Just as Gustave's crew was guiding the judicial ship toward Water 7's harbor, a fleet of warships emerged from concealed positions around the bay. Without warning or identification, they surrounded both ships and opened fire with devastating coordinated volleys.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The attacking fleet possessed formidable firepower - enough cannons to reduce both ships to splinters in a single barrage.
At the harbor's edge, Tom the shipwright stood waiting with his two apprentices, Cutty Flam and Iceberg, anticipating the judicial ship's arrival for his retrial. The sight of warships suddenly surrounding and bombarding the approaching ships left the fish-man master speechless with shock.
"Cutty Flam, aren't those the warships you built?" Iceberg asked with growing alarm, recognizing the distinctive design of the attacking ships.
"What the hell?! Who stole my battleships?!" Cutty Flam roared with fury. The timing couldn't have been worse - his master's retrial ship was under attack by weapons he had personally constructed. The implications were catastrophic.
Cutty Flam immediately prepared to sprint toward where his ships had been moored, determined to catch whoever had commandeered his creations. But Tom's massive hand caught his shoulder before he could move.
"Master, why are you stopping me?" Cutty Flam demanded in confusion.
Instead of answering, Tom pointed toward the judicial ship. "Look."
Following his master's direction, Cutty Flam witnessed something extraordinary. The incoming cannonballs seemed to strike an invisible barrier, exploding harmlessly in mid-air. Then a rotund black and white figure leaped skyward from one of the ships.
The panda appeared to do nothing more than stand in the air, but suddenly an overwhelming pressure crashed down on the harbor like a physical weight. Every attacking warship went silent, their crews collapsing unconscious.
"Master... what was that?" Cutty Flam asked, sweat beading on his forehead as the oppressive aura faded.
"Conqueror's Haki," Tom replied with grave seriousness. "A power that awakens only in those destined to be kings."
The demonstration reminded the old shipwright of certain legendary figures from his past.
Throughout Water 7, civilians who couldn't withstand even the residual pressure collapsed unconscious. In his hidden vantage point, Spandam also crumpled to the floor, overwhelmed by Po's spiritual assault.
Logically, as a CP5 commander, Spandam should have possessed enough mental fortitude to resist such an attack - especially since Po had deliberately restrained his power and focused it primarily on the hostile ships' crews. Unfortunately, Spandam's position owed everything to his father's influence and nothing to actual competence. In terms of real strength, he was weaker than an average Marine recruit.
"How terrifying! Po's power is truly frightening!" Kizaru observed with exaggerated alarm, though his tone suggested anything but genuine fear.
"Borsalino, stop the act. We're all friends here," Gustave replied bluntly, showing no deference to the Admiral's rank in front of former subordinates.
"Oh my, Gustave, your tone is so scary! And that electromagnetic shield - blocking Conqueror's Haki like that is quite impressive," Kizaru returned to his characteristic lazy drawl.
"Want to learn the technique? I could teach you," Gustave offered with a sly smile.
"Our Devil Fruits work completely differently. What good would your methods do me?" Kizaru replied cautiously, recognizing that particular expression from their Marineford days.
"True, we have different abilities, but we're both Logia users who can manipulate elemental forces. I could share the theoretical framework behind my barrier- maybe you could develop a light-based equivalent?"
Gustave's tone carried the unmistakable air of a merchant sensing profit.
"Alright, what's the price?" Kizaru asked directly, knowing better than to expect charity from his crafty friend.
"Price? We're friends! You make me sound mercenary," Gustave protested with mock offense. "I just need a small favor - publicly announce that those warship crews intended to attack both the judicial ship and a Marine Admiral."
He winked conspiratorially, as if to say surely that's not difficult?
"Really? That's all?" Kizaru seemed skeptical of such a modest request.
"Really!" Gustave flashed his most innocent smile.
"Deal!" After all, accusing clearly hostile forces was hardly controversial.
Meanwhile, since Gustave's electromagnetic shield had protected both ships' crews from Po's Conqueror's Haki, Captain Pete was able to order his men to secure the incapacitated attackers. Chief Justice Jace was equally eager to discover who had been bold enough to assault a judicial ship.
The capture operation proceeded smoothly - Po's spiritual assault had rendered every hostile crew member unconscious, leaving the Marines to simply collect unresisting prisoners.
Gustave's group successfully guided the judicial ship to shore, where they found three figures waiting: a tall fish-man and two young humans. These were Tom the shipwright and his apprentices, Franky or right now named Cutty Flam and Iceberg.
Seeing the reception committee, Chief Justice Jace spoke first. "Tom, I hope you haven't been waiting too long."
The cat Tom immediately perked up with confusion, looking around as if wondering who was being addressed.
Gustave chuckled and patted the cartoon cat's head. "Not you, Tom. He's talking to the Tom over there. You two share the same name."
Cat Tom's eyes widened in amazement - another Tom existed in the world!
While the feline struggled with this revelation, Tom the shipwright responded to the judge's greeting. "I am a criminal, so waiting is appropriate."
"Your retrial may need rescheduling," Chief Justice Jace explained. "As you witnessed, we were just attacked by unknown assailants."
"Chief Justice Jace," Tom replied with characteristic honesty, "I must inform you that the warships which attacked you were built by my apprentice Cutty Flam."
The shipwright saw no benefit in concealment - if discovered later, such deception would only worsen his position.
"What?!" The revelation struck Jace like a physical blow. Tom's Sea Train project should have been sufficient to offset his past crimes, but if his apprentice's weapons were used to attack the judicial process itself...
"Mr. Tom," Gustave interjected diplomatically, "while your apprentice built those warships, you weren't involved in ordering this attack, were you?"
"Absolutely not," Tom replied firmly. "We have no idea who commanded those ships, and I would never sabotage my own retrial at such a crucial moment."
"We'll need to investigate these attackers thoroughly," Chief Justice Jace said carefully. "Until then, Tom, you cannot be completely cleared of suspicion."
The judge's measured response was professionally appropriate, but it ignited young Cutty Flam's volatile temper.
"Damn it! My master is obviously innocent!" the blue-haired youth exploded, stepping forward aggressively.
"You idiot!" Iceberg grabbed Cutty Flam and delivered a sharp punch to his head. "If you hadn't built those warships in the first place, no one could have used them to frame Master Tom!"
The rebuke hit home, and Cutty Flam's expression crumpled with guilt and regret. Everyone present turned to study the two apprentices more closely, sensing important undercurrents in their exchange.