Chapter 56: The Battleship
Netero's perpetually half-lidded eyes cracked open, a sharp gleam piercing through.
"Top-tier spec?" He stroked his goatee, drawing out the syllables. "Hoh hoh hoh... That's an astronomical figure. At least 20 billion Jenny to start. Are you sure you want to take on a loan that size, boy?"
"The interest alone will be at least two hundred million a month. That's no joke."
Kyle waved his hand dismissively, as if brushing away a speck of dust.
"Money is just a number, old man. Just get it done! Get the best! We need a flagship worthy of the name 'Hunter Pirates,' not some floating wooden box."
His tone was so decisive, so recklessly extravagant, he sounded like a spoiled trust-fund kid who had never known hardship.
But Netero was an old fox. He saw right through Kyle's little game.
The kid dared to spend like this because he was banking on his inter-dimensional travel. He planned to "buy low, sell high," exploiting the scarcity and information gap between two worlds for massive profit.
And by dragging Knov—with his infinite storage space—along for the shopping trip... it was blatant. He was setting up a cross-world smuggling operation.
Common antiques and industrial goods from this world would be priceless treasures in the Pirate World. And the specialties of that world—Devil Fruits, seastone, maybe even just Beri—would fetch a fortune here.
The profit margin was enough to drive any merchant insane.
A knowing smile played on the Chairman's lips. He waved a hand, signaling he understood the hustle.
Seeing Netero agree, Kyle wasted no more words. He grabbed Knov, who was silently adjusting his glasses, and marched out of the makeshift meeting room.
After they left, Morel, who had been listening quietly, leaned in close to Netero. His rugged face held a mix of gravity and excitement.
"Chairman, if he wants 'top-tier spec'... does that mean it will have laser weapon systems? Like 'National Defense' grade?"
As a Sea Hunter who lived on the ocean, Morel knew better than anyone what a superior vessel meant in unknown waters. It wasn't just transport. It was a mobile fortress, a combat platform, a home.
To meet Kyle's demand for "top-tier," the ship would need firepower, speed, defense, and detection capabilities that were second to none.
And the only entities capable of building such a technological marvel—a battleship that was practically a work of art—were the V5 nations, who controlled the world's resources and cutting-edge tech.
Probably only Chairman Netero, with his transcendental status and deep connections, could pry open those heavily guarded doors with enough money to get one.
"Buying a 'toy' of that caliber from the V5 won't be simple," Netero chuckled, but a trace of seriousness flickered deep in his eyes.
"The paperwork, the clearance levels... just the bureaucratic process will take three or four days at best."
His tone was light, but his thoughts were heavy.
No matter how strong individual Nen users were, they were still small compared to the colossal machinery of nations, especially when facing strategic weapons capable of ending civilization. The "Miniature Rose" was just a standard weapon for small-nation conflicts, banned only for its toxicity. The strategic weapons held by the superpowers were terrifying to even contemplate.
This purchase would require a river of money to clear the path. Without at least 100 billion Jenny, it wouldn't even be a conversation.
Netero thought about his wallet and winced.
Meanwhile, Kyle was dragging Knov through the bustling antique district.
His shopping style was brutal. He completely ignored the vendors' spiels about "family heirlooms," "royal kilns," or "rare editions."
His criteria were simple and direct: unique shape, looks old, or looks exquisite. Even if it was a high-quality modern replica, if the craftsmanship was top-tier, it went on the list.
"This one, that one, and that whole pile over there. I'll take them all!"
Wherever he pointed, Knov expressionlessly opened a portal to his [Hide and Seek] dimension, sucking the items in.
Kyle's 2 billion Jenny—a massive sum by normal standards—was burned through in less than two days of frantic buying. He filled one of Knov's rooms, a space the size of a football field, to the brim with "cargo."
Looking at the mountain of goods, Kyle nodded with satisfaction. Knov's ability was a god-tier support for logistics and smuggling.
Back with Netero, the ship procurement was, as expected, a headache.
The three-day estimate was pushed back. After rounds of haggling and backroom deals, Netero had to throw in an extra few tens of billions as a "special processing fee" to finally secure the vessel from one of the V5's military tech giants.
The ship was codenamed "Abyss Hunter."
When Kyle and the others followed the arrogant, white-coated scientist onto the ship, they were stunned, despite their mental preparation.
The scientist, clearly pleased by their awe, began his lecture with superior pride.
"Gentlemen, behold."
"The 'Abyss Hunter' abandons traditional ship design entirely. It utilizes a streamlined, wedge-shaped hull structure."
"The bow tapers inward like a sharpened blade. The hull is 100 meters long, finished in matte black stealth coating. From the midship, the superstructure rises 15 meters, with cold, precise lines that scream combat efficiency."
He pointed to the hull's surface. "The exterior is clad in our proprietary 'Honeycomb Titanium Composite Armor.' Incredibly light, yet virtually indestructible."
"Note the thin, silver-blue lines at the armor seams. Those are high-density energy conduits. When the electromagnetic shield is active, these lines flare to life, creating a flowing lattice of light that envelops the ship in a semi-transparent blue energy field. It can withstand conventional artillery and even heavy armor-piercing rounds to a degree."
He led them to the bow.
"Hidden directly in the center of the bow is our main weapon: the Super-Electromagnetic Railgun."
"It is normally protected by retractable armor plates, showing only a silver metal rim. When firing, the plates slide open to reveal the barrel, which crackles with blue electricity. A single shot is enough to tear through most heavy armor."
He pointed up to the superstructure.
"The superstructure has three levels. The lower level has two multi-barrel rapid-fire CIWS (Close-In Weapon Systems) on each side for missile interception and close-range defense, protected by curved armor plates."
"The middle level is the Command Center, enclosed in single-piece, high-strength ballistic glass, ensuring a 360-degree unobstructed view."
"The top houses three retractable spherical phased-array radars with extreme detection range."
"And the roof is a folding VTOL platform. Flush with the deck when not in use, it can deploy four two-meter ducted fans to generate massive lift."