Chapter 159: The Wanted Spandam (Part 1)
"I'm innocent!" Spandam shouted as two marines held him by the arms. He struggled wildly and yelled, "It was a necessary sacrifice for the sake of justice!"
Tom, Iceburg, and Franky had already been released from their shackles. They stood to the side, watching Spandam being dragged away.
Still, Spandam kept screaming, "It was for justice! For justice! I did this to end the Great Pirate Era!"
"What's he talking about? Ending the Great Pirate Era?"
"What does attacking a judicial ship have to do with ending that?"
The nearby citizens were confused and began to chatter, debating the connection between the two.
In that moment, Eric's voice sounded in Deidara 's ear. "Detonate a few of the explosive clay charges. Then send your flea-sized clay bombs to the two marines escorting Spandam. Don't make them too strong—just enough to knock them out."
"Hm? Got it! Ha!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions suddenly erupted in the crowd. Red liquid sprayed in all directions, some of it warm and splashing onto the terrified faces of nearby civilians.
"Ahh!"
"Eek!"
The sudden bombings caused screams to echo across the port. Those civilians who'd been tagged by the flea-shaped explosives exploded violently, their remains shocking the onlookers into pale-faced silence.
At that moment, Eric—now wearing a skintight suit stripped from one of the captured agents—stood on a rooftop and shouted through a megaphone:
"Captain Spandam! We've launched a terror attack on the citizens of Water 7 to create chaos. Take this chance to escape, sir!"
"S-stop it…" Spandam's lips trembled, his face ghost-white from fear.
Earlier, he'd ordered the judicial ship attack to frame Tom and secure the Pluton blueprints. Even if he was arrested for the bombing, he figured the Five Elders might excuse him in light of his "mission." His career might suffer, but he wouldn't be imprisoned.
But this time—killing civilians in front of the presiding judge during a courtroom trial—that couldn't be swept under the rug.
The judge pointed at Eric and ordered, "Capture him! Don't let him escape!"
"Yes, sir!"
Dozens of marines opened fire. More swarmed from every direction, surrounding the building beneath Eric.
'Wait… if everyone here dies… then I might escape with a clean slate. I can even pin the attack back on Tom! My mission isn't over yet!' Spandam concocted another vile plan.
He clenched his eyes shut and began wishing frantically:
"Explode! Explode! Kill them all! For the sake of my career, my power—die, you fools! My path to promotion cannot end here!"
"My father was the former CP9 director Spandine! I won't let my career end like this!"
He accidentally said his inner thoughts out loud.
"Hey! What are you doing? Don't move!" One of the marines holding Spandam noticed his tense arms. It looked like he was about to try to escape.
With his subordinate now staging a terrorist attack, and Eric yelling for him to flee, the guards instantly raised their rifles to stop him.
"Hands up! Walk ahead!"
They kept their fingers on the triggers, ready to shoot if he made one wrong move.
"I—I got it! Just be careful not to misfire!" Spandam raised his hands high, trembling as he walked forward.
The two marines followed closely, rifles trained on his back.
Using [Mind Net], Eric was speechless. These marines were beyond dumb. It would've been better to each bind one of Spandam's hands—no chance of escape that way.
'But thanks to these idiots, my plan can still work.'
'Come on, you useless fools! Create more chaos! Let me escape!' Spandam cursed his agents internally. 'Once I get out of here, I'll demote you all and dock your pay!'
As if answering his wish, Eric said into his communicator, "Deidara , show them your brilliant art."
[Deidara 's Affection Level Greatly Increased. Bond Level 1 (Ordinary Friend) → 2 (Close Friend). You gained 1 Bond Point.]
"I love your praise, Boss. My art is unmatched! Hm. Art is explosion! Ha!"
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
A storm of synchronized explosions went off—the flea bombs all detonated at once.
Thick white smoke from the blasts quickly engulfed the entire port.
"Aaaahhh!"
The shrieks of the wounded filled the air as civilians fell in waves.
The two marines escorting Spandam were blasted away by Deidara 's clay bombs. Spandam immediately realized, 'This is my chance to escape!'
He darted off, using the smoke as cover.
"Deidara ! Capture Spandam inside the mouth of one of your clay Tsuru s!"
"You really know how to use people, huh? Hm."
"What?!" Spandam had only just taken a few steps when he ran straight into Deidara .
"It's your fault my plan failed!" Spandam threw a punch at him in rage.
"Your strength and speed are worse than most men. Hm." Deidara dodged easily and drove a punch into Spandam's gut.
"Gugh—"
The delicate and pampered Spandam fell to his knees, clutching his stomach.
"So weak. He'd probably die if I used any real force. Not easy to take him alive. Hm."
Deidara created a clay Tsuru and had it swallow Spandam whole.
"What is this?! He—!"
The Tsuru 's beak clamped shut, cutting off Spandam's cries.
"Have your Tsuru fly you and Da Vinci out of here. Don't forget to toss the video snail to the judge. Head back to Ship Graveyard Island—we'll regroup there."
"Okay~"
Da Vinci and Deidara leapt onto the Tsuru 's back and took off through the smoke.
"Catch!" Da Vinci tossed the video Den Den Mushi to the judge. "This is the evidence of Spandam's attack on the judicial ship!"
Catching it, the judge muttered, "Just who are you people…"
Minutes later, the smoke cleared. The area was a mess—debris from the explosions and abandoned belongings littered the ground.
The injured lay groaning in pain.
"Where's Spandam?! Where is he?!"
The furious crowd searched for the mastermind behind the chaos.
"And his accomplice…" Some marines lifted their heads, scanning for Eric.
But he had already blinked away from the rooftop.
…
"Mr. Eric, we're truly grateful."
Tom, Iceburg, and Franky returned home and met Eric and his crew.
"No need to thank me. But from now on, be careful. Others will come for the Pluton blueprints."
Hearing Eric mention Pluton, the three of them looked shocked.
"Mr. Eric… how do you know about that…?"
"Relax. I'm curious about a ship that can destroy an island with one blast, but something like that wouldn't benefit anyone. I trust my comrades and my own power more."
Iceburg visibly relaxed. If Eric had used their gratitude to demand the blueprints, he wouldn't have known how to respond.
But if Eric had done that… he'd be no better than Spandam.
Tom looked pained—many Water 7 citizens were hurt because of him.
Eric didn't offer comfort. Those same citizens had mocked and cursed his crew.
But he still told Tom, "Mr. Tom, now that the World Government knows about the blueprints, they'll stop at nothing to obtain them. This won't be the last attempt—they'll frame you again."
"You shouldn't stay in Water 7. It's too dangerous for you and your apprentices."
Iceburg stepped forward. "Mr. Eric, that's…"
"Hahaha," Tom laughed, cutting him off. "You're right. I've done my part for Water 7. I can leave with peace of mind."
Iceburg and Franky both tried to stop him. "Mr. Tom…"
"Don't worry. I won't leave right away. I'll teach you everything first. Then I'll return to Fish-Man Island."
Only then did they relax a bit.
Eric changed the subject. "Franky, do you want to become stronger?"
"Huh?" Franky blinked. "What for?"
"So next time something like this happens, you'll be able to step up and protect Mr. Tom and Iceburg yourself."
Franky thought for a while, then nodded seriously. "Please teach me, Eric-. I want to become stronger!"
"Then come with me."
Eric turned to the others. "Don't worry. I'll bring Franky back in one piece."
(END CHAPTER)
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