Recruit Luffy at the start and build the strongest navy.

Chapter 265 The Land of Sailing Ships!

After a while, when Usopp and Luffy's "battle" ended, both of them lay on their backs on the ground, panting heavily.

This "battle" took a heavy toll on them.

"This... this time it's barely a draw. Next time we fight, Luffy, you're definitely no match for me!"

Usopp spoke, panting heavily.

"What...what are you bragging about? Usopp, you're no match for me this time, it's just that I wasn't full earlier!"

Luffy responded, also panting heavily.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding villagers subconsciously glanced at the others, then looked at the pile of bones in front of Luffy that was almost a small hill, and exchanged bewildered glances.

...I'm not full?

However, seeing the two bickering, many villagers couldn't help but smile.

Their benefactor... is quite interesting!

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Nami seemed to remember something and suddenly turned to the old man who had spoken first and asked:

"Old village elder, do you have anyone in your village who can build boats?"

"Or is there a slightly larger sailboat, just big enough for the five of us to fit on without feeling too crowded?"

"Yes, yes, sir! Does your village have any boats? We don't even have a decent boat right now, which makes going out to sea a huge problem!"

Luffy couldn't help but ask as well.

They came to the island in a very small sailboat, just like the kind they originally used.

But as the saying goes, it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality!

Before they had experienced the Going Merry, they could have accepted riding on that simple sailboat, but after experiencing the Going Merry, they found it difficult to adapt to riding on that simple sailboat again.

The experience is on a completely different level.

"shipbuilding?!"

The village chief murmured to himself, then a strange smile appeared on his lips.

"You've come to the right person!"

Having said that, the village chief looked around at the villagers and shouted:

"Friends, our benefactors say they want a boat! Tell them loudly what our village's nickname is!"

"The land of sailboats!!!"

All the villagers shouted in unison, their voices filled with pride and confidence.

The village chief continued:

"The reason the Scissors Pirates didn't kill us is because they coveted our village's shipbuilding technology! They want to use it to profit from it!"

"Whether it's other types of boats or sailboats, our village's shipbuilding skills are renowned in the surrounding waters and even further afield!"

"Without being modest, in this small area, when it comes to sailboat building technology, if we say we're second, nobody dares to say we're first!!"

As the village chief spoke, he couldn't help but puff out his chest, his face full of pride.

To be honest, shipbuilding technology has always been their proudest asset, and it is precisely because of this technology that they were not slaughtered by the Scissors Pirates.

Otherwise, why would the Scissors Pirates keep them alive and oppress them?

Because they have value that is oppressed!!

"Really?"

Upon hearing this, Usopp immediately jumped up from the ground and shouted.

The sudden shout made the village chief's heart skip a beat, almost sending him flying on the spot. He subconsciously wiped away imaginary sweat from his forehead, calmed himself down, and then spoke:

"Of course!!"

"Can you build a ship according to the design drawings?"

Usopp pressed on, his gaze fixed intently on the village.

Upon hearing this, the village chief's face regained its confidence.

"Bags are possible. As long as we have the design drawings, we can perfectly replicate them!"

"Really? That's great!!"

Usopp shouted excitedly again, then immediately pulled a blueprint out of his pocket, handed it to the village chief, and bowed deeply.

"Could you please help us build this ship?"

"Fee is not a problem!!"

Upon hearing this, the village chief's face immediately hardened, and he said:

"Usopp, what are you saying?"

"You are the benefactors of our village, and you're talking to us about fees?!"

"We were worried about how to thank you for saving us from this misery. It's just a ship, after all. Not only can we build it, but if you have any other requests, just say so, and we will do our best to fulfill them!!"

"That's right, Usopp! You guys are our benefactors! We helped you build a ship, and if we still ask for Berries, would we even be human?"

"That's right, that's right!!"

……

As soon as the village chief finished speaking, a large group of villagers immediately echoed his words.

Upon hearing this, Usopp was immediately moved to tears. Looking at the simple and honest villagers around him, he bowed to them once again.

"Thank you so much!!"

Upon hearing the villagers' words, Luffy and the others nearby also showed a look of joy on their faces.

"Great! Now we can have the Going Merry again!!"

Ruff exclaimed in surprise.

He certainly knew what kind of ship design Usopp had produced.

Although the rebuilt Going Merry is different from the original ship, at least in a sense, it has indeed changed.

But at least in appearance they are the same. Compared to getting a ship they are not familiar with, it would be much more acceptable to them if it were similar to the Going Merry.

However, upon thinking of this, a look of anger involuntarily appeared on Luffy's face.

"It's all that bastard Kai's fault! If it weren't for him, the Going Merry wouldn't have been blown to pieces!"

"Kyle!!"

Sanji added casually from the side, but his tone was also clearly angry.

"Yes, it's Kyle!!"

"I absolutely must never run into that guy again, or I'll definitely beat him to a pulp!!"

Luffy clenched his fist, looking fierce.

However, the village chief on the other side suddenly trembled upon hearing the name Kayle, abruptly turning to look at Luffy, his voice trembling with fear as he asked:

"You just said Kyle?!"

"Yes! That's right, it's Kyle!"

"That's the guy who destroyed our Going Merry, otherwise we wouldn't be suffering like this lately!"

"That damn navy!!"

Nami also chimed in with her own comments.

Upon hearing the word "navy," the village chief's body trembled again, and he then addressed the group:

"Wait for me!!"

After saying that, the village chief immediately turned around and ran towards his house, his steps slightly hurried, leaving Luffy and the others standing there looking at each other, completely bewildered.

"What's wrong, old village elder?"

Luffy looked on with curiosity.

A short while later, the village chief came out of the house, approached the group, unfolded the newspaper in his hand, pointed to one of the portraits, and asked:

"Is he the Kyle you're talking about?!"

……