After seeing off the Gat at the dock.
Shano and his group, four people and a dog, headed towards the Giant Whale Company.
The address wasn't far, just near the dock.
Following the conspicuous neon sign, they arrived after just a few minutes of walking.
Shano had already made contact by phone in advance, so more than ten executives in suits were lined up in the headquarters lobby waiting.
The leading old white-bearded man was spirited, wearing a monocle and a golden badge labeled "Chief Shipbuilder" on his chest.
Seeing Shano's figure appear behind the glass revolving door, he immediately led everyone in a ninety-degree bow.
"We've been looking forward to your visit, Mr. Shano! I am Gandalf, representing all employees of Giant Whale Shipyard, welcoming you to our company!"
"You're too kind, Mr. Gandalf." Shano hurriedly stepped forward to shake hands.
After a brief conversation, the old shipbuilder solemnly handed over a sheepskin scroll, which turned out to be two meters long when unfolded.
The center was a ship's construction perspective diagram, surrounded by densely written explanatory notes.
"This is the acceptance checklist according to your requirements. Please allow me personally to show you around, the new ship is in Dock No. 1. Please follow me!"
Gandalf bent over, gesturing invitingly, and only straightened up to lead the way when Shano started walking.
The other executives also bowed ninety degrees again, facing the backs of those leaving.
"Hey, Kuina."
Nojiko watched enviously, whispering near the Young Swordswoman's ear, "Do you think there will be a day when, even without our brother present, we can receive such respect from the people?"
"Naive."
Kuina glanced at her with a straight face, "I am the world's top Great Sword Master, being revered and respected by the people is only right."
"You dive into the role even faster than I do!" Nojiko shouted sharply.
...
Everyone followed Gandalf into the corridor.
None of them noticed, outside the reception hall, in the street corner, two oddly dressed individuals were watching them leave through the window glass.
"Sam! You saw it too, right?" The fat man dressed like a striped cat, with a bell tied to his chest, uttered a strange laugh.
"Of course, Buji, there's no mistake."
The green-haired hunchbacked skinny man licked his lips greedily, "That long white sword looks ordinary, but according to the Captain's identification method, it's definitely an incredible famous sword!"
"That sword is worth no less than fifty million Belly, and in the Underworld, it's more valuable than money can buy."
"Should we make a move!"
Fat Buji extended his claws, ready to strike.
"It's worth acting! But just the two of us alone, it's unsteady! Unsteady!"
Skinny Sam patted his partner's shoulder, "Let's go! Let's report to Captain Kuro right away, haha, we've made a great contribution this time, waiting to be praised, and he's surely eager to act personally!"
......
Before long.
Following the corridor, the group entered a new area behind the building.
More than ten docks with transparent glass domes were lined up, housing completed ships yet to be delivered.
Each dock had water channels extending out, connecting to the coastal world.
Gandalf led the group to the most luxurious Dock No. 1, smiling as he surveyed everyone before somewhat proudly pressing a button——
"Here we are, Mr. Shano, please enjoy the old man's proudest work in the last ten years!"
The steel gates, several tens of meters high, opened with a roar, and everyone instinctively held their breath.
"Wow, what a big and handsome ship!"
Nojiko widened her eyes and couldn't help but exclaim first.
In the dusk, the blush-red evening light poured through the dome skylight, illuminating the figurehead at the bow, a silver wolf with its head raised in a howl, wings on its ribs, resembling the gods.
The streamlined hull basked in the sunset, mainly in dark brown color, long and sharp yet retaining elegant beauty.
Sixty meters long, fifty-six meters high, with the widest point being twenty-two meters, dual-masted structure, with horizontal sails at the front mast and vertical tri-sails at the main mast.
From below, the white sails were furled, the two sturdy masts stood as straight as swords, towering straight skyward.
"Sir, really only three hundred million Belly for this ship? Counting the waived twenty million Belly, it's still not enough, right?"
Nojiko gazed at the towering mast top in shock, unable to resist turning to the old shipbuilder.
"The material cost is about right, mainly because the Treasure Tree Adam wood alone cost two hundred million."
Gandalf laughed heartily, "As for labor fees and profit... haha, crafting a ship for Mr. Shano is an honor sought by every shipyard in the East Sea, who would worry about those?"
Shano smiled beside him, momentarily speechless.
Whether it was uncovering the conspiracy at Asakura Island back then or later eliminating a slew of Pirate Gangs represented by Ah Long, it was actually by happenstance, just doing things along the way.
Who would have expected that the people of the East Sea would, because of this, elevate him, seeing him as the hero and pride of the East Sea?
"The training rooms have walls made of steel plated all around, your initial request was for two, but we added one more for you; the open-air Sword Dao field is set at the rear of the second-floor balcony, the training equipment is all installed, and as for the kitchen, it's crafted to the highest standards, with a food storage chamber of over two hundred square meters."
Gandalf enthusiastically continued introducing, "Besides that, there's the Orange Garden, a lounge, an aquarium, a library, a billiard room, a hot spring spa... everything for daily needs is here!"
"Overall, compared to the internal layout, the exterior is nothing, it's absolutely going to satisfy you!"
"Wait!" Nojiko suddenly remembered something, "Mr. Gandalf, this isn't right, where are the cannons? There isn't a single gunport visible here, are they all concentrated on the other side?"
"Well, um..." Gandalf was stunned, a bit embarrassed, "The original design had twenty cannon emplacements, but then..."
"I was the one who specifically contacted him to have them removed." Shano grinned, "Let me ask you, if there was a cannonball attack, what would be your first reaction?"
"Me?" Nojiko pointed at herself, "Hmm... I think I'd want to put on gloves and punch every single one back."
"And Kuina?"
"Cut it down with a single sword." The black-haired girl answered coolly.
"Mr. Zeff?"
"Haha, my feet aren't just for show, I've got confidence to kick back any cannonball."
"Isn't that settled?"
Shano spread his hands, played an accordion, "I need not say more, anyway, everyone has their unique skills, and we're too lazy to fire cannons, so why install gun emplacements?"
After reading over a thousand chapters of manga, what proper person would get blown up by cannon fire?
"Oh, that's quite reasonable—" Everyone simultaneously realized.
"Uh..." Gandalf wiped his sweat, "Right, why don't we all go up and take a look?"
"Awoooo!"
Before the sound could be heard fully, Ah Yin excitedly rushed up first, dashing along the gangplank to the bow to study the ram figurehead resembling himself.
"Captain, should we go up and have a look too?"
Kuina turned her head to look at Shano.
"Sure."
Shano nodded with a grin, body flashing, instantly stepping on the Moonwalk to the deck, followed by the other three who swish-swished instantaneously moved up.
Leaving Gandalf startled, standing there, looking up in disbelief.
So these are Mr. Shano's partners, how come each one can fly? No wonder they said they didn't need any cannon placements just now...
————
[Already have two heart options for the ship name, but let's brainstorm broadly, collecting suggestions in the comments for this chapter to see if there are any better sounding ones]