One-Punch Man in the One Piece World

8. The White Pearl

Nami gave the Duke a suspicious look. "You'd better explain yourself, or we won't believe you!"

If the ship built by the duke's daughter was some kind of precious treasure, why would the duke be in such a hurry to throw it away?

The Duke patted his chest and said, "Mr. Norton, the ship is absolutely superb! In terms of shipbuilding skills alone, my daughter, Funing, is undoubtedly the best in the country!"

Norton calmly looked into the Duke's eyes.

"I swear on the honor of my family!" the Duke swore to the heavens.

"You're really that kind? In my mind, nobles are all profit-driven bastards," Norton calmly questioned.

The Duke took a deep breath. "Mr. Norton, you absolutely won't find a better ship in the East Sea than one built by Funing!"

"The reason I wanted you to take that ship is because Funing's luck... is somewhat similar to Mr. Sanosuke's."

"He looks a bit like Sasuke?" Norton and Nami exchanged a glance.

Having luck similar to Sasuke's isn't necessarily a good thing.

The Duke was not surprised by their reactions. To be honest, if he hadn't been impressed by the awe-inspiring power Norton displayed when subduing the Sea King, the Duke wouldn't have decided to place his hopes on Norton.

"My fist is on top of your bad luck!"

As if faintly, Norton's bold voice from that time still echoed in the Duke's ears.

The Duke's gaze gradually hardened.

Over the next few days, Norton and Nami gradually learned the whole story from the Duke's account.

......

The Duke had only one daughter but many sons, so he always doted on his daughter.

The Duke did his best to satisfy whatever his daughter, Funing, wanted.

However, there was one thing that left the Duke helpless and very troubled.

From a young age, Funing showed a love for ships and enjoyed collecting various ship models.

It's nothing, the Duke can satisfy all my needs.

The problem is that as she grew up, Funing's love for ships became an obsession, and she dreamed of building the best ship in the world.

However, for a nobleman, shipbuilding was a very shameful thing, something only the lower classes would do.

Deep down, the Duke didn't really like his daughter, Funing, working in the shipbuilding industry, as it would make him a laughingstock among the other nobles and embarrass him.

However, out of his doting affection for Funing, the Duke did not object but silently supported her.

Kefuning's shipbuilding journey has not been smooth.

Fu Ning is 17 years old this year. She started building ships when she was 12 years old and has built a total of 3 ships in 5 years.

When the first ship was completed, it was destroyed by fire.

When the second ship was completed, it was struck by lightning and burned.

The third ship did not encounter lightning or fire, but because it was requisitioned by the king for war, it was quickly destroyed by the enemy.

In shipbuilding, Funing has encountered a series of setbacks and bad luck.

The nobles all said it was fate, destiny. Even the heavens didn't want Funing to get too deeply involved in shipbuilding, something only lowly people would do.

But Fu Ning was not discouraged; instead, she became more determined after each setback.

At the beginning of this year, Funing began building its fourth ship.

She learned her lesson and decided to build the ship the strongest in the world.

Unlike the first ship's magnificence, the second ship's exquisite craftsmanship, and the third ship's complexity.

It is a ship that is not afraid of thunder and fire, and cannot be destroyed by any cannonballs, pursuing the ultimate in practicality.

And now, the ship is nearing completion.

......

"I don't want Funing's ship to be destroyed again. It's Funing's life's work. I want to find someone who can protect that ship and fight against fate," the Duke said solemnly.

"You believe in that kind of thing? You believe that the ships your daughter Funing builds will eventually be destroyed? You believe it's fate?" Nami asked.

"There's no other explanation. This is not normal at all. Bad luck... no, fate, it's real," the Duke sighed.

Norton listened quietly to the Duke's account. Just then, the sound of horses' hooves outside the carriage stopped, and the butler's voice came from behind the curtain: "Your Highness, we have arrived."

"Understood." After saying that, the Duke looked at Norton, as if he wanted to say something more.

Norton extended his palm, interrupting the Duke's speech: "Now that we're here, let me first meet Miss Funing and her ship."

The Duke paused for a moment, then nodded slightly.

The group disembarked from the carriage one after another, and the pirates gathered together, awaiting Norton's instructions.

The Duke alighted from his carriage and instructed his steward, "Serve these guests well."

"Yes." The butler bowed, then turned and beckoned to the pirates. "Please follow me."

The pirates were itching to make a move, but they restrained their impulses and looked behind the Duke.

Norton slowly got out of the car and nodded slightly to the pirates: "Go on, don't cause trouble, and don't steal anything."

"Sasuke, keep an eye on them."

"Yes, sir." Sanosuke jumped off the carriage and followed behind the pirates, his eyes fixed on them.

The pirates felt a chill run down their spines. Seriously, buddy, we were both under Captain Redbeard's command before, and you've already betrayed us? Don't you have any sense of loyalty?

Nami jumped off the carriage, holding onto Norton's shoulder. She pouted and glanced at Norton, sensing that he was targeting her.

The butler led the large group to the banquet hall.

The Duke, along with Norton and Nami, passed through the castle and arrived at a secluded dock beside the moat.

A young and beautiful girl is alone here, putting the final anti-corrosion coating on a ship.

The girl had naturally long white hair, with a single white ahoge (antenna-like hair sticking up) extending from the whorl of her hair.

The girl was completely unaware of Norton, Nami, and the Duke's arrival and worked very diligently.

"She's very focused," Norton said softly.

The Duke nodded in agreement, a kind smile on his face: "Yes, Funing was very dedicated when she was building the ship."

"Why is she all alone?" Nami asked. "Building such a huge ship! It must have been a lot of work!"

The Duke quickly explained, "Furning doesn't like others interfering with her creative process, so I didn't send anyone to help her."

Norton shifted his gaze from Funing to the ship.

It was a white three-masted sailing ship, nearly a hundred meters long, with a streamlined, long, and low hull. At the bow was a statue of a girl holding a flying bird, exuding a mysterious elegance.

Although it lacks bow and stern guns, making it appear somewhat "incomplete," the 32 cannons densely packed on both sides of the hull silently testify to the ship's terrifying broadside salvo firepower.

"A fantastic ship!" Norton's eyes lit up. The moment he saw the ship, an unwavering thought flashed through his mind.

This ship was prepared for him!

Norton couldn't wait to possess it.

"What's the name of this ship?" Norton walked up to Funing.

"It's called 'White Pearl'! It's my fourth child!" Funing said energetically, but after a moment she realized something was wrong and turned to look at Norton.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Fu Ning was stunned.