On the video feed, Vegapunk smacked his lips:
"Seems I overlooked this... there's actually such a thing."
"Truly unreasonable, these Paramecia-type Devil Fruits."
Sakazuki smiled slightly:
"And as for materials, that won't be much of a problem either."
"If we can find a few with similar properties."
"Just synthesize them."
"Even metal wouldn't be much of an issue."
Vegapunk sighed:
"It's not that simple. If it could be easily synthesized..."
"Wait..."
"Synthesize..."
"Don't tell me you mean..."
He looked at the Devil Fruit near Sakazuki in shock, pointing at it:
"There's a Devil Fruit that can synthesize memory metal???"
Sakazuki chuckled softly:
"Exactly."
Vegapunk became excited:
"Where is it! Where is it!!!"
Memory metal—this had been a research problem bothering him for so many years.
He never thought he'd hear news about it under such circumstances, and that it could be achieved just with a Devil Fruit...
No, he had to reread the Devil Fruit encyclopedia tonight! No! Ten times!!!
Sakazuki said with a smile:
"Don't worry, it won't be long."
"An accidental death on this sea is all too common."
Vegapunk calmed down slightly:
"A king, huh..."
"That does make it troublesome..."
In this world, powerful people were as common as clouds... but few truly dared to kill a king.
Pirates who stormed kingdoms to kidnap and seize the throne didn't dare.
Even Doflamingo, who schemed his way into ruling Dressrosa, didn't dare.
Even Kaido, who terrorized Wano, couldn't become Shogun.
This was a 'rule' etched into people's minds for millennia...
If a king died unexpectedly, there would be thorough investigations. So how he died... and in whose hands... would be examined very carefully.
Sakazuki said:
"Don't worry, it won't be long."
"An accidental death on this sea is all too common."
Vegapunk said with some anticipation:
"True enough... I'll prepare some things later."
"Make sure no one can find out..."
...
Scrap Island, small cabin.
Creak—
The door opened, and Franky rubbed his eyes as he walked out:
"Ha—"
Yawning loudly.
He sleepily headed toward town, planning to buy some things.
"Hey! Franky!!!"
Behind him came the voice of the mermaid Kokoro-san.
Franky turned his head.
"Hm?"
Thud!
A pair of pants smacked him in the face.
"At least put on some pants before going out."
"Walking around in underwear will just get you called a pervert again."
"Seriously..."
"Haven't learned your lesson yet."
Franky wore a half-dead expression...
"So annoying..."
"It's just buying some stuff."
Grumbling, he pulled on his pants and headed toward town.
He had to prepare the feast for celebrating Tom-san's pardon today!!!!
Kokoro shook her head:
"Honestly."
She went back inside, looking at Tom and Iceburg still snoring away.
Bang bang bang—
The deafening sound of pots and pans rang out.
"Wake up!"
"Today's the big day for the ruling."
"Hurry up and get ready!!!"
...
Water 7 harbor.
Countless people gathered here, craning their necks in anticipation.
They were all island residents, and when they saw the government's judicial ship arrive, a cheer erupted.
Because today... their hero!
Tom the fishman would be acquitted!!!
"The judicial ship is here!"
"Tom's ruling is coming down!!!"
"Ooohhhh!!!!"
"Acquit him!"
"Hahahaha!!"
More and more people crowded the harbor, joyful and expectant...
Eventually, several squads of soldiers had to be dispatched to barely make a path for the ship to dock.
Entering the building prepared by government officials, the elderly Chief Judge finally sighed in relief.
He walked to the window, looking at the crowd surrounding the judicial ship, and smiled slightly:
"These people are so enthusiastic."
The Marine officer behind him laughed:
"Well, he's the shipwright who built something so incredible."
"A huge crowd of spectators rushed in."
"They couldn't even be stopped anymore."
The Chief Judge chuckled:
"Indeed."
"A great invention."
"The sea train is well built."
"It already connects four islands."
"Now clearing his name, no one will complain."
He looked out at the sea train that had just started up...
"Truly remarkable..."
...
Judicial ship.
In the gallery, there was still an hour before the trial started.
But the seats were already packed with people.
Below, more were boarding, and those who couldn't get in just pressed against the windows to look inside.
"Tom isn't here yet?"
"Probably because it hasn't started."
"I heard the Chief Judge from Enies Lobby is very pleased with the sea train."
"Really! That's great!!!"
"Finally, the pardon!"
"Yeah!"
"Water 7's hero!!!"
"We have to witness the moment he's declared innocent!!!"
At the harbor, carrying a huge pile of ingredients, Franky sighed with some emotion:
"So nostalgic..."
"It's been over ten years already."
He shook his head and turned away from the crowd, heading in the opposite direction—he still needed to prepare the feast for Tom-san's acquittal.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Continuous sharp sounds split the air over the sea.
Boom boom boom!!!!!!!!!!
Cannon fire rained down on the judicial ship docked alone at the harbor.
Flames instantly engulfed the deck.
The hull was torn open by shells and slowly began to list.
Everyone froze, even forgetting to run...
No one had expected anyone to attack a government judicial ship.
Boom!
When a shell hit the harbor itself, people finally reacted.
"Get away from the harbor!!!"
"Hurry!!!"
"Damn it! What's going on!"
"Pirates?!!!"
"Help! My son's trapped under there!!!"
"To actually dare attack a judicial ship..."
"Such outrageous boldness!!!"
"There!!!"
The tiny black dots in the distance grew clearer, and people finally saw the brazen fleet.
The ships were bristling with cannons on all sides, made purely for slaughter.
But they didn't fly pirate flags...
At the harbor, Franky, equally stunned, froze the moment the fleet appeared.
A chill ran through him, like falling into an icy abyss...
Because every single one of those ships... was his.
"Who the hell... is using my ships..."
"To wreak havoc!!!!"
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg. 414 chapters in total