Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece

As Uchiha Hakuba got closer and closer to Cocoyasi Island, the seawater became increasingly blue.

Perhaps because the Dead Sea has few waves, the surface sometimes appears somewhat dark.

As the clear blue replaced the dark ink, the sea breeze shed its salty smell, and instead carried the rich fragrance of flowers and the everyday life of the city, gently brushing against the deck of the small boat.

Uchiha Shiraha stood at the bow of the ship, his red eyes gazing at the distant coastline. Rows of houses stretched along the hills, sunlight spilling onto the staggered buildings and reflecting a warm glow. The outline of Sicily came into clear view; this was the place they would land in Cocoyasi after crossing the Dead Sea.

"It looks quite lively!"

"Yes, by the way, is it alright for you to hand over those financial matters to the captain of the merchant ship?"

"No problem, please log in now."

The small boat slowly approached the shore, where the dock was bustling with activity. The shouts of vendors, the laughter of children, and the whistles of boats mingled together, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

Uchiha Hakuba dropped the anchor.

As soon as Matsumoto Rangiku stepped onto the dock, her eyes were drawn to the dazzling array of shops lining the street. Exquisite lace accessories and brightly colored dresses shone brightly in the sunlight, and her eyes lit up with excitement as she took Nicole Robin's wrist.

Her tone was filled with eager excitement: "Robin, look at that clothing store over there! So many beautiful dresses! We've finally made it to land, so let's take this opportunity to shop around and buy some new clothes."

Nico Robin followed Matsumoto Rangiku's gaze, a gentle smile playing on her lips. Seeing the embroidered fabrics on the stall, her eyes were full of appreciation: "The clothing here has a very unique style, and the embroidery is exquisite. It's definitely worth a look."

Then she put on a veil: "I'm still the same way so I won't get into trouble. By the way, Bai Yu-jun, you're not going to look for a shipyard, are you? We'll go find you at the tavern near the dock after we're done. It won't take too long."

Uchiha Shiraha nodded, his gaze sweeping over the dock, taking note of the road signs and pedestrians along the way. He said in a deep voice, "Be careful, don't reveal your abilities easily. If anything happens, come find me immediately. I'll mark the route, and I'll send you a message once I find a suitable shipyard."

After finishing his sentence, Uchiha Shiraha gave the two of his Beli to each of them, gave them a few more instructions, and then turned and walked towards the depths of the dock, his figure quickly blending into the bustling crowd.

Rangiku pulled Robin straight into an exquisitely decorated clothing store. The store was filled with all kinds of dresses and skirts, the smoothness of silk, the comfort of cotton and linen, the softness of lace, with a wide variety of styles and bright colors.

Rangiku reached for a burgundy off-the-shoulder dress. The hem was embroidered with delicate gold patterns, which made her skin look even whiter than snow. She looked at herself in the mirror for a few moments, and a bright smile appeared on her lips: "This one is nice. It should really suit my complexion. It's much better than the one I bought before."

Robin picked up a light purple, fitted long dress with layers of light gauze on the hem, simple yet elegant. She gently stroked the pattern on the hem, her eyes full of affection: "This suits me well, and it's easy to move around in without affecting my ability."

The shop owner was a kind woman. Seeing the two ladies browsing clothes, she enthusiastically stepped forward to introduce them: "You two have excellent taste! These two pieces are both new styles this year. The burgundy is bright and cheerful, while the light purple is gentle and elegant. They suit you both very well. We also have matching accessories in the shop. Would you like to take a look?"

Rangiku readily agreed and pulled Robin along to pick out jewelry. There were all sorts of exquisite silver necklaces and a wide variety of pearl earrings. For women, as long as they can go shopping for clothes, the fatigue and danger along the way will gradually dissipate in this relaxed atmosphere.

Even women like Matsumoto Rangiku and Nico Robin.

On the other side, Bai Yu wandered through the streets and alleys of the dock, asking passersby for directions to the shipyard.

Most of Sicily's shipyards are concentrated on the other side of the island, close to the coastline, which is convenient for ship repair and construction.

After walking for about an hour, he finally saw a row of shipyards, with piles of timber and craftsmen busy polishing planks and assembling hulls, the clanging and hammering sounds filling the air.

He went into the shipyards one by one to check. Some shipyards were too small to repair small fishing boats and could not build pirate ships suitable for long-distance sea voyages.

Some shipyards have crude craftsmanship and poor-quality wood, making them unable to withstand the wind and waves and dangers at sea, and are only suitable for use on inland lakes.

Uchiha Shiraha stopped when he reached a shipyard called 33, which was located quite deep inside the shipyard. From the outside, the shipyard was of moderate size, and the wood used was all high-quality hardwood that was hard and rot-resistant. In fact, it had wood that was second only to Adam and Eve. At the same time, the craftsmen were skilled and were building a medium-sized merchant ship. The hull was tightly assembled and the details were handled with exquisite care, showing that the craftsmanship was very solid.

Uchiha Shiraha immediately found the shipyard owner and explained his purpose: he wanted to customize a ship suitable for about twenty people to sail long distances. He required that the hull be sturdy and corrosion-resistant, fast, and stable, while also having enough space to store supplies and rest, and to be comfortable. Ideally, the speed should not be too low so that it could avoid the high-speed ships of pirates.

Upon hearing Uchiha Shiraha's request, the shipyard owner sized up Shiraha and noticed his calm demeanor and sharp eyes, which made him seem unlike an ordinary young man.

How much are you willing to pay?

The shipyard owner thought that 50 million pegories should be enough to secure this order. He had a realistic expectation that he could make 5 million after deducting the cost of materials and labor.

"Three hundred million berries!"

"Are you sure you want to order a boat like this?"

The shipyard owner was a bit dumbfounded. Three hundred million could have been used to customize several luxurious three-masted sailing ships, but it was used on such a vessel.

To put it in perspective, a boat that can carry twenty people, if you don't care about the living conditions and it's suitable for sailing, would cost around ten million Berries.

Fifty million Berries would be enough to build something luxurious.

With three hundred million, he roughly knew what kind of ship Uchiha Hakuba wanted.

Luxury, comfort, and livability are essential, along with ample equipment. Only good equipment can make a new ship truly excellent and give sellers peace of mind.

Such a ship may be luxurious, but that has nothing to do with him.

The shipyard owner nodded: "No problem!"

The two discussed the size, structure, and construction period of the ship, and quickly finalized a preliminary plan. Subsequent plans would have to wait for Matsumoto Rangiku and Nico Robin to confirm.

After finalizing the shipyard arrangements, Bai Yu took out his pen and paper and wrote down the details of the agreement before heading to see Nico Robin and Matsumoto Rangiku.