OPTC Chapter 171 New Ship
It didn't take long for everyone to get their own life cards, or rather, life paper.
Each was about the size of an A4 sheet, though they could be made as large as a newspaper or as small as a palm if desired.
Zhang Da Ye tried it by cutting off a small piece and placing it on the table. The little scrap immediately started inching its way toward him as if drawn by an invisible force.
He guessed boldly that it must be made from special materials that altered the gravitational pull between the paper and its owner.
After everyone tested it and confirmed it worked, they cut the life paper into neat little pieces, wrote their names on them, and exchanged them.
Seeing the orderly stack of paper slips lifted Zhang Da Ye's mood. Watching anime, he always hated how they tore them into messy shapes.
"Should I make some little pouches for us when we get back?" Rui Meng Meng suggested. "That way, carrying them would be easier."
Zhang Da Ye was surprised. "You can sew?"
"Yes. Clothes tear all the time, so I had to learn to stitch them myself. After doing it often enough, I got decent at it," she explained. She figured making a few small pouches wouldn't be difficult.
"Then I'll trouble you with it," Zhang Da Ye said with a wink. "Do I have to pay overtime?"
Rui Meng Meng was no longer the timid newcomer from before, and she handled this kind of teasing easily. "No need for overtime pay, but maybe cover the material cost? A golden folding stool should do."
"Ha! Do I look like a golden stool to you? If you want one, take it!"
Their originally planned rest day had been interrupted by this surprise and half a day of shopping, which kind of counted as leisure anyway.
That evening they found a nice restaurant for dinner. By the time they left, the boss was grinning from ear to ear. Rumor had it that two cooks in the back collapsed from exhaustion, and he wondered if there'd be bonuses handed out.
There were no plans for action that night, so everyone stayed in the courtyard doing their own training.
"…998, 999, 1000!" Zhang Da Ye finished his last push-up but held the position. "Tom, you can get off now. Tom? Don't fall asleep on my back!"
When Tom didn't respond, Zhang Da Ye rolled over, dumping both Tom and the bowling ball he was clutching onto the ground.
The ball rolled across the ground and pressed against Tom's waist, arching his body like a bow.
Tom finally woke up, scrambling to his feet and blinking innocently.
Their training for the night wasn't done yet, but Zhang Da Ye had burned off enough energy and now felt a little troubled.
"What's wrong, Da Ye?" Artoria asked.
Zhang Da Ye sighed. "Meng Meng's black armor set is almost complete, but I still haven't summoned a new crewmate. It worries me."
"There's nothing you can do about that, is there?" Artoria said. "Aren't we enough to keep the voyage safe already?"
"It's not that. It just feels like we're short on people. And besides…" Zhang Da Ye began counting on his fingers. "Tom and I arrived here on May 5. You came on June 4. Meng Meng was July 1. Shark Chili was July 30. Pretty much one new person each month. But now it's already October 11, and nothing's happened. It doesn't sit right with me."
Rui Meng Meng asked, "Boss, did that summoning circle ever say one person would come every month?"
"Nope. If it came with an instruction manual, I wouldn't be second-guessing myself all the time."
"Then stop worrying. Maybe it's just your bad luck." Rui Meng Meng consoled him with the most direct words. "I once heard a colleague who plays a lot of games call people like you an African player—or maybe it was 'unlucky emperor.' Something like that."
"Thanks a lot." Zhang Da Ye felt as though his spirit had just been purified. With his luck, it was normal not to summon anyone. It wasn't like some game with guaranteed rewards every ten draws.
Since there was nothing he could do about the summoning circle, Zhang Da Ye could only keep training, comforting himself with the universal motto of unlucky gamers: What if the next roll actually works?
The tavern, free of its usual hustle and bustle, passed a rare quiet night.
The next day, just as Zhang Da Ye was about to head to Uncle Goodman's place to look at the ship designs, he got a call from Jinbei.
At Jinbei's request, he took everyone to the coastline he mentioned—and was met with a huge surprise.
It was a sailing ship, around forty meters long, with plain white sails and no emblem or flag.
Jinbei was standing on the back of a whale shark, which was pulling the ship with a rope.
As the vessel drew closer, the figurehead became clear: it was Tom, one leg forward, the other bent behind, one hand shading his eyes in a lookout pose, standing on top of a cannon.
The craftsmanship was so fine it looked nearly alive, aside from the size. It must have been carved by a master shipwright.
"Good to see you all safe and sound," Jinbei said cheerfully as he hopped ashore.
Everyone greeted him in turn, then looked curiously at the ship.
Without beating around the bush, Jinbei explained, "This ship was entrusted to me by King Neptune and Queen Otohime to deliver to you!"
"Huh?" Everyone froze. Why would they suddenly gift them a ship?
Jinbei elaborated, "Back when we parted on Fishman Island, King Neptune said that a bit of gold wasn't nearly enough to express his gratitude. He always wanted to do something more.
Especially after Princess Shirahoshi grew so much stronger and more cheerful thanks to Da Ye's influence, and the three princes also changed for the better. The king's desire to repay you only grew.
When I last visited with Camie, Neptune learned you were troubled about a ship, so he asked to build this one especially for you."
"This is too extravagant… and way too sudden… Why didn't Camie say anything?" Zhang Da Ye muttered. It felt just like when they were gifted priceless treasures before, and now it was like someone had handed them a luxury yacht. It was almost embarrassing.
"Because the queen worried you would refuse, she told Camie to keep it a secret for now," Jinbei said. What he didn't mention was that the wood came from him. Originally, he had wanted to build a new ship for the Sun Pirates, since using a refitted Navy vessel felt awkward.
But once he learned Neptune's intentions, Jinbei immediately offered up his timber. It might not be Adam wood, but it was still among the finest materials available.
Though shocked and embarrassed, they couldn't exactly reject the gift when the ship was already built and delivered. Since Neptune had gone to such lengths, they could only board and take a look.
Also—Tom, when did you climb up there? Stop copying the statue's pose on top of its head. It's too funny, and your master is about to burst out laughing.
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