As if hearing a joke, he shrugged and gestured to the surroundings.
A wave of laughter rippled through the surrounding crowd:
"How is that possible."
"What nonsense is Tom's disciple spouting."
"Why would the government agency Cp5 destroy the judicial ship."
"Utterly preposterous, completely impossible."
"Hahahaha!!"
As the discussions in the crowd grew, a mocking smile appeared on Spandam's face:
"I attacked the judicial ship? What kind of joke is this."
"These ships, after investigation, were built by your company."
Franky closed his eyes, reluctant to face it:
"A ship that would do such a thing..."
"That kind of thing... is no longer my ship!!!!"
As this roar escaped his lips.
*Crack—*
The chains on the fish-man Tom's hands snapped under the immense force.
He stood up with a grim expression and punched Franky, sending him flying.
*Boom!!!*
He was sent tumbling, smashing through wooden crates and barrels.
The surrounding soldiers immediately tensed, and an officer roared:
"Guns up!!!!"
Countless firearms were aimed at the fish-man Tom.
Tom ignored them, staring at Franky and saying:
"Not my ship?"
"How could you say such a thing!!!"
Franky cried out in pain:
"So what if I said it!"
"I regret building such a weapon!"
"If it weren't for those ships... no one would be hurt!!!"
"Mr. Tom, you wouldn't have..."
Tom stared intently at Franky, as if to impart one last lesson:
"No matter what kind of ship it is."
"Building it carries no inherent good or evil."
"It doesn't matter what kind of ship you build in the future."
"But..."
"No matter who the ship you built harms, even if it destroys the world."
"The one who built it must cherish it."
"The one who built it cannot deny it."
"You must not blame the ship!"
"A true man must stand tall for the ship he built!!!"
Everyone around watched Tom's passionate declaration in shock.
Franky, his face flushed, was speechless looking at Tom.
Tom's expression slowly calmed:
"Iceburg, Franky."
"Do not interfere with what happens next."
"Absolutely do not..."
This is where it ends...
Tom turned to face the Cp5.
Seeing the ship of purity he built used for evil, it must hurt... Franky...
He stamped his foot!
And charged at Spandam.
Facing the terrified Spandam, his fist of fury smashed directly into his face.
Sending him flying.
The faint sound of bones cracking was heard...
Wanting to vent his anger for Franky, he lunged towards Spandam.
Spandam, flying backward, clutched his face and roared angrily:
"Shoot! Shoot!"
"Damn fish-man!!"
"Capture them!!!"
*Bang bang bang—*
Dense bullets rained down on Tom.
Tom felt his body grow numb, unable to muster strength. A tranquilizer dart, was it...
Spandam laughed maniacally:
"Serves you right!"
"What are you waiting for!"
"Hurry and capture them!!!"
"Bring all the members of the brutal Tom's Workshop back to Enies Lobby!"
Feeling the anesthetic gradually encroaching on his entire body, Tom looked up:
"Chief Judge."
"I admit to the crime of attacking the judicial ship."
"But I have a request."
Spandam sneered:
"Stop your nonsense, you fool fish-man!"
"Who would grant a criminal's request!"
The Chief Judge turned and shouted:
"Shut up! Cp5!"
Spandam glared at the Chief Judge, clenched his fists, and ceased his mockery.
The Chief Judge turned back to Tom:
"What is your request."
Tom, slumped on the ground, said:
"If building the Sea Train can offset a charge."
"I wish to use it to offset today's crime."
The Chief Judge looked at him:
"Even if I accept your request."
"It would only bring us back to square one."
"Building the ship for the Pirate King is enough to sentence you to death."
Tom chuckled:
"Ah, then sentence me."
"I am immensely proud to have contributed to someone like Roger!!!"
Many of the surrounding crowd had suffered greatly from pirates:
"What barbarity..."
"To be proud of contributing to the Pirate King."
"Traitor!!"
"Barbarian fish-man!!"
Franky was stunned:
"Mr. Tom, why..."
Tom shook his head, stopping Franky's words:
"This is fine, Franky."
"This is the end of it, and don't blame yourself anymore."
"I never imagined the government would be so desperate for the blueprints."
"After all, Roger's matter is also somewhat disadvantageous to me."
Franky said:
"But you didn't have to admit to everything!!!"
Tom gazed at the buildings of Water 7 in the distance:
"It's alright..."
"Look."
The entire Water 7 is now full of vitality, and people's faces are filled with hope.
Tom showed a faint smile:
"Even if my crime reverts to 14 years ago."
"This island is different from before."
"It's full of life now."
"No matter what happens to me in the future."
"I have contributed to this city."
"My dream..."
"Is finally setting sail..."
The distant whistle of the Sea Train seemed to be heard...
*Plop—*
Tom collapsed to the ground.
Iceburg, Franky, the blueprints are entrusted to you...
Miss Kokoro, Yokogawa, thank you for your care all this time...
The anesthetic had taken over his last shred of consciousness... and he fell into darkness.
------
Spandam laughed maniacally:
"Hahahaha, the anesthetic finally took effect!"
"Go and bring back the three criminals who attacked the judicial ship!!!"
As the surrounding soldiers were about to rush out, the Chief Judge suddenly spoke:
"Wait."
"The charges have been amended."
"I declare that on the charge of building the Pirate King's vessel, Tom the shipwright, alone."
"Will be escorted to Enies Lobby."
"That being said,"
The Chief Judge calmly stood up and left.
Spandam scoffed.
That old man, actually showing favoritism...
Fine, it's useless to arrest his apprentices anyway. Spandam looked at Tom:
"Guards! Escort Tom away!!!"
Franky, watching Tom being led away, broke free from Kokoro and Iceburg's grasp, snatched a gun, and leaped towards Spandam:
"Give Mr. Tom back to me!!!!"
The butt of the gun struck Spandam squarely on the right side of his face...
*Crack—*
The sound of something shattering echoed.
-----
*Woo—*
A whistle accompanied by steam.
The Sea Train sped across the sea, heading for Enies Lobby.
Inside the carriage, Spandam's face was heavily bandaged:
"Damn it! That brat got away!"
"He's the most heinous criminal!!"
"To disfigure my face...!"
"After this is over! I'll come back and hang him!!!!"
"Damn it!!!"
A subordinate pushed the door open, looking shocked:
"Sir, that brat has caught up."
Spandam jolted upright:
"What?!"
The subordinate swallowed hard:
"He's standing on the tracks, armed."
------
From a window of the Sea Train, two heads emerged.
It was Spandam and the subordinate.
Looking at Franky, who was blocking the Sea Train ahead, Spandam seemed incredulous:
"Is he an idiot."
The subordinate said:
"Perhaps... we should stop the Sea Train?"
Spandam grabbed the subordinate by the collar:
"Are you an idiot too?"
"Wouldn't it be better to just run him over! That damned brat!!!"
------
On the Sea Train tracks.
Franky, carrying a cannon, told Yokogawa to stay back.
He aimed the cannon at the Sea Train:
"Stop right there, Smoking Tom!!!"
"Where are you taking your own father!!!"
*Boom boom boom!!!!*
A barrage of cannonballs was fired, but they struck the 'Smoking Tom' without leaving a single scratch.
The Sea Train, the culmination of over a decade of effort, was not so easily destroyed...
Even after expending all the stored ammunition, it showed no signs of stopping.
Franky threw down the cannon and spread his arms wide:
"I won't let you pass!"
"Give Mr. Tom back to me!!!!"
*Woo—*
The Sea Train's whistle blared frantically, as if urging him to move aside.
The distance rapidly closed... finally...
*Crack—*
The speeding steel behemoth collided with the young man's flesh and bone.
The bones in the front half of his body shattered, but it did not hinder the Sea Train for a moment...
"Stop, Sea Train!!!"
*Woo—*
The Sea Train whistled past, a pair of blue sunglasses floated down from the air, but Franky's shattered body had vanished...
"I don't want to build any more ships..."
"Come back... Mr. Tom..."
"I still want you to teach me..."