While the workers inside Tom's Shipyard were busy at their tasks, a contingent of Marines armed with guns and cannons approached from the outside.
"Mr. Tom! Mr. Tom! Trouble! There's a large group of Marines outside!" a sharp-eyed worker shouted, spotting the approaching soldiers and alerting Tom and the others who were absorbed in their work.
"Marines? What are they doing here?" Iceburg wondered aloud.
"A bunch of thugs throwing their weight around. The Marines are no different from pirates, if you ask me!" Franky spat. He had never held a high opinion of the Marines, and his words reflected it.
"Franky, that's enough!" Iceburg quickly tried to silence him.
"What? I'm just telling it like it is," Franky shot back, completely unrepentant and fearless.
"You...!" Iceburg sighed in exasperation.
"Alright, let's go see what this is about," Tom said, setting down his wrench and putting a stop to their bickering. He prepared to lead the men out to greet the Marines.
The group of shipwrights followed Tom to the entrance, waiting for the Marines to make their move.
"Commodore Albert, has something happened to bring you here?" Tom asked, forcing a smile as he faced the grim-looking soldiers.
"Hmph. Mr. Tom," Albert began without any pleasantries, "I've received a report that your apprentice, Cutty Flam, used his battleships to attack a World Government judicial ship, resulting in the deaths of several government officials. For these two crimes combined, the punishment is death!"
"What?"
Hearing Albert's words, all the shipwrights stared at Franky in disbelief. They couldn't imagine he would commit such a terrible crime.
Tom and Iceburg, of course, didn't believe it for a second. Even if Franky was a bit wild, he would never attack a World Government ship.
"Commodore Albert, there must be some misunderstanding! Franky would never do something like that!" Tom pleaded.
"That's right, Commodore! We all know Franky's character. He's absolutely not that kind of person!" Iceburg added hastily.
"I don't care what kind of person he is. My orders are simply to arrest him," Albert said, ignoring their explanations entirely. The Marines raised their guns, warning everyone not to make a move.
Franky stood frozen, stunned by the scene unfolding before him. He hadn't done anything. How could he be caught in such a disaster?
"I didn't do anything! How dare you frame me?" Franky protested, unable to stand the false accusation.
"Frame you? Heh. You'll confess everything once you get to Enies Lobby," Albert sneered. "Men, seize him! If he resists, execute him on the spot!"
Franky bristled, ready to fight back, but Tom and Iceburg grabbed his arms, holding him in place.
"I really didn't do it," Franky said, his voice laced with grievance as he looked at Tom and Iceburg.
"I know you didn't, my boy," Tom said gently. "But they came prepared. Don't resist, or you really will die."
"Franky, don't be reckless! We will save you!" Iceburg whispered urgently in his ear.
Hearing their words, Franky extinguished the fire of resistance in his heart and stood still, waiting for the Marines to act.
Seeing Franky comply, Albert was satisfied.
"Take him away!" he commanded, and the Marines led Franky off.
"Mr. Tom, what do we do? What happened? How did Franky get involved with such a powerful enemy?"
"This time... it doesn't look good for Franky."
"The Marines said it was the battleships Franky built that caused the trouble."
The shipwrights chattered amongst themselves. With such a major event, they couldn't calm down and had lost all motivation to work.
"Alright, I will handle this. Everyone, disperse," Tom said, silencing the crowd.
"Is there really a way, Mr. Tom? Franky has offended the World Government!" one worker asked worriedly.
"There will be a way," Tom assured them. "Franky is my apprentice. I know him, and I will definitely save him."
"Sigh... I hope so."
The shipwrights slowly scattered, leaving only Tom and Iceburg behind.
"Iceburg, I need to see Franky. Make the arrangements," Tom instructed.
"Right," Iceburg agreed without hesitation. With something like this happening, neither of them could shy away.
Mission accomplished, Albert immediately called Spandam to report the situation.
"I'm indebted to you, Commodore Albert!"
"Don't mention it! We're brothers, aren't we?"
"We'll have to get together next time."
"Definitely, definitely!"
"Of course, of course."
After hanging up, Spandam quickly called Doflamingo.
"Joker?"
"It's me. What is it?"
"I've arrested Franky as you instructed. Now we just wait for Tom to take the bait."
"Excellent. You've done well. The next step is to pressure Tom into taking the blame for Franky's crimes. Use that to force him to hand over the Pluton blueprints."
"I understand, Joker."
Aboard the Ark Maxim, Doflamingo ended the call, a captivating smile on his face.
Everything was proceeding smoothly.
On the streets, CP9's Rob Lucci and his team were preparing to get close to Tom. Based on their intelligence, there was no better way to approach him than by posing as shipwrights.
Just as Lucci was about to join the recruitment line for shipwrights, they noticed the commotion with the Marines. Although they belonged to different organizations, they were both forces under the World Government.
"Lucci, look," Jabra said, pointing.
"It seems the Marines have made their move," Lucci observed calmly.
"Are the Marines getting involved in this too?" Blueno asked, confused.
"I suspect this is the work of our good chief," Lucci analyzed.
"What makes you say that?"
The others all looked at Lucci, waiting for his explanation. They couldn't imagine Spandam being capable of such a move.
"See that man? Cutty Flam, Tom's apprentice," Lucci said, gesturing to Franky being escorted by the Marines. "Why would the Marines arrest him for no reason?"
"You're right. It seems our good chief doesn't quite trust us."
"We just need to do our job. The rest has nothing to do with us," Lucci said coolly. He only wanted to complete the mission. Whatever other plans Spandam had were his own business.
"Understood."
At the Marine office in Water 7, Franky was being held in a cell.
"Dammit! Why did you arrest me?! I didn't do any of the things you said!" Franky yelled curses.
"Just keep quiet," a Marine guard advised him.
In the main office, Iceburg arrived with a heavy gift.
"Commodore Albert, this is just a small token. We only wish to see Franky."
With that, Iceburg pushed a case full of Beri in front of Albert.
"This..." Albert feigned difficulty, though his eyes were full of conflict.
"We just want to see him for a moment. With you here, Commodore, surely you're not afraid we'll run off," Iceburg said, laying on the flattery.
"Well... I suppose so. It's rare to see such deep affection between apprentices. I can't be completely unreasonable. If you want to see him, I'll allow it," Albert finally relented, unable to resist the temptation of money.
"Thank you, Commodore Albert!"
Iceburg led Tom to where Franky was being held.
"Franky, are you alright?" Tom asked with concern.
"I'm fine, Mr. Tom," Franky answered, holding back tears.
"Sigh."
"I really didn't do it! I have no idea why my battleships would have been anywhere near a World Government ship!" Franky cried out, pouring out his grievances.
Hearing his words, a chill ran down Tom and Iceburg's spines. It was true. For all this time, Franky had either been repairing Doflamingo's ark or helping Tom. When would he have had the time to attack a government vessel?
"Then... why would they do this?" Iceburg wondered.
Tom, however, remained silent. He understood now. The World Government and the Marines were after him. Franky was just a pawn, a shield to take the blow for him.
It seems what's meant to be can't be avoided.
Realizing everything, a deep sorrow washed over Tom. He had hidden so well, yet he had still been exposed. But Franky was innocent, and the Pluton blueprints must never fall into the hands of the World Government. The consequences would be catastrophic.
"Mr. Tom, what's wrong?" Iceburg asked worriedly, seeing the grave expression on his master's face.
"It's nothing. Franky, don't worry. I will get you out of here," Tom said with a smile, giving them a reassuring look.
"I..." Franky felt a lump in his throat, unable to speak.
"Don't worry," Tom said again, patting Franky's shoulder.
"I know, Mr. Tom," Franky mumbled, lowering his head as tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.
"We have to go now. Franky, just wait a little longer. You'll be out soon."
"Okay," Franky replied, his voice thick with tears.
Night fell, but the lights in Tom's Shipyard burned bright. Tom, still hard at work, felt a deep unease, as if someone was watching him from the shadows.
Only by keeping busy could he forget his troubles. To save Franky, he had no other choice. He could never hand over the Pluton blueprints. That meant he had to take the blame himself. But knowing those people, they wouldn't let it go that easily. Only by completing the Sea Train and offering his own life could he exchange it for Franky's.
That was why he was working so late into the night.
Everything was for Franky.
If someone were to ask him if it was worth it, Tom would say, without a doubt, that it was.