Upon hearing Lind's suggestion, Axel and the others all looked intrigued and expressed interest in coming along.
"Boss, you could bring Lyle and Wright too—those two brothers used to be shipwrights."
The usually quiet Rex suddenly chimed in.
"Hahaha, you're right—let's have Lyle join us!"
Lind's eyes lit up at Rex's reminder. While he trusted the craftsmanship at the shipyard, having two professional subordinates tag along could only be a plus.
"We can't leave the base empty. Here's the plan: Liana, Rex—you two come with me, along with the brothers Lyle and Wright."
"Axel, Calvin, Allison—you three stay and manage the base. If anything comes up, just contact me via Den Den Mushi."
After a quick moment of thought, Linde laid out the plan for the afternoon.
That afternoon, after lunch and a brief rest, Lind and the others headed straight to the shipyard on the eastern side of Hive Island.
The shipwrights there had been recruited by Rocks from across the world. While the shipyard couldn't quite compare to Water 7's, it was still highly capable.
The entire Rocks Pirates fleet—hundreds of ships of all sizes—relied on this shipyard for construction, repairs, and maintenance. At this point, it was one of the most important shipbuilding centers in the New World.
Of course, whether building a new ship or modifying an old one—it all costs money.
Even as a division captain, Lind couldn't turn the Xiaoyao into a massive ship like the Xebec's Sword or the Moby Dick without money.
And as a newcomer just a few months into his career, money was exactly what Lind lacked.
With no other option, Lind had borrowed tens of millions of Beli from Whitebeard and Golden Lion to upgrade the Xiaoyao.
At the very least, he needed to make it seaworthy for a regular crew to operate and capable of safely sailing the New World seas.
After all, he couldn't rely on his telekinesis every time they set sail.
Fortunately, when Lind originally built the Xiaoyao, he followed the principle of "bigger is better."
The ship had a solid foundation—it was 80 meters long, making it one of the larger ships of its era (where most ships were wooden warships).
Moreover, Lind had used carefully selected hardwood for the build, ensuring excellent material quality.
As such, the shipwrights only needed to adjust the structure and improve facilities, and it would be fully ready to serve as Linde's primary vessel.
When Lind's group arrived at the shipyard, they were greeted by Master Yor, who had already received the message and was waiting outside.
As one of the few division captains under Rocks, Lind's order was taken seriously.
The Xiaoyao's refit had been personally assigned to the shipyard's most skilled craftsman, Master Yor.
"Master Yor, thank you for your work!"
Lind quickly approached to greet him.
"Hahaha, it's no trouble at all, Captain Lind. This afternoon, I'll be walking you through the Xiaoyao's refit."
The towering, 3-meter-tall Master Yor laughed heartily in response.
"Captain Lind, everyone—come with me. Let's take a look at your ship."
"I have to say—the Xiaoyao is made from excellent materials. Not quite on par with Adam Wood, but certainly among the best I've ever seen!"
"Captain Lind, where did you get it? Do you have any more?"
As he led them into the shipyard, Yor chatted with Lind.
"Hahaha, if you're interested, Master Yor, I can give you some seeds. I found them on a remote island."
"The original mature trees were almost entirely used on the Xiaoyao. But if you want, you can try growing some yourself."
Lind responded enthusiastically. For someone as skilled and professional as Master Yor, Linde was more than willing to build a good relationship.
"Hahahaha, in that case, thank you, Captain Lind. I'll give you a 20% discount on the refit!"
Master Yor laughed. While it was a pity he couldn't get the wood directly, having the seeds was still valuable. Even if they didn't sprout, it gave him something to look forward to.
"We're here! Captain Lind—this is the Xiaoyao as it stands now."
"We've finished the structural work. Next up is installing the cannons, and designing the interior rooms."
Soon, they arrived in front of the Xiaoyao, and Master Yor began his overview.
Looking at the now sleeker and elongated Xiaoyao, and hearing Master Yor's explanation, Lind felt deeply satisfied.
The ship had been refitted to follow the three-mast sailing ship standard, with a streamlined hull that exuded elegance. The great roc figurehead at the bow added a commanding presence.
Though the sails hadn't yet been raised, the ship already radiated strength and grandeur.
Lind had to admit—Master Yor's craftsmanship and design taste were top-notch.
From the outside alone, the revamped Xiaoyao matched everything Lind had imagined for a warship.
He began fantasizing about raising the sails and commanding the ship across the open sea.
Next, Master Yor led them aboard the Xiaoyao to give a more detailed tour.
"Captain Lind, the modified Xiaoyao is now 90 meters long and 25 meters wide. Including the masts, the height is 45 meters."
"As per your request, the deckhouse has three levels: the second and third floors are for the captain's quarters and rest areas, with over 50 rooms in total."
"The first floor includes the banquet hall, dining room, kitchen, bathhouse, medical bay, and other essential facilities."
"It can fully meet the living and operational needs of all 7th Squad members."
"The main deck is split into three levels: the upper deck for recreation and temporary rest, the middle deck for training, and the lower deck for storage."
As for more technical aspects like gunwales, mast specs, and firepower configuration, Lind wasn't too familiar, so he chose to trust Master Yor's expertise.
His main concern was whether all the functional zones he requested had been implemented—and clearly, Master Yor had delivered on all fronts.
"Hahaha, thank you so much, Master Yor! I'm very satisfied!"
"Liana, Rex, Lyle, Wright—what do you think? Any issues?"
Lind was delighted with the refit and decided to ask for feedback from the others.
"Hehe, Boss—I love it! This ship fits me to a tee!"
Rex nodded furiously, clearly impressed by the comfort and functionality of the warship.
As a rough and tumble fighter, he'd never experienced a ship with rest areas, service facilities, recreation zones, and training spaces—all thoughtfully designed.
"Same here, Boss! It's perfect. Though… is it okay if I take the officer's room next to the captain's quarters?"
Allison chimed in as well, going so far as to request the room next to Lind's—much to his headache.
"Master Yor is truly amazing—his design skills are easily among the best on the seas!"
As former shipwrights, Lyle and Wright were full of admiration for Master Yor's work.
"Master Yor, would it be possible to add a fourth level to the deckhouse? The captain's quarters could be moved to the top, with the second and third floors used for officer and crew lodging."
"If we go with that design, how long would the additional refit take?"
Though Lind didn't mind Allison living next door, he felt it was better for long-term team harmony to give the captain his floor.
So, he asked Yor whether this tweak could be made and what the timeline would be.
After all, if they could get a few days to settle in before sailing, he could fine-tune things like furniture and interior decor.
"Hahaha, don't worry, Captain Lind. Our shipyard has assigned a lot of manpower to the Xiaoyao project."
"Adding another level isn't a big deal—just give us twenty more days, and you'll be able to take your ship!"
"Hahahaha, I can't thank you enough. I owe you a drink sometime!"