen Island, Wadatsumi made a shocking discovery that even stunned Kaido.

Kaido had developed underwater facilities beneath Wano to serve as a haven for Fish-Men. As their population grew, he expanded the underwater area, assigning Wadatsumi to assist the engineering team to keep him occupied.

But during his work, Wadatsumi unearthed something extraordinary—a massive ancient battleship buried beneath Wano's island base.

When Jack reported this to Kaido—who had been playing cards with his secretaries—the Emperor initially waved him off impatiently. But upon realizing what Jack meant, Kaido leaped out of the hot spring, transformed into his dragon form, and soared into the sky, completely naked.

Arriving at the site via Sea Train, Kaido and Jack used coral bubbles to dive into the depths.

Guided by Wadatsumi, they laid eyes on the enormous battleship, its imposing hull half-exposed. A sense of ancient majesty emanated from the vessel, its deck adorned with menacing cannons and other bizarre, unrecognizable weapons.

Several slashing scars marred the ship's surface, adding to its aura of age and mystery.

Though the lower hull was submerged, the rest of the ship appeared untouched by seawater, and faint lights still flickered on its instruments, hinting it remained operational.

"How can this ship resist the sea… and still function?" Jack muttered, unable to comprehend the advanced technology.

Kaido, however, said nothing, observing the ship with an intensity that revealed his excitement.

After some time, Tom arrived at the scene.

The moment Tom saw the battleship, his eyes widened in disbelief. He dashed aboard, meticulously examining the deck and the ship's systems.

Finally, he spoke, his voice trembling:

"This… This is the Ancient Weapon—Pluton!"

"The technology… the craftsmanship… It's beyond belief!"

"Wororororo!" Kaido's laughter echoed through the depths.

"Tom," Kaido said, fixing the shipwright with a piercing gaze. "I didn't ask you to build Pluton for me, but its appearance here is clearly fate. You must restore it to its former glory!"

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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg