Hearing Tom's words, Iceburg didn't immediately respond. Instead, tears welled up in his eyes as he stared wide-eyed at his master.
Seeing the master and disciple locked in silence, Buggy decided to intervene. He wasn't willing to let such talent slip away—Iceburg's future achievements would be no less than Tom's, and in some ways might even surpass him. Buggy had no intention of missing out on a craftsman like that.
"Uncle Tom, would you mind letting me talk with Iceburg alone for a while?"
There were things Buggy couldn't say in Tom's presence. With Tom there, Iceburg would never listen to him seriously. A private talk was necessary if Buggy was going to make him understand the true weight of the situation.
Tom immediately grasped Buggy's intent. He could see how much Buggy valued Iceburg and guessed Buggy was deeply impressed by his apprentice's talent. He didn't object—perhaps Buggy might succeed where he could not.
"Hahaha, alright. You two youngsters talk it over here. I'll step outside."
When Tom left, Iceburg turned on Buggy with eyes burning with anger. He didn't want to leave Tom, and he didn't want to hear whatever Buggy had to say.
But Buggy wasn't bothered by that glare. He knew Iceburg's resentment came from love and loyalty toward Tom. After all, it was because of Buggy's arrival that Tom had suggested Iceburg should leave. His feelings were natural.
"You think you can protect Uncle Tom by staying here?" Buggy asked bluntly. "What real meaning does your presence have? If the Navy or the World Government comes for him, what strength do you have to stop them? Would you just sit here and wait for the inevitable?"
His words cut straight to Iceburg's fears.
"If you come to sea with me, I won't just give you strength—I'll also broaden your horizons. You'll witness shipbuilding techniques from all over the world, and learn knowledge you could never find locked away here. At the same time, I will protect Uncle Tom from the shadows. I'm already laying the groundwork to ensure his safety. If danger ever comes for him, I'll know immediately. I'll have contingency plans in place—at the very least, we'll be able to buy time, and at best, we'll save his life outright."
Iceburg's mind raced as Buggy's words sank in. He imagined government agents descending on Tom, and himself powerless to act. The bitter helplessness gnawed at him. He couldn't deny it: he had no way to protect his master.
"How?" Iceburg demanded, voice tight. "How can you guarantee Uncle Tom's safety? If you're out at sea, how can you protect someone still here in Water 7?"
Buggy leaned forward. His voice dropped low.
"Right now, CP9 agents are already watching you. Their leader is a man named Spandine—cowardly, greedy, shameless. I can buy him off with money, and I can threaten his life. Between the carrot and the stick, he'll fall in line. He'll shield Uncle Tom whenever he can, or at the very least keep me informed of his situation. With him under our control, if anything happens, I'll know immediately.
"And as our reputation grows across the seas, Spandine will grow even more cautious. He'll have no choice but to protect Uncle Tom, because failing to do so would mean his own end. When the World Government turns its eyes here, he'll send word straight to us. With our strength, we can rush back in time to save him."
This wasn't a scheme Buggy had thought of on a whim—it was something he had already planned on the voyage to Water 7. He knew Spandine's character: a coward who valued his own life above all. With gold in one hand and a blade at his throat, the man would never dare disobey.
At worst, Spandine's words might buy Tom time. At best, his protection could ensure Tom survived the storm altogether.
At first, Iceburg's eyes widened in shock. He'd lived in Water 7 for years without ever noticing he was under surveillance. That CP9 had been watching all this time… the thought chilled him.
It also confirmed Buggy's warning: Tom's situation was dangerous. The World Government's shadow had never lifted.
Iceburg turned Buggy's plan over and over in his head. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. If Spandine was truly the kind of man Buggy described, then bribery and coercion would work. And as Buggy's power and influence grew, Spandine's fear would only deepen.
His eyes flickered with inner conflict. He didn't want to leave Tom—the man had treated him like his own son. But what other choice did he have? Buggy was right: staying here meant waiting helplessly for disaster.
If he joined Buggy, he wouldn't just gain the power to protect himself—he would also bind Buggy's crew to Tom's fate. As one of Buggy's men, he could ensure they'd come back for Tom without hesitation. And perhaps one day, he himself would be strong enough to stand at Tom's side against any threat.
But if he refused… he'd have no claim on Buggy's help. If disaster struck, Tom's life would hang in the balance of outsiders. That wasn't a gamble Iceburg could accept.
Buggy watched the young man silently, not rushing him. The fact that Iceburg hadn't rejected him outright was already a victory. He knew Iceburg's intelligence—and he trusted he would make the right choice.