Half a month passed quietly, and with the shipwrights' constant hammering and busy work day and night, the new ship was finally completed.
"Whoosh!"
With a loud splash, the dragon-carved ship slid from land into the water, instantly stirring up waves.
The splashing spray, glistening in the sunlight, fell back into the sea, creating ripples.
A Jian, with Yun Lie, Nami, and Nojiko, stepped onto the ship, a look of contentment on his face, and said, "Yun Lie, name your ship!"
When sailing the vast sea, a ship is the most important companion. Every ship should have its own name, which is not just a title but also carries a mission and dreams.
Yun Lie stood at the bow, facing the sea breeze. Before him was the boundless blue ocean, with waves rolling in one after another. The distant horizon met the sky, as if hiding countless secrets.
He took a deep breath, his voice firm and strong: "Let's call it, Infinite Space!"
"'Infinite' represents our infinite future, a yearning for unknown adventures; 'space' is naturally a symbol of my Space Fruit ability.
This ship will carry us across this vast ocean, exploring endless possibilities!"
His words were filled with pride, and his eyes sparkled with anticipation for the future.
"Hmm~ wouldn't 'Orange Sunlight' be much nicer?"
Nami blinked her bright, lively eyes and jumped out, unconvinced.
Her short orange hair fluttered in the wind. Thinking of the orange trees in her hometown, her heart was filled with tenderness.
But before she could finish speaking, she felt Nojiko's gaze.
That look carried a hint of reproach and a touch of helplessness. Nami had no choice but to obediently close her mouth, sticking out her tongue playfully, a charming gesture that made everyone smile knowingly.
After the ship's name was decided, everyone began to tour the ship's structure.
The Infinite Space was a sailing ship. From the outside, it didn't look much different from an ordinary vessel, but its interior was a world of its own.
The ship's space was mainly divided into two levels.
The upper level had two large rooms and one small room, serving as sleeping quarters.
The rooms were simply yet warmly furnished. The wooden beds gave off a faint woody scent, and the soft bedding made one want to lie down.
The windows were ingeniously designed, allowing sunlight to pour in without reservation and the sea breeze to enter easily, adding comfort and coziness to the rooms.
The walls were adorned with simple decorations, either shell wind chimes or paintings depicting ocean scenery, making the entire space feel like home.
The lower level occupied most of the ship's space.
The conference room had a long table and chairs for discussions; the kitchen was fully equipped, and one could almost imagine the aroma of delicacies being cooked on the stove; the spacious warehouse was enough to store various supplies; the bathroom and toilet, though small, were well-arranged to meet daily needs.
Unlike other ships, the Infinite Space had no offensive capabilities.
According to Yun Lie's request, the space originally designated for cannons was converted into more powerful defensive facilities.
Thick steel plates reinforced the hull, specially designed protective devices were hidden on both sides of the ship, and there were also some clever mechanisms that could withstand enemy attacks at critical moments.
In Yun Lie's view, in this world, ordinary cannons could only deal with some weak enemies, making them of little significance.
He hoped that this ship would have sufficient defensive capabilities to protect everyone when facing danger.
However, the only regret was that the ship lacked an advanced power system, making it unable to achieve instantaneous burst acceleration and other operations, relying only on wind and ocean currents to move forward.
But overall, Yun Lie was very satisfied with this ship.
He immediately handed the remaining balance to A Jian, asking him to pass it on to the hardworking shipwrights who built the ship.
"Yun Lie, I want to plant orange trees on the very top of the cabin, is that okay~"
Nami looked at the empty space on top of the cabin, her eyes full of anticipation. She trotted over to Yun Lie, gently took his arm, and said coquettishly.
Nami had a special affection for orange trees. They were not only a symbol of her longing for her hometown but also carried her beautiful memories with Belle-Mere.
Every orange leaf, every golden orange, reminded her of past moments.
"Cough cough, no problem, the Infinite Space belongs to everyone, you can do whatever you want."
Yun Lie did not refuse. He knew that when sailing at sea for a long time, fruits were an important source of vitamin C, and oranges, rich in vitamin C, could effectively prevent various diseases caused by vitamin C deficiency.
"Yun Lie, I love you to death! Mwah!"
Nami jumped up happily, pecked Yun Lie lightly on the cheek, and then pulled him towards the orange grove.
In the orange grove, Nami carefully selected the three best orange trees and meticulously transplanted them onto the Infinite Space.
For the next period, everyone was busy moving. Yun Lie continuously took out various daily necessities from his space, including bedding, clothes, tableware, and also some books and musical instruments.
Nojiko, on the other hand, organized everything methodically. With her excellent organizational skills and meticulousness, she placed every item in its proper place.
Although the entire process was busy, it was filled with laughter and joy, and everyone was full of anticipation for their future life at sea.
It wasn't until evening that everything was finally completed.
The three stood on the deck, feeling the sea breeze, and looking at the brightly lit Coco Village.
The sea breeze gently caressed their faces, carrying familiar scents. The distant village lights twinkled, warm and familiar—that was the direction of home.
A complex emotion spread through their hearts, a mix of excitement for the new journey ahead and reluctance to leave their hometown.
Nami and Nojiko looked towards their hometown, their eyes glistening with tears. Yun Lie gently held their hands, offering silent comfort.
......
The next morning, a noisy commotion woke the three sleeping occupants of the Infinite Space.
"What's going on? Why is it so noisy?" Yun Lie rubbed his sleepy eyes and slowly walked out of the cabin.
The morning sun was a bit dazzling. He squinted for a while to adjust, then saw many people gathered on the shore—all the villagers from Coco Village had come.
Nami also followed him out, and seeing the villagers before her, tears involuntarily streamed down her face.
"Nami, you've worked hard all these years! We all know, actually!"
"Nami! Nojiko! Auntie is here to see you off. Be careful when you're out at sea, and remember to come back and visit Auntie when you have time!"
"This must be Mr. Yun Lie, right? You truly are a talented man. We entrust our Nami and Nojiko to your care!"
The villagers spoke one after another, their words of concern continuously reaching them.
As Nami and Nojiko listened to these words, their tears kept falling.
Only then did Yun Lie realize that A Jian had notified all the villagers last night, and the villagers had come spontaneously to see them off, offering their sincerest blessings.
In fact, the villagers were not unreasonable or difficult people; they had always known about Nami's experiences over the years.
The Arlong Pirates had threatened the lives of the villagers to force Nami to be their navigator and draw sea charts.
Nami, in order to save the village, silently endured her inner pain and worked hard to save 100 million beli to buy back the village's freedom.
During those difficult days, she not only had to face Arlong's oppression but also endure the villagers' misunderstandings, but she never gave up.
Amidst the villagers' blessings, the Infinite Space slowly sailed towards the distance.
The three people on board, filled with joy and excitement, bid farewell to Coco Village.
The sails billowed in the wind, carrying their dreams and hopes, as they sailed towards the unknown and challenging sea.