Tapping his finger on the table, Bill leaned back and thought.
By this time it was about 7:30 a.m., and while Bill was thinking about his ideas, there was a knock at the door.
Calling out to the newcomer, Bill saw Yoko rush inside energetically, with Carol quietly following her.
The two girls were about the same age and had become friends over the month or so that Bill was in the hospital.
"Bill!" Yoko exclaimed, and continued enthusiastically, "Tell Carol about the Clock Island! She doesn't believe that the island rose high into the sky!"
Raising her hands to show how tall he was, Yoko spoke, and Bill, listening to her, only laughed.
- Hahaha, yes, it was really amazing, wasn't it?
When she said that, he remembered the pile of steel they'd left in the rubble. Bill hadn't thought about it after what had happened to the refugees, but now he felt a little ashamed.
Buying metal for Little Eastern Blue Island? No way!
The real question was how to transport the huge amount of materials through the Belt of Silence!
"Hey, are you listening?" Yoko's voice brought him back to reality, and focusing on her and Carol, he said:
- Thanks to you, I remembered something really important!
With these words, Bill stood up and headed for the door. When asked where he was going, he replied:
— I need to see Captain Smoker.
Yoko: - Are you going to town? Can I come with you?!
Bill turned his head and said he didn't mind, but Carol needed to ask her father for permission. Carol said her father never minded when she played in town, but Bill still told her to go and ask.
While the girls ran, Bill went into the dining room and joined the old men, who were playing checkers and discussing the weather.
"Yeah, it seems to be getting hotter every year," Bill said, more out of instinct than based on any facts.
- Bububu, my captain! I didn't think you had so many years of experience to judge!
Laughing in response, Bill said:
- I don't think so.
Meanwhile, the girls returned, followed by Masterson.
After saluting Bill, the Marine sniper said:
- Sir, my daughter says you are going into town. I will go with you as an escort.
Bill shrugged and said he didn't mind, although he didn't think it was necessary, but it was enough for Masterson to invite himself.
As the four walked across the docks, Bill and Masterson walked ahead and the girls followed behind.
Masterson: - Ah, Captain, I had something to discuss.
Hearing this, Bill asked his new recruit what was wrong. He noticed that since leaving the hospital, Masterson had become much more formal than before.
Masterson: Well, you see, one of the conditions of my contract was an education for Carol... but a month has passed and nothing seems to have been done.
"Yeah," Bill said, understanding, and continued, "The Science Department recruits cadets from the age of fifteen, we'll have schools on our home island, but it'll take about a year to get everything set up properly... Hmm."
Bill raised his head, turned it and asked:
- Carol, are you interested in something specific?
The girls were talking, but, as happens with children, they fell silent to listen to what the adults were saying.
Carol: - I think I want to be a doctor, but I also like building things with blocks...
Seeing that the girl was lost in thought, Bill turned to Masterson and said:
- Well, I could send her to Miyagi. Yoko studies botany with him sometimes. I'll also try to organize something with the old men in the warehouse. Jenkins was a foreman and one of the developers of the Rivet Rifle, I think he could teach math and basic problem solving.
Masterson seemed pleased with this, and as they walked toward the Marine detachment, they discussed the Rivet Rifle and other inventions from Clock Island.
As Bill walked inside, he saw Tashigi leaning to the side of the reception desk, talking to the man behind it.
The four were quickly noticed and the woman with the sword came up to greet them, but almost fell and Bill caught her.
Tashigi: - Sorry!
- Oh, come on, everything's fine! - Bill replied. - I was just looking for Captain Smoker, is he here by any chance?
Of course, Bill could focus and immediately find Smoker's exact location. By opening his "mind's eye", he could instantly locate any Devil Fruit user around him.
But once he discovered this new ability, he decided not to use it. Bill believed in personal space and did not want to spy on anyone unless necessary.
To his question, Tashigi answered with sadness in her eyes that they should wait here. Turning, she went up the stairs, Bill assumed, to Smoker's office.
After waiting for a few minutes, Masterson said he would take the girls to some nearby shops, and Tashigi returned shortly thereafter.
Her face fell, but before Bill could ask anything, she said:
- He is ready to receive you... Captain Ox, please help the captain if you can...