Chapter 150: Message from Fanky
Spandam chuckled.
"Mr. Tom, you had two young apprentices with you, didn't you?"
Tom frowned.
He did not know why Spandam had suddenly brought up Franky and Iceberg, but he still answered, "This has nothing to do with those two. They were already cleared of guilt. Besides, they don't know the answer to what you're asking."
"Oh? So you're indirectly admitting you know about the Ancient Weapon Pluton?"
Spandam grinned.
"Of course I know they don't know. How could you hand something like that to two young brats? I only wanted to tell you something."
He tilted his head, pretending to think.
"What was that arrogant little fool's name again?"
Tom's expression sank.
"Franky."
"Ah, right. Franky."
Spandam's smile widened.
"I have news about him. That brat attacked the Sea Train while yelling, 'Give Mr. Tom back!'"
He spread his arms and imitated the scene with exaggerated enthusiasm, as if he were performing on stage.
Tom did not look at him.
He only lowered his head and muttered, "That idiot."
It sounded like a curse, but there was no blame in it.
Memories rose in Tom's mind, and for a moment, a faint sadness crossed his face.
If he revealed the whereabouts of Pluton, perhaps he really could return to his old life.
But he had no intention of doing so.
If that weapon fell into the hands of someone like Spandam, it would become a disaster for the world. He would never allow the crystallized wisdom of generations of shipwrights to be tainted by such a man.
If his death could prevent that, then it was worth it.
Spandam finished his ridiculous performance and sneered.
"And now for the good news. He wasn't sentenced."
Tom's eyes shifted.
For a brief moment, relief passed through him.
Franky had been abandoned by his parents when he was still young. Tom had long since regarded him as his own child. No matter what happened to himself, he did not want that boy to be dragged into this dark, hopeless place with him.
Spandam leaned closer, savoring Tom's reaction.
"Not only that, Franky will never be sentenced. Do you want to know why?"
Tom's heart tightened.
"What do you mean?"
"You heard me earlier, didn't you? He attacked the Sea Train. But the way he did it was truly laughable."
Spandam's grin became cruel.
"He tried to stop it with his bare hands."
He threw his head back and laughed.
"Hahaha! That idiot is probably fish food by now."
Clang!
A deafening crash shook the interrogation room.
The chains embedded in the wall snapped as Tom surged forward.
His body was covered in wounds. Iron chains still wrapped around him. Yet in that instant, he charged at the reinforced cage with the strength of a raging beast.
His bare body slammed into the steel bars.
The supposedly indestructible steel pillars bent inward.
Even the foundation connecting the cage to the floor and wall cracked under the impact, dragging the entire cage forward several meters before it finally stopped right in front of Spandam.
Tom wanted to kill him.
If nothing else, before he died, he wanted to kill this man for Franky.
But his body would not obey him any further.
Weakness crept through his limbs. His wounds pulled open, and the chains dragged against his flesh. He remained pressed against the bent steel bars, unable to reach the repulsive man just beyond them.
Spandam had fallen backward in fright.
His subordinates were not much better. The violent tremor had almost knocked them off their feet, and for a moment, no one could help him.
When Spandam finally raised his head, Tom's face was right in front of him, separated only by the warped steel.
Ferocious.
Furious.
Filled with killing intent.
Tom's bared teeth and bloodshot eyes made Spandam's entire body go cold. The killing intent seemed almost tangible, prickling against his skin like needles.
Only then did Spandam remember.
Tom was not human.
He was a fish-man.
He had heard rumors before that fish-men ate people.
Were those rumors true?
The thought of those sharp teeth biting down on him sent a chill straight through his spine.
Still sitting on the floor, Spandam scrambled backward on his hands and feet. In his panic, he knocked over even his treasured cup, but he no longer had the mind to care.
He kept retreating until he was nearly ten meters away.
Only then did he stop, breathing hard.
"Monster…"
He swallowed, then shouted at his subordinates.
"We've starved him for days, and his wounds haven't even been treated. How does he still have this much strength?"
The men around him did not dare answer.
Spandam forced himself to stand and snapped, "Keep starving him for a few more days. But don't let him die. We still haven't gotten the blueprints. Watch him carefully!"
He straightened his clothes, pretending nothing had happened.
Unfortunately, his disgrace had already been seen by both his subordinates and the Marines who had rushed in after hearing the commotion.
After Spandam left, the interrogation room became quiet again.
Tom slowly sank back down.
The anger drained from his body, leaving only exhaustion.
He could not believe Franky was dead.
That child should have had a bright future.
Instead, he had died because of him.
Tom lowered his head.
He was the sinner.
Elsewhere, Axel's fleet sailed toward Enies Lobby.
Before long, they arrived at the first island, the front island. A large number of Marine soldiers were stationed there, and because notice had been sent in advance, several Marines were already waiting to receive them.
"Captain Axel."
A Marine officer stepped forward and saluted.
"The judge sent me to welcome you."
His gaze shifted briefly toward the many Marines aboard the warship, and he added, "However, the number of accompanying personnel must be limited. Please keep it under ten people if possible."
Axel did not object.
It would be more convenient with fewer people anyway.
In the end, he brought only Levi with him.
Originally, Axel had planned to leave Levi at the base to help manage affairs in his absence, but Levi had insisted on coming. Since he was determined, Axel did not stop him.
Enies Lobby was called an island, but in truth, it was closer to three connected areas.
First was the front island, guarded by large numbers of soldiers.
Beyond that was the courthouse, where prisoners were supposedly judged and their fates decided. But since Enies Lobby's founding, no prisoner had ever entered and left alive.
The verdict was obvious before the trial began.
Guilty.
And last was the Tower of Justice, where offices and council chambers were located.
Along the way, at the second main gate, Axel saw the giants Oimo and Kashii.
Their huge bodies towered twenty or thirty meters high, packed with explosive muscle. Merely standing there, they were a stunning sight.
Axel remembered their story.
Oimo and Kashii had been deceived by the government. They were told that their captains had been arrested and that if they guarded Enies Lobby for a hundred years, the government would release them.
Because of that lie, they had guarded this place for over forty years.
Axel did not expose the truth now.
Doing so would be almost brainless.
It would be no different from inciting them to rebel on the spot, and that would not help his current situation or Tom's rescue in the slightest.
After passing through the second gate without obstruction, they continued forward on foot.
The walk took some time.
At last, Axel and Levi arrived at their destination.
The Tower of Justice.
…..
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I Became the Alien God in Tokyo