Tom's Corpse

Under the bright moonlight.

Iceburg, dressed in a striped suit, slowly approached from afar.

"As expected of the man who merged every shipyard in Water Seven! You really came without a single guard? That courage and brotherhood are truly moving!"

Through the Echo Map,

Roy clearly knew that there was no one else around Iceburg—or anywhere in this scrapyard—besides them.

He looked at the capable-looking man with purple hair before him.

He was clearly a billionaire who controlled the largest shipyard in the world.

Yet for the sake of his junior brother, he had chosen to come alone and risk his life to deliver the ransom.

Just as Roy was marveling at his courage and loyalty,

"What kind of joke is this, Iceburg? Why did you come here?

Get the hell out of here! After our teacher died, we no longer had anything to do with each other."

Seeing Iceburg arrive alone, Franky, who had been preparing to resist just moments ago, seemed to suddenly realize something. He immediately snapped and roared at him.

Yet neither Roy nor Iceburg paid any attention to Franky at the side.

Perhaps in Iceburg's eyes, Franky was still that disappointing junior brother of his.

But in Roy's eyes, the president of the shipbuilding company favored by the World Government was far more impressive than that pervert in nothing but briefs who could only shout loudly.

"What you wanted has been placed at the harbor. I hope you keep your promise. If I remain here for more than an hour, the Galley-La Company will immediately seal off all of Water Seven. The World Government and the Marines will also make their move."

Iceburg was calm and stern at this moment.

After arriving at this scrapyard, the only time his expression had wavered was when he looked at Franky.

Nothing else seemed capable of shaking the glacier-like severity on his face.

"Oh my, you're just giving me five merchant ships like that? This is rather embarrassing!

But Iceburg, don't look so serious. This is only our first deal. We have plenty of time ahead of us!"

Roy lazily rose from a broken plank.

His words immediately made Franky and Iceburg's faces darken.

What did he mean by their first deal?

Was he planning to continue extorting them in the future?

Just as Iceburg was considering how he should reply to the bandit before him,

"Damn it, what kind of joke is this? I'm not some leverage in your hands! Go to hell, Strong Right!"

Unable to endure Roy's arrogant words any longer, Franky, who had been ignored at the side, fired his fist from his arm.

Faced with Franky's furious iron fist,

Iceburg immediately realized things were going badly.

"Franky, stop!"

Based on the reports from the men Iceburg had sent to Franky House, he knew the strength of the man before them.

When he abducted Franky, no one in all of Franky House had even noticed.

Strength of that level was clearly not something he and Franky could handle.

Though he did not know what this man wanted, Franky's rash move had obviously shattered Iceburg's calculations.

Bang!

Roy merely raised his left hand and lightly clenched it, catching the launched iron fist in his grip.

"Oh, not bad strength. But if you think you can sneak attack me with just that, it seems you're still not strong enough!"

He violently yanked the fist in his hand.

Franky's body, connected by a chain, immediately crashed face-first into the ground.

Roy grabbed the chain and hurled him violently into a nearby mound of garbage.

Bang!

Dust rose from the garbage heap.

Roy slowly walked over to Franky.

Seeing this, Iceburg lost all the composure he had possessed moments earlier.

"I apologize on Franky's behalf for that attack. If there's anything you need, please feel free to name it."

Seeing that Roy's expression had turned grim, Iceburg hurriedly tried to make amends.

"Hey, Iceburg, what are you doing?

What does this have to do with you? I'll take responsibility for my own actions! Get the hell out of here already!"

It was obvious that all Franky could think about now was how to ensure Iceburg's safety.

"Tsk, tsk, what deep brotherly affection. You're making me sound like some great villain.

Though we'll definitely have dealings in the future, I believe that one day, you'll willingly agree to my demands."

"What kind of joke is this, you bastard? You damned kidnapper, let me go! Cough, cough."

Pinned in the garbage heap beneath Roy's foot, Franky struggled as he tried to roar at Roy.

But before the curse could leave his mouth, a cloud of mist abruptly enveloped Franky's head.

He coughed as the mist entered his throat.

Roy removed his large foot from Franky's chest.

Then he turned and walked toward the large iron box he had dragged over.

"I've been a little short on money lately, so I borrowed five ships from you senior and junior brothers. If there's a chance in the future, I'll definitely pay for them.

To express my regret over this incident, I brought you a gift. I hope it can serve as compensation."

He easily lifted the enormous iron chest and placed it on the open ground before Iceburg.

Clang!

As Roy lifted the lid of the iron box before him,

Franky, who had been embedded in the garbage heap, had just struggled back to his feet.

He brushed the dust from his face. Having failed to hear Roy clearly before, he prepared to fight desperately once more.

But just as he was about to enter attack mode,

the large iron box opened beneath the moonlight left him frozen where he stood.

Tears unconsciously streamed from Iceburg and Franky's eyes.

"Te... Teacher Tom..."

Looking at the familiar frozen corpse inside the iron chest, which emitted a chill,

Franky's legs went weak, and he seemed unable to stand. He staggered together with Iceburg to the iron box.

Watching the sincere emotions of the two senior and junior brothers,

Roy felt that he had made the right bet. His efforts to intercept Tom's corpse back then had not been wasted.

As Roy stepped past Iceburg's shadow, cast as he leaned over the box,

"The World Government has already rotted from within. It has sucked this world's blood for hundreds of years. Iceburg, have you ever thought of resisting? Or perhaps... have you ever wanted to avenge your teacher?"