The Marine

It had been two days since the meeting with Smoker and after checking and rechecking the cargo manifest, Bill was ready to set off on the caravel he had renamed M.S.S Bluebird.

This ship was a smaller two mast and six cannon vessel which would hold a maximum of thirty sailors. It was a very nice gift, and one with some utility due to the seastone hull, but it didn’t add much in strategic terms to the Procurement’s Department.

The voyage this time could be a long one as Bill had decided to scrap as much of the iron that had been used on Clockwork Island as possible.

This material would be crucial for the establishment of the town there but even more it would be crucial to their first production line.

After giving it some thought, Bill had looked around Lougetown and spoke to the dry stock shopkeepers around town.

Thinking of the skill set of the Clockwork Island refugees, he decided on two primary lines of productions.

The first was timepieces ranging from mechanical watches to clock towers, and the second was mechanical appliances like washing machines and water pumps.

These items were not chosen at random, as even though Bill would design quality products, he foresaw a future where replacement parts was a major portion of his business.

This was because the innovation he would bring to this world was ‘interchangeable parts.’

As far as Bill had seen, every item in this world was handmade like they were on Earth during the pre-industrial period. This was even the case in Vegapunks labs, and it was why Bill suspected the man never had enough technicians.

Seeing things done like this was quaint in some ways, but in terms of the economy, it was a huge inefficiency.

So, of course selling a huge clock tower would have a higher immediate payoff than selling a small watch, but that watch would be made of uniform parts that would cost very little to manufacture.

This was how the profitability of a wristwatch that he sold for 10,000 Beli was higher than a huge clock tower he sold for 10m Beli.

That wasn’t the end of it either, because when enough people had the items that he would be selling, repair shops would start opening – the Science Division would be there selling the tools, gears, and cogs to make the thing work.

With this in mind, Bill had spoken to several shop keepers in Lougetown, and they were all happy to see the products and become potential retailers.

Thinking that it never ceased to amaze him how much people trusted the Government in this world, in the future he would expand his clientele across numerous islands and then kingdoms, but for now he was happy to become acquainted with the local shops on Lougetown.

‘One step at a time’ he told himself, as the Bluebird cast off.

Glancing over at the girls who were waving goodbye to the people on the dock, Bill told Masterson to check on Denny, Danny, and Donny.

Then as Masterson took care of the three stooges who ought to be manning the helm, Bill walked over to a tent that he had set up to protect Nelson from the direct sunlight.

In addition to the tent, he had built a wheelbarrow which in the event of a storm would be pushed down into the cargo hold.

The whole thing was ridiculous, Bill thought.

But it was the price that had to be paid for the M.S.S Victory, and by extension the future of his Department, so Bill didn’t dwell on it as he opened up the tent’s flap.

“Good morning, Nelson.” Then continuing upbeat, he continued: “We’re setting off as you can probably tell, and once we’re out of port I’m going to help you get to walking again. How does that sound?”

Despite the fact that Bill had beaten Nelson on a daily basis since he had collected him from Smoker’s custody, he tried his best to start off on the right foot every time they spoke.

Nelson would then take this kindness for weakness, and despite everything Bill had read in his file, would immediately begin cursing Bill’s name.

As Bill looked the fat Marine over, he still couldn’t imagine how this man had ranked 5th in the Marineford Academy and graduated with a Blue Sea Commodores’ commission.

If the files were accurate, which Bill didn’t doubt they were, Nelson Royale had graduated 5th based on pure tactical ability as he had no physical abilities to speak of.

To get a better understanding of this, Bill had contacted Ricky and Sasha who among other things explained to him that for Nelson to have ranked so high despite probably failing all of his combat tests, he must had absolutely run the field for the practical and tactical exams.

“Nelson?” Bill spoke again, wondering what was taking the man so long to respond.

With his eyes open Nelson looked forward and blinked, only now appearing to see Bill, and as rage flashed his face suddenly smiled.

“Good Captain, Good Captain! It’s good for you to come, quite so, and you said we’re leaving port now? Ah, I guess I can feel the ship moving along now. We’d better unfurl the sails if we’re going to make it to our destination.”

Bill, who was at once confused and bewildered responded with a raised eyebrow: “Are you feeling ok, Nelson?”

Nelson: “Quite so, quite so. We aren’t in the eternity box yet, and there’s no need to wait around until we are.”

Hearing this, Bill nodded and decided he would come back later until.

“Well, that’s a good mindset to have. I’ll be back soon, just once we clear port.”

Turning to leave, he was stopped by the fat man calling out: “Ah, ah! Captain, tell one of the Jacks that chow time is readily approaching. ‘Square meals on the fiddle or men quibble’ as the saying goes!”

‘Oh.’ Bill internally smiled, thinking that was the reason why Nelson was acting nicer than normal.

He had put Nelson on the ship last night after giving him a bath – or that’s what Bill called throwing the man in the ocean with a sponge and stick and not pulling him up until the sponge got to where it needed to go.

It was about 8:00am, and Nelson hadn’t eaten since about 6:00pm on the previous day.

For a normal person this was standard but for a person like Nelson, who was clearly addicted to food, he probably hadn’t gone ten hours without eating in his entire adult life.

Bill did sympathize with this to a degree but like any addiction, he figured, the only way to beat it was self-discipline. This was also why even though Bill wasn’t always nice to the man, he always started off that way and put in the effort to help.

With this in mind, Bill looked towards his newest crew mate and said: “Chow time? Nelson, weren’t you aware that today’s a fasting day?”

He could see this news took Nelson a moment to comprehend and was surprised when he responded: “Great idea! instilling the mindset of ration shortages to the Jack’s is proper, indeed very proper!” Then continuing with a less spirited tone said: “But for us, a’and the bezzy too, surely our rations don’t need shortening.”

Shaking his head with a smile, Bill replied simply: “No, Nelson. It’s a fasting day for all of us. It’s good for the body and we have a long journey ahead.”

Nelson didn’t lash out instead said: “I see… yes… the good Captain knows what’s best for the charges under him, that you do.”

At the same time, under his breadth Bill heard him say: ‘This anchor-faced Bootneck… you just wait.”

Bill had seen this tactic used by several disagreeable people, and before he had chalked it up to an annoying two-faced cultural tendency since he had never seen anyone do it while he lived on Vallipo.

Now though, it felt strange, and had it not been for the fact that Nelson was too clever by half, and thus didn’t know when to shut his mouth, perhaps Bill would have taken a long time to notice.

Nelson: “B.but Captain, surely the day of fasting started from dinner last night, yes? I know I know! Very good, you will have them whip up a full square meal this afternoon.”

‘The bastard will starve me to death! Just wait until I get my hands on a Communication Snail then it’s the sheriff’s gallery for you!’

Bill had complete mastery over his body. Like when he had met that tall shipwright at Water 7, he could tell when a person was throwing their voice. He knew this because he could also do it.

Watching Nelson closely, he could tell that wasn’t happening.

With this thought, Bill opened up his minds eye and Nelson shrieked as Bills eyeballs turned black and he started to speak: “The ‘sheriff’s gallery’. That’s an interesting way to phrase the gallows.”

When he said this, he saw Nelson’s mouth move one way, but his inner voice was screaming ‘bloody hell!’

Bill didn’t let that interrupt him though and he spoke through the noise: “But let me explain something to you, my friend. I would never hang for anything that goes on here. You call yourself a Noble, but your status as local nobility doesn’t give you any legal protections once you’ve entered the service.

Even if it did,” Bill shook his head: “No one would take up your cause against me…”

After pausing for brief second, he looked Nelson in the eye and said: “You know, if I didn’t bring you with me, you would have spent the next nine years in that room they had you in.

When your contract was finally up and you left Lougetown, you would have been given back that damaged ship of yours and told to be on your way.

You think I’m an anchor-faced Bootneck, eh? Well, this is all you have.”

By now, the entire upper portion of Bill’s head and face had turned black, and through the “W..” and “Yo..” sounds Nelson was making, he could hear the man venomously start to refute his claims.

“No more.” Said Bill firmly, and Nelson shut up.

“You think if you only had access to a Communication Snail that would solve your problems. So how about this, you go right now and use the Snail in my office. I won’t stop you.”

Lifting up his left arm, Bill stood off to the side to ‘make way’ for Nelson to go and get the thing he apparently believed to be his salvation.

“Oh, you’re not interested?” said Bill as he continued: “Well, the offer stands. All you have to do is walk there and get it yourself. I will not stop you.” Then shaking his head continued: “But no one on his ship will get it for you.”

As Bill turned to leave the tent, his eyes and upper head took back their normal hue and just before he walked out, he spoke aloud saying that he’d be back in a couple hours.

Hearing a groan and a curse, Bill didn’t care to know which came from Nelson’s mouth.

Walking to the main deck of the ship, Bill saw the old engineer setting up a couple of desks and the two girls exploring the area.

Looking over towards Lougetown, the docks were still visible but getting smaller and Bill jumped up to the crow’s nest.

Inside was Denny who was speaking into a cup and giving orders down to Danny who manning the helm. At the front of the ship was Donny who was likewise watching the surf ready to give out instructions to turn in need be.

Denny: “Ah, Captain?!”

Seeming surprised, Denny shouted into the cup and Bill heard Danny replying: “I’ve told you before I aren’t a Captain yet!”

Hearing this, Denny seemed to forget Bill and continued speaking about how they planned to all be Captains together, making Bill’s eye roll.

Cutting him off, Bill walked over and grabbed the cup. Speaking to Danny he asked: “How’s she handling for you?”

Danny: “All’s good here Captain!” He sounded rough due to the crude communication devise: “The Bluebird is light enough I believe there isn’t a harbor we couldn’t get her into!”

Nodding his head, Bill informed the two of them to get Donny and meet him on the deck of the ship once they were in open water. He had already installed the locking device on the ships helm.

The helm would never be left completely unattended, but that locking device freed a pair of hands from constantly needing to be holding steady to course.

After talking to the two men for a little while, Bill jumped back down and went into his office.

This would be a several month-long voyage and he only planned to return to Lougetown when Ranse and the others came back.

It would be a very busy time as Bill had taken it upon himself to see that the 16th Marine branch would be investigated.

Due to his circumstances, he couldn’t go there himself, but he was able to call Captain Maynard and ask for a favor. Bill had initially planned to ask Smoker but after seeing the man’s mood, he had decided against it.

According to Captain Maynard, it was highly unusual for a Headquarters Captain to get involved in a Blue Sea corruption affair, but considering that the case involved Garp’s grandson he wouldn’t say no.

Besides that, he received regular reports from Ranse and Sasha, including one particularly worrisome report that they had met the Kuga Pirates on the Calm Belt only to be saved by Ms. Angie who was traveling back to Amazon Lilly with his little twin sisters.

Bill knew that his mother and nanny were from that women-only island, but never had expected that his sisters would be sent there.

He was worried this meant his mother would rejoin the Marines and decided he would have to contact them soon. He knew his mother was strong, having reached the rank of Captain, but she was also a mother of three who was older now and so he couldn’t help but worry.

Thinking about names like ‘Boa Hancock’ made Bill pull out the few files he had on the Seven Warlords of the Sea. He had memorized this information but still read over the lines as if he had forgot something.

Sitting there for a while organizing his things, he heard a knock on the door.

Looking up at the same time Yoko and Carol came into the room, the former adjusted her Marine hat and asked enthusiastically whether Bill could take them up into the sky so they could see the island again.

Bill told them that he’d be done in a minute and said that Carol had to get permission from her dad, and as the girls left the office, he started filing the paperwork back into his desk.

Standing up, Bill let out a huff thinking that he had a long few months ahead of him.

Unfortunately, his timetable was off by a lifetime.