After Eli Winters left, Old Tom paced back and forth across the deck, his steps hurried and restless. Even though Eli had assured him with absolute confidence that Iceberg would be fine, the unease in Tom's heart refused to settle.
"Old man Tom, can you stop pacing already?" Big Pan finally snapped, unable to take it anymore. "You're making my eyes spin. Didn't my boss say it himself? That stone-faced guy will be fine."
The "stone-faced guy" Big Pan referred to was Iceberg. Because Iceberg was always stern and expressionless around others, Big Pan had given him that nickname.
Hearing this, Tom realized he might be worrying too much. He slowly stopped walking and stood still. With trembling hands, he took out a pack of cigarettes, pulled one free, and lit it.
Tom did not truly have a smoking habit. He only smoked when he felt irritated or anxious, relying on the sting of nicotine to calm his nerves.
He had only smoked halfway through the cigarette when the air above the deck suddenly twisted in a strange, distorted ripple. In the next instant, Eli and Iceberg appeared before everyone.
The moment Tom saw Iceberg's condition, his pupils shrank sharply, shock flashing across his face. Without a second thought, he crushed the half-burned cigarette under his foot and rushed toward Iceberg.
"Iceberg, how did you end up like this?" Tom asked, his voice heavy with pain.
"Teacher, it's just minor injuries. I'll be fine after resting for a while," Iceberg said, forcing a stiff smile. The words held little conviction, given that he was covered in blood.
"Minor injuries?" Eli scoffed. "If I hadn't arrived in time, you'd be crippled at best."
"What?" Tom asked anxiously. "Eli, is that true?"
"Teacher, don't listen to him exaggerating," Iceberg said quickly. "I took his medicine. I already feel much better."
Tom turned his gaze to Eli, clearly unconvinced by Iceberg's words.
"Relax," Eli said calmly. "He's not in danger anymore. He just needs time to recover."
Only then did Tom finally let out a breath of relief. But soon after, irritation crept into his voice.
"Didn't you say you could handle it yourself? How did things end up like this?"
Iceberg gave a bitter smile and explained the plan he had originally intended to carry out.
"I didn't expect the World Government's people to be so ruthless," Iceberg said helplessly. "They gave me no room to maneuver at all."
"Do you know who the one in charge was?" Eli asked, his expression odd.
"No. Who?" Iceberg asked blankly.
"Spandam's father. Spandine."
Iceberg froze, then let out a helpless chuckle. "That explains everything."
"You should go rest," Eli said. "Your injuries are serious."
Iceberg nodded silently, then looked at Eli with a pleading expression.
Eli understood at once. "Don't worry. I'll protect Seven Rivers City."
"Thank you." With that, Iceberg was taken to the medical bay by Tom. Reiju followed along to help treat his wounds.
"Doty, how long until we reach Seven Rivers City?" Eli asked.
"About thirty minutes," Doty replied after checking the map on the smart control panel. This intelligent navigation system was something Eli had exchanged from the system store. It could precisely record traveled routes and was extremely convenient.
Spandine sat in his chair with a dark expression, fingers tapping impatiently against the desk as he waited for news from the CP0 team sent to capture Franky.
Before long, Rulthius reported through a Den Den Mushi. The moment Spandine heard the words "Franky is gone," he exploded in rage. He leapt to his feet, pointing at Rulthius and screaming, "You useless trash! You can't even catch one person!"
Rulthius was no pushover. As the captain of an elite CP0 unit, he was not about to endure such insults. He snapped back immediately, "If you're so capable, why don't you catch him yourself? Stop yelling here like a lunatic."
The two began shouting over each other, neither willing to back down. The argument dragged on for several minutes until those around them intervened. Only then did Spandine regain a shred of composure.
"Enough," he said coldly. "Now is not the time to argue. Continue searching for Franky. The Pluton blueprints are very likely in his possession."
Because this involved the Pluton blueprints, Rulthius did not continue arguing. After all, the mission had been personally assigned by Saint Skardell.
Still, searching for one man in a city as vast as Seven Rivers City with only a handful of people was unrealistic. Rulthius requested additional support.
After some thought, Spandine realized the chances of success were slim if they relied solely on CP0. Left with no choice, he decided to act personally. He led more than a hundred subordinates in speedboats toward Seven Rivers City, launching a full-scale search.
Once they arrived, Spandine ordered his men to scatter and search every corner. They questioned residents door to door, searched suspicious locations, and even infiltrated questionable establishments. More than two hours passed, yet they found nothing.
As time slipped away, Spandine grew increasingly anxious. According to his calculations, Eli and his group would arrive soon. If they delayed any longer, they might miss their opportunity.
Gritting his teeth, Spandine finally abandoned the search. He ordered everyone back onto the boats and returned to the warship to prepare for the arrival of his enemies.
Spandine's sudden retreat puzzled Rulthius. From a logical standpoint, now that they had crucial information about the Pluton blueprints, they should have pursued it relentlessly. Yet Spandine's attitude felt perfunctory, as if the matter barely interested him.
"Is he hiding something from me?" Rulthius wondered, suspicion growing heavier in his mind.
Meanwhile, the moment Spandine returned to the warship, he wasted no time.
"All units on high alert," he barked. "Turn the ship around. All cannons aim toward the approach to Seven Rivers City."
The warship burst into activity. Soldiers moved with tense efficiency, and the atmosphere thickened with pressure.
Before long, the Angel's Judgment slowly entered Spandine's field of vision.
Staring at the approaching ship, Spandine's eyes burned with hatred. He ground his teeth and muttered, "Damn you all. Today is the day you die. I will drag every last one of you into hell."
When the Angel's Judgment finally entered firing range, Spandine could no longer restrain himself.
"Fire!" he roared. "Target that ship straight ahead. No survivors!"
Cannons thundered in unison. Shells tore through the air like a black storm, slamming toward the Angel's Judgment as waves surged violently beneath them.
"Heh. Looks like Spandine is desperate to avenge his son," Eli said with a smile, watching the incoming black dots.
"That monster won't live much longer," Robin said through clenched teeth, hatred flickering in her eyes.
"Don't worry, Robin," Felina said softly, hugging her arm. "He won't survive today."
"Hah. Childish tricks," Big Pan snorted. He leapt into the air, swinging the Coiling Dragon Staff in a casual arc. A massive number of shells were smashed aside mid-flight.
"Haha, my turn!" Klee laughed as he shot upward as well. With rapid movements of his hands, countless short arrows formed from bubbles and streaked toward the shells, detonating them in midair.
Explosions rang out without pause.
Seeing that the first barrage achieved nothing, Spandine's face twisted in shock and fury.
The cannons he relied on had never failed him. Yet now, they could not even scratch his enemies.
"Switch to seventy-two flame rounds," Spandine growled, his voice icy.
"Yes, sir!" the adjutant shouted, immediately rushing off to relay the order.
On the battlefield, Big Pan and Klee were still enjoying themselves, unaware that the shells had changed. The once-black projectiles had transformed into larger, vividly red rounds.
When Big Pan swept his staff again, his expression suddenly changed. The instant his staff touched one of the red shells, a wave of searing heat rushed toward him.
"Damn it." He retreated instantly.
Unlike the previous shells, the red one did not explode outright. Instead, torrents of blazing fire erupted from within, spreading wildly like enraged fire dragons. In seconds, a massive sea of flames formed, covering an area nearly half the size of a football field.
Fortunately, Big Pan's reaction was fast enough. Otherwise, he would have been swallowed whole.
The flames did not dissipate. They surged straight toward the Angel's Judgment.
"Klee, be careful. Those red shells are strange," Big Pan warned.
Klee tensed immediately. He waved his hands rapidly, firing dense volleys of bubble arrows toward the seventy-two flame rounds.
Some of the flames were intercepted, but the fire spread violently, expanding like a raging wildfire. Forced back by the heat, Klee had no choice but to retreat.
At the same time, blazing fire fell from the sky like meteors. Even from a distance, the heat was suffocating, making everyone on the ship feel scorched.
Simon and Doty exchanged a glance. Without hesitation, they leapt into the sea. Moving through the water like fish, they unleashed Fish-Man Karate together. Thick columns of water surged upward like roaring sea dragons.
Water and fire collided with a violent hiss. Steam exploded outward, obscuring vision as the battlefield filled with mist.
Watching from afar, Spandine's face grew even darker.
"Keep firing!" he roared. "Don't stop! I refuse to believe they can hold out forever!"
This time, Big Pan gave the enemy no chance. His Coiling Dragon Staff expanded dramatically, becoming enormous, like a true dragon twisting through the sky. The newly fired flame rounds were smashed apart like fragile paper.
Some shells detonated prematurely, their unleashed flames surging backward toward Spandine's warship.
In an instant, fire shot skyward. Thick smoke rolled across the deck as the warship was engulfed in flames.
Seeing this, Spandine's face contorted, eyes bloodshot.
"Why?" he screamed madly. "Why are you this strong? This is unfair!"
His howl of rage echoed across the sea, filled with unwilling fury and despair.