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After Lucci and the others departed, Sean summoned Retes, the head of the research team.
"Retes, what is the current count for the new rifles?"
"Reporting, Commodore. We have 48 A1 semi-automatic rifles, six T1 general-purpose machine guns, and six K1 tactical sniper rifles."
"Still too few..." Sean frowned.
"There's no helping it, sir. We haven't established a proper production line; we're relying solely on laboratory production. Not only is the speed slow, but the costs are exorbitant."
Retes handed over a ledger detailing the costs incurred so far. "Take the A1 rifle, for example. Each one currently costs us 100,000 Belly to manufacture. However, if we could set up a production line for mass production, the cost per unit could be squeezed down to under 2,000 Belly."
The statistics were staggering. The 48 A1 semi-automatic rifles had cost 4.8 million Belly. The six T1 general-purpose machine guns cost 6 million, and the six K1 tactical sniper rifles had reached a terrifying 18 million Belly.
In total, just sixty guns had drained 28.8 million Belly.
The expense was astronomical, and that didn't even include the cost of laboratory equipment, initial research and development, ammunition production, or the high salaries of the twenty-plus researchers.
The problem was that there was simply no room to build a production line at the 16th Branch. The island itself wasn't very large, and during the reconstruction process, almost every usable inch of land had already been utilized. Where was there any vacant space left to deploy factories and assembly lines?
He had to find a solution.
"Very well. Tomorrow, deliver all completed firearms to Lucci. Let him arrange the distribution and ensure they are fully supplied with ammunition. As for the production line, I will find a way to resolve it shortly."
"Yes, Commodore!"
"One more thing. How is the research on the artillery progressing?"
"We have successfully produced 130mm twin naval cannons. They are currently undergoing testing. If there are no issues, we can attempt to install them on large warships, but they aren't suitable for medium-sized vessels."
Sean paused. "Why? Logically, a medium warship's deck should have enough space for the installation."
While medium warships were significantly smaller than large ones, their decks were still substantial. A twin 130mm cannon should have fit without a problem. However, Retes provided the answer immediately.
"Commodore, while the installation is possible, the recoil of the new naval guns is too powerful. Medium warships are too small and too light to effectively absorb that force, unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Unless the medium warships are constructed from higher-quality timber. For example... Treasure Wood Adam?"
Sean went silent.
Treasure Wood Adam? The cost of a bare medium-sized hull made from that wood would likely exceed 500 million Belly. Setting aside whether Sean was willing to spend that kind of money, the real issue was that Treasure Wood Adam wasn't something you could simply buy. It was a classic case of something having a price but no market.
"Is there no other way?"
"There is. You mentioned previously the possibility of building warships out of steel. If that were actually achievable, it would solve the problem. However, shipbuilding isn't our area of expertise; we're completely clueless when it comes to that..."
"Fine. In two days, Lucci will take three medium warships out on a mission. You can experiment with the remaining large warship however you like. As for the construction issues, I'll handle it."
"Yes, Commodore!"
After Retes withdrew, Sean sank into deep thought. Eventually, he had an orderly summon Lucci again.
Two minutes later, Lucci arrived. "Commodore, are we changing the plan for two days from now?"
"No, I called you for something else. You have Iceburg's contact information, don't you?"
"I do. Do you wish to..."
"Yes. Retes and his team have hit a snag with the new naval guns; the recoil is too great for medium warships. I need a new generation of vessels. As you know, while Retes is a genius with weaponry, he is completely clueless about shipbuilding."
"Understood."
Lucci could already guess why Sean wanted to contact Iceburg. He took a piece of paper and scribbled down a series of numbers. However, it wasn't Iceburg's private Den Den Mushi, but the official line for the Galley-La Company.
After all, when Lucci had left Water 7 to return to Headquarters to bring back Nezumi, it was still three years before the original plot began. At that time, he wasn't yet a foreman for Galley-La.
'Purupurupuru...'
"This is the Galley-La Company in Water 7. May I ask who is calling?"
"This is Sean Campbell, Branch Commander of the Marine's 16th Branch. Please connect me to Mr. Iceburg; I have an important matter to discuss with him."
"Understood. Please hold!"
About a minute later, the face simulated by the Den Den Mushi shifted from a young woman to a middle-aged man.
"This is Iceburg!"
"Mr. Iceburg, I am Sean Campbell."
"I know who you are. Commodore Sean's name has been quite prominent lately. I've even heard rumors that two executives of the Warlord Doflamingo fell at your hands. I wonder why you're calling me today..."
"Before we get to the main point, is the Den Den Mushi you are using secure against eavesdropping, and are you alone?"
"It is, and I am currently alone in my office," Iceburg replied, a hint of confusion in his voice.
Why was Sean, who had risen to fame over the last six months, looking for him? And why was he being so cautious?
"Then I'll be blunt. My 16th Branch intends to build a new generation of warships, and I hope the Galley-La Company can take on the contract. To maintain the secrecy of the project, I need Mr. Iceburg to send top-tier foremen to the East Blue. To put it simply, I want Galley-La to establish a branch office in the East Blue to serve the 16th Branch."
Iceburg was stunned. The request was simply absurd.
Establish an entire East Blue branch just to serve a single Marine branch?
"Commodore Sean, this matter..."
"Mr. Iceburg, when I say 'serve the 16th Branch,' I don't mean you can only take orders from us. I mean that whenever the 16th Branch has a requirement, the East Blue branch must prioritize our needs. Outside of that, you are free to accept other orders as usual," Sean explained, cutting Iceburg off.
"Commodore Sean, as you know, Galley-La is one of the world's premier shipyards. That means our standards for construction are incredibly high. In the East Blue, most people only need ships for short-distance sailing, and the weather isn't nearly as harsh as it is in the Grand Line."
"Therefore, the requirements for ships in that region aren't nearly as stringent. Many crudely made vessels are sufficient to meet the needs, meaning high-standard ships from Galley-La aren't necessary. After all, our prices could be several times higher than those makeshift boats, so..."
Iceburg's point was quite simple.
If they were to open a branch in the East Blue and wanted to see results, they would have to sell low-cost, low-standard ships. Otherwise, if they adhered to Galley-La's strict construction standards, the people of the East Blue simply wouldn't buy them.
The prices would be far too steep—potentially two to three times the local market rate.
Galley-La was undoubtedly a high-end brand in the global shipbuilding industry. They couldn't simply tarnish their reputation by diving into the low-end market. However, if they insisted on maintaining their prestige, opening a company in the East Blue would inevitably lead to financial losses.
This was precisely why, in the original timeline, Galley-La never expanded its business into the four seas. The demand there was simply too low-end. At most, they could take a few orders from wealthy nobles who had money to burn.
Sean could tell that Iceburg was politely declining. However, that didn't matter; Sean had a reason that Iceburg could not possibly refuse.
"Mr. Iceburg, Galley-La once employed two workers named Lucci and Kaku, correct?"
"Commodore Sean, how do you know about them? Yes, those two did work here, but they disappeared one after another. They've never been found!" Iceburg was visibly surprised.
He had thought highly of Lucci and Kaku, to the point where he had already decided to promote them to foremen. But one day, Lucci requested leave to return to his hometown, and that was the last time he was seen. A few months later, Kaku vanished as well. Even his secretary, Kalifa, disappeared on the same day as Kaku.
"Mr. Iceburg, I can tell you that Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa, and the owner of that famous bar in Water 7, Blueno, were all agents of the World Government's CP9. You can probably guess what they were trying to obtain by infiltrating your circle."
"Could it be..."
Iceburg's eyes widened. He immediately realized what Sean was referring to, but he didn't say the words aloud.
"It seems you've guessed. I assume you've heard about the Campbell family incident. Although the public report only mentioned the World Government's compensation, the arrest of a CP5 and a CP9 officer, and so on, the reality is different..."
"Because of that incident, all CP9 agents were dismissed from their posts. This included Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa, and Blueno. They are no longer agents; they have become Marines under my 16th Branch."
At this point, Iceburg's composure completely crumbled. In other words, the World Government had noticed him and had been trying to find the blueprints for Pluton. The disappearance of Lucci and the others had been a direct consequence of the Campbell incident.
"Commodore Sean, I can only tell you that the thing you are looking for does not exist."
"I think you've misunderstood my meaning, Mr. Iceburg. But you're right—that thing indeed no longer exists. At least, it hasn't existed for over five months."
"What do you mean by that?" Iceburg was baffled.
It no longer existed? It had been gone for five months? This implied that it 'had' existed. At least five months ago, it was still there!
Could it be that they already knew... But that didn't make sense. Franky was still running around and doing fine!
"Let's put it this way: five months ago, I gave Lucci and the others an order to go to Water 7. Without Franky's knowledge, they were to open the hidden compartment in his abdomen, retrieve that item, and completely destroy it."
"What!!!"
"Don't be alarmed. The item has already been destroyed, so no one can obtain it. After all, that thing was a ticking time bomb. No matter whose hands it fell into, it would have been a disaster for the world. In truth, you and Franky should have destroyed it much sooner."
"I..."
"Alright, we'll leave it at that. No one knows about this except for you, me, and Lucci's group."
Hearing this, Iceburg nodded. In truth, he had always been hesitant about whether to destroy the Pluton blueprints. Since Sean had already taken action, it was as if the decision had been made for him.
Strangely, after learning this, Iceburg felt a weight lift from his shoulders. A hint of friendliness appeared in his eyes. He knew that Sean could have easily handed the blueprints over to the World Government in exchange for immense wealth and status. Instead, he had destroyed them without a second thought.
"Commodore Sean, I can agree to your request to build a new generation of warships, but we can do that right here in Water 7."
"No, no. I may not have been clear before. The new generation of warships my branch wants to build will be a revolutionary type of steel warship."
"Steel warships?"
Iceburg began to understand why Sean was so insistent on having him open a branch in the East Blue. A revolutionary project like that was something he wouldn't allow to happen far from his sight either. Otherwise, what if the technology was stolen by pirates? Or what if the World Government swooped in and snatched the credit?
Based on Sean's decision to destroy the Pluton blueprints, it was clear he wasn't entirely aligned with the World Government. Regardless, from a business perspective, opening a branch in the East Blue was still an unwise move.
What Iceburg didn't realize was that Sean's ultimate goal wasn't to get Galley-La to open a branch in the East Blue. He intended to establish a Shipbuilding Department right within his own branch.