The Grand Line, Water Seven.
At the port, people who had just finished their work sat on the steps, gazing at the sea.
Seagulls flew in flocks, circling above the harbor. Suddenly, one person spotted something.
"Hey! Look!"
"What a huge ship!"
"Is that?"
"A government judicial ship!"
"A judicial ship?"
"It's a mobile court."
"I wonder who they're here to judge."
"Let's go check it out!"
"Let's go, let's go!"
Before long, the people, following the judicial ship from afar, arrived at the home of Tom, the Fish-Man shipwright, the world's greatest.
A tall, stout Fish-Man was brought out, with two youths rushing out behind him, only to be blocked by soldiers.
"Stop! What do you think you're doing!"
"Give us back Mr. Tom!!!"
Tom the Fish-Man, being escorted, turned around and burst into laughter:
"It's alright, don't worry."
"Hahahahaha!!!"
The young Franky shouted:
"Mr. Tom!!!!"
Tom the Fish-Man was taken further away, gradually disappearing from sight...
The Judicial Ship.
In the mobile court.
A Marine officer read out the verdict:
"For building the ship of the recently executed Pirate King, Gold Roger."
"The Oro Jackson, as fact."
"On the charge of supporting a world-class criminal."
"Shipwright Tom will be escorted to Enies Lobby."
"And executed!"
Franky, who had just squeezed into the crowd of onlookers, widened his eyes in disbelief at the verdict.
People at the entrance relayed the news outwards.
"Bad news! Tom... Tom is going to be executed!!!"
"The charge is helping the Pirate King build his ship!!!"
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"This day has finally come."
"After all, he caused trouble for the world, there's nothing that can be done."
"What a shame."
Inside the courtroom.
The tall, gaunt presiding judge began his case summary:
"Normally, a shipbuilder selling a ship to a customer is not a crime."
"But the Pirate King was an exception."
"Any connection to his pirate activities would deem him a dangerous person."
"Therefore, he is sentenced to death."
He struck his small gavel:
"Escort the criminal away."
Several soldiers stepped forward to drag Tom the Fish-Man, but he didn't budge an inch.
Tom the Fish-Man stood his ground, looking directly at the judge:
"I am currently..."
"Conceiving a steam-powered paddle ship that can travel on sea rails."
"The reason this island is in decline is due to unsatisfactory commercial transactions."
"The disheartened populace is also uneasy about this island, which may sink at any time."
"The opening of the Sea Train."
"Will one day surely save Water Seven."
The tall, gaunt presiding judge remained silent for a long time:
"The Sea Train, huh..."
Tom the Fish-Man spoke:
"That's right."
"It's a ship that travels from one island to another."
"Puffing out smoke, running on sea rails."
"Whether for passengers or cargo, it's unaffected by the weather."
"Anyone can freely traverse the sea."
"Furthermore, I am contemplating how to make the train car and rails produce a sound that fish dislike."
"This way, sea kings will also not approach the rails."
"As long as we can connect the islands through the Sea Train."
"Smooth commercial transactions will cause the islands to develop rapidly."
"The blueprints will be completed soon."
The tall, gaunt presiding judge suddenly asked:
"Can it reach Enies Lobby?"
Tom the Fish-Man replied:
"Of course."
"Once this technology is perfected, people will be able to easily travel across oceans."
"Before long, all the islands in the world will be able to communicate effectively."
This grand blueprint made even the seasoned Marine officers in the court swallow hard, envisioning the scene...
The tall, gaunt presiding judge stared at him and asked:
"How many years will it take to build?"
Tom the Fish-Man replied with a serious expression:
"Ten years."
The tall, gaunt presiding judge took a deep breath:
"Then let's see it built!"
"Shipwright Tom, for the construction of the Sea Train."
"Sentence commuted to ten years' probation!"
Bang—
The gavel struck, and the trial concluded.
The island erupted...!!!
"Whoa!!!!"
"That's great!!!"
"Go, Tom!!"
"Save Water Seven!!!"
"Hahahaha!!!"
Evening.
Tom the Fish-Man celebrated with his two apprentices over a meal:
"Hahahaha!!!!"
"We've survived, splendidly!"
Crocus the Fish-Man, serving a new dish, said:
"Now is not the time to be laughing, Mr. Tom."
"Just thinking about that moment sends shivers down my spine."
"But if things go smoothly, they might forget about Roger."
The young Mayor Iceberg, in admiration, exclaimed:
"As expected of Mr. Tom!"
"To conceive such a magnificent thing!!!"
"Everyone was stunned!"
Bang—
Franky slammed his empty bowl on the table.
He said to a toad as tall as a man:
"Let's go! Yokozuna!"
"Today, I'll teach you the freestyle!"
Iceberg expressed his displeasure:
"You've been sulking all day, what exactly do you want?"
"Franky!!!"
Franky turned back and shouted:
"Gold Roger's ship sailed around the Grand Line."
"It was a ship like no other in the world."
"But why should a Mr. Tom, who could build such a great ship,"
"Be sentenced to death!!!!"
"And the onlookers even said it was only natural!"
"They're a bunch of bastards who can't even build a raft!!!"
"We were ostracized just because he built a ship for Roger."
"Our company was forced to live under the bridge."
"Why should the world's greatest shipwright suffer like this!!!"
But Tom the Fish-Man said nothing, just laughed heartily:
"Hahahahaha!!!!"
Franky, in his anger, jumped onto the table and shook Tom's collar. Iceberg stood up to intervene, while Tom continued to laugh heartily.
The entire restaurant descended into chaos...
-----------
The Mobile Court, the Judicial Ship.
The tall, gaunt presiding judge gazed at Water Seven for a long time, lost in thought.
A CP member beside him couldn't help but remind him:
"Presiding Judge, this mission..."
The tall, gaunt presiding judge slowly closed his eyes:
"For this mission, I will personally apologize to the Five Elders."
"But if, due to some inexplicable charges,"
"The world's development is hindered, and the people's hopes are crushed..."
"Then I... will become a sinner for all time..."
-----------
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Dong—dong—dong—.......
The melodious sound of the Ox Bell chimed, eight times in total, marking the arrival of a new year and expressing gratitude for the past one.
Sakazuki, listening to the pleasant bells from outside the window, put down the newspaper he was holding and handed it to Carol:
"A new year."
"Heh."
"There are some brilliant minds within the government."
Carol asked curiously:
"Oh?"
He took the newspaper and saw the prominent headline.
"After the fall of the Golden Lion, when will the third Emperor of the Sea be born?"
Carol seemed to understand:
"Emperor."
Sakazuki stood up and looked at the falling snow outside the window:
"To bestow the title of Emperor upon pirates."
"Which pirate could refuse such temptation?"
"The pirates in the New World are probably going to fight to the death."