For the first time since the trial began, Tom looked truly serious.
The massive fish-man stood in the center of the temporary tribunal in Water 7, chains hanging loosely around his powerful wrists.
His broad shoulders, which had always seemed unshakable, now carried the quiet weight of inevitability.
Tom understood something clearly.
This time
There would be no escape.
He slowly lowered his head.
"It seems… this is the end for me."
His deep voice echoed across the square.
"To watch the ships I built… used for evil deeds…"
"That hurts more than any execution."
His gaze shifted toward the young man kneeling nearby.
Cutty Flam.
The reckless apprentice he had raised since childhood.
Tom gave a heavy sigh.
"It hurts, doesn't it?"
"You want to hit that guy, don't you?"
"…Franky."
Franky clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Behind them stood the smug figure of Spandam.
The man responsible for everything.
Tom slowly turned his head.
His eyes narrowed.
The cheerful warmth that normally filled them vanished instantly.
A cold fury replaced it.
Without warning
Tom swung his fist.
BOOM!
The punch landed directly on Spandam's face.
The sudden blow stunned the government agent completely.
Spandam crashed to the ground, his body rolling across the wooden platform.
Tom didn't stop.
One punch.
Then another.
Then another.
Spandam screamed as Tom's enormous fists slammed into him again and again.
His face quickly swelled.
Blood sprayed from his mouth.
A tooth flew out and landed on the ground with a small clink.
The proud CP5 officer was beaten into a miserable state in seconds.
"YOU DAMN FISH-MAN!"
Spandam tried to shout, but another punch cut him off.
But just then
Ring-ring-ring-ring!
The sharp sound of a Den Den Mushi echoed through the square.
A government officer hurried toward the bench.
"Your Honor! Chief Judge!"
"A call from Enies Lobby!"
The Chief Judge frowned slightly.
He leaned down as the officer whispered something into his ear.
The judge's expression immediately changed.
His eyes widened slightly.
Without hesitation, he grabbed the receiver.
"…Yes."
His tone suddenly became extremely respectful.
Everyone present noticed the difference.
The Chief Judge listened quietly.
Occasionally he nodded.
"Yes… I understand."
"Everything will be handled accordingly."
His voice was low, but his posture had become rigid.
After a moment, the voice on the other end stopped speaking.
The Chief Judge slowly placed the receiver back onto the Den Den Mushi.
Then he stood up.
"Spandam! That's enough!"
His shout echoed loudly across the tribunal.
Spandam, whose face was swollen and bleeding, stared at him in disbelief.
"Chief Judge! What are you saying?!"
"I'm the one being beaten here!"
"How am I supposed to stop?!"
"I said stop."
The judge's voice was firm and unquestionable.
Even Tom paused mid-punch.
He lowered his fist slowly.
The entire square fell silent.
Spandam staggered to his feet, clutching his bruised face.
"It hurts… damn it…"
"That filthy fish-man…"
"I swear I'll make you die a miserable death!"
His eyes burned with hatred.
But deep inside, Spandam was more concerned about something else.
The blueprints.
The blueprints of the Ancient Weapon
Pluton.
He had schemed for years to obtain them.
And Tom was the key.
Clearing his throat, the Chief Judge raised his gavel again.
"I now declare the verdict."
"For the crime of building the ship used by the Pirate King…"
"Gol D. Roger…"
"The shipwright Tom shall be escorted to Enies Lobby."
"Sentence: immediate execution."
"There must be no mistakes."
His tone was firm.
Almost rushed.
It was as if he desperately wanted to finish the trial as quickly as possible.
Spandam blinked in surprise.
Then his lips curled into a grin.
"The Chief Judge is truly wise!"
He bowed slightly.
"But what about his two apprentices?"
He pointed toward Franky and Iceburg.
The judge barely looked at them.
"Handle them however you wish."
To him, they were insignificant.
Spandam's grin widened.
"Did you hear that?"
He turned toward the Marines.
"Send Tom's apprentices on their way!"
"Raise your rifles!"
Rows of Marine soldiers lifted their guns.
Franky's eyes widened.
Tom's heart skipped a beat.
"Wait! Chief Judge, if"
Tom tried to speak.
He wanted to remind the court of the Sea Train.
He wanted to argue that his work had helped the world.
But the judge ignored him completely.
Ever since receiving that mysterious phone call
He had become a completely different person.
It was as if he feared something might go wrong.
The Marines pulled their triggers.
BANG!
Gunfire erupted.
Smoke burst from the rifle barrels.
But suddenly
"Who is it?!"
"Iron Wall."
A calm voice echoed.
The bullets stopped.
Literally stopped.
They hung motionless in mid-air as if time itself had frozen.
The smoke slowly cleared.
A tall figure stood before Franky and Iceburg.
He wore a spotless white suit.
A white fedora.
And a strange white mask painted with a smiling face.
His entire body was dressed in pure white.
Someone gasped.
"CP0…!"
"How can Cipher Pol Aigis Zero appear here?!"
The Marines panicked.
Some soldiers even stumbled backward in fear.
CP0 agents were the personal servants of the Celestial Dragons.
Their authority surpassed all other Cipher Pol units.
Even CP1 through CP9 answered to them.
Spandam's eyes widened in horror.
Among all government agencies
CP0 was the one even he feared.
Because CP0 didn't serve the World Government.
They served the World Nobles themselves.
The masked man stepped forward calmly.
Ignoring everyone else.
His gaze fell upon Tom.
"Are you Tom?"
His voice was cold.
Unemotional.
Tom studied the man carefully.
He could sense that this person was incredibly dangerous.
"…Yes."
"I am Tom."
The masked agent nodded once.
"Good."
"You will come with me."
"A certain important person wishes to meet you."
The tone allowed no refusal.
Spandam's heart skipped.
If CP0 took Tom
Then what about the Pluton blueprints?!
His entire plan would collapse.
He stepped forward nervously.
"II must object!"
"I am acting under orders from the Gorosei!"
But the moment he met the gaze behind the mask
His body froze.
A terrifying killing intent washed over him.
His instincts screamed one thing.
You will die.
Spandam immediately shrank back.
"…I understand."
Tom exhaled slowly.
Then he looked at the masked agent.
"Before I go… may I speak with my apprentices?"
The agent paused.
Then answered coldly.
"Make it quick."
Tom turned around.
Franky and Iceburg stood frozen.
Their eyes were red.
"Listen carefully."
Tom placed a massive hand on Franky's head.
"Franky."
"Fulfill your dream."
"Build ships that can sail to the ends of the sea."
Then he looked at Iceburg.
"Iceburg… I'm leaving Franky to you."
Before they could respond
Tom turned and walked away.
Franky's body trembled.
"Tom!"
"I won't let them take you!"
He tried to run forward.
But Marines blocked his path.
Franky didn't care.
Even if Tom wasn't his real father
He had raised him.
Taught him everything.
But Tom stopped and turned back.
His voice rang loudly across the harbor.
"Enough!"
"Franky!"
"To build a ship for a man like Roger…"
"Was the greatest honor of my life!"
His face broke into a proud smile.
"So I…"
"…have no regrets."
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