OPTC Chapter 224 The Five Elders, I Want to See the Five Elders!
"Tom? Your trial will be held tomorrow morning. There's no need to rush. Right now, I have other matters to handle." Despite being in a foul mood, the old judge still spoke kindly to the shipwright Tom.
Zhang Da Ye pressed down on the cat Tom's head and whispered, "Not you. Sit tight."
"We came here precisely for this. Those warships were built by my disciples, but they were suddenly stolen today. We hurried here to stop them," the shipwright Tom explained honestly.
The so-called "Franky Battle Ships" had all been built by his disciple Franky, designed specifically to hunt Sea Kings. In fact, the most recent, the 35th battleship, had already successfully slain a hundred-meter Sea King.
To be honest, when Tom first saw the wreckage of those ships, he was surprised. He knew their strength well—no one in Water 7 could match his disciples' craftsmanship. For them to be destroyed so easily was beyond his expectations.
At once, the surrounding marines raised their rifles and aimed at Tom and the purple-haired youth beside him.
The youth, Iceburg, clicked his tongue unhappily and muttered, "It's all that idiot Chii's fault."
"Gi-lo~" The massive frog opened its mouth nervously, an unscientific bead of sweat appearing on its forehead.
"In any case, we mean no harm. We only came to capture the ones who stole our ships. We never imagined they'd go so far as to attack a judicial ship." Tom spoke steadily. He already had a good guess who was behind this.
Just days ago, Spandam had approached him about the Pluton blueprints. Their meeting ended badly. Clearly, this scheme was to frame him, arrest him, and torture him for the plans. But from the looks of it, Spandam's plot had failed before it even began—he'd been caught instead. Tom trusted this judge enough to state the truth and avoid unnecessary trouble.
"In that case, you'll stay here until we finish our investigation," the old judge decided. Tom's workshop seemed more like the victim, though he couldn't understand what CP was playing at.
"Hey! Where are the bastards who stole my ships? What have you people done to them!?" A young man with spiky blue hair rowed up in a small boat, unaware the warships had been used against the judicial ship.
Zhang Da Ye sized him up: a flower shirt, wind goggles, and only swim trunks. His identity was obvious.
"That's my other disciple, Cutty Flam. He built all those ships himself," Tom said with pride. He was deeply satisfied with both of his pupils' skills.
The judge signaled the marines to let him through. Franky rushed over, scowling. "Tom! Where's the bastard who wrecked the Franky Battle Ships?"
The cat Tom bounded forward, proudly thumping his chest before pointing to Zhang Da Ye and his group.
Franky blinked at the cat. "What's with this cat?"
Zhang Da Ye scooped Tom up. "The thief's already been caught. As for the ones who destroyed your ships—that was us. Also, his name's Tom too."
"A cat using the same name as Tom-sensei!? Impossible!" Franky roared. "And why would you people—"
"Shut up, idiot Chii!" Iceburg smacked Franky on the head. "These people are our benefactors. Show some respect!"
"You what? Moron Bagu!" Franky grabbed Iceburg's collar. "They destroyed the ships I worked so hard to build!"
"Those ships should've been destroyed long ago! It's because you carelessly left them at Scrap Island that they were used to attack the judicial ship! If not for these benefactors sinking them, Tom-sensei and all of us would've been captured! Do you understand, you fool!?"
Iceburg punched Franky again, this time gripping his collar and shouting, "Tom-sensei is finally close to being pardoned! If he's arrested because of your mistake, I'll never forgive you!"
Franky froze, stunned into silence. If his ships had endangered Tom-sensei, he couldn't forgive himself either.
"My apologies for his recklessness." Iceburg straightened his clothes and bowed deeply. "Thank you for stopping those ships in time."
"No need for such formality. I was planning to visit Tom-sensei anyway, though I didn't expect to meet like this. And as for apologies, they're unnecessary. Look—those two seem to be getting along just fine." Zhang Da Ye waved toward the side.
Iceburg turned. The cat Tom stood atop the frog Yokozuna's head, gesturing wildly as if conversing with shipwright Tom.
Yokozuna rolled his eyes upward at the little cat perched on him, then split his wide mouth into a delighted grin.
"Da-ha-ha-ha! That's right! I'm Tom too, a shipwright. Pleased to meet you!" Tom laughed heartily, shaking the cat's tiny paw warmly.
"So you're a carpenter as well?"
"You can even build rafts? Remarkable! Da-ha-ha-ha!"
Iceburg just stared. "How… exactly are they communicating?"
Zhang Da Ye clapped him on the shoulder. "You'll get used to it."
While the group was busy with introductions, shouts rang out nearby. "You fools! Why are you arresting me? I'm the chief of CP5! Release me at once!"
The old judge's voice boomed sternly. "Why would the chief of CP5 attack a judicial ship? Have you betrayed the World Government?"
Spandam stiffened. He couldn't reveal anything about Pluton's blueprints, not even to fellow government officials. But he couldn't admit to attacking a judicial ship either. "Nonsense! It was Tom's Workshop that attacked! CP5 came to help catch the criminals!"
The judge stroked his beard and sneered. "Hmph. I may be old, but I'm not blind. When you were captured, I and hundreds of soldiers saw it with our own eyes. You still dare to lie?"
This stubborn old man! Spandam fumed but couldn't speak the truth. Shoving away the soldiers, he leaned close to whisper in the judge's ear. "I have an important mission. Release me!"
The judge cast him a sidelong glance. "No matter your mission, I must answer for the dozens of marines who died today."
"Bah! For the sake of my achievements—no, for the justice of the World Government—what are a few dozen soldiers!?"
"Justice? Punishing you is justice! Lock them all up! When they wake, we'll interrogate them one by one!" The judge waved his hand, and soldiers dragged Spandam away.
Struggling, Spandam roared, "I am the chief of CP5! You can't do this to me! I've served the World Government faithfully! The Five Elders! I demand to see the Five Elders!"
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