Lara's POV;

Water 7 was looking awe-inspiring. The town was epic. Waterways were going upwards, ending in a gigantic fountain. The giant gates of the first level were numbered and big waterfalls were flowing down through even bigger gates.

The city proper was built within the giant walls. Raising higher and higher with each level. Dozens of ships were sailing towards the ports. Merchants, Marines, bounty hunters and pirates, they all wanted to trade and buy.

“This town looks simply, wow. I don't know, it is beyond what I have ever imagined. Do you see the giant cranes? They are used for building super-sized warships”, said Noa in utter awe. He was giddy like a child and wanted to visit the shipyards.

“Slow down a little, first we have to find somewhere to dock our ship. I don't want to have the Marines after us the moment we step foot into the city.” Said Nojiko in amusement at his eagerness.

He smiled at her weakly, but hardly stopped the slight bounce he had. “So what's the plan?”, asked Yosaku.

We first looked at Nojiko, she was taking care of our supply list. “Well, we want to buy or make a new ship. Buying things for our current one would be pointless. We also have enough food left. I'd say you all can have an allowance of one million Berry and do some shopping of your own.

Lara, you've said that you want to craft some weapons, what do you need for that?”

“A good forge and some materials. I think I'll be able to find both on my own. I can tell you later how much each weapon will cost. I might also need Fiara's help with two of them.” I replied swiftly. I was still looking at the beautiful city. The anime had nothing against the real thing. The top of the fountain must be more than 600 meters high.

“Okay, then Noa, what do you need for the new ship? Our budget is somewhere around 500 million Berry”, she asked next.

Noa stopped bouncing for a moment and took a list out of his pocket. “Hmm, I need a lot of things. And a shipyard. The old man I learned from said he had a friend here in Water 7. His name is Marvin, I wanted to visit him after taking a look at the Galley-La Company and their work. I can tell you more at a later time.”

“So we basically can have fun and relax?” asked Jonny just to be sure.

“You may as well do. We'll meet up again in the late afternoon. Maybe we can eat out in a nice restaurant. I've read that there are quite a few good ones in the upper levels.” Nodded Nojiko, she too was looking eager to explore the city.

We sailed into the lowest level of the city and were told by a fisher that we can't sail into the city this way. Nojiko was just about to tell him her thanks when I noticed how his aura was showing malice against us. “Ignore him Nojiko, I don't think he's saying the truth. We've seen some pirates sailing this way and none of them turned around.” She looked at me but said nothing and we held our course.

I was enhancing the sound waves that came from the fisher and we all could hear how he spoke to someone about a pirate group that saw through his disguise. Jonny and Yosaku wanted to go back and beat him up, but I told them that it would be too bothersome.

So we asked around for someplace to leave our ship, while at the same time being guarded and were recommended to a harbour district on the west side of the city. There we asked again and were told that there are three firms that offer such a thing. One even guarantees protection from the Aqua Laguna, a massive tsunami that hits the town once a year. This year it is scheduled to come in a month.

I knew that we were staying long enough for the Aqua Laguna to hit Water 7 if only to see it happening, but more because the Enies Lobby arc will happen at the same time. So I decided that we will take the firm that offers protection.

I told the crew that crafting the weapons will take time. We paid for a whole month. It was quickly decided that we would walk around in groups of at least two. Jonny and Yosaku were always a group, this time was no different. Noa and Jo also decided to go together again. Nojiko will have Fiara with her, Mrs Chicken Wing will also go with them. That left me and Lia.

We decided to meet up again for dinner and then each group called a Yagara Bull. I asked ours to bring us to some place where we could sell jewellery and expensive materials.

“Do we need more money?” asked Lia.

“Yes, we need a lot more. Thankfully I have used some of your diamonds and made some jewellery.” I answered and took a richly decorated box out of my inventory. Inside were half a dozen finely crafted earrings, bracelets and some figurines. They were made out of gold, platinum or silver and had some diamonds and other gems. The makeshift forge we had on the Shadow wasn't good for real smithing, but this was still possible.

The Bull stopped in front of an expansive looking shop and I asked it to wait for us. We walked through the entrance that led us into a lobby with showcases, each showed a piece of jewellery, gem or ornament. All pieces for the high society. And well guarded, there were four men standing in each counter, watching our every step.

A clerk noticed us and gave us an once over. We were wearing an expensive summer dress. Mine was white with green flowers and Lia's white with orange flowers. The material was rather good and felt silky on the skin. A stylish hat was on our head, hiding our ears from sight. We must have passed his test, because he came over to us, a wide smile on his face. “Good day my ladies. My name is Jakob and I will serve you today. How may I help you? Clarie's Jewellery has the right accessory for everyone. For you two beautiful ladies I would recommend a matching pair of bracelets or tiaras.”

“No thank you, we've come to ask if your shop also buys wares,” I asked in return and showed him the highly decorated box with my stuff inside.

He beckons us to follow him over to the counter, where I gave him the box. He took a magnifying glass out of his chest pocket and opened the chest. He then pulled gloves on and took one of the rings out, carefully handling the piece of almost art. The ring had a forest theme and you could see animals running along the whole ring, with trees standing in the background. The large diamond in the middle is where all the animals were running to. The closest animals, deer, chipmunks, foxes and birds were bowing to the diamond as if it was something holy.

It was a set with one of the tiaras. The base was made out of platinum, which was crafted as if it was wood. Emeralds were giving the whole thing a greenish glimmer. And a massive ruby stood in the middle, completing the look of a crown.

“This is really well made,” he muttered quietly and then looked at another piece. This time a bracelet with a school of dolphins. Aquamarines were embedded in between them making it look like the glistening sea.

He put both back inside the box and smiled at us. “Would you please wait a moment, I'll have to call the owner. She is more experienced than me. These artworks are a little above my skills.” Both of us nodded in agreement and he vanished behind a door.

He only took a moment to come back, he was following a middle-aged woman. She wore as lightly wrinkled business suit. But her face was slightly sweaty and red. She must have come directly out of the forge and did probably put her suit quickly on. “Good day ladies. I'm Clarie, owner of this jewellery. Jakob told me that you were here to sell something?”, she greeted us with a business smile.

“Yes, we were. Jakob here took a look at what we wanted to sell and then called you.” I answered and reopened the box for her to see as well.

She too took a magnifying glass out and put a pair of gloves on before inspecting the pieces. She gave each piece an inspection and placed them carefully down on the counter. Each put together in their sets.

It took her half an hour to inspect every piece. “I must say, these are some of the most beautiful and detailed arts I have ever seen. Do you know the name of the craftsman who made them?”, she praised in the end.

“We know not. My sister and I are travellers and found these inside a ruin.” I lied swiftly. I don't have a reputation which might increase the price and informing them that I made them could start unwanted questions.

“How unfortunate. Well, they are of the highest quality and some are even in a set. I would be able to buy the set with the forest theme for 200 million Berry. The sea-themed set for 150 million and the sky-themed one for 120 million.” I knew that she was lowering the price, she wouldn't earn anything if asking for the true worth. And she was still offering 40% of the true worth. Even if the creation only cost me 5% of what she was offering.

I still wanted more. “Miss Clarie, you are an expert for art. And my sister and I know a thing or two. You've offered us only 40% of their worth. I know that you need to earn your share as well, so I don't ask too much of you. Only 50 percent of what they really are worth.”

She smiled at me, chuckled behind her hand for a moment and then nodded. “Indeed that I did. But it was not out of thinking you were unknown in their true worth. No, it was because I might get in trouble for selling them. Selling the goods of a pirate is illegal, am I right Miss Slicer Lara, or am I speaking to True Shot Lia?”, she replied, the friendly smile not gone.

“It's Lara. And I can assure you that these aren't stolen. But, as it is with many things in life, I don't have proof of my claim. Only high nobles or the World Nobles could afford such expensive jewellery. And there were never any reports of me attacking or stealing from them or anyone at all. My crew isn't known for stealing and plundering from normal people,” I replied. The guards in the room stiffened when they heard who we are.

This woman didn't show any signs of fear or angst. “Hmm, yes, I must say that I have never heard of such claims. Still, they are goods from a pirate. I will still have to go to great lengths to make them appear as goods sold by an upstanding citizen. That is costly.”

Well, it's not as if I desperately need the money. Having 470 million Berry for our next stop should be enough. “Fine, you win. We don't need the money enough to haggle about a few dozen million. Do you even have the cash?” I conceded. I certainly would not have this much money laying around unsupervised. The Shadow has a really good save, hidden inside one of the crates with clothes on top.

“What kind of high society jewellery do you think we are? Of course, we do. Mark, please go and bring me 500 million, I'd like to round it up for them.” She ordered one of the four guards and then explained when I looked at her questioningly. “I appreciate true art, this work was done by a master smith. And it is as you've said. Haggling about a few dozen million Berry is not worth my time.”

The guard, Mark, came back with two briefcases. Both were filled with money. A quick inspection showed that they were at least close to the said 500 million. “Thanks for doing business with you, do you want to be recommended to my friends?” I asked after giving her box including content.

“Please don't, most pirates have not the right taste and decorum for my business. But you two are always welcomed to sell more, that is if you find something as good as this again”, she replied with a smile and slight laugh.

I gave Lia one of the briefcases and took the other before leaving the shop. We stepped back into the Yagara Bull and I asked it to bring us where warehouses are auctioned.

“Why are we going to an auction?” Asked Lia once the Bull started to move through the waterways of the city. It's a very pretty city. Colourfully painted houses, hanging flowers and sculptures were arranged all along the way.

“First because we might find something cool. But more because we need some way to 'find' the Adam Tree we still have in our inventory. I want to have our new ship build out of the best materials there are in this world.

Finding the wood inside an auctioned warehouse gives us the perfect excuse.” I answered and thanked the Bull when it slowed down in front of a rather large house. It had large 'Auctions' written on a sign.

We walked inside and were welcomed by an employee. He was well dressed and had an aura of professionalism. This might be one of the better ones as well. Does this Bull know that we have money?

He greeted us with a bow and professional smile. “Welcome to our auction house, I am Randel. How may I help you?”

“We'd like to take part in some auctions, preferably on auctions that sell warehouses. We love the surprises that someone can find by going through them.” I answered.

He laughed a fake laugh and nodded in agreement. “Indeed, we found some strange things over time indeed. And you are in luck, there is a series of four auctions planned for today's early noon. The bailout amounts 200 million Berry.” Seems like we have way too much money.

“That's fine with us, are these warehouses unopened or does the auction house know what is inside?” I asked in return and followed him to a counter, where a guard took the 200 million for safekeeping.

“We haven't opened them yet and only estimate the prices according to their previous owners.” I'd like that answer and we were told to either wait or come back in an hour.

We decided to wait in the included restaurant and ate a large ice cream. An hour later we were asked to follow the waiter and were led to a group of other bidders. All of us stepped inside a larger Jagara Bull ferry and were driven to our first warehouse. On the way, we were served some light snacks and alcohol. Our contenders were all from the shipbuilding business or looked as if they have connections to them.

The ferry stopped in front of the first warehouse, a mid-sized one. Large enough to place the Shadow inside. “This is warehouse 45, you all will have five minutes to take a look at what is inside and then we will start with the bidding”, announced the seller. He opened the door and one after another was led inside. Each had a five-minute time frame to take a look and each was guarded to not steal or take longer.

When it was our turn I only looked half heartily. This one is not large enough to fit all of our wood inside. And there must be other things inside the warehouse to look convincing. This one had a half-finished ship inside, as well as some good amount of wood and other materials. The building itself was also in a fairly good state. I think the main objective of the other buyers is in the building.

Once everyone was back and seated the seller began his rapid shouting of prices. It started at 30 million Berry and rose up to 67 Berry. A man with the Galley-La symbol on his jacket bought it.

The next one was larger. Large enough for us. Half of it was filled with chests, the other half had rows of shelves full of wood and steel. This one might do nicely. We can put the things on the shelves inside our inventory and put the Adam Tree on them instead.

“The starting price is 50 million Berry.” Announced the seller loudly.

“55 million!” spoked a woman who was bidding for a different shipyard than the Galley-La. She had a Marine symbol on her chest, maybe a Marine owned one.

“60!” Increased the Galley-La bidder.

“75!” I stated, they turned to me, it was the first time that I bid anything.

“80!” Countered the Galley-La bidder.

“85!” Increased the Marine woman. If this continues then the price will rise and rise.

“125!” I spoke. They looked at me, pausing in their bidding. Neither seemed to want to raise it any higher and risk giving too much money for something that is not worth it.

“125 million from the lady in a green dress. 125, do I hear 130? 130? Anyone? 125, for the first,...second,... sold for 125 million to the lady in a green dress.” Shouted the seller after a long pause in the end. So, what do I do now with the remaining 375 million Berry?