In the depths of the sea, led by Tiger, the Fishmen were swiftly swimming towards their destination. Although their speed couldn't match that of Mermaids, they were the forefront in the sea next only to Mermaids.
The direction of pursuit was easy to determine, as Spandam had publicly told Tom at the time that Tom would be sent to Judicial Island aboard the Sea Train he had built himself.
As long as they followed the track to Judicial Island, they could find the Sea Train escorting Tom.
"Big brother, there's a small boat above, and it looks like Tom's human disciple is on it, along with a frog that swims freely!"
Their swimming position was not too far from the surface, allowing them to roughly see the situation above the sea.
"Brother Tiger, that kid seems to want to rescue Tom too. Should we change our plan?"
"No, he has nothing to do with us. If they manage to send him to Judicial Island, then we will have no chance. If he acts, it might actually lower the enemy's guard. Stick to the original plan."
The track of the Sea Train was laid over a long distance. Tiger chose the middle section of the track where the currents were the most treacherous, making it more convenient for them to act. Once the Sea Train entered the water, these currents would cause them enough trouble.
Normally, tracks couldn't be built here, but the Sea Train's tracks were unique. Unlike robust land rails, they floated in the water like ropes, allowing them to exist amidst the treacherous currents.
The metal used to make it wasn't ordinary steel; it was extremely corrosion-resistant and highly ductile, rising and falling with the waves. When the Sea Train wasn't passing, the tracks were mostly submerged, allowing most ships to pass over them.
Otherwise, once the tracks were completed, Water 7 would have effectively become an isolated island.
Tiger and his group continued swimming forward with the currents. In no time, the currents around them became noticeably more turbulent, signaling that they had reached the predetermined spot.
"Almost there, break this section of the track and rescue Tom here. A pity it's Uncle Tom's hard work, Ah Long, take the men over there, I'll handle this side."
Looking at the winding tracks before him, it was something that had taken Tom and his men fourteen years to build, but rescuing Tom with this method had the highest success rate.
They could break into the train directly, but that would inevitably result in casualties, as some of these agents were particularly strong. Turning the environment into their home ground was most advantageous.
Tiger also advocated for peaceful coexistence, but the enemy was not within that scope.
Several Fishmen took out hatchets and machetes, hacking at the tracks.
However, they quickly found that this was futile. Even with the greater strength of the Fishman Race, their weapons only left a few white marks on the tracks.
"Brother Ah Long, we can't break it!"
"Yeah, the tracks are too solid, my blade's become blunt."
Tiger was doing okay, using his brute strength, the tracks in his hands were gradually twisting like a pretzel, but it was a different story on the other side where ordinary Fishmen were helpless against the sturdy tracks.
"Move aside, let me try!"
Ah Long pushed a few of his underlings aside, came to the track, and bit down.
The screech of teeth against metal resonated as Ah Long, like a rodent, gnawed at the tracks bit by bit.
Being a Shark Fishman gave him the ability to rapidly regenerate teeth. It took breaking several sets of teeth for Ah Long to make progress.
"Big brother, it's done!"
"Everyone dive down, wait for my signal before moving. Don't get entangled in a prolonged fight. Our aim is to save people; once we rescue Tom, retreat immediately!"
They temporarily tied the sabotaged tracks together with a few strands of seaweed. From the train, it looked stable, but once the Sea Train passed, the seaweed wouldn't hold against such force.
Tiger and the others waited underwater for the right moment as the Sea Train sped along.
...
Aboard the train, aside from the agents of the World Government, there was only one outsider, Tom, because Spandam didn't trust ordinary drivers, so he had his men take over control of the train.
He himself was lying bandaged in a luxury carriage, having been hit in the face by an infuriated Franky with a gun butt.
It had disfigured him to a point where not even reconstructive surgery could help, and besides his face, his body was also wrapped in bandages, making him the most severely injured among CP5.
His subordinates had grown accustomed to this, as their boss was a weakling. Even the office secretary from CP1 to CP8 could outmatch him.
"That fool Carter Flamm, standing up to the Sea Train with his body. He should be dead by now. Pity, I wanted to personally strangle him after dealing with Tom."
While talking to himself, the corner of Spandam's mouth pulled at his facial wounds, causing his expression to become very colorful. He wanted to move but didn't dare to, so he could only lie back in his chair like a zombie.
"Hey, how much longer till we reach Judicial Island?"
"Reporting to Officer Spandam, about an hour. Should we have the driver go faster? This Sea Train seems to have more speed."
"No need, there won't be another fool like Carter Flamm. Let him keep it steady. Once we reach Judicial Island, I'll see if that Fishman is still tough."
Judicial Island is supposedly a place of trial, but it's just for formality. Prisoners sent there are never declared innocent.
Whether wronged or not, once on Judicial Island, one's only identity is a criminal.
The options are either the death penalty or life imprisonment. For nearly 800 years, there haven't been exceptions.
It's also a key facility of the World Government, with nearly ten thousand stationed guards year-round. Once there, he wouldn't have to worry about accidents.
It wasn't the speed but the pain from wounds due to the bumpy ride that annoyed him.
"Get me a doctor, those quacks from Water 7, what did they do with these bandages..."
Before Spandam could finish complaining, he suddenly felt a dizzying spin, followed by his face crashing into the carriage window, causing screams to echo throughout the Sea Train.
"Damn it! What's going on? What happened!"
Pushing away those agents on top of him, Spandam angrily demanded answers from those around him.
The Sea Train, designed with derailment in mind, had a light overall carriage aside from the locomotive, and once split, it could directly be used as a boat.
The derailment impact drove the locomotive into the sea, but most carriages remained afloat.
"N..not good! Someone seized the prisoner! It's..It's the Fishmen!! Ah!"
Before Spandam could respond, warnings erupted from nearby carriages, and another strong current surged into the carriage.
"Fishman Jujutsu: Water Heart: Sea Current Shoulder Throw!"
Tiger, with his grip on the massive current, poured it directly into the carriage, while other Fishmen launched attacks on the carriages from every direction.