The convoy slowly made its way toward the square. Tom was tightly bound in chains; even though his body was hunched, his back remained straight.
Along the way, he looked at the familiar streets, buildings, and people shouting themselves hoarse for him. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, his eyes filled with reluctance and comfort.
Some shipwrights risked their lives to break through the crowd and throw flowers at the convoy, only to be ruthlessly beaten down by the Marines.
But that could not stop more people from bidding farewell to the great shipwright in their own ways.
Spandine, dressed in a crisp black suit, stood on the platform and read aloud, "Fish-Man Tom once built a ship for the utterly evil Pirate King Roger, aiding him in his murder and plunder across the seas. For his heinous crimes, he is sentenced to death under World Government law. The sentence shall be carried out immediately."
This twisted verdict drove the crowd below to the brink of rage. Curses and furious shouts surged forth like a tidal wave.
They were shipbuilders. They had never asked who their clients were, yet now Tom was to be executed simply because one of them had become the Pirate King!
At that moment, Tom let out a cold laugh and suddenly shouted, "Building a ship for the Pirate King was the greatest achievement of my life!"
The moment those words left his mouth, Spandine flew into a rage. "Damn it! Wake up!"
The next second, two long blades pierced straight through Tom's chest. Pain flashed across his face before he collapsed.
Below the execution platform, the young Iceburg wore a grief-stricken expression. "Master... Justice, sir, I should be leaving too. It seems this trip yielded nothing."
Mu Chen also put on a helpless, disappointed