Unbeknownst to any of the key players, Doflamingo and his crew slipped away from the island of discord, once again setting their course for the open sea.
Two days later, Admiral Kizaru, acting on orders from Fleet Admiral Sengoku, arrived in Water 7 with his typical unhurried haste. He smoothly retrieved the blueprints from Spandam and, declining the man's obsequious invitation to stay, immediately set off on his return journey.
At the docks, Spandam watched Kizaru's departing ship with a thrill of excitement.
Back in the office, Rob Lucci made a point of meeting with him.
"Chief Spandam, now that the mission is complete, should we prepare to withdraw?" Lucci asked, standing beside his superior. As their direct commander, CP9 wouldn't make a move without his orders.
"Lucci?" Spandam leaned back in his chair, looking down on the perfectly postured agent with a scrutinizing gaze.
Lucci remained silent, his expression a mask of cold indifference.
"Fine. Just wait for now," Spandam decided after a moment's thought, waving a dismissive hand. "Wait until I've left, then you can all withdraw at your own pace."
"Understood, Chief," Lucci replied coolly.
"Then you're dismissed."
Lucci was more than happy to accept the order, turning and walking out the door without a hint of hesitation. His comrades, who had been waiting outside, quickly gathered around him.
"Lucci, do you really think Chief Spandam completed the mission?" one of them whispered. "Somehow, I find it hard to believe."
"Yeah, he doesn't seem like he has that kind of skill," another added.
The agents muttered amongst themselves.
"As long as the mission is complete, that's all that matters," Lucci stated flatly. "Anything else is not our concern, nor should it be."
"Haha, you've got a point."
"Lucci's right!"
The others laughed it off, dropping the subject. After all, speaking ill of a superior was never a good idea.
While Kizaru was making his way back to the Holy Land, Mariejois, Franky was beginning to make his move. His situation, however, was miserable. The people of Water 7 were convinced he was responsible for Tom's fate. Whenever he showed his face, he was met with angry shouts and reports to the Marines, a constant barrage that left him utterly wretched.
Of course, Franky paid no mind to the citizens' accusations. His entire focus was on rescuing Tom. But before he could even get close to where Tom was being held, he was driven away by the Navy guards.
As Franky returned from his failed attempt, Iceburg received a grim piece of news: in three days, Tom would be transported to Enies Lobby to stand trial.
With every citizen on the island refusing to help him, Franky was cut off from any information about Tom. Defeated, he had no choice but to seek out Iceburg again.
"Franky, you should just be lying low right now! Stop causing more trouble," Iceburg snapped the moment he saw him.
"Iceburg, Mr. Tom is still suffering, and you want me to just lie low? How could I possibly do that?" Franky shot back. "And I'm not causing trouble! I'm trying to save him!"
"Don't you get it? You're public enemy number one in Water 7 right now!" Iceburg yelled. "Besides us, everyone thinks you're the one who doomed Mr. Tom!"
"So what if they do? I'd die if it meant I could save Mr. Tom!" Franky's voice was resolute, ignoring Iceburg's plea. "You don't have to persuade me, Iceburg. We know each other too well for that. Just tell me, is there any news about Mr. Tom?"
Iceburg sighed heavily. "In three days, they're taking him to Enies Lobby for his trial."
"What?! No way! Mr. Tom didn't do it, so why is he pleading guilty?!" Franky roared.
"Franky, this is far more complicated than you think. It's not something you can solve. Don't be reckless," Iceburg warned.
"You have your way, Iceburg, and I have mine," Franky said, his voice trembling with the force of his conviction. "I don't care what secrets are hiding in the shadows. All that matters to me is that Mr. Tom absolutely cannot die."
Without waiting for a response, Franky turned and stormed out. He went to find his old partner, the giant frog Yokozuna, and began planning an interception.
At the Holy Land, Mariejois, the Five Elders eagerly examined the Pluton blueprints delivered by Kizaru. But as they looked them over, their brows furrowed. The more they studied the designs, the more something felt wrong.
They had Kizaru take the blueprints to Dr. Vegapunk, the scientist whose intellect was said to be 500 years ahead of humanity's. The message that came back from Vegapunk was a bitter disappointment.
The Pluton blueprints were fake. That idiot Spandam had been duped and hadn't even realized it.
Their faces dark with fury, one of the Elders angrily dialed Spandam's Den Den Mushi.
"Lord Elders!" Spandam answered, his voice brimming with an excitement anyone could hear. He was naively anticipating what kind of reward the Five Elders would bestow upon him when a furious roar erupted from the other end.
"Spandam, you fool! Look at this mess you've made! You were deceived and you didn't even know it! The Pluton blueprints are fake!"
"What?"
The harsh reality shattered his fantasy. Spandam was stunned.
"Lord Elders, th-this... this can't be right! Tom handed them to me personally!" he stammered.
"It's obvious he never intended to hand them over. He went to great lengths just to deceive us."
"Yes, yes! That damned old fish-man! What a sinister plot!" Spandam quickly agreed.
"Enough. Where is Tom now? Is he dead?" one of the Elders asked, his voice regaining its cold composure.
"Not yet. But he's about to be put on trial," Spandam replied.
"Spandam, we are giving you one more chance. Do not disappoint us again. Otherwise, you can forget about your position as Chief of CP9," the Elder threatened.
"Yes, yes! I will not let you down, my lords!" Spandam promised frantically.
After hanging up, Spandam's face was a dark cloud of rage. He immediately went to Tom and began a harsh interrogation, but it was useless. No matter how much Spandam tortured him, the old fish-man refused to say a word.
"Fine, fine! You old bastard, just you wait for your death! I refuse to believe you didn't leave the real plans behind somewhere!" Spandam snarled in frustration before storming away.
Receiving new orders from Spandam, Lucci and the others gathered in the office once more.
"Lucci, your mission is to continue," Spandam said, his face grim. "The Five Elders have confirmed the blueprints are fake. I suspect that old bastard Tom gave the real ones to his apprentices. I want you to watch them closely."
"Understood, Chief," Lucci said coolly, ignoring Spandam's foul mood.
Once they left the office, Blueno and the others started talking again.
"Haha, I knew it wouldn't be that simple!" Jabra said cheerfully.
"Jabra, how can you be so happy about this? You know this just means more work for us!" Kumadori sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Alright, alright, I get it," Jabra said with a helpless shrug.
"Enough. Let's continue the mission," Lucci interrupted, taking command. "My target is Iceburg. The rest of you can keep an eye on that 'Franky' fellow."
"Understood!"
Lucci's authority was absolute, and the others, even Jabra, obeyed without question.
In his office, Spandam agonized. Should he make the call? If he told Doflamingo the blueprints were fake, wouldn't his life be forfeit?
Ultimately, he steeled himself and dialed the number. He knew that even if he didn't tell Doflamingo, the man would find out from other sources. It was better to just confess.
"Is this Joker?"
"It is. What is it?"
"Well, Joker... the blueprints I got... they're fake," Spandam said, his voice barely a whisper.
"Fuffuffu... Spandam, aren't you supposed to be so clever? How could you be so careless?" Doflamingo's voice was dripping with cold mockery. "You were smart enough to copy the blueprints, giving one to the World Government to secure power and the other to me to save your own skin. How could you not know if they were real or fake?"
"Joker, I, uh... I just..." Spandam stammered, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"You don't need to say anything more. Keep your little schemes to yourself, Spandam. Remember that your life is in my hands."
"I know, I know! Joker, please spare me this one time! I won't do it again!" Spandam begged.
"Remember this lesson, Spandam. Now go on and be a good little CP9 Chief," Doflamingo instructed.
"I will, I will!" Spandam wiped the sweat from his brow, finally able to breathe again.
"That's all."
With that warning, Doflamingo ended the unnecessary call.
Aboard the ark, Doflamingo took a drink handed to him by Monet and drained it in one gulp, a cunning glint flashing in his eyes.
I hope Spandam continues to be as reliably useful as ever, he thought to himself, gazing out at the endless sea.
The humiliated and terrified Spandam was a bundle of nerves, unable to get comfortable no matter how he sat in his chair.
"Damn you, Tom!" he cursed, shifting all the blame onto the fish-man.
A few days later, Tom boarded his own creation, the Puffing Tom, and was transported to Enies Lobby for his trial. Franky was waiting for the sea train, ready to launch his attack.
But how could one man's strength possibly stand against the might of the sea train? The outcome was inevitable. Franky was grievously wounded, left on the brink of death. With Yokozuna's help, he escaped that ill-fated place to seek help from Iceburg.
As for Mr. Tom, he could not escape the pull of destiny. He went to his death with honor.
In the years that followed, to survive, Cutty Flam rebuilt his shattered body into a cyborg and took the name 'Franky.' He lived in the shadows of Water 7, waiting for a chance to take revenge on the World Government for his master.
Meanwhile, Iceburg successfully merged Tom's Workers with all the other shipbuilding companies in Water 7. With financial backing from Doflamingo, he founded the Galley-La Company, became the mayor of Water 7, and carried on the ideals inherited from Mr. Tom.
One day, however, Iceburg discovered that the blueprints Tom had entrusted to him had been swapped for fakes. He instantly recognized the danger he was in, but there was nothing he could do. He could only pretend that nothing had happened. Though wracked with guilt, he carried on with his life, not showing a hint of what he knew.
It wasn't until the day he was nearly assassinated by his own beautiful secretary that he finally understood: the World Government had been watching him all along.
Iceburg, Franky... Doflamingo will ensure you walk the paths fate has laid out for you. Enjoy this hard-won peace while it lasts.
_______
+60 chapters on: patreon.com/Shinobi_Scrolls