A Ship Is Neither Good nor Evil

Water 7, the fifth day after the Sea Train officially entered service.

"Rear Admiral, are we really going that way?"

Vergo clutched the sea chart and looked toward the tracks stretching out over the sea. "The line at the other end hasn't finished its final inspection."

Ron leaned against the railing and took a crunchy bite of an apple.

"The Fleet Admiral put me in charge of security for the maiden voyage. I ought to see how far this train can actually go."

"What arrangements did you make at Tom's Workers?"

"Have all the Visual Den Den Mushi been installed?"

"Six of them. Three at the workshop, three at the mooring area. The recording devices are stored separately, and men guard them in shifts around the clock."

"Keep two backups of the footage. If anyone is caught tampering with the ships without permission, notify me immediately."

"Understood."

Ron glanced toward the workshop again.

Tom was crouched on the ground with the workers, inspecting the train's bearings. Behind him, Franky was chasing Yokozuna, his face red as he shouted. Everything was just as usual.

"Good, then."

Ron shoved the shopping bag he was holding into Vergo's hands.

"Keep an eye on it for me. If this dress gets a speck of dust on it, I'll test your Armament Haki when I get back."

Vergo: "..."

Ron turned and led his men along the train line to inspect it.

A safe maiden voyage didn't mean the entire line was free of danger. He had to check the condition of the distant tracks and mark a few coordinates for headquarters to provide direct support.

On the way, he could also pick out some small gifts for his sisters on the shopping street at the other end.

It's not like I haven't guarded against Spandam. He knows I'm here, after all, so he'll behave himself for at least the next couple of days, right?

I just didn't expect the guy to be too cowardly to search the workshop in front of me, yet stupid enough to fire directly on a World Government Judicial Ship...

Late that night.

At the mooring area outside Tom's Workers, three dark figures silently slipped aboard a ship.

"Don't change the number or take down the flag."

Spandam huddled in the shadows of the dock and gave his orders in a low voice. "Make sure everyone can see it was Franky's Battle Ship that did it!"

Two Cipher Pol No. 5 members nodded and led their men in casting off the mooring lines.

A battle ship slipped quietly out of its berth and slowly headed toward the Judicial Ship anchored outside the harbor.

One Cipher Pol No. 5 agent glanced hesitantly toward shore.

The Judicial Personnel who had arrived only the previous night were still aboard the Judicial Ship, and lights were on in several places.

"Sir, this... this is the World Government's own ship..."

"Of course it is! You think I don't know that?!"

Spandam shot him a vicious glare.

"Shut up and do as I say!"

"If anything happens, I'll take responsibility!"

He pointed at the Judicial Ship.

"Fire!"

Boom! Boom!

Cannonballs slammed into the side of the Judicial Ship one after another, sending splinters flying. A piercing alarm bell instantly rang out across the entire harbor!

"Enemy attack!"

"It's Franky's Battle Ship! That's a ship from Tom's Workers!"

"A ship from Tom's Workers is attacking the Judicial Ship?!"

Fragments of cannonballs burst into the cabins, and several crewmen ran for the deck in a panic, clutching their bleeding foreheads.

Someone tried to call for help on a Den Den Mushi, only to discover that the shore communications post had already been temporarily taken over in the name of a "confidential operation."

The bombardment finally stopped.

The battle ship remained beside the damaged Judicial Ship, but the people aboard had long since vanished.

Its hull number, flag, and conspicuous markings all pointed to Tom's Workers.

As for who had actually sailed the ship the night before, no one had gotten a clear look.

Residents along the shore were woken by the cannon fire and pushed open their windows to look.

No one noticed an inconspicuous Visual Den Den Mushi slowly turning its eyes beneath the corner of a warehouse roof.

Another, hidden in a crevice in the lighthouse, clearly captured Spandam waving his hand to give the order.

Day was just breaking.

Vergo took the previous night's recording devices from the Marine on duty.

In the first recording, several Cipher Pol No. 5 members secretly boarded Franky's battle ship.

The second captured Spandam giving orders at the dock, as well as the entire attack on the Judicial Ship.

Vergo's eye twitched as he watched.

These guys even dared to blow up the World Government's own ship?!

"Seal the originals and store the backups separately!"

He immediately took out a military Den Den Mushi.

"Get me Rear Admiral Ron!"

"Nobody move!"

At the first light of dawn, the Judicial Personnel burst through the doors of Tom's Workers.

Tom was crouched on the ground repairing a wheel, Iceburg was still clutching a wrench, and Franky was crouched beside a pile of freshly unpacked parts.

Cold chains came flying at Tom and clamped around his wrists with a clang.

"Tom! You're suspected of attacking a World Government Judicial Ship. You're coming with us!"

"What?!"

Iceburg sprang to his feet.

"The evidence is conclusive! Franky's Battle Ship carried out the attack last night, and your workshop's markings are still on the hull!"

At those words, the color drained from Franky's face.

When the three were brought to the harbor, the battle ship was moored beside the damaged Judicial Ship.

Franky had welded the hull number and the cannon-muzzle devices on himself.

"It wasn't me!"

Franky struggled desperately.

Two guards gripped his arms tightly, making his face flush red with pain.

"I built it to fight Sea Kings! Not to blow up government ships!!"

The surrounding residents murmured among themselves.

Only a few days ago, people had been celebrating the opening of the Sea Train.

Now, the man who had built the railway with his own hands was in shackles.

The old merchant who had bought the first train ticket pushed his way to the front of the crowd, anxiously pounding his cane.

"If Mr. Tom really wanted to harm the government, why would he spend ten years building a railway to Enies Lobby?!"

No one answered him.

The Judicial Officer merely turned to the next page of the document, his face expressionless.

Blinded by anger, Franky continued shouting at the top of his lungs. "Those bastards stole my ships! They used my ships to attack the Judicial Ship! They're not my ships anymore!!"

Bang!!

Hearing that, Tom suddenly snapped a length of chain and punched Franky in the face.

Franky stumbled and fell to the ground, completely stunned.

"Master?!"

Even the Judicial Personnel beside them were so frightened to see him break the chain so easily that they all took a step back.

"Don't you ever say that!"

Tom glared at Franky.

"You built those ships with your own hands! Just because someone stole them, they're not yours anymore?!"

"But they hurt you!!"

Franky's eyes were red, and his voice trembled.

"The ships didn't hurt me!"

Tom pointed at his chest.

"Remember! A ship is neither good nor evil!"

"No matter what anyone else does with it, you have to stand tall and admit that it's a ship you built!"

Franky froze.

Tears rolled down his cheeks.

Iceburg gritted his teeth and lowered his head without a word.

Tom looked back at the Judicial Officer.

Several guards immediately tightened their grips on their weapons, but none dared approach.

"What are you looking at?"

Tom held out his hands of his own accord.

"I wasn't planning to run."

Only then did two guards muster the courage to step forward and put the shackles back on him.

"My workshop built those ships. I admit it."

"But I don't know who fired the cannons."

The Judicial Officer opened the document.

"In light of the attack on the Judicial Ship, the scheduled pardon proceedings are suspended immediately! Tom will be taken back into custody and brought to Enies Lobby for trial!"

Tom slowly looked toward the back of the crowd, where Spandam was walking over with a smug expression.

"Mr. Tom, there's still time."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Hand over the Pluton Blueprints, and I might consider putting in a good word for those two apprentices of yours."

Tom stared at him, his gaze calm and unruffled. "I don't know anything about blueprints."

Spandam's smile froze.

Tom turned to the Judicial Officer, his tone firm. "My workshop built the ships. If you insist on holding someone responsible, put it all on me."

"But these two boys weren't involved. Let them go."

"Master!"

Iceburg and Franky looked up sharply.

The Judicial Officer hesitated, but Spandam nearly laughed aloud.

As long as this old Fish-Man is willing to take the blame, once I bring him back to Enies Lobby and interrogate him at my leisure, won't I be able to ask whatever I want?

"You bastard..."

Franky lowered his head, a suppressed growl rising from his throat.

The next instant, Franky suddenly shoved aside the guard next to him!

Before the other guard could react, he snatched the musket from him.

"Franky! Stop!" Tom roared.

But it was too late.

Bang!

The gunstock smashed into the bridge of Spandam's nose!

Beating Up Spandam

"Aaaah! My nose!!"

Spandam fell onto his back, blood pouring from his nose.

Franky pounced on him, straddled him, and started punching.

"You did this! I knew it was you, you bastard!"

"Give us back our ships!!"

"Help! Get him off me!!"

The Cipher Pol No. 5 agents rushed in, and it took several of them working together to pin Franky down.

Franky kept struggling desperately, reaching out toward Tom. "Master! Don't take the blame for them!!"

Tom's eyes reddened, but he only shouted sternly, "Stop it, Franky!!"

Spandam was helped to his feet, his nose bent to one side and his face swollen like a bun.

He wiped his face, his hand coming away covered in blood, and smiled instead.

"Go on... keep hitting me."

"Assaulting a World Government official—that's another charge against you!"

He walked up to Tom step by step and stretched his bloodstained mouth into a grin. "So what if the Sea Train saved Water 7?"

"A stinking Fish-Man like you who built ships for pirates..."

"Why don't you just be a good criminal?"

"I'll give you one last chance. Hand over—"

Just then.

Click.

Spandam's smile slowly froze on his face.

An Air Door slowly opened directly above him.

A black military boot stepped out first.