" Iceburg! Flam! Are you willing to leave Water 7?"
Tom didn't ask Kokoro and Yokozuna, since both the man and the frog would follow him. However, he would respect the choices of Iceburg and Franky, even though they were his apprentices. He couldn't force them; that was Tom's principle.
"I'm fine with anywhere, but it would be even better if I could become a pirate with Vic!"
Franky wasn't worried about the impending crisis. With his ridiculously strong fellow apprentice Vic by his side, they wouldn't be in danger. Franky had long harbored the ambition to become a pirate. He believed he had mastered all of Tom's shipbuilding skills and was ready to make a name for himself, so naturally he wanted to follow Vic and become a pirate.
If Vic doesn't come, Tom will be killed by a harpoon a few days later, just like in the original story, and Franky and Iceburg will have nowhere to learn shipbuilding skills afterward.
The fact that they later became top shipwrights is enough to show that they were already capable of working independently. Even if they continued to build ships while practicing, their foundation was solid, and whether Tom guided them later was no longer important.
" Iceburg! And you?"
Seeing Iceburg hesitate and remain silent, Tom continued to inquire. He had no objection to Franky's choice; Franky and Iceburg were indeed ready to graduate. He had already taught his two apprentices everything he knew, and all they needed to do was accumulate experience in shipbuilding.
Franky had been clamoring to become a pirate for a long time, but Tom never took it seriously. What one wants to do is a personal choice, just like the ships they build. Whether to become merchant ships or pirate ships is the ship owner's choice. He just needs to focus on building good ships.
Here, his only responsibility is to teach his disciples shipbuilding skills and principles of conduct, so that they can become respectable men. He doesn't care what they want to do after they've completed their studies.
" Mr. Tom! I want to stay in Water 7. You know the crisis Water 7. The sea level is rising every year, and in just a few years, Water 7 will be completely submerged. This is my home, and I don't want to see it sink into the sea. I want to stay here! I want to use the skills I've learned to change that fate!"
Iceburg is a native of Water 7. Seeing the sea level in his hometown rising every year, he feels a sense of urgency. After learning from Tom, he always thinks about whether he can use what he has learned to change the fate of Water 7.
Now that his master is leaving, he can't leave. Although Iceburg has some minor flaws, he is not lacking in righteousness. So even though Iceburg has always disliked Vic, Vic doesn't have any ill feelings towards him. On the contrary, he admires him very much.
In shipbuilding skills, Iceburg and Franky are evenly matched. Franky is more sentimental and carefree than Iceburg, but Iceburg is better at matters of principle. If Iceburg really leaves this time, Water 7 is destined to perish.
" Vic! Iceburg wants to stay in Water 7, do you have any ideas?"
Since Franky's choice is respected, Iceburg's choice will be no exception. However, it would be dangerous for Iceburg to stay in Water 7 7. Everyone else has left, leaving Iceburg here, and his fate would definitely not be good. Tom could only look to Vic for help. He did not want Iceburg to become a prisoner and be tortured because of him. He would rather not leave Water 7 than leave his disciple!
"If you trust me, leave this matter to me!"
Please!
Tom and his friends can only rely on Vic now. He is also very glad that he did not refuse when Vic asked him to learn shipbuilding. Otherwise, without the master-apprentice relationship, no one would be eager to come to his rescue. Therefore, he has no objection to any of Vic's arrangements.
As the day of trial approached, Spandam discovered that the people at Tom's Workers were no longer leaving the premises, making it impossible for him to carry out some of his plans.
Without the small boats Franky built, even if the Grand Inquisitor Water 7, he wouldn't be able to frame anyone. Plus, with these people staying home, other plans would be difficult to implement.
Now that there were no weaknesses, Spandam, after much deliberation, chose the most direct method: to bring government agents to their doorstep and confront them head-on. In any case, they would completely win in terms of military strength, and this was the best method that Spandam's simple mind could think of.
When Spandam led the CP9 agents into Tom's Workers, they had already entered the illusion that Vic had woven for them.
The last thing they remembered was that Tom was tortured and covered in wounds, but he wouldn't give in. Franky was used as a threat to Tom and was stabbed to death with Shigan, but Tom still didn't compromise. Yokozuna escaped from the dock and swam directly into the sea.
When Iceburg, whom they considered the second threat, was beaten half to death, Tom suddenly broke free from the CP9 agents who were suppressing him. In front of everyone, he took out the Pluton Blueprints from a hidden compartment and, together with Kokoro, stepped into the burning sea of fire with a resolute expression.
The fire quickly spread, and they could only escape from Tom's Workers with Iceburg, who was half-dead. Although they had one survivor, based on the behavior and conversation between Tom and his apprentices, it was clear that his two disciples had no idea about the existence of the Pluton Blueprints.
Tom was willing to die to prevent the design from being leaked, so even if there was one survivor, it wouldn't make a difference. The operation was a failure. Spandam kicked the unconscious Iceburg several more times before leaving with his men, unwilling to give up. As for why he didn't kill Iceburg, perhaps he still had a sliver of hope left!
If you're going to put on a show, you have to go all the way. Tom's Workers really was burned down. Many people in the neighborhood saw it with their own eyes. In the burned ruins, there were three mummified corpses that were charred beyond recognition. Judging from their figures, they were similar to Tom, Kokoro, and Katie Flam.
These were, of course, three notorious pirates that Vic had prepared in advance. Afterwards, many people saw a giant bullfrog rescue the unconscious Iceburg.
Iceburg's injuries were inflicted by Vic's abilities. They looked serious, but they were actually just external wounds. Tom's Workers was on the verge of being exonerated after the completion of the Sea Train, resulting in a huge uproar in Water 7 and becoming a topic of conversation!
Vic respected Tom and Kokoro's decision, and the two returned to their birthplace, Fish-Man Island, to live in seclusion. As for Franky, who wanted to Vic Pirates, Vic did not agree.
His pirate ship is made of alloy, which is beyond Franky's ability to repair. Even if he could, it would be very difficult. Only Vic can do it himself. Franky certainly doesn't want to stay in a pirate crew that has no future.
Furthermore, Vic didn't want to steal Luffy's excellent shipwright, so he had Franky change his name and go into seclusion in Water 7, while he himself left Water 7 directly.