First half of the Grand Line, Enies Lobby.
At this moment, Spandine was dealing with some routine work, signing a few documents and reading through the intelligence that had recently been gathered.
"The scholar team has already returned to West Blue?" Spandine asked without raising his head after signing one of the documents.
An agent standing in front of him immediately replied, "Yes. They arrived at Ohara yesterday afternoon. Professor Clover has already taken office as chairman of the Ohara Scholars' Committee, and he is calling upon historians from all over the world to gather at Ohara to discuss and research historical and cultural topics together."
"That is not the important part. What is the situation with Lady Olvia and Miss Robin?" Spandine finally raised his head and asked.
"They are both doing very well. Everything is safe, and no problems have appeared," the agent answered.
Only then did Spandine nod in relief. After that, he instructed, "Do not relax your attention on the safety of Lady Olvia and Miss Robin just because they have returned to West Blue and to Ohara. You must pay attention to this matter at all times. It is still the same sentence: if anything at all happens to them, I will take your lives, and naturally, someone else will come to take mine. Understand?"
"Understood, Commander!" the agent answered seriously.
Just as Valthior had guessed, the scholar team had returned to Ohara, and the old man had no intention of wiping them all out. He was even continuing to allow them to study history and all kinds of related ancient books and documents.
Clearly, the timing had not yet arrived.
"The Marines have been urging us to summarize and hand over the intelligence on the Pirate King's crew as soon as possible..." the agent mentioned at the right time.
Spandine waved his hand and said, "Just find a way to fool them. How would we know anything about the Pirate King's crew?"
In truth, the CP agencies did have relevant intelligence, but Spandine clearly did not want to bring trouble onto himself.
After finishing these matters, Spandine took an order document from the drawer of his desk and said, "Oh, right—this one needs to be handled urgently. Head to Water 7 and escort a fishman shipwright named Tom to Wano Country. That lord personally requested this man. There must not be a single mistake, or you won't need to come back."
The agent nodded and reached out to take the document. After looking at it for a moment, he froze, then said in surprise, "Is this the shipwright Tom who built the ship for Pirate King Roger?"
"That is him. What about it?" Spandine asked, somewhat puzzled as he looked at the agent.
The agent swallowed and then said, "Half a month ago, Headquarters issued orders to investigate and arrest members of the Pirate King's crew and their related supporters. Among those orders was a warrant for this shipwright Tom..."
"Don't tell me you accepted this mission and already killed him?" Spandine asked, his expression turning a little stiff.
"No, we did not. This mission was not accepted by us..." the agent quickly explained.
Only then did Spandine let out a breath of relief and say, "That is good."
"It was CP-5 that accepted this mission. And as far as I know, the one leading the team is your son, Team Leader Spandam," the agent said again.
Spandine: "???"
"Can you damn well get straight to the point when you speak!? What do you mean my son went to arrest Tom!?" Spandine said in horror.
He knew exactly what kind of person his son was. Spandam had great ambitions but little talent, poor ability, and on top of that, his personality was somewhat cruel.
In the past, plenty of incidents had happened under his command. He often ended up killing prisoners or suspects. It was only because Spandine, as his father, could cover for him that those matters were all smoothed over.
But now, this matter was not something he could cover up.
Spandine's greatest backer, Saint Valthior, had personally named Master Tom and wanted him brought to Wano to build a ship for him. Yet on this side, his own son had gone to arrest Tom?
What if that brat got upset and offended Master Tom, or even killed him? How was he supposed to explain that to Saint Valthior?
Spandine had no time to curse the agent. He immediately picked up the Den Den Mushi and called his unlucky son.
...
At the same time, in Water 7.
Spandam was standing in the scrapyard, looking at the shabby Tom's Workers. He held a handkerchief over his nose, acting as if he found the smell of this place utterly disgusting.
"Fish-Man Tom, you built a ship for the unforgivable Pirate King, indirectly causing the Marines and the CP agencies to fail multiple times in their attempts to capture him. Your crime is unforgivable. Now, under the orders of the World Government, I am placing you under arrest and taking you to Enies Lobby to stand trial!" Spandam said, looking at the huge Fish-Man before him with disgust.
"I only built a ship. Is that a crime too?" Tom questioned in a deep voice.
"I can't be bothered to waste words with you. Men, arrest them all!" Spandam waved his hand and said.
The CP-5 agents immediately moved to seize Tom. Tom's face showed fury. He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not resist.
His hands were roughly yanked behind his back and cuffed. Ignoring the protests of Kokoro and the young Iceburg and Franky (still known as Cutty Flam), they forcibly marched him toward the harbor.
This mission really was easy. Once I get back, it'll be another great achievement. When the time comes, I'll have Father work things around a little, and who else could the position of CP-5 commander belong to in the future but me? Ahahahahaha.
Spandam thought this with great satisfaction.
But before he had even taken a few steps, the Den Den Mushi on him began to ring.
He took it out and saw that it was his father. Naturally, Spandam did not dare delay and immediately answered, "Hello? Father? What are your instructions?"
"Idiot, you idiot! Where are you? What are you doing!?" Spandine angrily cursed and questioned him.
Hearing this, Spandam felt extremely wronged and quickly explained, "I'm carrying out a mission, Father. Headquarters issued orders regarding the Pirate King's crew..."
"Didn't I tell you many times? Do not take part in any mission related to Pirate King Roger!!!" Spandine roared.
"But... but this will be a great achievement, won't it? I've already arrested Tom, the shipwright who built their ship, and I was preparing to escort him to Enies Lobby to give you a surprise. As long as this merit falls into our hands, and you operate things a little, the position of CP-5 commander..." Spandam explained in a deeply aggrieved tone.
"What you gave me was a damn fright! And you still dare mention CP-5 commander? You had better bring him here safely. If anything happens to him, even your father's position won't be safe, you fool!" Spandine cursed. "Right now, immediately, go apologize to Master Tom. You must let him feel your sincerity, and then invite him to Enies Lobby!!! Listen carefully, I said invite!!! Mind your attitude!!!"
After being scolded by his father for no clear reason, Spandam was also completely confused and unable to understand what was going on.
However, although he was an idiot, there was one thing he understood very clearly: he absolutely had to listen to his father, because his father was his only support.
So after putting away the Den Den Mushi, Spandam immediately jogged forward and caught up with the group escorting Tom, shouting, "You bunch of fools, how can you be so rude to Master Tom? He is the shipbuilding master who represents the highest skill in the shipbuilding world!!! Hurry up and unlock his cuffs for me!!!"
All the agents were stunned stupid by their own superior's scolding, but the sharper ones reacted first. The situation must have changed.
Very soon, Tom's restraints were removed. He looked at this CP officer, who had gone from arrogant to respectful, with great confusion and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Hahaha, misunderstanding. This is all a misunderstanding, Master!" Spandam said with a thick face. "Just now, I was merely joking with you. In truth, we planned to invite you to Enies Lobby as a guest. My father greatly admires your character and shipbuilding skill, and he is very much looking forward to meeting you."
Master Tom did not quite understand what exactly had happened, but he knew that the crisis seemed to be turning in a better direction.
Although it looked like he still had to make a trip to Enies Lobby, it seemed he no longer had to be escorted there as a prisoner.
Master Tom nodded, then said, "May I explain the situation to my companions first?"
"Hahahaha! Master, what are you even saying? Of course you may! Why wouldn't you be able to?" Spandam rubbed his hands together with a flattering smile. "Come, let's go explain the situation right away!"
A little while later, Master Tom explained the situation to his companions, then Spandam respectfully invited him aboard the ship heading for Enies Lobby.
On the other side, Spandine was also reporting the situation to Valthior.
"Yes, yes. Headquarters issued an arrest warrant for Master Tom, and CP-5 went to carry it out. It just so happened that my son was leading the team. I have already ordered him to ignore Headquarters' arrest warrant and invite Master Tom to our Enies Lobby. When the time comes, I will arrange a fleet to safely send him to Wano!" Spandine said in a respectful tone.
"I understand. I will have Mary Geoise revoke the CP Headquarters' arrest warrant for Master Tom. Don't worry, this matter will not be traced back to you. I still know very well who is working for me," Valthior said in reassurance.
"I am deeply grateful, Young Master!" Spandine said, letting out a breath of relief.
This matter could be considered over.
"Do you have any further instructions on your side?" Spandine asked again.
"Help me check the backgrounds of Blood-Handed Lion Rengar and Rampaging Loli Sphinx. See whether those two are clean or not," Valthior said after thinking for a moment, adding another instruction.
Spencer's pirate intelligence network showed that the two of them were clean, but Valthior had always liked making preparations on both sides. The official intelligence network on Spandine's side also had to be used.
"Understood! I will reply to you very soon," Spandine immediately agreed.
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