System activated! Ancient Ship Technology!
[Scanning the sea nymph...]
[Scanning progress: 1%... 15%... 45%... 88%... 100%]
[Scan complete.]
As the system prompt faded, a complete 3D model of the sea nymph appeared before Roger's eyes.
The model was incredibly detailed.
Every detail on the ship, even every damaged spot and every rotten plank, was clearly marked.
Beside the model, a long list of data was displayed.
[Ship Name: sea nymph]
[Type: Single-Masted Sloop (Carrack variant)]
[Hull Integrity: 17%]
[Keel Status: Slightly twisted (repairable)]
[Main Mast: Broken (irreparable, needs replacement)]
[Hull Plating: 73% rotten or damaged (needs replacement)]
[Sails: All lost]
[Cannons: 0]
[Overall Assessment: A pile of firewood that can barely float.]
Looking at the terrible data, Roger couldn't help but smile wryly.
The system's assessment of "firewood" was truly sharp-tongued.
However, it also gave him the most intuitive and accurate understanding of the ship's condition.
[Data modeling complete.]
[Host, do you confirm binding the sea nymph as the practical platform for the technology tree?]
[After binding, all unlocked shipbuilding technologies can be applied to this ship.]
"Confirm! Bind!" Roger said without hesitation.
[Binding successful!]
[Congratulations, Host! You can now begin your great shipbuilding endeavor!]
As soon as the words fell, the huge Ancient Ship Technology tree diagram reappeared before Roger.
Unlike before, this time, most of the previously unclickable gray technology options seemed to have become clickable.
Roger's heart began to pound uncontrollably.
He suppressed his excitement and looked at the most basic options at the bottom layer of the technology tree.
[Basic Carpentry]: Requires 1 gold coin to unlock.
[Basic Materials Science]: Requires 1 gold coin to unlock.
[Basic Structural Mechanics]: Requires 1 gold coin to unlock.
The gold coins he had on hand, after sharing the loot, were still over two hundred; there was nothing he could do about it.
After all, a large group of pirates split the money, but this was enough for him to unlock a large number of basic technologies.
"Unlock! Unlock all!"
[Gold Coins - 3]
[Basic Carpentry], [Basic Materials Science], [Basic Structural Mechanics] unlocked!]
Three massive streams of information instantly surged into Roger's mind.
Innumerable knowledge about wood processing, material identification, and mechanical principles was hammered into his brain.
Roger felt his head sink and almost lost his balance.
He shook his head.
After a few seconds, he adapted to the impact of this knowledge infusion.
When he opened his eyes again, he felt as if the whole world was different.
He looked down at the deck beneath his feet, and his mind immediately analyzed that the material of this plank was oak.
It was over fifty years old, and because it had been soaked in seawater for a long time, its internal fibers were severely damaged, and its load-bearing capacity was less than 100 kilograms.
He looked up at the broken mast and immediately determined that its breaking point was due to uneven stress.
Moreover, the wood itself had a hidden knot, which was a natural weakness.
These things, which previously required experience and instruments to determine, he could now deduce the most accurate conclusions just by looking at them.
Too powerful!
This feeling was like instantly equipping an ordinary person with a supercomputer brain!
Roger rubbed his hands excitedly and continued to look at the technology tree.
After unlocking the three basic technologies, the secondary technologies below them were also lit up.
The first step in repairing this ship was to deal with the hull.
Roger's gaze focused on [Hull Plating Repair Technology] under [Basic Carpentry] and [Wood Preservation] under [Basic Materials Science].
[Hull Plating Repair Technology]: Requires 3 gold coins to unlock. Can repair or replace damaged hull plating.
[Wood Preservation]: Requires 2 gold coins to unlock. Can produce basic anti-corrosion paint to extend the lifespan of wood.
"Unlock!"
[Gold Coins - 5]
[Hull Plating Repair Technology], [Wood Preservation] unlocked!
Two more streams of information poured in.
This time, Roger's mind gained more than a dozen methods for repairing hull plating.
And a complete formula for making anti-corrosion paint using tung oil, rosin, and some mineral powders.
The materials required for this formula were exactly those he had previously asked Gibbs to purchase!
He wasn't a complete novice; after all, he had worked on ships for so many years in his previous life, so he had some knowledge of ships.
Everything connected!
Roger walked to the largest hole in the side of the ship, squatted down, and observed carefully.
With the knowledge from [Hull Plating Repair Technology], he quickly formulated the most labor-saving and effective repair plan.
The system then popped up a message.
[Ding, you can pay 500 gold coins to instantly complete the materials for repair.]
Roger decisively closed the page that popped up from the system.
This system was even greedier than pirates.
It wasn't even a technical job.
If building an aircraft carrier lacked industrial foundations and couldn't produce supporting facilities like carrier-based aircraft and anti-aircraft artillery, it would be understandable to do it this way.
After all, it was completely impossible to produce them independently in the current environment.
But for such a simple small problem, it dared to ask him for 500 gold coins!
Why didn't it just rob him?
You greedy fellow, you are truly greedy!
It was more cost-effective to do it himself.
Thinking of this, Roger began to inspect the hull.
First, he needed to clear away the broken wood from the damaged areas.
Then, according to the curvature of the hull, he would make new ribs and planks that perfectly matched the dimensions.
Then, he would fix them with mortise and tenon joints and wooden pegs.
Finally, he would apply three layers of anti-corrosion paint both inside and out.
The entire process was clearly laid out in his mind.
Every step, every detail, was incredibly precise.
What he lacked now was only manpower and time.
"Gibbs! Billy!"
Roger stood up and shouted towards outside the dock.
Gibbs and Billy, who were waiting not far away, immediately ran over.
"What's your command?"
"Starting tomorrow, we're repairing the ship!"
Roger pointed at the dilapidated sea nymph, his eyes burning with fierce flames, and announced loudly.
"Really... really repairing the ship?"
Gibbs and Billy exchanged glances, seeing confusion and bewilderment in each other's eyes.
"Just a few of us? And this pile of rotten wood?"
"Yes, just us."
Roger patted the hull in front of him, as if making a promise to an old friend.
"Before long, you will set sail again in a brand new form."
"And you'll have a new name."
"From today on, you will be called... the explorer!"
Under the night sky, the young man standing on the broken ship did not appear tall, but in the eyes of Gibbs and Billy, he seemed to be shining.
They didn't know what the future held.
But they had a strong premonition.
A brand new legend would officially begin from this abandoned shipyard.
From this broken ship named "the explorer"!