The small house on Scrap Ship Island.
Creaak.
The door opened, and Franky rubbed his eyes as he stepped out.
"Ha…" He let out a yawn. Still half-asleep, he shuffled toward the town, planning to buy a few things.
"Hey! Franky!" called out the mermaid Kokoro from behind.
He turned around. "Hm?"
Thump!
A pair of pants smacked him in the face.
"At least put on pants before going out." She scolded. "If you walk around in just underwear, people will call you a pervert. Honestly, haven't you learned your lesson yet?"
Franky's face looked defeated as he muttered, "So annoying... It's just shopping."
He pulled on his pants and headed toward town. Today he had to prepare a grand feast to celebrate Tom's pardon.
Kokoro sighed. "Hopeless."
She went back inside and looked at Tom and Iceburg, both still fast asleep.
Clang, bang, clang…
The deafening crash of pots and pans filled the room.
"Wake up! Today's the big day of the hearing! Hurry and get ready!"
* * *
Water 7, at the harbor.
A massive crowd had gathered, waiting eagerly. They were all residents of the island, and when they saw the government's judicial ship approaching, a wave of cheers erupted.
Because today, their hero, fish-man Tom would finally be acquitted.
"The judicial ship is here!"
"Tom's verdict is about to be delivered!"
"Yeah! He'll be released for sure!"
"Hahaha!"
The joyful crowd grew larger and larger, until squads of soldiers had to force open a narrow path to let the officials through.
Inside the room prepared for government use, the aging chief judge let out a sigh of relief.
He walked to the window, glanced at the people surrounding the judicial ship, and smiled faintly. "The folks here really are enthusiastic."
A marine officer behind him chuckled. "Well, he's the shipwright who built such an incredible creation. A huge number of spectators came to watch. We can hardly hold them back anymore."
The old judge laughed. "Indeed. A great invention. The Sea Train is magnificent. It already connects four islands. Now that his crimes are to be lifted, no one will object."
He looked at the Sea Train that had just departed. "It really is wonderful..."
* * *
Aboard the judicial ship.
There was still an hour before the trial began, yet the gallery was already packed tight.
More people were still climbing aboard, and those who couldn't get in pressed their faces to the windows.
"Tom isn't here yet."
"Because the trial hasn't started."
"I heard the judge from Enies Lobby is really satisfied with the Sea Train."
"Really? That's amazing!"
"Finally, he's going to be pardoned!"
"Yeah!"
"The hero of Water 7!"
"We have to witness the moment he's declared innocent!"
At the harbor, Franky walked with arms full of groceries, feeling nostalgic. "Hard to believe... More than ten years have passed."
He shook his head, then turned in the opposite direction of the crowd. He still had to cook a feast for Tom's release.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A flurry of sharp whistling noises ripped through the air above the sea.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Cannon fire poured down like rain, pounding the lone judicial ship docked at the harbor.
Flames engulfed the deck in an instant.
Shells tore holes into the hull, tipping it to the side.
Everyone froze, too shocked to even run. No one could have imagined anyone would dare attack a government judicial ship.
Boom!
Another cannonball struck the dock, snapping the crowd back to their senses.
"Get away from the harbor!"
"Move!"
"Damn it, what's happening?!"
"Pirates?!"
"Help! My son's trapped under the wreckage!"
"They actually attacked a judicial ship..."
"Such audacity!"
"There!"
In the distance, dark specks grew clearer, and the crowd finally saw the reckless fleet.
Cannons bristled from bow to stern, ships built solely for slaughter. Yet none of them bore pirate flags.
Standing at the port with his groceries, Franky turned as well, stunned. The second he saw the fleet, his whole body went cold, as if plunged into an ice pit.
Because every single one of those ships... was his.
"Who... Who's using my ships... to do this?! To cause such chaos!"
* * *
Scrap Island.
Bang!
Iceburg slammed the door open.
Tom, in the middle of breakfast before heading to the trial, and Kokoro both looked up at him.
Sweat drenched Iceburg's face. "Bad news, Tom-san! Franky's ships attacked the judicial ship!"
Tom bolted upright. "What?!"
Kokoro gasped. "But Franky went to town to shop. It can't be him."
Gritting his teeth, Iceburg said, "Of course it's not him. But that only makes it worse!"
Tom rushed outside. "Come with me, Iceburg! We have to stop them!"
Despite his bulk, he moved with surprising agility.
* * *
The judicial ship was now nothing but ruins.
Flames devoured it. The chief judge stumbled out, covered in soot, blood streaming from his head. Soldiers shielded him as they fled.
"Who dares do this?! Do they mean to declare war on the World Government?!"
"Judge, please leave the harbor!"
"No! Save the people first! There are still civilians on board!"
"But..."
"Go, now!"
"Yes, sir! First squad, second squad, with me!"
* * *
On the attacking fleet.
The cloaked, masked commander spoke into a Den Den Mushi, "The attack on the judicial ship was a success."
Spandam's voice crackled from the other end. "Excellent. Move to phase two. All of this is for the sake of justice! Wahahaha!"
The masked agent replied, "Yes!"
He ordered the fleet to retreat, heading toward Scrap Island.
* * *
From the rooftop of a building on the island, Spandam watched with a sinister grin. "Now let the trial begin... Tom's Workers."
* * *
The attacking fleet turned, steering toward Scrap Island.
As they neared, a CP agent at the helm peered through a spyglass and said to the commander, "Two people are running this way."
The commander took the spyglass and looked closer. "It's Fish-man Tom. He's the target. Disembark from the rear. Don't let them see you."
"Yes, sir!"
The CP agents slipped into the sea and vanished beneath the waves.
Without control, the ships slowed. By the time Tom and Iceburg reached them and jumped aboard, the decks were empty.
"A setup..."
"But why isn't anyone here? We saw the ships come straight at us. What's going on?"
Two more ships appeared in the distance.
Iceburg's brow furrowed. "Those are Franky's ships too."
Tom's eyes widened as he lunged forward. "Iceburg! Watch out!"
Boom, boom, boom…
Two of Franky's most powerful and heavily armed vessels unleashed a barrage.
The ship they stood on was swallowed in flames, as if the sea itself conspired to bury them.
* * *
From town, Franky sprinted back toward the harbor, only to see a sea of fire. "Damn it, my Battle Frankies are being destroyed... Who the hell?!"
Then he spotted two bloody, unconscious figures washed up on the shore.
"That's!"
He rushed over and shook them. "Iceburg! Tom-san!"
Iceburg, protected somewhat by Tom, had lighter injuries. He coughed violently. "Damn..."
Staggering to his feet, expression dark with rage, he walked straight toward Franky.
Franky looked lost. "Hey... Are you okay?"
Wham!
Iceburg's fist smashed him to the ground.
He grabbed Franky's collar, face twisted with pain and fury. "You idiot! I warned you, over and over again! Why didn't you listen?! Why leave dozens of these killing machines on the island?! Why?!"
His strength gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. "Those government agents... They used your ships… it's all over..."
Franky's pupils shrank, his whole body trembling. "My ships... You were attacked by my ships... Tom-san..."
Tears streamed down Iceburg's face. "Our craft can build wonders, but it can also make weapons. Even if that was never your intent… weapons don't care who they hurt. They'll strike down even those closest to us.
"We've been played by the government. They'll call us the culprits who attacked the judicial ship. They want the blueprints, so they'll drag Tom-san away for interrogation. And you still think making those ships was no big deal?! If they take Tom-san away... I'll never forgive you, Franky!"
Franky clutched his head, breaking down. "Ahhhhhh!"
Right then, Tom stirred and shouted, "Enough, Iceburg!"
He sat up, chest heaving, his voice rough. "Don't blame him. Franky did nothing wrong. This isn't—"
A mocking voice cut him off. "Oh my, Sorry to interrupt. No, not sorry, criminals. Please come with us."
Franky roared, charging forward. "Spanda, you bastard!"
Spandam smirked lazily. "It's Spandam, criminal. Take them!"
Several CP agents rushed in.
* * *
Water 7, Main Street.
Due to the judicial ship being destroyed, the trial was moved to the city itself.
Spandam dragged the captives into the middle of the street and spoke to the anxious crowd. "These are the attackers. Don't worry, everyone. CP5 has captured them."
He walked up to the chief judge, extending his hand. "An honor to meet you. I'm Spandam, chief of CP5."
The judge shook it. "Good timing. You've helped a great deal."
Spandam grinned. "Think nothing of it. We're all family. Leave them to us and the trial will be handled perfectly."
The judge nodded in agreement. He was old, injured from the bombardment, and exhausted.
Soon, a temporary courtroom was set up.
The judge banged the gavel and began, "First, regarding the Sea Train... it must be said, a splendid job. It will surely drive the future of Water 7. This alone could have pardoned you for building ships for the Pirate King. But why commit another crime?"
His tone was full of regret.
Franky jumped up in rage. "Don't joke with me! We never attacked the judicial ship! It was him! Spandam, the man standing right beside you!"
Spandam blinked, feigning surprise, and pointed at himself. "Me?"
**
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