Tom and his apprentices didn't dare respond too freely; they simply stood quietly, watg Cudius with cautious expressions.

  Cudius chuckled, then brushed off some debris from an old chair nearby and took a seat. "So, in your current situation," he asked, "are you even able to build a ship right now?"

  Tom hesitated. "Well... that depends oype of ship Yhness wants. If it's just a regur ship, we start anytime. But if you're looking for something truly remarkable, we may need more resources. Perhaps an advance payment would help us get started."

  Cudius raised an eyebrow. "If I wanted an ordinary ship, why would I e to you, Tom?" he replied with a smirk. "No, I want the best ship in the world. you hahat?"

  Tom straightened up with a fident gleam in his eye. "Yhness, I've built some of the fi ships to ever sail the seas. If you give us the right resources and freedom, I assure you, I build the best."

  Cudius ughed, clearly pleased with the man's spirit. "That's what I like to hear. Alright, let me y out my expectations: First, the ship must be big and impressive, something that ands attention. Sed, it should be fortable and luxurious, fit for a royal. Third, I want it fully funal with no major fws or oints. And finally, it should be strong in bat. Uand?"

  Tom pondered for a moment, then scratched his head. "Yhness, building a ship with all those qualities is fine... but when it es to luxurious interiors, I might need some assistance. I'm a shipbuilder, not an interior designer."

  Cudius houghtfully. "Fair enough. I arrange for someoo hahe finer details of the interiors. But still, this enviro you're w in... it doesn't quite feel right for building a ship worthy of Celestial Dragons."

  Tom's face turned a bit red as he looked around the rundown dock. Before he could respond, Cudius casually mentioned, "Oh, I should probably introduce myself properly. My name is Donquixote Cudius, and yes, I'm one of the Celestial Dragons. o be nervous, though—I'm not big on formalities. As long as you do the job well, we'll get along just fine."

  Tom's eyes widened in shock as the name sank in. Donquixote Cudius, the Celestial Dragon responsible for capturing both Golden Lion Shiki and Pirate King Roger. The mysterious power within the Wover everyone whispered about. Realizing he was in the presence of such a high-ranking figure, Tom quickly pulled his appreo their knees out of respect.

  "Alright, that's enough," Cudius waved his hand, signaling for them to stand. "Now, I hear your pany has been struggling tely. How about this, I'll buy Tom's Workers ht and i heavily to restore it. In exge, you'll be responsible for building my ship. After that, once you've proven yourself, CP-X will be a steady source of work for you. Marine also needs more suppliers for their warships, so you could have plenty of business ing your way. Sound good?"

  Tom seemed taken aback. This was an incredible opportunity. But he hesitated, not because of any dislike for the proposal, but because of his longstanding dream of building the sea train. Would he be able to pursue that if he agreed to Cudius' offer?

  Seeing Tom's hesitation, Cudius narrowed his eyes slightly. "Something wrong with my offer, Tom?"

  Quickly, Tom shook his head. "No, Yhness, it's just... well, I have a project I've been dreaming of for years, a sea train that could ect the isnds of this region. I'd hoped to dedicate my life to making it a reality."

  Cudius's i iqued, though he kept his expressioral. Of course, he was already aware of Tom's sea train project from his own knowledge. It was a revolutionary teology that would not only be the people but could also bee a strategic asset for the Wover, allowing faster troop deployment across the isnds. And it was sure to be profitable as well.

  With a supportive smile, Cudius replied, "The sea train, huh? That's an ambitious project. But I'm a fair man, Tom. If you build me a ship that meets my expectations, I'll support your resear the sea train. With the resources of the Wover bag you, think how much faster you'll be able t your dream to life."

  Tom was stuhis deal was far better than he could have ever imagined. With the bag of a Celestial Dragon, not only would he be able to achieve his dream, but he'd also gain prote and resources beyond anything he'd hoped for.

  Cudius tinued, "And oom's Workers is up and running with my iment, you'll be free from financial s. No more w about who will pay the bills or buy materials. All I ask is that you build me a ship that truly stands out."

  Tom couldn't believe his luck. Bowing deeply, he said, "Thank you, Yhness! I'll make sure we craft a ship that lives up to your expectations."