One Piece: I am the Fleet Admiral?

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"Akira-sama just said that the ships the Marines need are meant to support the entire world and bring an end to this era of great pirates as soon as possible.

'Therefore, there's not much time for everyone to build them one by one.'

Tom had a serious expression, his voice heavy and sincere.

The people in charge of the shipyard couldn't help but reflect. 

Although Tom was exiled from Water 7 by the residents for building a ship for the Pirate King, his remarkable shipbuilding skills still earned the respect of the other shipbuilders in charge.

So when he spoke, everyone listened.

"Ask yourselves, folks, can a single shipyard really handle an order as large as the one from the Marines?"

"That's impossible!"

Seeing everyone quiet down, Tom let out a sigh of relief.

Though he admired Roger, he also despised the era of great pirates. 

Especially since everyone in Water 7 was stuck in it—unable to escape.

So if the Marines could bring it to an end quickly, it would be great news for the whole world.

That's why, even though he knew he wasn't the best person to speak up, he felt he had to wake these shipbuilders up.

Tom continued:

"I believe it's time for all shipbuilders to work together."

"Instead of getting overwhelmed by this chance to make money, ignoring the bigger picture."

"With the number of ships Akira-sama needs, even if we all work together, everyone will profit."

Hearing these words, the shipyard leaders snapped out of their daze, realizing the truth in Tom's words.

They glanced at each other in surprise, and the tension in their eyes eased.

People capable of starting companies are certainly smart.

They had lost sight of reality because of the massive order, but after Tom's reminder, clarity returned.

It's true!

There's no way a small company could supply the massive number of ships the Marines need in such a short time.

Especially when their goal is to end this wicked era.

If they missed out on this important Marine mission because of their own greed, the consequences would be severe.

And upon thinking it over, they realized that even if they all worked together, the profit would still be huge.

Really big.

After all, an order of 10,000 ships—even if it's split among ten companies—would give each one 1,000 ships to build.

Profit!

Big money!

Clap clap!

At that moment, loud applause filled the conference room.

Akira-sama clapped his hands, a look of open admiration on his face.

Now that the shipyard leaders were fully alert, Akira-sama didn't waste any more time.

"It seems we've got some sharp minds here today!"

"Take a seat and listen to my proposal."

Akira-sama pressed his hands down, motioning for everyone to sit. Once they did, he smirked.

"The Marines' demand is huge, and it absolutely requires the cooperation of all your companies."

"But I see none of you trust each other. That's a problem."

Akira-sama snuffed out his cigar in the ashtray with a deliberate motion. "So, here's my plan: the Marines will take the lead and establish a shipbuilding company."

"All of you will join forces and work together."

"Whoever's best at crafting keels will handle that."

"Whoever can hammer the nails most accurately and quickly will handle that part next."

"And so on…"

For the next while, Akira-sama's voice filled the meeting room as he laid out his detailed vision for a shipbuilding assembly line.

The shipyard leaders, including Tom, were stunned. None of them had ever considered this approach before.

In the past, shipbuilding was done with an all-hands-on-deck mentality—after the design was ready, every boatman worked on different parts as needed. One day they'd be hammering nails, the next day cutting planks. They were expected to be jacks-of-all-trades.

But Akira-sama's assembly line concept was entirely different. Each worker would specialize in one part of the ship, perfecting it over and over, speeding up production and avoiding the inefficiencies of the old method.

As they thought it over, the shipyard leaders realized just how practical this approach was. Assembly line production would indeed allow for a rapid, mass-production of ships. With each craftsman focusing solely on their expertise, the process would move much faster, without sacrificing quality.

After all, sailboats weren't precision items—they could be built quickly without risking safety as long as standards were maintained. Akira-sama's plan ensured no corners were cut, as any mistakes could cost Marine soldiers their lives.

It was clear Akira-sama had made up his mind. This was the only way forward.

Agree? Good. Implement it seriously.

Disagree? If you want to stay in business and keep food on the table, you'll fall in line.

Hours ticked by as they discussed the ship price, the details of assembly line replenishments, and other key issues.

As for the smaller details, those would be addressed as they came up.

Squeak!

The meeting room door swung open as soldiers entered.

Akira-sama put his hands in his pockets and began walking toward his office.

"Master Fleet Admiral, will you be the one in charge of the new company?" someone suddenly asked.

Akira-sama paused.

Running the new company? He wasn't interested in wasting his time with something so trivial.

There was no real risk in shipbuilding. Water 7 just had to build the ships, and the Marines would pay for them. No need for him to micromanage it.

At most, he would arrange for someone to keep an eye on things.

He thought it over briefly and made a decision.

"The Marines will assign someone to supervise, but I've always believed that professional tasks should be left to professionals. That way, the job gets done right.

"So, for the chief executive... I think…"

He turned toward the crowd with a chuckle, announcing: "Mr. Tom is the perfect choice!"

"Ah?! M-me?" Tom pointed at himself in shock. He hadn't expected that Fleet Admiral Akira-sama, whom he had just met, would hand such an important position over to him.

Akira-sama nodded confidently. "I'm certain that with your skills, your personality, and your intelligence, you'll deliver results that will more than satisfy me."

Although the new shipbuilding headquarters was essentially a collective, it involved massive sums of money. The Marines needed to send in specialized finance personnel to monitor and record everything. However, shipbuilding required technical expertise, and putting someone inexperienced in charge could lead to disaster.

That's why Akira needed someone with both shipbuilding knowledge and trustworthiness. Tom was the ideal candidate. Not only was he the world's best shipwright, but he was also a merman filled with gratitude toward Akira and a genuinely kind person.

Akira believed that with Tom in charge, everything would go smoothly.

As long as the Marines controlled the financial side, they effectively controlled Water 7.

The leaders of the shipyards were hesitant, clearly wanting to fight for the position themselves. Being appointed general manager would undoubtedly benefit their companies greatly.

But Akira understood their ambitions and didn't give them a chance to object. He simply left.

Seeing this, the leaders could only sigh and accept Tom's leadership.

"Well, this isn't bad. At least Mr. Tom is fair and capable."

"Yeah, if I didn't get the position, I would've been against anyone else becoming the general manager. But this result is fine."

"Mr. Tom, we'll be relying on you a lot from now on."

The shipyard leaders gathered around Tom, offering their support. But Tom wasn't paying attention to them. Instead, his eyes followed Akira's retreating figure, and a thought stirred in his mind.

'Akira-sama is a good person, and he trusts me... maybe I can bring it up now.'

He pulled out a draft from his pocket, hesitating for just a moment before making up his mind.

'If I work on the sea train plan alone, it'll take at least ten years,' he thought.

'But with the help of the Marines and the entire Water 7, it could be finished in just a few years.'

'I can't let this opportunity slip away.'

Tom took a deep breath, pushed through the crowd without a word, and hurried after Akira-sama.

"Akira-sama! Akira-sama!"

Hm?

Akira-sama was just about to ascend the stairs when Tom's voice called out behind him, causing him to stop immediately.

"Any concerns about the shipbuilding?" Akira asked, raising an eyebrow as Tom approached.

"Akira-sama, sorry to take up your time, but I have a proposal here. Could I trouble you to take a look?"

"Oh? What proposal?"

"A plan called the Sea Train," Tom replied, handing over his draft.

Akira flipped through the design carefully. While he didn't understand the technical drawings or the symbols, he, who is familiar with the plot, knows the greatness of this plan. This was no ordinary project—it could revolutionize transportation between islands, making trade and travel far more efficient.

It was like introducing a railway system into a world still in a feudal era.

"You're showing me this because…?" Akira asked, turning to the end of the manuscript and then meeting Tom's eyes.

"I want to ask for your help in bringing this plan to life. If the sea train can become a reality, even after Marine's orders are fulfilled, Water 7 will no longer face the bottlenecks we experienced recently.

"Please, Akira-sama!" Tom pleaded, suddenly dropping to his knees, performing a gesture of deep respect. He feared that Akira , with his lofty ambitions, might not care about the future of a mere city like Water 7.

Akira remained silent for a moment, looking down at Tom before slowly crouching and lifting him back to his feet.

"The Water 7 is too small a goal," Akira said, a knowing smile on his face. "Why not think bigger? Are you interested in connecting the entire world?"

Tom's mouth dropped open in shock. 'Connecting the world?' This vision went far beyond what Tom had initially imagined. His sea train plan was still just an idea, and he had only hoped to link a few nearby islands, never dreaming of a global scale.

"I'm very optimistic about your plan," Akira continued, handing the draft back to Tom and patting him on the shoulder. "When you have time, go back and refine it. I will give you my full support."

"But for now..." Akira's tone shifted to one of urgency. "I need you to set this aside for the moment and focus all your energy on the task of mass-producing ships for the Marines. This is vital, not just for the Marines, but for the entire world."

Of course, Akira added a thought in his mind: 'And for my ultimate mission.'

The sea train was a groundbreaking idea, but even with Marine support, it would take years to perfect. He knew Tom had taken about a decade to complete it in the original timeline, even without such resources. But Akira's immediate priority was clear: end the era of great pirates first, then shift to grander projects like the sea train.

Once Marine's orders were fulfilled, there would be plenty of time—and resources—for Tom to perfect his dream.

"When Marine's orders are all completed, come to me. We'll talk about your sea train in detail then."

With that, Akira smiled at Tom and walked away, leaving the shipwright deep in thought.

"Master Akira truly deserves to be the Fleet Admiral of the Marines. His vision spans the entire world." Tom watched Akira disappear, his heart filled with reverence and determination.

Clenching his large fishman hand, Tom made a firm decision: "I will lead the entire Water 7 and complete the task as quickly as possible."