For the next few days, a strange atmosphere hung over the villa in Sabaody.
Tesoro had changed.
The man who once reeked of money and the fire of revenge had softened, his whole presence gentler than before.
He was no longer the ambitious climber who only wanted to rise higher, building a fortress out of wealth.
There was light in his eyes now. A light called "hope" and "happiness."
He and Stella were almost never apart. Kael was generous, handing them another adjacent villa so they could have their own world for two.
Sometimes the others would see Tesoro walking with Stella in the garden, the man who once drowned a god in gold now carefully brushing aside a branch that blocked her path.
Sometimes they would see Stella in the kitchen preparing food for him, while Tesoro stood nearby, grinning at her like an idiot.
That kind of pure happiness was contagious.
Even Mihawk, always cold and distant, would soften for a brief instant when he practiced in the backyard and caught sight of the couple leaning into each other.
Moria still let out his "shishishishi" auntie laugh, but he did not interrupt them. He only watched from afar.
And Kael, the architect of it all, became a complete hands off boss. Every day he was either sunbathing on the beach or drinking the black tea Robin brewed while lounging in a chair, living an even lazier life than a retired senior official.
That afternoon, Tesoro went alone to find Kael, who was enjoying a sunbath.
He was not wearing that flashy golden suit. He had on simple casual clothes, yet his spirit and energy had never looked fuller.
"Lord Kael." He walked up and bowed deeply.
"What, here to give another speech?" Kael did not even open his eyes, drawling lazily. "Spare me the mushy stuff. My ears are about to grow calluses."
Tesoro straightened, a sincere smile on his face. "No, Lord Kael. I just want you to know that from today on, my life, my ability, everything Gild Tesoro owns, belongs to you."
There was not a shred of hesitation in his voice.
"Before, I chased money and power for revenge, so I would never lose again. But now I understand." Tesoro looked toward the gentle sunlight in the distance. "I want to use this strength to protect. To protect Stella, and to protect everything you create."
Kael finally opened his eyes. He looked at Tesoro. The fire in this kid's gaze was completely different now.
It was no longer a blaze that burned everything to ash, but a warm, steady flame, strong enough to light the future.
"Good resolve." Kael nodded. "Alright, I get it. Go spend time with your Stella. Do not just stand here blocking my sun."
"Yes!" Tesoro bowed again and turned to leave.
Just then, a subordinate in a black suit hurried over. He was a contact from Moria's intelligence network.
He ran straight to Kael and whispered into his ear.
The laziness on Kael's face vanished instantly.
He snapped upright from the lounge chair, eyes sharpening.
"Confirmed?"
"Absolutely, sir. Spandam, the chief of CP5, is personally leading the team. Under the charge of 'the unforgivable crime of building a ship for the Pirate King,' he is forcing Tom to be escorted to Enies Lobby. The mayor of Water 7 argued that Mr. Tom built the Sea Train and has merits enough to atone, but Spandam ignored him completely. Looks like he is determined to have Tom killed."
"Tch…" Kael cursed under his breath.
Uncle Tom.
That bold, straightforward fishman shipwright, a companion of the Roger Pirates, the man who built the Oro Jackson.
In Kael's mind appeared a fishman laughing loudly, always holding tools in one hand and a bottle in the other.
Roger and the others always called him "Big Brother Tom" warmly. Back then on the ship, Kael had drunk plenty of his treasured liquor.
Convicted for building the Oro Jackson…
In the end, the root of it all was the Roger Pirates.
Roger was already in heaven, Rayleigh and Gaban were retired and hidden away, which meant the burden of dealing with this fell on him.
A nameless fire surged up from Kael's chest.
Those World Government bastards. Roger had been dead for so many years, and they still would not let anyone connected to him go.
That idiot Spandam was probably trying to trade Uncle Tom's life for his own achievements.
"Lord Kael, what happened?" Tesoro sensed the shift and asked with concern.
Kael did not answer. He stared at the sea, eyes cold.
"Where are Moria and Doflamingo right now?"
"Moria is consolidating the shadow intel network in the first half of the Grand Line. Lord Doflamingo should still be in Dressrosa."
"Tell them to come to Sabaody immediately." Kael's voice held no emotion. "Tell them I have a private job."
He stood, brushing sand off his body.
"We are going to Water 7 to pull someone out."
…
Sabaody Archipelago, Kael's private villa, underground war room.
A massive electronic sea chart covered the entire wall, packed with dense red and blue markers representing the World Government's forces and Kael's influence.
The air was heavy with killing intent.
Kael sat in the main seat, tapping his fingers against the table in a steady rhythm, producing a soft, dull knock.
The war room door opened. Two people stepped in, wildly different in style yet equally overwhelming in presence.
One was the absurdly tall Gecko Moria, laughing "shishishishi."
The other wore a pink feather coat, his gait flamboyant, an eerie smile on his lips: the Heavenly Yaksha, Donquixote Doflamingo.
"Lord Kael, calling us back this urgently… is there another big piece of fun?" Doflamingo dropped into a chair, legs crossed, posture arrogant.
Ever since the Mary Geoise incident, his awe of Kael had sunk into his bones.
But a leopard never changes its spots. The arrogance that belonged to the Heavenly Yaksha, when facing Kael, turned into an eager excitement to prove himself.
Moria stood quietly to the side, but the sharp gleam in his eyes showed he was also waiting for Kael to speak.
"Fun?" Kael glanced at Doflamingo. "Not this time. We are saving an old friend."
He slid a dossier to the center of the table.
"Tom the fishman. The world's number one shipwright, currently in Water 7. Because he once built the pirate ship Oro Jackson for Captain Roger, the World Government convicted him. Spandam, chief of CP5, intends to escort him to Enies Lobby for execution, using it as his political achievement."
Kael's tone was flat, but Doflamingo and Moria both heard the unusual chill beneath it.
"The shipwright of the Oro Jackson?" Doflamingo picked up the dossier, his smile turning playful. "Fufufufu… the World Government really loves settling scores after the fact. But, Lord Kael, you and this shipwright…"
"He is an old friend from Roger's ship." Kael said it bluntly. "I owe him a few drinks. I will not let him die for nothing."
Doflamingo's gaze changed instantly.
He understood the weight of this at once. This was no ordinary mission. This was Kael's personal matter.
A leader's business is never small business. The leader's business is my business.
Someone Kael called an "old friend" was rare in this world.
Handling this well would win Kael's favor far more than completing ten routine jobs.
"Fufufufu, I see." Doflamingo dropped the carefree tone, leaning forward slightly. "Lord Kael, give the order. Dealing with CP trash and pulling someone out with methods that do not see the light… that's what I do best."
"Shishishishi…" Moria laughed too. "Swapping a living man for a dead one? My shadows are professionals."
Kael nodded in satisfaction.
His people were all problem children, but when it came to real work, each of them was reliably capable.
"Good." Kael stood and walked to the sea chart, pointing at the location of Water 7.
"The plan is simple. We call it 'The Tanuki Swap.'"
His finger traced across the map. A route from Water 7 to Enies Lobby appeared clearly.
"That idiot Spandam, to show off his achievements, will definitely choose the Sea Train for the transport. That is his stage, and it is also our best window to strike."
"Doflamingo." Kael looked at him. "Your job is to create chaos. I do not care how. Parasite strings, stirring up gangs, whatever. At the exact time the Sea Train departs, cause a huge incident on the other side of Water 7. It has to be big enough to draw away most of CP's attention."
Doflamingo licked his lips, excitement flashing in his eyes. "Fufufufu, easy. I will make Water 7's night brighter than a fireworks festival."
"Moria." Kael turned to him. "Your job is the core. When the train reaches a certain stretch and the chaos peaks, use your shadow ability to infiltrate the train and swap Tom out."
"Shishishishi, no problem." It was as if countless ghosts whispered in Moria's shadow. "But what about the 'fake' we leave behind? Want me to prepare a decent corpse in advance?"
"No." Kael shook his head. "Doflamingo, find a dead convict or someone terminally ill in the black market, about Tom's size. Pay him enough to settle his family. When the time comes, Moria swaps him with Tom using the shadows."
"And then…" Kael's mouth curved into a cold smile. "Let the replacement 'die in an accident' on the train."
"To keep his merit from going up in smoke, Spandam will declare to the public that Tom was successfully transported and executed. That way, Tom is 'dead' to the world, and there will be no more trouble in the future."
The plan was ruthless, meticulous, and left no loose ends.
Doflamingo and Moria exchanged a look, both seeing admiration for Kael's methods in each other's eyes.
This man did not just possess world ending strength. His mind and layout were just as chilling.
"Understood, Lord Kael." They answered in unison.
"Go." Kael waved. "Remember, I do not want to see any accidents. I want Uncle Tom to appear in front of me without a single scratch."
"Yes!"
Doflamingo and Moria left. The war room fell silent again.
Kael sat back down, staring at that tiny island on the map.
Water 7…
His thoughts drifted, landing on Tom's two apprentices, so different in temperament.
One was Iceburg, steady and reliable, who later became the mayor of Water 7.
The other was Cutty Flam, also known as Franky, a wild kid who loved running around in nothing but underwear. Later he would obtain the blueprints for Pluton.
Uncle Tom had poured his heart into those two, arranging his "aftercare" early.
Kael wondered how they were doing now.
He let out a quiet sigh. This time he was only saving Tom. As for those two boys' life paths, he did not want to interfere too much.
All he could do was pull the respectable teacher they cherished out of fate's mud.
…
A few days later, Water 7.
The docks were packed, the atmosphere so oppressive it felt like it could crush people.
Countless shipwrights and citizens came of their own accord to see off the beloved Mr. Tom.
Spandam, the chief of CP5, stood smugly at the front of the Sea Train, carrying his sword that had eaten the Zou Zou no Mi, savoring the feeling of being watched by thousands.
"Look closely! This is what happens when you build a ship for the Pirate King!" he shouted through a Den Den Mushi megaphone. "Anyone who associates with pirates will face the judgment of justice!"
In the crowd, the young Iceburg clenched his fists, nails digging deep into his palms. Beside him, Flam, with his blue pompadour like an airplane nose, had bloodshot eyes locked on Tom, who was bound in chains.
"Mr. Tom!"
"Teacher!"
Tom looked at his two apprentices and smiled, relieved and bold.
"Iceburg, Flam! Hold your heads high! A real man should have confidence in the ships he builds!"
"Ugh…" Flam could not hold it anymore. Tears spilled out.
"Depart!" Spandam waved impatiently.
The Sea Train let out a long whistle and began to move.
Just as everyone's heart sank to the bottom, a sudden change erupted.
A deafening explosion sounded from the other side of the city.
Flames shot into the sky. Thick smoke rolled upward. Explosions rang out one after another.
"What is going on?!" Spandam's face changed.
"Report, Chief! It's… it's a chain of explosions at the scrap ship processing yard in the back streets! Looks like gang warfare, they used heavy weapons!" a CP agent reported frantically.
"Useless! All of you are useless!" Spandam stomped in rage. "Leave half behind! The rest of you come with me to suppress the riot!"
He did not want his "show" ruined by some blind gangs.
A large number of CP agents hurried away with Spandam. The defensive force at the docks instantly weakened.
Iceburg and Flam exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.
That explosion was too convenient.
The Sea Train picked up speed, racing along the tracks over the ocean.
Inside the carriage, only a few guards remained, along with Tom locked in an iron cage.
The train entered an open stretch of sea with no islands nearby.
At that moment, the lights in the carriage flickered once.
One guard yawned and rubbed his eyes. Under the shifting light, his shadow twisted and stretched in a strange way, silently creeping beneath the cage.
The shadow writhed like a living thing and, in an instant, covered Tom from head to toe.
The entire process took less than half a second.
When the shadow withdrew, Tom was still sitting there, as if nothing had happened.
Only his eyes seemed a little dull, a little empty.
No one noticed the tiny change.
The train continued roaring toward Enies Lobby.