Lara's POV;

We sailed into the harbour and noticed how there was a big array of different ships also anchoring. Some were as big as the marine warship while others were as small as a dinky. All of them were different in design and colouration.

There were also a lot of people walking around and doing their merry thing. Way more than what this island should have. Some kind of event must be going on.

“Seems like there is a party”, said Lia, she, as well as I, was able to hear the sound of music coming from the town. My hearing is back to what it was before the 'Sound Incident' as I call it. Seriously, how did she not think about the sound shock wave in her experiment? It freaking hurt to have your eardrums ripped to shreds.

“Cool, can we stay for the whole day?”, asked the easily excited Jonny.

Personally, I have nothing against this, but we are on a mission to bring Igaram back. I turned around to the man and looked at him with a questioning glance.

“While, ehem mimimi, while I do like to get back as fast as possible, I understand that you are going out of your way to help me. We are also way ahead of time if I would travel alone, thanks to Lia. A day of having fun won't hurt and might even help”, he said in an understanding way. I could still tell that he wanted to get back but also understood our position.

“Then it's decided, you lot can go and have some fun, Yosaku and Jonny cheered, ”after buying the usual supplies”, their joy quieted somewhat down, “Lia and I will buy the sails before joining you.” With that said we towed the ship and stepped off board. Mrs Chicken Wing was sitting on the railing and watching us leave. Acting her part of the Guard Chicken.

We will allow her to come with us, but only if there is someone else on the ship. Every second harbour she will be allowed to come off board.

Anyway, both Lia and I were roaming the town in search for some good but also cheap sails. We already looked through the stock of a few merchants. Apparently, this island is known for their shipwrights. Not as known or renowned as Water 7 but still good. People who had less money or were on bad terms with Water 7 came here.

The island had only a single dock with the capability of making a warship, but there were a lot that could make smaller ones. Currently, I was eating a barbecued chicken on a stick, while watching Lia speaking to one of the locals.

“He said that there was a smaller shop that is selling good sails while still being somewhat cheap. It's a little out of town and less known.” She informed me once she was back. I nodded and gave her some of my chicken before we followed the instructions to reach this shop.

A small path leads out to this shop, and we heard the sound of shouting before reaching it. Two people were arguing.

“I forbid you to take part in this stupid race. It is dangerous!”, shouted an older male voice.

“And I told you over and over again that this is an opportunity. How will people notice my ships if no one sees how good they are?”, argued a younger male back.

“This race is stupid and in no way shows the true capabilities of a ship. You only risk your life by taking part.” The older one was firm and didn't sound to change his stand.

We both ignored the possible awkward situation that us barging in in their argument would create and opened the door, only to step to the side when a blond man stormed past us. He looked to be around 18 and wore sturdy clothes with a tool belt on his hip. We weren't able to see much of his face.

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“Sorry, this was my foolish apprentice”, apologised the older voice. We turned back from watching the retreating back and saw an old man. He must be older than 60 or 70. He had a small goaty and almost no hair on his sun-kissed and wrinkled head.

He too wore sturdy clothes and a tool belt.

“What can I do for you, two lovely ladies?”, he further asked with a smile.

“We are in search of some sails. A local townsman gave us your location”, answered Lia.

“What was the argument about?”, I asked, more interested in this race. Getting sails can wait for a moment.

The man scoffed before walking over to a pile of cloth. “My stupid apprentice thinks that taking part in a race with his ship will give him the attention for his skills that he seeks.”

“Wouldn't it? I mean if he uses his ship and wins then it kinda shows that his is superior”, asked Lia with me nodding next to her.

“No, people will praise him sure, but that will only last a week or at most a month. Then it will be back to the usual where the big shipyards decide who will get the job. Not some puny cup won in a stupid race. Not to mention that it is dangerous.” He grabbed the pile of clothes and brought them over to us.

“How so? I understand that the Grand Line is somewhat dangerous but this sounds more than what is the norm”, I asked.

“The race is around the island. We have a few dangerous currents to our west, a sea king nest to the north and a few dangerous stones to the east. It is not random that we only have one harbour. And then there is the race itself. While it is not allowed to shoot at each other, using skills or devil fruits is not forbidden. And there are often 'mistakes' when crossing the sea king nest.

Noa is not experienced enough to finish the race unharmed. He is good in building a ship, but not as good in sailing one.” He now had placed half a dozen sails in front of us.

“So what kind of sail do you need?”, he then asked and motioned at the different ones he had. I just wanted to point at our size, when the door was thrown open and three people came inside.

“Old man Yarn, we heard that your student Noa wishes to take part in the Great Rally. I and my friends think that you should convince him that it would be a stupid idea”, drawled a voice from the door frame. We turned around and saw a man with an evil grin and two friends behind him. All of them screamed goons. But what interested me was the clearly visible tattoo of the Baroque Work on his arm.

“Fuck off, Noa can do what he wants to!”, shouted the old man, making a 180° turn from his previous stand.

“We both know that the race is dangerous, 'accidents' happen and people die. We wouldn't want poor Noa to die as well. Tell us where he hides his ship and we can keep him 'save'”, said the man. His real reason clear as day.

“I told you to fuck off.” Yep, this Yarn is not doing a good job at staying safe on his own.

“You force my hand Yarn, don't say that I didn't warn you.” The guy tried to pull a pistol but never managed to touch his weapon. He got his hand pierced by a pebble from Lia. His two goons stood there for a moment, before trying to attack us, but both got a kick in the chest from me and flew out of the store.

“We were doing some shopping, it would be good for you to leave before an 'accident' happens”, I warned the Baroque Work agent. He was holding his hand tightly and glared at us but turned around to run off, only to get a hammer to the face. With a crunch, his nose broke and he was down.

“I came back the moment I heard that they were coming to you”, said a slightly out of breath Noa. He was the one who placed the hammer into the man's face.

I was now able to see him directly. He has short blond hair, green eyes and a still slightly youthful face. His skin was white but showed signs of staying often outside. He was also fit. Most likely only panting because he run faster than what he was used to because he feared for his teacher.

“There was nothing to fear, these two lovely ladies helped me to get rid of the trash.” Yarn waved him off and came around the corner to pull the still out cold Baroque Work agent out of his shop. He just threw him next to the other two before coming back.

“Thank you two, I'm Noa Franklin I'm the best shipwright on Shipstand Island.” Introduced Noa himself cheerfully with a wide grin.

“As if, this young idiot is barely allowed to call himself a shipwright in my opinion”, scoffed Yarn, but the sides of his mouth were smiling fondly.

“Shut up old man, don't think this will stop me from taking part and finish the Great Rally”, declared Noa while waving his fist.

“Anyway, help these girls with their sails.” Yarn was not even bothering to look at Noa when he said that.

“Fine, how many do you want anyway?”, asked Noa, quickly accepting his task.

“We thought about ten or so. We have a high consumption of sails”, I said with a laugh and watched, with amusement, how Noa's eyes widened. He knew how heavy sails were and he agreed to carry ten of them.

“Hah, nothing a true shipwright cannot do. Just you see”, he declared and began to put one rolled up sail on his shoulder after the other. At the end, he looked more like a walking tower of cloth, than a man.

We paid and then walked back to the town, Noa following us.

“So you want to win this race? Why are you so set on winning it?”, I asked for small talk.

“Those who win will be known all around the island and get an invite to visit the Galley-La Shipyard in Water 7. I want to see the big ones, where they build the true sea monsters”, he said, his voice muffled from all the sails.

“And how high do you think are your chances?”, asked Lia next.

“I am sure I can win”, he declared but muttered 'with luck' at the end. It was not loud enough for a normal person to hear.

“Tell you what, we both are interested in an adventure and this race sounds fun, so what do you say if we help you”, offered Lia suddenly. I had played with the same thought but did not know that Lia wanted to do it as well.

Noa might even join us if we win, not that we wanted him at first. We had every intention of getting one of the Galley-La guys as our shipwright.

“You would do that?”, he asked hopefully and in slight shock. “But what can you two do?”, he then asked, a little calmer.

“Lia has eaten a Devil Fruit that can make your ship faster, while I can take care of the sea kings and any other annoyance”, I told him.

“Then let's hurry, I have to show you my ship. The race starts in three hours, you have to get used to it. And we have to plan, this will be so cool”, shouted Noa before running towards the town.

With an amused grin we followed him, it might be cool to have him in our crew. He is cheerful and loud. But first, we have to convince him.