Iceburg smiled and nodded, saying, "I knew you would like it."
Then, as they walked, Iceburg continued introducing him to the ship, guiding him through each section one by one. The wooden floors creaked softly under their steps, the scent of fresh timber still lingering in the air. He showed him all the rooms—the living quarters, storage spaces—and finally, the large vault that Gojo had specifically requested. It stood exactly as he had envisioned, solid and secure. It was there, built perfectly.
After finishing the full tour, Iceburg turned to him and said, "By the way, the Straw Hats have also now received their own shipwright, and they are also having their new ship built."
Gojo nodded slightly upon hearing this. "Yes, they definitely are in need of a new ship. After all… their last ship is now dead."
He chose his words carefully.
Not destroyed.
Dead.
Because the Going Merry had its own spirit—and when it was burned, it didn't simply break… it died.
For a brief moment, his eyes lingered ahead, as if recalling the sight. It wasn't just wood… it was one of them.
Then Gojo looked back toward Iceburg and said, "Well, now that my ship is ready, it would be best for me to take my leave and head to my next destination."
Iceburg paused for a moment before speaking, his tone turning slightly curious. "From here… are you perhaps going to the final destination of all pirates in the first half of the Grand Line—the Archipelago?"
Gojo gave a small nod.
Iceburg let out a quiet breath before continuing, "Well, for all the help that you have given us—especially avenging our teacher by killing his murderer—at the very least, I can give you the map I acquired from here to the Archipelago."
He gestured lightly, as if already offering it.
"That might be very helpful for your journey."
Gojo nodded after hearing this.
Then Iceburg spoke again, rubbing the back of his head slightly, "I would have also loved to let go of all your fees for this ship, but I can't exactly do that. After all, I don't have that much funds with me. Not to mention the whole of Water 7 has been hit by the Aqua Laguna… and I have my own dream to fulfill—one that requires money."
Gojo simply waved his hand, dismissing the thought. "Don't worry about it. I wasn't expecting that, nor did I do all that for you anyway. The money we agreed upon—I will give it to you. Just send someone to whom I can hand it over."
Iceburg nodded. "I'll send Lulu to go with you."
Gojo gave a small nod in response.
Not long after, Gojo headed toward the bank with Lulu. Inside the bank, he handed Lulu the remaining amount owed to Iceburg.
Then, without hesitation, he withdrew the rest of his money as well.
All of it.
The weight of the cash was heavy, but his expression remained calm as he carried it back and stored it securely inside the vault of his ship. He closed it with a quiet click.
Banks… I don't trust them.
After all, these banks likely had the shadow of the World Government looming over them. If someday the World Government decided to freeze his money… that would be troublesome.
The next morning arrived quietly.
A soft breeze drifted through Water 7, carrying the scent of the sea as sunlight spread across the docks. Gojo stood ready, prepared to leave.
The Straw Hats had learned that Gojo was departing, and they came to see him off.
As Gojo stepped onto his ship, the wood shifting slightly beneath his feet, he noticed them approaching from a distance.
Then—
A loud, familiar voice echoed across the docks.
"Hey, Gojo! You're leaving already!"
The same way Luffy spoke—loud, carefree—made Gojo pause for a brief moment.
He was, admittedly, a little thankful that Luffy actually remembered his name. Luffy had a tendency to forget the names of people—especially those he met randomly—and instead call them by whatever nickname came to mind.
Gojo let out a faint breath through his nose.
Should I be grateful… that I'm being remembered by the protagonist of One Piece by my own name?
A small chuckle escaped him as he shook his head lightly, brushing the thought aside.
By then, Luffy had already arrived—and, true to himself, had jumped straight onto Gojo's ship without hesitation, landing with a light thud on the deck.
Gojo looked at him and said, "Yes. I came here to have my new ship prepared, so, now that my ship is ready, I should also take my leave."
Luffy grinned widely. "Yes, yes! I'm also getting my new ship ready, and once it's done, we'll catch up to you in no time!"
Gojo gave a small nod at that.
Soon after, the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates began to arrive as well, stepping onto the dock. Gojo's gaze shifted as he noticed Nami walking forward, a few posters clutched in her hand.
The papers fluttered slightly in the breeze.
Gojo's eyes lingered on them for a moment before he understood.
Bounty posters.
He looked back at Nami and asked, "Are those your new bounty posters?"
Nami nodded, glancing at him as she said, "Yes. Not only are these our new bounty posters, but your bounty has also been updated."
Gojo raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes. "Oh? How much is it?"
Nami smiled faintly. "Your bounty has risen to 500 million Berries. That's quite a lot."
As she said that, she extended one of the posters toward him.
Gojo took it, the paper rustling softly between his fingers. His gaze fell onto his own image printed across it, the number bold and unmistakable.
"500 million…"
He studied it for a brief moment before a small, satisfied smile formed.
"Well," he said calmly, "that's a good thing."
Although Gojo had never wanted to become a pirate, he knew one thing for certain—given his ambition, he would have ended up a criminal regardless.
That much, he understood clearly.
Still, as he looked at his bounty poster, he felt a strange sense of achievement rising within him. His fingers lightly tapped against the paper as a faint smile formed.
"Well," he thought to himself, "now I understand the feeling of those pirates who take pride in their high bounties."
Beside him, Luffy grabbed the poster from his hand without hesitation, his eyes lighting up. "Wow! Your bounty has increased by a lot!"
At that moment, Nami spoke up, holding the rest of the posters as they fluttered slightly in the sea breeze. "Your bounty has also increased, Luffy. It's now risen to 300 million Berries. Zoro has 120 million, Robin 80 million, Sanji 77 million, Franky 44 million… and Sogeking 30 million."
She paused for a moment before her expression shifted, her shoulders drooping slightly. "And I also got a 16 million bounty… Ah-ha-ha…" she said, letting out a slightly forced laugh, her eyes glistening just a bit.
From the side, Chopper looked up eagerly. "What about me?"
Nami didn't say anything—she simply handed him his poster.
Chopper grabbed it with anticipation, but the moment his eyes landed on the number, his expression froze.
"50… Berries…?"
His ears drooped instantly, his entire face twisting in disbelief and offense. He was listed as the pet of the Straw Hat Pirates.
A beat of silence—
—and then laughter erupted all around.
The sound carried across the dock, light and unrestrained, mixing with the waves gently crashing against the sides of the ships.
Gojo let out a quiet breath, a faint smile still lingering on his face as he turned away.
Soon after, he departed from Water 7 on his newly built ship.
The sails unfurled slowly into the wind with a deep black background at their center, bearing two distinct eyes.
His eyes.
The unmistakable depiction of his Six Eyes.
As the ship began to move, cutting smoothly through the water, there was something about it—something unsettling.
From a distance, it didn't feel like a ship sailing across the sea.
It felt as if a silent beast was watching you.
And if anyone saw Gojo's ship approaching them… it would feel as though those eyes were gazing directly into their very soul.
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