At night, Karl specially made another trip to the Boin Archipelago to bring back so delicacies for Karina and Nami to taste, then sat cross-legged on the deck chatting with Karina, who was lying on a beach chair.
Nami was playing nearby with the chibi dragon.
It was her first ti seeing a dragon, and Nami was intensely curious about such a creature.
Near bedti, Karina suddenly stood up, stretched lazily, and said offhandedly, "It’s late. I’m going to bathe and sleep."
After speaking, Karina glanced at Karl, then stepped toward the stairs leading to the top deck of the cabin.
"...Heh-heh, I’ll go scrub your back."
"Don’t!"
Reacting at once, Karl followed with a wicked grin.
Karina said "don’t" with her mouth, but let Karl trail after her.
"Those two... shaless."
Seeing this, Nami’s cheeks flushed and she clicked her tongue.
Living with that "dog couple"—who knows how long I can take it.
Then... can Karl really last that long?
Recalling Karina’s words, Nami shook her head, face crimson, not daring to think further down that path.
In truth, toward the man who had saved her, and who was both handso and strong, Nami had long since felt her heart stir.
But her inner shyness, coupled with the short ti they’d known each other, kept her from taking that step.
Perhaps a little external help would be needed.
...
The next morning.
The triangular-sail sloop left the waters around the Boin Archipelago. Instead of heading for the next stop, they changed course straight for Water 7.
They didn’t choose to go to the Alabasta Kingdom’s Sandy Island to store the log and then sail to Skypiea because Karl’s ship was too small at present.
Like the Going rry, it was a triangular-sail sloop—with only a hold and an icebox below, and just three small cabin decks above.
The top deck had only three rooms; even if they found gold, they couldn’t carry much. At most they could take valuables worth a billion or a few billion berries.
Dreaming of owning a moving island-ship like Gran Tesoro, Karl was not satisfied with just a bit of gold.
So, having completed his second evolution and grown much stronger, Karl no longer planned to travel slowly while picking off weak pirates.
He intended to rush to Water 7 as fast as possible to commission a large ship, then head to the Sabaody Archipelago to "recharge." Once the big ship was finished, they’d sail it to Skypiea for the gold.
On the way to Water 7, Karl beca a "Dragon Knight," taking Karina and Nami to experience the feeling of flight.
It had to be said: the ability to fly is a cheat in any world.
Golden Lion could beco the strongest legend of the previous era not only because of his masterful dual-swordsmanship, but also because he had one of the top Paracia— the Float-Float Fruit.
The flying power and his ability to levitate islands gave one man near–ancient-weapon strategic force.
If he couldn’t win, he could easily escape.
With the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, everything Karl did beca far more convenient.
For example, when going to sea to hunt, he didn’t need to go himself—the Blue-Eyes could seize the carcass of a sea beast many tis larger than itself with razor talons and carry it back to the ship.
As for the chibi dragon that could grow or shrink, Karina and Nami adored it, insisting on hugging it to sleep every day.
But every night Karl used "Little White likes to sleep with " as an excuse to barge into the girls’ room, making Nami so flustered she wanted to flee, only for Karina to pull her back.
Fortunately, Karl liked to hold Karina while sleeping; with the chibi dragon on Karina’s other side, Nami, separated by one person and one dragon, gradually got used to it.
Thus, during the half month they spent changing course toward Water 7—
with Little White’s "assists," the three went from separate rooms to unknowingly sharing one.
Although nothing happened during that ti, Karl still reaped lots of little benefits—his eyes and hands both very busy.
Half a month later, the triangular-sail sloop finally arrived at the world-famous shipwrights’ holy land—Water 7.
Water 7 had existed for more than a thousand years. Even though the massive tidal wave known as Aqua Laguna flooded it every year, the prosperous island was never destroyed nor did its economy decline.
Eight hundred years ago, the shipwrights here cooperated to create the most evil battleship in shipbuilding history—Pluton, said to be able to destroy an island with a single shot, making the city recognized as the world’s number one shipwrights’ sanctuary.
Even eight centuries later, the island’s shipwrights have carried forward their predecessors’ glory.
The sea train—capable of traveling atop the ocean—was personally invented by the late world’s greatest shipwright, Tom, allowing Water 7’s people to finally stop fearing Aqua Laguna.
Today the mayor of Water 7 is Tom’s disciple, and also the president of the most famous shipbuilding company, the Galley-La Company—Iceburg.
"Is that a fountain? As expected of the legendary city on the water—so beautiful, so magnificent!"
Gazing at fountain-like Water 7, Nami and Karina were full of wonder.
Karina added with feeling, "The Grand Line is worthy of the na. First the plant-ford Boin Archipelago at island scale, and now this fountain-like city on the sea... I’m really curious how spectacular the Sabaody Archipelago will be."
"We’ll know when we see it."
Munching orange segnts, Karl said, "The log’s magnet here only needs a few days. I can probably reach Sabaody in a week or two."
"That works." Karina nodded slightly.
When the sloop entered Water 7’s harbor and moored at the pier, the trio-plus-dragon imdiately caused a sensation on the docks.
"Hey, hey... for real?"
"Is that... a dragon?"
"You’re kidding... do dragons really exist?"
"Who are those three brats? They actually have a dragon hatchling?!"
"..."
Watching the chibi dragon beat its wings and fly beside Karl, passersby cast looks of shock, curiosity, and greed.
Karl’s group ignored it all.
Although he could recall the chibi dragon into the card, Karl wouldn’t—he already treated it as a partner, like Ash and Pikachu.
If anyone set their sights on the chibi dragon, it would only an misfortune for them.
Karl wouldn’t mind sending them to et God.
After all, this world has a Bible, too.
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