Chapter 129 — The First Cargo Boat Prototype
S.C. 1511 — Early February
Hidden Island — Southern Cove
The waves were calm today.
Gentle. Predictable.
Perfect for what Ren had planned.
Zemo trotted along the sand beside him as Ren pulled a folded tarp away from a pile of carefully gathered materials:
Sawn planks of island hardwood
Rope coils
KEA nails
Waterproofed tar cloth
A simple hand-saw
Sandstone polishers
And the early boat blueprint he had sketched months ago
Today wasn't hunting.
Not farming.
Not science.
Today was construction.
Real construction.
The FIRST true structure of his future merchant group.
Ren took a deep breath.
"Let's build our boat, Zemo."
Zemo barked once — his eyes bright with excitement.
---
Step 1 — Measuring the Keel
Ren unrolled the blueprint on a flat stone.
It showed:
a shallow-draft hull
a narrow bow
a slightly widened midsection
one mast (optional)
small cargo space
light enough for rowing
strong enough for 1–2 sailors
Small steps.
This wasn't a grand ship.
Just enough to carry:
salt
fish
crates
and eventually… workers.
Ren selected the longest hardwood plank — already straightened last month.
"This will be the keel."
He set it on the sand and began shaving the uneven edges with a KEA-sharpened stone tool.
SHRRK… SHRRK…
Smooth.
Even.
Zemo sniffed the plank, ears twitching.
Ren laughed.
"No biting this one."
---
Step 2 — Side Planks (Ribs)
Ren hammered KEA nails into two curved wooden ribs.
TOK.
TOK.
TOK.
Each nail pushed smoothly into the wood — no splitting, no bending.
"KEA alloy is stronger than anything we could buy in Foosha," he murmured.
Zemo puffed his chest out, proud of Ren's invention.
One rib on each side.
Another.
Then another.
Until a rough skeleton of the boat took shape on the sand.
Not complete.
Not strong yet.
But recognizable.
---
Step 3 — Reinforcing the Frame
Ren tied thick rope around each rib intersection, twisting it tight.
He had learned this technique from watching the fishermen in the village — who repaired their boats with rope and tar whenever they lacked proper nails.
Rope reinforcement had one advantage:
Flexibility.
Wood could bend under waves without snapping.
Zemo tugged one rope with his teeth as if testing strength.
Ren nodded approvingly.
"Good tension. Thanks."
Zemo wagged his tail.
---
Step 4 — The Hull Panels
Ren took three wide planks and lined them against the ribs.
He hammered KEA nails in a slow, careful rhythm.
TOK.
TOK.
TOK.
Each strike echoed faintly against the cliffside.
He sealed the inside seams with tar cloth, pressing it until the sticky layer bonded tightly.
Then he stepped back.
The boat's hull — still raw, still skeletal — was real now.
A shallow cargo boat.
Sturdy enough for gentle waves.
Perfect for salt and fish shipments.
Ren's eyes softened.
"We're building something that will last, Zemo."
---
Step 5 — Interior Structure
Ren crawled inside the half-built hull.
Zemo followed.
Ren installed:
two short support beams
a raised plank seat
a reinforced floor layer
"If the boat tips in waves, the cargo won't scatter," he noted aloud.
Zemo curled up in the seat area.
Ren stared at him.
"That's not your bed."
Zemo ignored him, stretching luxuriously.
Ren sighed.
"Fine. Temporary bed."
---
Step 6 — Waterproofing the Exterior
Ren heated tar cloth lightly, softening it.
He pressed it against the outer seams of the hull.
The smell of warm resin filled the air.
"This will keep the boat dry… and hard to spot at night."
The boat would survive the shallow waters near Goa's coast — even the risky north routes nobles avoided.
---
Step 7 — Moment of Truth
Ren and Zemo stood beside the nearly finished hull.
Not painted.
Not polished.
Not decorated.
Just strong.
Light.
Functional.
Ren whispered:
"This is the prototype of our merchant group… the first real step."
Zemo barked enthusiastically.
---
Step 8 — Test Float
Together, Ren and Zemo pushed the boat toward the shallow water.
The hull scraped gently over the sand.
Ren hesitated…
Zemo nudged him.
And they pushed.
The boat touched the water…
It floated.
Perfectly.
Steady.
Balanced.
Stable.
Ren climbed inside carefully.
The boat dipped but did NOT sink.
Zemo jumped in as well.
They drifted forward gently on the tide.
Ren's eyes widened with soft pride.
"…It works."
He dipped the oar into the water and rowed once.
The boat glided smoothly.
Zemo barked triumphantly.
Ren closed his eyes for a moment, the sea wind brushing his face.
"We're one step closer, Zemo."
A real boat.
A real base.
A real future.
---
Day's End
As the sun dipped into the ocean, Ren pulled the boat back to shore and hid it under a camouflaged frame of branches and leaves.
No one could find it.
He placed a hand on the hull.
"Tomorrow, we reinforce it… then begin small cargo tests."
Zemo pressed against his leg.
Ren smiled.
"Soon, the first real route will begin."
The Meridian Group didn't exist yet.
Not on paper.
Not in name.
But with every plank…
every tool…
every chamber…
every recruit…
It was forming.
---
End of Chapter 129