Broken Faith

Lesson 19: There is no person in the world more superior than a World Noble

"Aaangel!"

You didn't even glance up from your notepad, "What is it, Luffy?"

"Why isn't the treehouse done yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet? I want my pirate ship already!"

"It's a big project," Sabo pointed out, practicing some knot ties with some stripped vines, "Things like this take time. It took about a year to rebuild Dadan's shack, remember?"

"Huh. I thought they were just having an excuse to have a party without us."

"... There are no words."

"He has a point though," Ace scowled, "It's been a week and we haven't even started building yet. Why the hell're you stalling so much? We told you to chill out about the Higuma thing, so-"

"But I am working on the treehouse."

"Without us?!" Luffy shot to his feet, "HOW COULD YOU?!"

You stared blankly at him, "You were the ones who asked me to plan this out, so I am planning it out. Simple as that."

"And it's taken you a week?!" Ace snatched the notebook out of your hands before you could stop him, "We've already decided on what it's gonna look like; shouldn't the rest be pretty easy?"

Pinching the bridge of your nose, you did your very best to stifle your tired disappointment. "It isn't the design that's the problem..."

"Then what is?!"

"The materials."

They blinked at you, jaws slack.

You stared back, "Really now, where did you think we were going to get the materials to build this thing?"

"Whaddabout the wood behind the shack," asked Ace. "That should be enough, shouldn't it?"

"It's been there for a while." Sabo answered for you, "Even if it's not rotten, which I think most of it is by now, it'll be far to weak to build something that can hold our weight." He turned back to you, "I just thought we'd cut down more trees like last time. We're in a forest after all. There's plenty to spare."

"You say that now, but it won't be like that in a few years." You sighed, flopping back onto a tree stump, "Trees take decades to grow. Centuries even. And..." you raised your metal arm-" because of this thing, several groves of trees are already wiped out. If worst comes to worst, we can cut down more, but I'd rather not risk it."

Besides, refining planks was a bore. How old did those kids think you were, really?! You weren't even tall enough to use Master Tobias' sanding machine!

"I'm not sure I understand-" Luffy cocked his head- "But if Angel says cutting down too many trees is bad, then it's bad. She knows everything."

"Fine," barked Ace, throwing his arms in the air, "We can't cut down trees. Big deal. But have you forgotten that we're literally living next to a massive trash heap?! Gray Terminal has everything! We just scavenge from there!"

"But then we're not sure what we might find. As you said, it is a trash heap. Who knows if we will be able to find enough supplies to build something, let alone without any other scavengers stealing it from us." You took the opportunity to reclaim your notebook, "That is why I have been making contingency plans, just in case things don't go to plan."

"Con...tin... gentry?"

"It's a fancy word for backup."

"Ah."

"Shishi! It's funny!"

They were obviously not paying attention anymore. Sighing again, you snapped the notebook shut. "ANYHOW-!"