Chapter 185 — The Rope & Cloth Mill Begins
S.C. 1512 — Two Days Later
Hidden Island — Eastern Industrial Strip
The metalworks forge had changed the rhythm of the island.
The night glowed with orange firelight.
The air carried the scent of coal.
Workers seemed faster, confidence growing each day.
But Ren wasn't slowing down.
Today, he stood in an empty stretch of land east of the forge—flat, clean, and breezy.
Another essential structure was needed.
A Rope & Cloth Mill.
Without it:
No sails
No rigging
No nets
No uniforms
No tents
No trade goods
Shipbuilding required rope more than anything else.
Ren took a slow breath.
"This building connects everything," he murmured.
Leo scratched his head.
"Ropes? Cloth? Doesn't sound exciting."
Bram clapped him on the back.
"It becomes exciting when a ship sinks because the rope snapped."
Kiro adjusted his glasses.
"And when your pants rip because we don't have good cloth."
Leo froze.
"…build it fast."
Ren smothered a small smile.
"Let's begin."
Zemo barked and ran circles around them.
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1. Foundation for the Mill
Rope and cloth mills needed:
smooth airflow
long, straight floor space
rotating spindles
dry environment
consistent tension
So Ren designed a long rectangular building—longer than the wood workshop.
He marked the ground using long sticks and rope.
Kiro checked the angles with Ren's custom measurement tool.
Leo and Bram dug the trench for the foundation.
Workers laid Titan Wood beams along the perimeter.
Unlike the forge, this building didn't need fire resistance.
It needed stability.
Ren knelt beside the beams and whispered:
"Straight and steady. No warping."
Zemo sniffed the wood as if approving.
---
2. Walls & Ventilation
Titan Wood planks went up quickly.
Ren instructed the workers:
"Leave open vents along the top edge. Air must circulate."
Leo frowned.
"Why? Won't insects get in?"
Ren pointed at the open sky.
"Airflow prevents humidity. Humidity destroys threads."
Bram nodded.
"Threads snap easily when wet."
Ren added:
"And the mill's machines need constant airflow."
So the upper half of the walls had slatted vents—wide enough for air, narrow enough to block pests.
Makino arrived with lunch baskets and stared at the long building.
"…Another one?"
Ren took a basket.
"We need rope and cloth."
Makino sighed.
"You're going to turn this island into a kingdom someday."
Ren didn't reply, but Zemo wagged his tail in agreement.
---
3. The Spinning & Twisting Machines
Inside the mill, Ren began assembling the core machines:
Hand-cranked twisting wheels
Large spinning frames
Pulley-connected spindles
Tension rollers
Drying racks
All built from Titan Wood, treated alloys, and durable fibers.
Leo blinked.
"These look… complicated."
Bram poked one.
"…Will it explode?"
"No," Ren replied calmly.
"Not unless you're careless."
Leo stepped back instantly.
Kiro knelt beside one of the spinning frames.
"This one spins the fibers?"
"Yes," Ren said.
"And this—" he pointed to the crank mechanism "—twists them into rope."
Bram examined the thicker pulleys.
"Big ropes?"
"Up to ship-size."
Bram's eyes sparkled.
"That's what I'm talking about."
Ren nodded and continued tightening the final bolts.
---
4. The Cloth Loom Area
On the other side of the mill stood several vertical looms.
Each one a large frame of Titan Wood with:
crossbars
thread spools
tension weights
foot pedals
guide rods
Workers gathered around, whispering.
Makino touched a loom carefully.
"…You can weave cloth this wide?"
"Yes," Ren said.
"Sails. Tents. Uniforms. Everything."
She smiled.
"That will help so many people."
Ren paused at her tone.
"Yes," he said softly.
"It will."
---
5. The First Rope
With the building mostly complete, Ren decided to test a machine.
He placed a bundle of processed fiber into the twisting wheel.
Leo took the crank.
"Steady speed," Ren instructed.
Leo turned.
The fibers stretched… aligned… spun…
Thread formed.
Bram held the tension.
Kiro guided the spools.
And slowly—
a rope emerged.
Thick. Strong. Even.
Leo blinked.
"…That's it?"
Ren nodded.
"That's it."
Bram tugged the rope.
It didn't budge.
"This would hold a ship," he said proudly.
"It will," Ren replied.
Workers cheered quietly.
A simple rope meant everything:
safety at sea
larger ships
heavy cargo
strong nets
woven cloth
The island was evolving.
Piece by piece.
---
6. Evening — Cloth for the Future
The sun set behind the mill.
Zemo lay stretched across the cool floor, tail thumping lazily.
Makino brought a stack of early plant fibers.
Ren guided her hands across the loom.
"Like this. Over… under… pull."
Makino tried.
The loom clicked softly.
She laughed.
"I might get the hang of this."
Leo leaned over.
"I won't."
Kiro rolled his eyes.
"Leo, you can barely tie a knot."
Ren didn't speak.
He watched the new cloth forming on the loom.
And felt a quiet satisfaction.
He didn't need applause.
He didn't need fame.
Only progress.
Today—
the rope and cloth mill stood complete.
Tomorrow—
they would begin producing materials for the first great ship.
And the island took another step toward becoming something powerful.
Something unseen in all of East Blue.
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End of Chapter 185