The Grand Line, Water 7.

At the port, the workers who had just finished their tasks sat on the steps, gazing out at the sea.

Seagulls flew in flocks, circling above the port, until suddenly someone noticed something.

“Hey! Look over there!”

“What a huge ship!”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a government judicial ship!”

“A judicial ship?”

“That’s a mobile courtroom.”

“I wonder who they’re here to judge.”

“Come on, let’s go take a look!”

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

…

Before long, the crowd followed the judicial ship from afar to the home of the world’s greatest shipwright, the fish-man Tom.

A tall, heavyset fish-man was being escorted out. Two boys rushed out behind him, only to be blocked by the soldiers.

“Stop! What do you think you’re doing!”

“Give Tom-san back to us!!!”

The restrained fish-man, Tom, turned around and burst into hearty laughter:

“It’s alright, don’t worry.”

“Hahahahahaha!!!”

A young Franky shouted:

“Tom-san!!!!”

The fish-man Tom was led away, getting further and further…

…

Judicial Ship.

Inside the mobile courtroom.

A Marine officer was reading out the judgment:

“For constructing the ship used by the recently executed Pirate King, Gol D. Roger…”

“The Oro Jackson.”

“And for aiding a world-class criminal…”

“Shipwright Tom is to be transferred to Enies Lobby…”

“And sentenced to death!”

Just having squeezed into the crowd, Franky’s eyes widened in disbelief as he heard the verdict.

People at the doorway passed the news outward.

“This is bad! Tom… Tom is going to be executed!!!”

“The charge is building a ship for the Pirate King!!!”

There was an uproar among the gathered onlookers.

“So that day finally came, huh.”

“After all, he caused trouble for the world. There’s nothing to be done.”

“What a shame.”

…

Inside the courtroom.

The tall and thin chief judge began to summarize the case:

“Normally, a shipwright selling a ship to a client is not a crime.”

“But the Pirate King is a special case.”

“Anyone even remotely connected to his pirating actions is considered a dangerous individual.”

“Thus, the sentence is death.”

He struck the small gavel:

“Take the criminal away.”

Several soldiers stepped forward to drag fish-man Tom, but he didn’t budge an inch.

Fish-man Tom stood his ground, staring directly at the judge:

“I am currently…”

“Conceiving a steam-powered paddle ship that can travel on ocean rails.”

“This island’s current decline is due to unsatisfying business activity.”

“The disheartened citizens are uneasy about this island that might sink at any moment.”

“The inauguration of the Sea Train…”

“Will one day save this Water 7.”

The tall and thin judge remained silent for a long time.

“A Sea Train, huh…”

Fish-man Tom continued:

“That’s right.”

“A ship that travels from one island to another.”

“Spewing smoke, running along sea rails.”

“Whether for passengers or cargo, it won’t be affected by weather.”

“Anyone could freely traverse the ocean.”

“I’m also working on a way to make the rails and the car body emit a sound that sea kings hate.”

“That way, sea kings won’t approach the tracks.”

“As long as we can connect islands via the Sea Train…”

“All kinds of trade can proceed smoothly, and the islands will quickly develop.”

“The blueprints are almost done.”

The tall and thin judge suddenly asked:

“Can it reach Enies Lobby?”

Fish-man Tom replied:

“Of course.”

“Once this technology is completed, people will be able to cross the seas with ease.”

“Before long, islands all over the world will be able to connect.”

This grand blueprint made even the seasoned Marine officers in the courtroom gulp as they pictured the vision…

The tall and thin judge stared at him and asked:

“How many years would it take to build?”

Fish-man Tom answered solemnly:

“Ten years.”

The judge took a deep breath:

“Then let’s see it built!”

“Shipwright Tom, for the creation of the Sea Train…”

“Sentenced to ten years of probation!”

Bang—

The gavel struck. The trial was over.

The island erupted…!!!

“Whoaaa!!!!!!”

“That’s amazing!!!”

“Good luck, Tom!!”

“Save Water 7!!!!”

“Hahahaha!!!”

…

Evening.

Fish-man Tom celebrated with his two apprentices over a meal:

“Hahahahahaha!!!”

“Made it through in one piece!”

Fish-woman Kokoro brought out a new dish:

“This really isn’t the time to be laughing, Tom-san.”

“Just thinking about what almost happened sends chills down my spine.”

“But if everything goes well, maybe they’ll forget about Roger.”

Young Iceburg looked up to him in awe:

“As expected of Tom-san!”

“To come up with something so incredible!!!”

“Everyone was stunned!”

Bang—

Franky slammed his empty bowl on the table.

He turned to a person-sized frog and said:

“Let’s go, Yokozuna!”

“Time to teach you freestyle swimming!”

Iceburg protested:

“You’ve been sulking all day. What are you even trying to do, Franky!!!”

Franky shouted back:

“Gol D. Roger’s ship circled the entire Grand Line.”

“It’s a one-of-a-kind ship in the world.”

“But the one who built such a legendary ship, Tom-san…”

“Why does he have to be sentenced to death!!!!”

“And the spectators actually said it was only natural!”

“A bunch of fools who probably couldn’t even build a raft!!!”

“Just because he built a ship for Roger, he’s being ostracized.”

“Our company has to live under a bridge.”

“Why does the world’s greatest shipwright have to suffer this kind of fate!!!”

But fish-man Tom said nothing, only laughing heartily:

“Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!”

An angry Franky jumped onto the table, shaking Tom by the collar, while Iceburg got up to restrain him. Tom just kept laughing.

The whole restaurant descended into a playful brawl…

…

Mobile courtroom, judicial ship.

The tall and thin judge gazed in the direction of Water 7, silent for a long time.

A CP agent beside him couldn’t help but remind him:

“Chief Judge-sama, this mission…”

The judge slowly closed his eyes:

“This mission, I’ll personally report to the Elder-sama and ask for forgiveness.”

“But if, because of some ridiculous crime…”

“We end up limiting the world’s progress and destroying the people’s hope…”

“Then I… would become a criminal throughout the ages…”

…

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Dong—dong—dong—…

The melodious sound of the bell rang out eight times, signaling the start of a new year and gratitude for the year past.

Sakazuki listened to the bells from the window, set down his newspaper, and handed it to Karol:

“A new year, huh.”

“Hmph.”

“There are some sharp minds in the government.”

Karol raised an eyebrow:

“Oh?”

He took the newspaper and saw the bold headline.

“After the fall of the Golden Lion, when will the third Emperor of the Sea rise?”

Karol seemed to understand:

“An Emperor, huh.”

Sakazuki stood up and looked at the falling snow outside:

“To give pirates the title of Emperor…”

“Which pirate could resist such a temptation?”

“The pirates in the New World will probably bash each other’s brains out.”

—

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