Pirate: I, Ace, am the King of Eclipse!

Ace walked through the robot formation and stood before him: "You've woken up from your dream not too late. You can stay here and be a god to these tin toys; or you can come back to sea with us and meet the real strongmen. The choice is yours."

The dungeon was quiet for a while.

Enel lowered his head and suddenly laughed. The laughter was initially dry, but then grew louder and louder.

"Hahaha... What kind of infinite land is this?" He picked up the golden staff and slung it back over his shoulder. "Let's go, take me back to that sea where powerful beings abound. Since there are so many arrogant guys there, I'll blast them all down one by one."

This time, he no longer mentioned his final destination.

Ace nodded and turned to look at the little robots running around on the ground: "Pick ten that are still usable and bring them on the ship. They can be responsible for sweeping the floor and washing dishes, and they can also lend a hand to Bucky."

"Why are all the robots that help me out these short, scrawny guys!" Bucky complained, already starting to check which robots were more obedient.

Ace called out to Geno, who was about to crawl into the ancient mainframe: "Take the ancient power array, circuit logic, and all the technologies that can be used to modify the Eclipse. The rest of you, split up and find well-preserved data and components. Once you've taken them, set sail."

The truth about the moon has been found; there's no point in staying in this wasteland any longer.

The group then split into several teams to search the city. Sabo and Urouge found several still-readable metal recording tablets in the database; Karina used Message Coins to probe closed passages, avoiding several collapsed areas; Bucky disassembled his body and retrieved well-preserved core components from narrow pipes. Leona, uninterested in machinery, took on the task of transporting the equipment, lowering several power units taller than a person to the ground piece by piece.

Jeno stayed in the main control room, meticulously copying down the ancient power array and energy transmission logic. Not every aspect of lunar technology could be directly applied to the Eclipse; some materials were simply unavailable in Qinghai. However, the stabilizers, miniaturized energy storage pumps, and automatic control structures were enough to elevate the warship to the next level.

Ten robots followed the group willingly. They regarded Enel as a god who provided energy and obeyed his commands without hesitation. Enel complained that they were too slow, but in the end, he used lightning to replenish the power of several robots that were low on electricity before turning to head towards the exit.

Their era still lies on that vast ocean below. The next leg of their journey will be fought their way out from the sea.

Before leaving, Enel glanced back one last time at the dungeon, now brightly lit again. Ten robots stood behind him, raising their hands in perfect salute. He didn't respond to the word "God," but simply draped the golden staff over his shoulder and walked along the passage towards the Eclipse. The Infinite Land would remain here, but it was no longer the destination he had to reach.

Chapter 80 Farewell to the Clouds, Marching into the Water City

When the Eclipse came to rest again on the edge of Apayado, its appearance had changed significantly.

A ring of dark gold lightning-guided circuits was inlaid into the black steel hull, and the originally independently controlled ship cannons were also connected to the linkage system, forming an automatic defensive fire array. The stabilization device brought back from the lunar underground city was installed in the hull, connected to the wind-shell matrix and steam boiler.

Jeno walked from the lower deck onto the deck, his mechanical exoskeleton now featuring several new components. He patted the railing: "Lightning conduction and automatic control are complete. I've also grasped most of the lunar mechanical technology, but the materials for the sky island can only go this far."

He pointed to several sections of the ship's hull still supported by ancient timber: "The heavy armor and firepower arrays I want to install cannot be supported by these island cloud materials. If we force them on and fire a few shots in a row, the reaction force will break the keel first."

Leona, who was sitting on a wooden post sharpening her cleaver, looked up when she heard this: "The ingredients need to be changed, and the food should be changed too. I've tried all the cooking methods I could think of for the past few months for the Skyfish and those ancient behemoths on the island, and eating them now will only leave you with a muddy taste. When we get back to Qinghai, I need to find a few fresh large sea kings."

Everyone on deck had completed three months of training. Urouge's body had grown even heavier, and Leona could now reliably channel her cutting power into her blade. Enel was still shirtless, carrying his thunder drum, but his right fist was now smoothly covered in Armament Haki. Buggy, meanwhile, was disassembled into dozens of pieces, weaving back and forth between the masts to carry the last few barrels of fruit wine into the cabin.

Ace looked at everyone and walked towards the bow of the ship: "We've taken almost everything Sky Island can give us. This place is suitable for recuperation and training, but we can't let the eclipse stay in the clouds forever."

He steadied the Suzaku's ramming horn, gazing down at the endless sea of ​​clouds: "The Grand Line holds new adversaries, new ingredients, and unseen landscapes. We set sail today, our destination Water Seven. We'll go there to exchange for the best metals and timber, and rebuild the Eclipse's frame."

Karina unfolded the nautical chart: "Water Seven is the world's most famous shipbuilding mecca. The gold and gems we brought back from the Sky Islands and the lunar ruins can also be exchanged there for the supplies we need."

Fresh water, animal meat, and Sky Island specialties were quickly loaded onto the ship. At the edge of the island, Weapon and Gan Fall arrived with their men to see them off.

Ace stood by the ship's railing and looked at the two of them: "Guard this place well, and guard the Eclipse flag well too."

Vepa punched his chest, and the Shandian warriors behind him did the same: "Ready to answer the captain's call at any time!"

The Eclipse retracted its ramp. Ace didn't order anyone to search for the traditional exit to the Blue Sea, but instead gave the direct command: "Jenno, Wind Beam Matrix at full power. Enel, charge the main array. We're flying there."

"I've been waiting to hear that!" Geno pressed down the control lever in the lower deck. "Let those shipbuilders in Qinghai see what a ship built from machinery and lightning can do!"

Enel snorted coldly, but still pressed his palm against the Golden Node: "Don't treat me like a generator."

High-voltage current surged into the dark gold circuit, simultaneously activating the steam boiler and the heavy-duty wind turbines. The downward-spraying airflow tore through the clouds, and the Eclipse soared from an altitude of ten thousand meters, its bow immediately turning downwards.

The black warship sliced ​​through the Cumulus cloud at an angle. The lunar stabilizer continuously corrected the ship's hull, and the reverse valve controlled the speed. The entire 10,000-meter descent did not go out of control; instead, it resembled a gliding through the sky with continuous acceleration.

Karina remained at the helm, correcting the course according to the nautical charts and the permanent compass. Even slight changes in the voltage supplied by Enel to the main array caused the stabilizer fins on the sides of the ship to adjust their angle accordingly. Geno remained in the lower deck, continuously reporting boiler pressure and wind turbine status through a megaphone. For the first time, all three systems operated together for an extended period, yet the deck maintained only a slight tilt.

After passing through the cumulonimbus clouds, the sea was still far below them. Bucky had prepared himself to be thrown off balance, his body already torn into pieces, clinging to various parts of the ship. But after waiting for what seemed like forever without a violent jolt, he could only piece himself back together while pretending nothing had happened. Ten lunar robots, lined up, slid back and forth on the sloping deck with brooms, eventually colliding together, prompting Bailey to squat on the mast and laugh heartily.

In less than two days, a tiered city built on a giant sea fountain appeared on the horizon. The crisscrossing waterways, the coming and going of merchant ships, and the shipyards occupying a large part of the island gradually became clear.

We've arrived in Water City.

The Eclipse activated its thrusters in the outer waters. The teardrop-shaped hull plunged into the sea, creating large waves, before anchoring in a secluded but deep commercial dock.

The commotion caused by the ship falling into the water attracted a crowd of onlookers at the dock. Different ships enter Water Seven's harbor every day, but a black warship that could fall directly into the sea from the sky is a rare sight. Several boatmen observed the ship's side rails and black steel hull from a distance, wanting to get closer for a closer look, but stopped after recognizing the Eclipse Flag.

Karina first went to the dock to complete the berthing procedures, and then had Bucky and his men guard the technical data brought back from the moon. Geno drew up a list of metals, keel timbers, gun mount buffer structures, and shipbuilding tools, intending to first assess the capabilities of the various shipyards in Water Seven before deciding which projects to outsource.

As soon as Geno peeked out from the hold, his gaze swept across the dock: "This is more like a shipbuilding place. The air is filled with the smell of engine oil and good wood."

Ace stepped off the gangplank and said to everyone, "The Eclipse will be undergoing major modifications this time and won't be able to leave for a while. Everyone, go and explore the city first. Buy whatever you want and eat whatever you want, it's up to you."

The crew members quickly split into groups and entered the city.

Geno led two lunar robots straight to the materials market, stopping to inspect shipyards along the way. He needed more than just ordinary steel; he required alloys capable of withstanding the continuous recoil of heavy artillery, sufficiently tough keelwood, and large-scale equipment to process meteorite black steel. Leona first went to the fish market to see what new ingredients this water city could offer; Urki and Sabo, on the other hand, familiarized themselves with the city's layout along the main waterways, keeping an eye out for anyone following them.

Bucky's assignment was to watch the ship. He complained about it for a long time, but in the end, he left part of his body to guard the warehouse and technical documents, while the other part floated into the commercial district to buy drinks. The lunar robots lined up behind his shoes, attracting a lot of onlookers, which quickly made him enjoy the feeling of being the center of attention.

Ace didn't restrict the crew's movements. Water Seven appears prosperous on the surface, but beneath its waterways lie shipbuilding companies, gangs, bounty hunters, and World Government spies. For a ship like the Eclipse to enter port completely undetected is impossible. Rather than keeping everyone cooped up on the ship, it's better to proceed as planned and see who comes knocking first.

A few hours later, Karina sat in an open-air café on the main shopping street. Bailey sat on the back of a chair next to her eating dried fruit, while she stirred her tea with a teaspoon, seemingly just relaxing.

From the moment she entered the city, she had already smuggled several specially crafted Message-Message Fruit coins into tips and payments, delivering them to gang territories, bustling commercial districts, and several important bars. The messages collected from the coins were continuously fed into her intelligence network, gradually revealing the city's underground transactions and movements.

A frequency from the bar lounge suddenly triggered the keyword lock she had set.

A disguised male voice entered my mind.

"This is Bruno. Today's work summary has been delivered. The area around Iceberg's residence is under constant surveillance; no anomalies have been detected. Regarding the blueprints for 'that weapon,' Kaku and Lucci are continuing their infiltration; it has been confirmed they are not at Carrera headquarters."

Another channel connected immediately. The person's voice was irritable and shrill.

"I don't want these futile reports! I want the blueprints for Pluto! I sent you CP9 agents there not to work for some ship repair crew. Keep investigating! Even if you have to dig into Iceberg's brain, you must find the blueprints!"

After the reprimand ended, the band quickly fell silent.

Karina put down her teaspoon. CP9, Mayor Iceberg, and the Ancient Weapon Pluton—these three names together were enough to make the World Government put the entire city on the purge list.

She didn't get up immediately, nor did she look towards the bar. The Message Coins were only responsible for collecting sound; Bruno was unaware that his report had gained an audience. Approaching rashly might alert the lurking agents.

Karina memorized the voiceprint, channel pattern, and location that had just appeared, and then used a few more gold coins nearby to continue listening. Normal conversation in the bar quickly replaced the sounds from the secret room; Bruno had clearly cut off contact. The person giving orders on the other end wasn't in Water Seven, but could still contact CP9 directly through a fixed line.

Iceberg is the mayor of Water Seven and the president of the Carrera Corporation. If Lucci and Kaku could remain infiltrated by his side for so long, it meant they must have publicly known identities that allowed them access to the core leadership. Karina had never met either of them, but from this moment on, every important figure in the shipbuilding company was on her intelligence list.

She closed her eyes and switched the message to the channel she shared with Ace.

"Captain, did you hear that?"

A few blocks away, in a barbecue tavern, Ace put down his glass. Karina had granted him access beforehand, allowing him to hear the entire conversation.

"I heard you clearly."

Karina continued, "Iceberg's entourage has been infiltrated by government agents. It's far more dangerous here than it appears. Should we scale back our operations? What if CP9 notices the Eclipse—"

Ace stood up from his seat, his gaze passing over the tavern entrance and landing on the city on the other side of the waterway.

Lucci had honed the Six Styles of the Navy to a very high level. For the Eclipse team, who had just finished three months of training, this group of agents was the perfect opportunity to test their skills.

Ace knew that the Pluton blueprints were related to Water 7, and he also knew that the World Government would take action sooner or later for the blueprints. Now that the Eclipse has arrived here ahead of schedule, and CP9 is still in its infiltration phase, there is no direct conflict between the two sides for the time being.

However, Water 7 is going to replace the Eclipse's keel and armor, and the crew will be in frequent contact with the Galleyra Company. Once CP9 receives intelligence about the Eclipse Pirates, they can't keep pretending not to see it. Ace doesn't intend to actively eliminate agents for the World Government, nor will he restrain his crew to hide them.

"No need to change the arrangements, everything as usual." Ace picked up his trench coat and walked towards the door. "If they don't bother us, we'll take care of our own business. If they try to target the Eclipse crew, then we'll destroy them and the underwater plan as well."

Chapter 81 The Wrong Person to Mess With: The Shipwreck House and the Clash of Mechanical Madmen

Shipwreck Island, located on the back side of Water Seven, is piled high with abandoned ships year-round. Broken masts are stuck in the mud, rotting planks drift along the waterways, and the air is filled with the smells of rust, engine oil, and rotten wood.

The Eclipse was moored in an old shipyard far from the city. Its matte black hull pressed against the water, its ram protruding from the rubble, and its outer steel plates bore fine scratches from its voyage, but there was no sign of structural damage.

Behind a pile of broken planks, Zambry and dozens of Frankie family members crouched down. They had brought saws, crowbars, welding torches, and large wrenches, all ready to be used at his command.

The henchman carrying the wrench stared at it for a long time, then couldn't help but shrink back: "Brother Zanbai, are we really going to move this ship? Its ram doesn't look like an ordinary vessel, and the people on board are probably not easy to mess with."

"In Water Seven, is there any ship that our Franky family wouldn't dare dismantle?" Zambry slapped him on the back of the head, but remained hidden behind the planks, only half of his square face showing. "Look at that outer layer of anti-corrosion steel plates; it's all top-grade alloy. If the keel inside can support such a heavy ship, the timber must be even more valuable. If we dismantle it and sell it, we can eat meat for months, and Brother Franky will have enough money to buy the Adam Tree!"

He observed for a while, and no one moved from the ship. The foreign pirates who had just entered the city had probably all gone to drink and have fun, leaving only an unguarded mountain of gold.

Zambai grabbed a large saw and waved it towards the shipyard: "Hurry up, dismantle everything you can carry before they get back!"

Dozens of people climbed onto the deck using the gangplank. Someone spotted the dark gold conductive circuit on the hull, wedged a crowbar into the seam, and pressed it down forcefully.

clang!

A sharp metallic clang rang out, and Zambry quickly turned around: "Keep it down! Are you afraid others won't hear you?"

The thug with the crowbar released his grip and took two steps back, saying, "B-Big Brother, I didn't touch the boat..."

The crowbar struck an arm that was lying across the road. The arm was thicker than an average person's thigh, with veins bulging under the skin. The crowbar only left a shallow white mark when it hit the arm.

In the shadows of the deck, Urki sat cross-legged beside the hydraulic warhammer, a mahogany prayer bead hanging in front of his bare chest. He had been resting with his eyes closed, but now he raised his eyes and glanced at the knives and saws in the hands of the crowd, a smile slowly spreading across his face.

"Amitabha. You benefactors have come to my door with so many sharpened ritual implements. Are you planning to dismantle the ship, or send this old monk to meet the Buddha?"

The bodies blocking the passage formed a wall. The people at the front gripped their tools, none of them willing to make the first move.

Seeing his men retreating, Zambry steeled himself and drew his machete: "He's all alone, and he's unarmed! Charge at him together, take him down first, then get to work!"

A large group emboldens. Dozens of knives and clubs were raised simultaneously, rushing towards Urki from several directions. Urki didn't even get up, letting two machetes land on his shoulders first. The inferior blades struck the body that had undergone three months of extreme training, producing a series of clanging sounds. The grip on the knife was cracked, and the weapon flew out spinning.

“I’ve been eating too much these past few days, and I need someone to help this old monk loosen up his muscles.” Ulki stood up, supporting himself on his knees, and swept his large, fan-like hand across the deck. “Since you’re here, you can all receive a physical salvation.”

The seven or eight men at the front were thrown off the ground; some crashed into the rubble heap, while others tumbled over the ship's side into the muddy water. Before the rest could even stop, Urki had already entered the crowd. He didn't use his causal backlash, nor did he reach for the hydraulic sledgehammer behind him; he simply used his fists and feet to send the shipbreakers tumbling all over the deck.

Zambry watched as half of his men disappeared in the blink of an eye, threw down his knife, and tried to run: "Run! This guy is a monster!"

"Who dares to touch my beloved interstellar brothers!"

A roar echoed through the tunnels of the abandoned ship island. A blue-haired man in a floral shirt and swim trunks strode forward. Seeing Zambai and the others lying on the ground, he immediately raised his steel right arm. His hand flipped backward, revealing a dark cannon muzzle at his wrist.

"Anyone who dares to mess with my people on the Franky family's territory will first get a 'Weapon Left Hand' shot!"

The shells, trailing sparks, flew toward the deck. Uroki clenched his right fist, about to apply Armament Haki, when the hull of the wrecked giant ship suddenly shuddered.

Geno leaped from the wreckage, which was over ten meters high. He carried a bag of parts he had just bought from the black market in one hand and swung a hydraulic hammer in the other. White steam billowed from his exoskeleton arm, and the hammer head smashed down on the shell, detonating it in mid-air with pure mechanical kinetic energy, without any Haki involved.

A blast of air whipped up scrap metal, and flames spread between the two men. Geno landed and took a half-step back, his mechanical feet locking into the deck, the pressure valve at the end of the power hammer continuously leaking air. He stared at Franky's right arm through his goggles, not even bothering to pick up the bag of parts that had fallen to the ground.

The muzzle is hidden inside the wrist bone, and there is no external transmission device on the arm when firing, yet the shell can be steadily ejected from the barrel. It is not a weapon worn on the body, but a direct connection between the metal structure, transmission system and human flesh.

Jeno quickly noticed more details. When Franky raised his arm, the weight on his shoulder wasn't pulled off the right side by the recoil, indicating that the steel skeleton extended into at least the upper body; the wrist didn't overheat after firing, suggesting that there must be internal cooling and ammunition replenishment mechanisms. Compressing so many components into the volume of a human arm while preserving the joints of the fist for normal movement is far more difficult than simply creating an exoskeleton.

"You've installed a cannon in your hand bones, turning your entire arm into a gun carriage?" Geno hoisted the power hammer and took a step forward. "Hey, you blue-haired exhibitionist! What powers your human modifications? Where's the drive shaft hidden?"

Franky was about to fire again when his gaze was drawn to Jeno's equipment. The exoskeleton, made of meteorite black steel, fitted along his limbs, with high-pressure steam pipes connecting to the joints. Several Sky Island Flame Shells, which he had never seen before, were embedded in the rear of the power hammer. Steam and the air pressure provided by the shells worked together to propel the chassis; the structure was rugged, but the power was undeniable.