Chapter 157: The World's Number One Shipwright
Iceburg opened the letter Axel had sent him.
Calling it a letter was generous. It was just a few lines written on a plain sheet of paper, without so much as a seal. Anyone who handled it along the way could have read it by accident.
Iceburg frowned.
His connection with Axel was tied to the Pluton blueprints. In other words, it was the kind of connection that should never be spoken of openly. He still did not understand why Axel had gone through all that trouble to obtain the blueprints, only to burn them in front of the World Government.
As for saving Tom, Iceburg had forced himself not to think too deeply about it.
Now, he still tried not to overthink.
He lowered his gaze and read the few lines on the paper.
At first glance, his face remained calm.
But anyone who knew him would understand what it meant for a man's expression to turn as cold as ice.
The handwriting was not beautiful, but it was clear.
[I saved Mr. Tom.]
[But I'm keeping him.]
[So, goodbye.]
Only a few short words.
Yet each one struck Iceburg differently.
First came surprise.
Then shock.
Finally, anger.
Iceburg, who had always prided himself on composure, never imagined that a single note could make his emotions swing so violently. He could almost see the mischievous, malicious smile of that child named Axel hiding between the lines.
Aside from Franky, this was the second person Iceburg decided he truly disliked.
The sun slowly sank toward the horizon.
Iceburg's mood sank with it.
Whether it was the promised news about Franky or the matter of rescuing Tom, that brat had deceived him from every possible angle. How was he supposed to feel calm?
Still, there was one thing he had to confirm.
If the matter of Franky could not be verified for now, then at the very least, he had to confirm Tom's situation with his own eyes.
Following that thought, Iceburg made his way to the Marine base on San Faldo Island, where Axel was stationed.
Before he could enter, the guards at the gate stopped him.
"This is a Marine base. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed inside."
"I need to see Captain Axel," Iceburg said. "It's urgent."
"Then please show your permit."
Iceburg's frown deepened.
Where was he supposed to get a permit?
"I don't have one," he said. "But I have important business with your Captain. Tell him Iceburg is here to see him."
No permit, but important business.
The guard studied him for a moment. Iceburg looked young, but his expression was serious enough that he did not seem to be causing trouble. After a brief hesitation, the guard said, "I'll report it for you. Whether the Captain agrees to see you has nothing to do with me."
After saying a few words to the other guard on duty, he jogged into the base.
He was not going directly to Axel. He did not have that authority. First, he had to report to his superior and let the chain of command decide.
The Marine system moved quickly. Before long, the message reached Axel.
Axel smiled.
He was not surprised Iceburg had come after only one day.
That letter had been intentional.
Leaving it unsealed was also intentional. If anyone saw it, all the better. That way, there would be no suspicious hidden correspondence between him and Iceburg.
The contents had only one purpose.
To provoke Iceburg into coming to the Marine base.
Tom had agreed not to return to Water 7 for now, but he had no desire to remain at a Marine base either. To him, the Marines and the World Government were too closely connected to be cleanly separated. He was grateful to Axel for saving him, but gratitude was not enough to make him betray his own heart.
A man should stand tall and do what he believed was right.
That was Tom's way.
Unfortunately, the current situation did not allow him that freedom. If Tom lost his identity as a Marine-affiliated shipwright, he would also lose the protection that came with it. At that point, nothing would be more convenient than arresting him again.
Axel had no intention of letting the person he had just dragged out of Enies Lobby walk back into danger.
So he negotiated with Tom.
In the end, Axel promised to let Tom see Iceburg and let his family know he was safe, so they would not keep worrying.
That was how this plan came together.
"Bring him to the training ground," Axel said. "He can meet him there."
"Yes, sir!"
The Marine who received the order found it strange, but he did not ask questions.
Obeying orders was a Marine's duty.
The order was passed down, and Iceburg was escorted to the training ground.
At this hour, most of the Marines had gone out on routine patrol, leaving the training ground empty. Even so, Iceburg was not left alone. A Marine remained beside him, watching him closely.
He was not a member of the Marines. There was no way he would be allowed to wander freely through the base.
After waiting for some time, Iceburg's unease began to grow.
Then Axel finally appeared.
He walked over at an unhurried pace. Behind him came Tom, along with a group of Marine soldiers.
The moment Iceburg saw Tom, everything else vanished from his sight.
He did not notice the Marines behind Axel. He did not notice the training ground. He did not even notice Axel's expression.
All his attention locked onto Tom.
Only a week had passed, yet it felt as though they had been separated for years.
"Mr. Tom!"
Tom was excited too.
He tried to control himself, forcing his expression to remain natural, but the slight tremor in his deep voice betrayed him.
"Iceburg…"
That one word nearly shattered Iceburg's composure.
Tom did not allow himself to remain emotional for long. He remembered the agreement he had made with Axel, and in order to keep Iceburg from losing control, he forced himself to put on a distant expression.
"Iceburg," Tom said, his tone deliberately flat. "Go back. Tell everyone I'm fine."
Iceburg froze.
This was not Mr. Tom's style.
No matter what kind of situation he faced, Tom had always stood tall and faced it head-on.
[A man should stand tall.]
Wasn't that his favorite phrase?
"Mr. Tom, what's wrong?" Iceburg asked urgently. "Come back with me. Everyone is waiting for you."
Tom's face stiffened.
Those words moved him more than he wanted to admit.
But he could not return.
Going back now would only bring danger to his family.
He lowered his voice.
"…I can't go back yet."
"Why?!"
Iceburg's voice rose almost into a shout.
He could not understand why Tom was acting this way. Then he seemed to remember Axel standing nearby, and he turned sharply, pointing at him.
"Is it because of this Captain?"
Tom immediately wanted to explain.
But Axel stopped him.
He stepped forward with a smile and stood between Tom and Iceburg.
"That's right," Axel said. "It's because of me."
His voice was cold enough to be convincing.
"I told you already. I'm keeping Tom. From the moment I saved him, that became his fate."
Iceburg's expression darkened.
"Are the World Government and the Marines always this unreasonable?"
After Tom was framed and arrested, Iceburg's impression of the World Government had already fallen to the bottom. Now, seeing Tom's changed attitude and the situation hidden beneath the surface, it was hard not to think the Marines had forced him into this.
It was like escaping a wolf's den only to fall into a tiger's mouth.
"Yes," Axel said without hesitation. "Strength and power have always been reasons people act overbearingly."
Iceburg clenched his fists.
Axel looked at him and continued, "Do you want Tom back? Fine. I promise you that much."
Iceburg's eyes changed.
"But not now."
Axel's smile faded slightly.
"When you become the world's number one shipwright, I'll release Tom. In exchange, you'll also earn your own freedom."
He paused, then added, "The same goes for Franky. When he comes back, remember to tell him."
Iceburg stared at him in shock.
Axel patiently repeated himself, each word clear and deliberate.
"What I want is simple."
He looked at Iceburg, then at Tom.
"The world's number one shipwright."
.....
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