Bells rang while chatter filled the air as the Horizons Palm floated gently through the canal. Almost no one paid attention to the jolly roger that proudly waved through the air.
"They must get pirates pretty often." Leroy thought out loud.
"Well, Mary did say that Water 9 is the Ship Capital of the world. It makes sense that Pirates would make their way here for upgrades or a new ship." Raven spoke
"Speaking of-" Jeanne had been leaning on the railing, only to look over to her captain when Raven offered up the suggestion and possibility of a new ship
"Nope." He spoke plainly "We haven't even tried to see what the shipwrights here have to say about the palm! If she can't be, and we really try. Then we'll just get the best ship we can."
"Would just save time if we didn't." Kále, the man that had no real materialistic connections to things said bluntly
"I mean sure, but we could save money if we could just repair it." Leroy said with a shrug
"I guess." Kále shrugged as well, falling to his behind resting his swords next to him on his shoulders.
"We still need to find out where to go." Dezzi said hanging their arms off the side of the ship.
"Yeah, we should." Leroy put a foot up onto the rail, and stepped up onto it before leaping off of it and cross the meters long gap between the Palm and the closest island and landing in a crowd!
A sudden gasp was let out as they all stepped back, giving the Captain a birth, looking at the man with black hair in a staggered way.
"Leroy!" Kirk screamed, gripping the railing to chastise his captain for the rude introduction
Leroy went from person to person, getting a bit too close to them to ask around before finally, a large rotund man with suspenders against a plaid shirt finally gave him directions
"If you're wanting to get a ship repaired, you want to head to the Nuff Wright Company. Head up into one of the water locks and take it up. They go up and down every 15 minutes." He lifted a fat hand that was rough, pointing to the water locks
"Say- Whys this place called the Ship Capital of the world?" Leroy said, turning back to the round-faced man. His intrigue getting the better of him
"Well-" He lifted a hand to scratch at his scruff. "Almost everyone here does something related to Ships…I paint and lacquer ships by hand. Some sell rigging, some do sails, some will sell ships, others selling certain kinds…"
"They've all got something different than the other. But- The Nuff Wrights Company, they're owned by the Island itself. All money they make goes back into the City. And since everyone needs a shipwright at some point when they sail-"
"The Island provides that as apart of its provided resources. You can find a Nuff Wright company building almost anywhere, there's one down here, but it's on the other side of the island. So you'll want to take 5 through 7 and look for the big building with the huge cranes."
"Once your there, you'll want to check in with one of the guys at the docks. You'll know it when you see it."
"Thanks! You know a lot!" Leroy gave the man a smile.
"Well, thank you. I needed a small talkin'. Be seein ya." He tipped his hat.
As the man walked away, there was another man with his hands clasped together. Beads around his neck as he wore a colored teal green and golden robe. A cup in front of him.
The sound of coin against metal sounded out as Leroy tossed a couple Berry into the metal can. The man did not open his eyes for a moment, even with the sound.
"Hm" Leroy gave a casual shrug. 'A bit strange but, okay.' he thought to himself
Stretching his hand back out to the Palm, Leroy zipped back! His rubbery arm snapping back into place only for kirks hand to slap into his back, knocking him from the railing
"Ow!" Again. Didn't hurt. But it was a surprise "Why'd you have to go and bother that guy! Didn't you see he was carrying groceries!"
Kirk reprimanded with a grimace on his face.
"What! He was the only one that stopped!"
"Because you stopped him!"
"So what! I figured out where to go now! We just have to take one of those water locks and go up into the next level, then find a place called 'The Nuff Wright Company'"
"Ugh-" Kirk put his hand to his forehead with a sigh. "Well you did do that…You think they'll be able to fix the palm?"
The Fishmen turned, placing his hands on his hips.
"Maybe! But we gotta wait fifteen minutes for one of the locks to take us up." Leroy rubbed his shoulders, standing to his feet
Another few minutes, and the Palm was on course to the Water Lock, moving through the traffic of Boats in the wide rivers. The buildings around them were simple but intricate, their walls colors of pale pink, yellow and pale blue. The buildings themselves had depth from pillars and corners that were carved as their roofs were made of hard curved tiles in a vibrant red color.
There were some people that stood atop of the roofs, scraping away at the tile.
Before long, the Crew was at the Water lock, waiting in line behind a giant galleon that casted an enormous shadow over the Caravel. A few workers pale blue vest ove top dress shirts suddenly called through a horn
"Caravel with the White sails. Move to the left up along the galleon."
Doing as the worker said, the crew were huddled into multiple lines as the wall of the Water Lock raised, a rope with buoys across its length stopping them from moving forward.
"Looks like you're lucky. People always want to get a spot in the back to watch the Water." Spoke a tall muscular man with a bicorn hat from the Galleon next to them."
"You from around here?" They asked.
"Nope! I'm from the East Blue! Almost all of us are!" Leroy said, raising a hand to his brow to block the sun.