Chapter 179 — Shipyard Groundbreaking
S.C. 1512 — Late Morning
Hidden Island — Eastern Shoreline
The tide was low, the wind calm, and the entire eastern shoreline felt different today.
Not quiet.
Not tense.
But… expectant.
Because today, Ren wasn't building a tool or a machine.
Today, he was building the future of the island's strength, economy, and naval reach.
A shipyard.
Not a crude shed.
Not a fisherman's dock.
A proper place to build large vessels—merchant ships, cargo carriers, patrol ships, and eventually the flagship designs Ren had in mind.
The island was done surviving.
It was time to grow.
Zemo trotted ahead, tail high, stopping at the stretch Ren marked yesterday with wooden pegs.
Ren ran his hand through the salty wind.
"This coastline is perfect… shallow, stable, and wide."
Bram arrived first, carrying a heavy hammer across his shoulder.
"You're sure we can build ships here, Boss?"
Ren nodded. "Stable seabed. Natural slope. Easy access for launch. And… close to the industrial zone."
Leo arrived next, sweat already on his forehead.
"Let's start then. This will be the biggest project yet."
Ren took a deep breath and stepped forward.
---
1. The First Mark
Ren took a long measuring rope and drew a line across the sand.
"Shipyard boundary line," he said.
He handed one end to Bram.
"Hold tight."
Ren walked the entire length until the rope stretched straight.
Then he drove a wooden stake deep into the earth.
THUD.
The sound echoed.
Leo nodded. "That's the first official mark."
Ren placed his palm on the stake.
"A beginning."
---
2. Clearing the Ground
Refugees assigned to the construction crew quickly gathered:
Men with saws,
Women carrying shovels,
Teens pushing carts,
Children carrying smaller branches,
Ren's subordinates guiding them.
Mira managed supply distribution.
Bram led the heavy-labor group.
Leo handled the tools.
Kiro patrolled for safety.
Ren coordinated all movements through short instructions.
"Move those logs to the west."
"Dig a gradual slope here."
"Kiro, keep the children away from the deep pits."
"Mira, make sure no one overworks."
"Leo, check the angles on that foundation line."
The ground soon trembled under the sound of dozens of workers moving in rhythm.
The shipyard started taking shape:
Wide clearing
Deep trough for boat assembly
Stone foundation for cranes
Wooden platforms for keel building
Two hours passed.
Three.
Four.
No one slowed.
Everyone knew what this meant.
A shipyard meant:
Trade.
Security.
Mobility.
Work.
Future.
Ren didn't shout or command harshly.
He just kept giving exact, calm instructions—always knowing where each worker was needed most.
---
3. A Dock Before the Dockyard
Before a massive shipyard could function, they needed one basic structure:
A dock.
A place to unload supplies.
Bring wood.
Transport metal.
Park boats.
Anchor the cargo.
Ren gestured toward the water.
"Bram, take the long logs. We need the main support pillars."
Bram cracked his knuckles.
"Time to get wet."
He and Kiro waded into the shallow water, carrying heavy timber.
Refugees followed with ropes.
Ren knelt, drawing a small circle in the sand.
"Here's the alignment."
Leo raised a brow. "You measured it already?"
"Last night."
Leo laughed. "Of course you did."
Using KEA-tempered tools from earlier arcs:
Hammer-drivers
Rope-tighteners
Water-level tubes
They pushed the first pillar into the seabed.
It took effort.
Grunts.
Sweat.
Teamwork.
But finally—
THUMP!
The pillar stood upright.
Zemo barked triumphantly.
The second pillar followed. Then the third. Then the fourth.
A rectangular frame began forming over the water.
Leo tied the crossbeams.
Bram hammered the supports.
Ren tightened the rope joints with precision force, using telekinesis to align the beams before fastening.
Nobody questioned it anymore.
They had seen too many miracles from him already.
---
4. Makino's Unexpected Visit
Makino arrived after noon, carrying a basket.
"I brought food—everyone looked exhausted."
Workers immediately brightened.
"M-Makino-san!"
"Thank you!"
"Food!"
She smiled warmly and handed Ren a rice ball.
"You should take a break too."
Ren shook his head gently. "I will. After this section."
Makino looked at the half-built dock and the massive clearing behind her.
"Ren… this place… it's turning into something huge."
"A shipyard," he said simply.
Makino's eyes softened.
"You're building something the whole world will one day see, aren't you?"
Ren paused.
"Maybe," he said quietly. "But right now… we're building something the people here need."
Makino touched his shoulder gently.
"That's why it matters."
---
5. Crane Foundation & Dry Dock Outline
Afternoon sun hung high.
Ren gathered his team.
"Next—foundation for the crane."
Their crane wouldn't be a modern metal one.
But Ren had plans:
Steam-assisted lifting arm
Pulley networks
Coal-fired pressure system
It would be the first heavy-lift machine on the island.
They dug a deep square pit.
Filled it with crushed stone.
Packed it tight.
Then placed reinforced KEA rods into the ground.
Leo stepped back.
"This… won't collapse in a storm."
Ren nodded. "It's designed not to."
Next, Ren sketched an outline on the sand:
A long trench.
"What's this one for?" Bram asked.
"Dry dock," Ren replied.
"A… what?"
"Where large ships are built. The hull forms here. When ready, we open the water gate and let the sea in."
Bram's jaw dropped slightly.
"Boss… that's genius."
"Just engineering."
---
6. Evening — A Working Dock Completed
As the sun dipped low, lanterns were lit.
The workers cheered when the final plank was nailed onto the dock.
The island now had its first official pier.
Wide.
Stable.
KEA-reinforced.
Able to carry tons of material.
Ren inspected it slowly, checking every support beam with his telekinetic sense.
Leo walked beside him.
"Feels like this is the first step to something huge."
Ren nodded.
"Ships. Trade. Defense. Travel. Everything begins here."
Bram shouted from the dock:
"Boss! Test it!"
Ren stepped onto the new dock.
It didn't shake.
Didn't bend.
Didn't even creak.
A perfect build.
Zemo hopped onto it and lay down as if claiming territory.
Workers laughed.
"Zemo approves!"
"That means it's good!"
"Boss, the dock is officially wolf-certified!"
Even Ren couldn't stop a small smile.
---
7. Nightfall — Ren's Private Notes
Later in the engineering shed, he wrote:
Shipyard Progress — Day 1
Cleared land — 70%
Primary dock — 100%
Crane foundation — 40%
Dry dock layout — marked
Material stockpile — pending
Tomorrow:
Begin full crane construction
Start stone wall foundation
Assign lumber crews to sawmill
Link steam engine output to shipyard needs
He closed the notebook quietly.
Zemo curled up beside his foot.
Ren leaned back in his chair.
"First day… good progress."
He looked toward the sea through the window.
The tide reached the dock gently, as if testing the new structure.
"Yes…" he murmured.
"This is a good beginning."
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End of Chapter 179