Chapter 156: The Assault on the Judicial Ship (Part 1)
Rewinding to just before Iceburg called Eric, Spandam led four CP5 members to confront Tom.
"Hello, are you the shipwright Mr. Tom? Ah, it was such a struggle to find you~"
"Hmm?" Tom paused his work and turned around.
With a sleazy grin, Spandam said, "Sorry, there's something I'd like to discuss with you…"
Before he could finish, Franky launched a cannonball that blasted him into the air.
"You're with the government, right? This is about the trial, isn't it?"
Spandam looked confused. "Trial? I don't know what you're talking about."
Tom told Iceburg and Franky to return home, deciding to enter the warehouse alone to talk privately with Spandam.
After Iceburg returned, his right eyelid twitched. He remembered what Eric had told him and couldn't hold back any longer. He picked up the Den Den Mushi and called Eric for help.
…
"This big thing flies pretty fast. Faster than my explosive clay bird. Hmph."
"Of course it does. This is the power of machines. Your clay birds are based on living creatures—normal birds can't possibly compete with an airplane."
"Then let's race! Let's see whose bird is faster!"
"Deidara , you should take some time to pre-make clay and carry it with you," Eric stopped Deidara from jumping up in challenge.
"Huh? Ever since coming to this world, I can make clay any time I want. There's no need to prep in advance, hm."
"Really? Even though you can now produce explosive clay from your hands at will, you've picked up a new weakness on top of your old one—your fear of lightning."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Seawater, and Sea-Prism Stone. Lant, put these handcuffs on Deidara ."
"What!" As soon as the Sea-Prism Stone cuffs touched him, Deidara collapsed weakly to the ground. "What is this? Why do I feel so weak?"
"This is your newest weakness. You can't make clay anymore either, right?"
"Ugh…" Deidara tried to summon clay as he normally would, but no new white clay formed in his hands.
Eric unlocked the cuffs with a key, and Deidara immediately regained his strength, springing to his feet. "What is that thing?"
"You can create clay by hand because you ate a Devil Fruit. Sea-Prism Stone weakens Devil Fruit users. Be careful not to get cuffed—it'll drain your strength even if it doesn't directly affect your clay crafting."
"And don't fall into the sea either. If your body is submerged too much, you'll also lose strength."
"Got it," Deidara replied impatiently. "Gaining a new power comes with new drawbacks—no gain without loss, huh."
"My, my. Little brother has quite the philosophical sayings."
…
That night, after sending Spandam away, Tom opened a safe and pulled out a stack of blueprints.
"Iceburg, Franky, come here. I have something important to give you."
Iceburg took the blueprints with trembling hands. It was the Pluton schematics—Spandam's dream prize. His voice cracked as he said, "How can something like this exist…"
Even the usually carefree Franky was wide-eyed. "Can humans really build something like this?!"
"This is the most dangerous weapon in shipbuilding history. The government knows the blueprints exist and is already making moves. It's too dangerous in my hands."
"It's terrifying, but understood. I'll take it."
"Incredible, Iceburg! Let's build it together!"
Iceburg didn't hesitate to punch Franky. "Idiot. Use your head before you talk! I'll guard this. If this thing ever comes back into the world…"
"…The world might be destroyed. Still, it's up to you. If you feel it's too dangerous, throw it away."
"Also, let me show you something else that worries me." Tom slapped a wanted poster on the table.
The photo was of a fair-skinned girl, around ten years old.
…
A white judicial ship sliced through the waves, arriving at the port of Water 7.
"It's arriving! Tom's verdict is coming down!"
The port was packed with people. Some had even climbed onto the judicial ship to witness the moment Tom would be declared innocent.
"Where's Tom?"
"Why hasn't it started yet?"
The ship buzzed with questioning voices—unlike the usual solemn silence of the courtroom.
"They've arrived…" Eric stood on a rooftop, looking down at the docked judicial ship.
Using his Mind Net, Eric sensed over a dozen armed ships approaching the judicial ship with ill intent. Cannons loaded, barrels aimed.
"Deidara , take Lant and fly over. Capture everyone on those ships."
"OK."
Boom A white clay bird inflated and grew. Deidara and Lant climbed on its back.
"Wait until they sink the judicial ship. Once they return to Ship Graveyard Island, then capture those bastards."
Eric's instruction stunned the others.
"Captain, didn't we come to Water 7 to help Tom?" Da Vinci objected.
"We did. But I'm not here to clean up Franky's mess behind his back. If we solve this for him without him even knowing, he won't learn, and he won't grow. Sure, Tom and Iceburg will suffer for it, but it'll save Iceburg a lot of effort raising Franky in the future."
"Make sure Tom, Iceburg, and Franky don't see your faces."
"Got it! So annoying~" Though Deidara grumbled, he still intended to follow the captain's orders.
The white clay bird flew toward Ship Graveyard Island, preparing to ambush.
…
Suddenly, a piercing whistle sounded. A cannonball struck the center of the judicial ship!
"Eh?" Franky stared in disbelief.
More cannon fire followed. Shells hit the water, creating columns of spray. Another cannonball hit the ship, snapping a mast.
Civilians who had climbed aboard screamed and scattered, fleeing the swaying vessel in panic.
From the shore, people saw over a dozen small ships appear at sea, their cannons blazing and bombarding the judicial ship.
Franky's expression shifted from surprise to horror. The ships… were all ones he had built himself. Each carried his name in bold letters.
He stood frozen, watching as the harbor was attacked by a fleet of his own creation. Civilians ran everywhere.
"Run! Get back to the city!"
"Help! My son's trapped underneath!"
Seeing the suffering civilians, kind-hearted Kurumi couldn't stand it. "Eric-, let's help them!"
"You and Da Vinci go. I need to record the World Government's crimes." Eric lifted his video Den Den Mushi. "Ordinary rescue efforts won't help those suffering all over the world."
"Captain, what a noble goal. I'll be waiting to see it achieved."
"Such great ambition, Eric-. You truly are the one I set my eyes on."
Kurumi and Da Vinci nodded to each other, then leapt from the rooftop to rescue civilians injured by cannon fire.
Eric also blinked onto one of the Franky ships, concealed himself, and aimed his video snail at the black-suited spies.
"Pressure Fist!" Da Vinci activated her mechanical arm, punching a heavy timber off a trapped civilian.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" The woman hugged her son and quickly fled the danger zone.
"Who… is using my ships?" Franky stood frozen, repeating the question.
"Ugh!" Gritting his teeth, Franky ran toward Ship Graveyard Island. He realized he had to catch the ones using his ships to attack—or he'd never be able to explain himself.
As the judicial ship began to sink, a CP5 member picked up a transceiver and reported, "Judicial ship assault plan succeeded."
Naturally, the video Den Den Mushi recorded everything.
On the other end, Spandam's repulsive voice came through: "Excellent. Proceed to the next step. This was a necessary sacrifice for justice."
"Yes, sir!"
That conversation was also saved…
Spandam stood on high ground, watching the burning ship below with a wicked grin. "Hehehe… Now, let's begin the trial, Tom's Workers!"
(END CHAPTER)
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