OPTC Chapter 243 Pain
Just as Zhang Da Ye had guessed, Vice Admiral Gion gathered her subordinates, sailed a warship through the Gates of Justice, and used the special currents to head for Enies Lobby.
At the same time, she contacted the station in Water 7 to divert a sea train to Enies Lobby.
The only available train at the moment was the Puffing Tom. Whenever the Navy requisitioned it, other routes had no choice but to be delayed.
The people of Water 7 were confused. The sea train was rarely commandeered, so clearly something major was happening. This disruption also meant many businesses would be affected, leading to loud complaints and speculation across the city.
Iceburg took notice and a bold idea flashed in his mind. "Tom, didn't you once say you wanted to build another sea train?"
Shipwright Tom nodded. "Yeah. Just one train makes situations like today really inconvenient. But the city can't afford it right now, and on our own, who knows how long it would take before we could start."
"My point is—we could cooperate with the World Government. They'd pay for the materials, and with their name backing us, no merchant would dare raise prices. We'd provide the skill and manpower. We could use this project to recruit more workers, expand the workshop, and quickly grow into a company on par with the six major shipyards. With that kind of influence, we could push for uniting them, and soon Water 7 would be out of its current slump!"
Iceburg's youthful plan radiated with excitement. He was already picturing the day Water 7 would thrive again.
Franky slammed his hands on the table. "What the hell are you saying, you idiot Bagu?! Cooperate with the World Government? Tom nearly got killed by them already! And besides, we've still got…"
"I know, shut up, you fool Ki! Let me finish!" Iceburg shouted back.
Before attacking the judicial ship, Spandam had secretly tried to threaten Tom into handing over the Pluton blueprints. Tom had feigned ignorance to stall him. But knowing Spandam wouldn't give up, Tom passed the blueprints to his two apprentices just in case. Both Iceburg and Franky were well aware of this now.
Iceburg grabbed by the collar but refused to back down. "After what happened last time, I understand now. To protect Water 7, to protect… the things we want to protect, you either need the kind of status that even men like Spandam would fear, or you need the kind of overwhelming strength that people like Da Ye and his group possess!
"I'm just an ordinary man. So I can only pursue status. I'll use my shipbuilding skills so that the World Government will only recognize ships built by me. Without solid proof, they won't be able to touch me. Only then can I protect this city!"
He took a breath. "So, Franky—will you help me?"
"No. I can't accept that plan. One mistake and you could lose your life. Besides… I've got my own dream to chase."
Franky let go of Iceburg's collar. His dream had always been to surpass Tom, to become the world's greatest shipwright, to build the Ship of Dreams, and sail it all the way to the end of the world.
He stayed quiet for a while, then added, "But before that, since you've chosen status, then I'll chase strength! One day I'll prove you wrong. And when the time comes that you're being hunted down, you'll beg me to protect you!"
"You'd better be careful not to get killed by your own weapons first!"
"You bastard…"
They pressed their foreheads together, glared, and then stomped back to their own rooms with angry huffs.
"Tom, is this really okay?" Kokoro realized this argument was different. Perhaps the two apprentices would go their separate ways from now on. The fact that Franky had even temporarily set aside his dream because of Iceburg made her unsure whether to feel happy or worried.
"Dahahaha! It's fine. When a man makes a decision, he should carry it out boldly! With the two of them, I'm sure they'll accomplish things far beyond our imagination!" Tom's hearty laughter echoed into their rooms, firming their resolve.
…
Meanwhile, when Vice Admiral Gion and her troops arrived at Saint Prutt Island, they found Diamante and Buffalo kneeling on the ground, muttering nonstop, with two little ghosts floating above them.
Tom, wearing a chief's headdress and carrying a spear, was patrolling nearby—having been appointed temporary warden by Zhang Da Ye. His "elite troops" were those two negativity ghosts.
The others were eating, drinking, playing chess, and gambling. It looked more like Tom was being worked to exhaustion, though he seemed to be enjoying himself.
"What's going on here?" Vice Admiral Gion asked, puzzled as she looked at the pitiful state of Diamante and Buffalo. She didn't recall this group having a habit of torturing prisoners.
"They? They brought it on themselves," Zhang Da Ye said. "I just wanted to ask about Doflamingo, but not only did they refuse to tell us anything useful, they kept threatening us. Especially the fan-head one—he wouldn't shut up. So, we found a way to shut him up for a while."
Gion didn't pursue it further. Letting a cat and a kid mess with them wasn't exactly cruel treatment. Besides, she never felt sympathy for pirates anyway.
"Diamante, top executive of the Donquixote Pirates. Buffalo, combatant. Been a while."
Diamante recognized her too. "You again. Don't get cocky. If you're planning to use us as bait, forget it. Doflamingo won't fall for that."
Gion chuckled. "Who knows? I'm more curious how you were defeated."
Diamante's eyes shifted. "I was careless. I lost to that blonde woman with the sword."
"Artoria, huh? Then your defeat isn't that unreasonable."
But Zhang Da Ye cut in, "Nope. He actually lost to Tom."
Tom struck a proud pose, but moved too quickly and his headdress fell over his eyes. He adjusted it back into place, standing tall again.
Diamante hastily denied it. "Nonsense! How could I lose to a cat? It was the swordswoman's strength! She's strong enough to rival the greatest swordsman in the world. I admit my defeat! Enough talk—just take me away already."
Tom pouted and jabbed Diamante's backside with his spear.
Diamante clenched his teeth, refusing to react. If he jumped, his dignity would be gone.
But everyone could see his skin changing color—from white to red, then green, then purple—as he tried to endure it. Finally, he couldn't hold it in. "Ahhhhhhh!"
The Vice Admiral and her marines tracked his jump with their eyes, up, then down, before shooting him looks of disdain.
Because really—screaming like a slaughtered pig from just a little pain? This was the Donquixote Family's top executive?
Diamante trembled with humiliation. Their eyes stung like salt in his wounds. If you people had to endure that, you'd have jumped even higher! That damn cat definitely has something wrong with him!
Satisfied with his revenge against the liar, Tom finally put away his spear, clapped his hands, and quietly basked in his hidden merit.
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