It was as if he had just heard a joke. He spread his hands and gestured to the crowd around him.
From among the people came bursts of laughter:
"This is impossible."
"What's that apprentice of Tom talking about?"
"Why would a government agency like CP5 destroy a judicial ship?"
"Nonsense. Absolutely impossible."
"Hahahaha!!"
As the chatter and laughter in the crowd grew louder, a smirk appeared on Spandam's face as well:
"Me? Attacking a judicial ship? What kind of joke is that?"
"Those ships were investigated. They were built by your company."
Franky closed his eyes, unwilling to face it:
"Ships that would do something like that..."
"Those things... they're no longer my ships!!!!"
As that furious roar burst out—
Crack—
The chains on the fishman Tom's hands snapped under his immense strength.
He stood up with a dark expression, threw a punch, and sent Franky flying.
Boom!!!
Franky rolled across the ground, smashing through crates and barrels.
The soldiers around them instantly grew tense. One officer shouted:
"Raise your guns!!!!"
Countless rifles were aimed at Tom.
But Tom ignored them, staring at Franky and saying:
"Not your ships?"
"How can you say something like that!!!"
Franky cried out in pain:
"So what if I said it!"
"I regret building those cursed things!"
"If it weren't for those ships... no one would have been hurt!!!"
"Tom-san, you wouldn't have—"
Tom stared at Franky as if trying to teach him one last lesson:
"No matter what kind of ship it is."
"Once it's built, it has no good or evil."
"In the future, no matter what kind of ship you make, that's fine."
"But..."
"No matter who it hurts, even if it destroys the world—"
"The one who built it must always cherish it."
"Only the one who created it cannot deny it."
"Never blame the ship!"
"A real man must stand proud behind the ships he builds!!!"
Everyone around them looked at the passionate Tom in shock.
Franky's face flushed red, but he couldn't find words to reply.
Tom slowly calmed down:
"Iceburg, Franky."
"Stay out of what happens next."
"You must not—"
This is where it ends...
Tom turned toward CP5.
It must hurt... seeing the ship you built for justice being used for evil, right... Franky...
He stomped his foot!
And charged straight at Spandam.
As he looked at the terrified Spandam, his furious fist smashed into his face.
Sent him flying.
Bones cracked faintly...
Still fuming on Franky's behalf, Tom charged at Spandam again.
Spandam, clutching his face as he struggled up, roared furiously:
"Fire! Fire!!"
"That damned fishman!!"
"Capture them all!!!"
Bang bang bang—
A storm of bullets poured toward Tom.
Tom felt his whole body go numb, strength slipping away. Tranquilizer rounds, huh...
Spandam laughed madly:
"Serves you right!"
"What are you all waiting for?!"
"Go seize them!!!"
"Take every last member of Tom's Workers to Enies Lobby!!!"
As the tranquilizers spread through his body, Tom lifted his head:
"Judge."
"I admit to the charge of attacking the judicial ship."
"But I have one request."
Spandam sneered:
"Don't talk nonsense, you stupid fishman!"
"Who would grant a criminal's request!"
The judge turned sharply:
"Silence, CP5!"
Spandam glared at the judge, fists clenched, falling silent.
The judge looked at Tom:
"What is your request?"
Sitting on the ground, Tom spoke slowly:
"If building the Sea Train can cancel out one charge—"
"Then let it cancel out today's."
The judge stared at him:
"Even if I grant this request—"
"It only resets things to where they were."
"Building the Pirate King's ship alone warrants the death penalty."
Tom laughed:
"Ah, then so be it."
"To have contributed to someone like Roger—this old man couldn't be prouder!!!"
Many in the crowd had suffered at the hands of pirates:
"What savagery..."
"He even takes pride in aiding the Pirate King."
"Traitor!!!"
"Barbaric fishman!!!"
Franky was stunned:
"Tom-san, why would you—"
Tom shook his head, cutting him off:
"This is enough, Franky."
"From here on, don't blame yourself anymore."
"I never imagined the government would go so mad over the blueprints."
"And Roger's matter has already put me in a bad spot."
Franky shouted:
"But you don't have to take all the blame!!!"
Tom looked toward the buildings of Water 7:
"It's fine..."
"Look."
The whole of Water 7 was full of life now, faces filled with hope.
Tom smiled faintly:
"Even if my crimes return to what they were 14 years ago—"
"This island is no longer the same as before."
"Now it's brimming with life everywhere."
"No matter what happens to me later—"
"I've given everything to this city."
"My dream..."
"Has finally set sail..."
In the distance, the whistle of the Sea Train seemed to echo...
Thud—
Tom collapsed.
Iceburg, Franky, the blueprints are yours now...
Kokoro, Yokozuna, thank you both for everything...
The tranquilizers claimed the last of his consciousness... plunging him into darkness.
...
Spandam laughed wildly:
"Hahahaha, the tranquilizers finally worked!"
"Bring in all three criminals who attacked the judicial ship!!!"
The soldiers were about to rush out when the judge suddenly spoke:
"Wait."
"The charges have changed."
"I hereby declare: on the charge of building the Pirate King's ship, only the shipwright Tom—"
"—will be sent to Enies Lobby."
"That is all."
The judge rose calmly and left.
Spandam clicked his tongue.
Stubborn old man... showing favoritism...
Whatever. Catching the apprentices is pointless anyway. He looked at Tom:
"Take him away!!!"
Franky, watching Tom being taken, broke free from Kokoro and Iceburg, snatched a rifle, and leapt at Spandam:
"Give Tom-san back to me!!!!"
The butt of the rifle smashed hard into the right side of Spandam's face—
Crack—
Something broke audibly.
...
Whooo—
The whistle and steam roared together.
The Sea Train raced across the ocean toward Enies Lobby.
Inside the carriage, Spandam was wrapped in bandages:
"Curse it! That brat escaped!"
"He's the most vicious criminal of all!!"
"He dared to ruin my face...!"
"When this is over, I'll come back and hang him!!!!"
"Unforgivable!!!"
A subordinate pushed the door open, looking shocked:
"Sir, that brat... he caught up."
Spandam shot up:
"What?!"
The subordinate swallowed hard:
"He's standing on the tracks. With a weapon."
...
At the window of the Sea Train, two heads poked out.
Spandam and his subordinate.
They stared at Franky standing in front of the train. Spandam frowned:
"Is he stupid?"
The subordinate asked:
"Should we... stop the train?"
Spandam spun around, grabbing his collar:
"Are you stupid too?!"
"Running him over is better! That little bastard!!!"
...
On the tracks.
Franky hefted a cannon, telling Yokozuna to get clear.
He aimed it at the Sea Train:
"Stop right there!!!"
"Where are you taking your own father!!!"
Boom boom boom!!!!
Shells rained toward the Sea Train, but they left not a single scratch.
This train carried over a decade of effort. It wouldn't be stopped so easily...
Even when the ammo ran out, the Sea Train never slowed.
Franky threw the cannon aside, arms spread wide:
"I won't let you pass!"
"Give Tom-san back to me!!!!"
Whooo—
The Sea Train's whistle screamed wildly, warning him to move.
The distance closed... until finally—
Crash—
The steel beast, racing at full speed, smashed into the boy's flesh and bones.
The entire front half of his body shattered, yet even that couldn't stop the Sea Train...
"Stop!!! Sea Train!!!"
Whooo—
The whistle roared as the Sea Train thundered on. A pair of blue sunglasses fluttered down.
Franky's broken body was gone...
"I don't want to build any more ships..."
"Come back... Tom-san..."
"I still want you to teach me..."
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg. 414 chapters in total