Water Seven—the world-renowned city of shipwrights.
Built upon the ruins of a sinking foundation, the city had struggled against the isolation of the Grand Line and the chaos of the Great Pirate Era.
However, the completion of the Sea Train had revitalized it, opening regular trade routes to San Faldo, St. Poplar, Pucci, and Enies Lobby. It was now a scenic tourist destination and a powerhouse of industry.
At this point in time, the city's shipwrights are still divided into various competing dockyards. It isn't yet the unified "Galley-La Company" that the Straw Hats would eventually encounter.
The Mission: Intercepting Cipher Pol
Krieg's true objective was to prevent a tragedy orchestrated by the government's secret intelligence agency, Cipher Pol.
Specifically, the plot led by a man named Spandam (or something like that). In the original history, Spandam's framing of Tom led to the shipwright's execution and forced Franky to become a cyborg to survive.
Spandam's goal: the blueprints for the Ancient Weapon Pluton.
Pluton—a battleship capable of vaporizing an entire island with a single shot. The master shipwrights of Water Seven had passed down its blueprints for generations, intended only as a "counter-weapon" should the original ever resurface.
Currently, those blueprints were held by the man who built the Pirate King's ship: Tom.
Arrival: The Fine Izetta
Krieg had secured permission from Fleet Admiral Sengoku under the guise of "recruiting talent for Project Militarista."
He set sail on his newly commissioned vessel, the Fine Izetta, using the voyage as a training exercise for his subordinates.
Upon arriving at Water Seven, the Fine Izetta—with its sleek, unfamiliar design—immediately drew a crowd. Luck was on Krieg's side; standing among the onlookers was the very man he was looking for.
「With that distinctive look, you've got to be Tom the shipwright, right?」
「Indeed, I am Tom. You look like a Navy man... Is this about the trial?」
The man was massive, with two horns on his forehead and yellow skin—a Cowfish Fish-man. He was the head of "Tom's Workers" and the savior of the city.
「No, I've heard about the trial, but I'm here on a different matter altogether.」
Tom was currently facing judgment for the "crime" of building the Oro Jackson for Gol D. Roger.
Normally, a shipbuilder isn't responsible for a client's actions, but the World Government made an exception for the Pirate King.
Anyone who aided him was a candidate for death. Tom had narrowly avoided immediate execution ten years ago by proposing the Sea Train, earning a ten-year stay of execution.
That stay was nearly up. In five days, the judicial ship would arrive to deliver the final verdict.
The Scouting Offer
「If it's not the trial, then what is it?」 Tom asked, curious.
「Before we talk, look at that ship. What do you think of her?」 Krieg pointed toward the Fine Izetta docked nearby.
Tom narrowed his eyes, his professional instincts taking over. 「Hmm... She's a sturdy, magnificent vessel. Her draft is deep for a ship of that class—she's carrying some serious weight inside.
Those fittings... I see, you've used automation to reduce the crew size. Cleverly thought out. And... I can't see well through the water, but there's something strange on the hull. What is that?」
「That's a new propulsion system currently under government research,」 Krieg replied, impressed. 「I see my eyes didn't deceive me. You're as sharp as they say.」
Krieg ignored the wide-eyed stares of the two young boys standing beside Tom—the young Iceburg and Cutty Flam.
「Tom-san, I'm here to scout you. My name is Krieg. I'm a Rear Admiral of the Navy Headquarters and commander of an Independent Vanguard Unit. It's a pleasure.」
Krieg extended his right hand, offering a handshake to the legendary shipbuilder while the future of Water Seven watched in stunned silence.
The Battle Frankies:
「Tah-hah-hah! A scout? You do realize I'm the man who built Gold Roger's ship, don't you?」
Tom laughed heartily as he returned the firm handshake. His grip was like iron, a testament to a lifetime of hammering oak and steel.
「I know. But I also know that your work on the Sea Train has all but guaranteed your pardon. I'm talking about what happens after the verdict is handed down.」
Technically, it wasn't a lie. In a fair world, the Sea Train would have washed away his "crimes." But Krieg knew Spandam wouldn't play fair.
「Tah-hah...! I'm flattered you value me so highly, young Marine—Krieg, was it? But you're moving a bit too fast for me!」
「Am I? I think it'd be a waste to let talent like yours sit idle. Just keep it in mind. We'll be staying on the island for a while, so if you run into any trouble, don't hesitate to call on us.」
As Krieg made the offer, it wasn't Tom who bit, but the young man standing beside him.
「That's perfect. Hey, Marine-san, there's a place not far from here called Scrap Island...」
「Iceberg! What are you saying!?」 Tom's other apprentice, the one with the goggles, shouted.
「Scrap Island? Is that where you dump the decommissioned ships?」 Krieg asked, turning his attention to the two youths.
「Yeah. I'm Iceburg, I work for Tom-san. That idiot over there is Franky. Look, there are a bunch of armed ships abandoned over at Scrap Island. We need someone to do something about them.」
「You stupid 'Bakaburg'!! Shut your trap!!」 Franky—currently around 20 years old, wearing nothing but a shirt and swim trunks—lunged at Iceburg, and the two began a frantic scuffle.
「Armed ships...? Should I assume these are vessels abandoned by pirates?」
「It's nothing! Nothing at all, Marine-san!」 Franky yelled, waving his hands dismissively while trying to keep Iceburg in a headlock.
「It is not nothing, 'Bakanky'! Are you really planning to just leave those lethal weapons sitting there!?」 Iceburg snarled, breaking free.
「They're for hunting Sea Kings! It's not like I'm pointing them at people!」
Krieg stepped between them, raising a hand to quiet the noise.
「Relax, both of you. So, these 'Battle Frankies'... I assume you're the one who built them, Franky?」
「...So what if I did? Hunting Sea Kings isn't against the law!」 Franky replied petulantly.
He was exactly as Krieg remembered from the series: brash, obsessed with firepower, and incredibly gifted.
These very ships were the ones Spandam would eventually use to frame Tom by attacking the Judicial Ship.
As a Marine, Krieg couldn't allow a direct assault on the law, but as a strategist, he saw an opportunity to secure the evidence before it could be used.
「Whether they're for Sea Kings or not doesn't matter yet. Iceburg here is worried about the liability of leaving high-powered weapons unattended. And frankly, as a Marine, I'm inclined to agree.」
Iceburg grabbed Franky by the shoulder, his expression grim. This was the man who would one day unify the dockyards into the Galley-La Company. He had the soul of a leader, even now.
「Let's do this: I'll go inspect this Scrap Island myself. Can you give me a tour?」
「Tah-hah-hah! I don't mind that at all, but don't expect a 'yes' on the job offer just because you're helping out!」 Tom laughed.
「Fair enough. Follow me. All three of you, get on my ship.」
Franky's eyes bugged out. 「Wait! We can go on that ship?! The one with the weird hull?!」
「I suppose I can't stop you from looking, but try not to touch anything sensitive,」 Krieg smirked.
「Tch... I'll admit, that ship looks nothing like the standard Marine cutters. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious,」 Iceburg muttered, rubbing the back of his head.
「She's the Fine Izetta, the flagship of the Navy's Independent Vanguard Unit. She's fresh out of the drydock and packed with the latest tech. I'll let you see anything that isn't classified.」
「Tah-hah-hah! Now that's what I like to hear! I've been itching for a closer look since you pulled into port!」
Tom let out a booming laugh that shook the pier. Krieg led the trio up the gangplank. By bringing the three most important shipwrights in the world onto his vessel, he wasn't just showing off—he was putting them under his protection before Spandam's clock could run out.
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