The uprising in Water 7 ultimately didn't escalate into anything concrete.
Thanks to the reassurances of the two Marine officers and Iceburg's calming influence, the shipwrights eventually abandoned their plan to collectively march on Enies Lobby.
But... simply handing Tom over didn't sit right with them either.
So they decided to select a group of respected shipwrights and influential figures from Water 7 to accompany Iceburg and Franky to Enies Lobby...
Of course, Franky had insisted on coming himself.
"I already told you to go back and hide what needs hiding... Why didn't you listen?"
"That thing you ntioned—I burned it long ago." Franky shrugged under Iceburg's stunned gaze.
"But trust , I've morized every detail of those blueprints."
"You..." Iceburg had been ready to scold his reckless junior, but seeing the determination in his eyes, he sighed.
"Fine, co if you must. But rember—we don't have any blueprints."
"I know."
Franky grinned, then resolutely boarded Iceburg's ship.
"Once we bring Tom back, I'll kneel and apologize if you want."
*****
"So not only are the Five Elders is coming, but Iceburg and the local elites and shipwrights are coming here too?"
"Correct."
"Hurry! Secure the entrance to the sea train station at Enies Lobby!"
"Ensure everyone's safety... Even if they have blood feuds between parents, we must make both sides temporarily reconcile... At least within the bounds of Enies Lobby, maintain a state of peace!"
The temporary commander of the Enies Lobby garrison wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
It had only been an hour, and he already missed Shu and T-Bone.
Shaking his head, he turned to the soldiers behind him and asked.
"Is the Judgent venue ready?"
"It's prepared inside the Enies Lobby hall."
"No, we must change the location. There's no way we can accommodate so many people with this turnout," the temporary commander said worriedly.
"This ti, many big shots are coming... Wait, what about that open-air Judgent field that's been treated as a relic and tourist attraction... Clear it out imdiately!"
"Ah, really? Are you sure about this?"
"You don't have to trust on other matters, but when it cos to political sensitivity, you'd better stay in step with ... Otherwise, I fear you'll end up with nowhere to bury your bodies."
...
"Vice Admiral Michael is heading to Enies Lobby to interfere in the case of the world's greatest shipwright and accomplice of the Pirate King?"
"If what Shu and T-Bone said is true... then yes."
Seeing Bellere nod, Rosinante's gaze grew even more profound.
"Bellere, boss... We're going too."
"Huh? Why should we go?" Bellere raised an eyebrow.
"We're not related to Tom the shipwright in any way."
"But this is sothing big that Michael is involved in... I have to witness it myself."
Bellere sighed at Rosinante's determination.
"Fine, fine, I give up. We'll set off now, alright?"
As soon as Bellere finished speaking, the door beside them burst open.
"Bellere! Where are you going? We're coming too!"
"Yeah, yeah! We're coming! We're not little kids anymore—we can't just stay cooped up in the Marine base all the ti!"
It was Nojiko and Nami, rushing in like a whirlwind.
"We want to see what the legendary Enies Lobby looks like too!"
"Hey! You brats, don't just barge into the Alabasta branch office like that!"
Two voices rang out simultaneously from outside the door, followed by hands grabbing Nojiko and Nami by the scruffs of their necks.
"Hina, Smoker, perfect timing," Rosinante said with a smile. "You haven't been to Enies Lobby either, right?"
"...Wait, Rosinante, we just picked up smoking... Is that really worth sending us to Enies Lobby for?"
...
"Move out! Full deploynt!"
"Prepare the Perfu Yuda for standby!"
Since joining the Marines, the Perfu Yuda had transford from a pirate ship into the signature vessel of the 'Empress' branch.
It answered only to Hancock herself.
And now, she was urging her Marine subordinates to prepare for departure.
"Is all this excitent really necessary?" Gloriossa muttered, puzzled.
"Even if it's related to the legendary Pirate King... in the end, it's only tangentially connected at best."
"Hancock isn't concerned about the so-called Pirate King at all—it's all because of Michael," Shakky said with a laugh.
"Given Michael's personality, once he starts swaggering around the seas, deliberately drawing all the spotlight onto himself... it ans he's definitely planning sothing big. So it's not just our Empress who wants to see it—even I'm very interested."
...
Egghead Island.
"What... are you two planning to do?" Vegapunk asked, puzzled, as he watched Crocodile and Stella prepare to leave.
"Did sothing happen to Michael?"
"No, to be precise, Michael is about to make sothing happen."
"Oh, I see." Vegapunk nodded with his enormous, still-attached head.
"I've long admired Michael from afar... Though we've never actually t, our few conversations have been quite pleasant."
"Please tell him that once this is over, I'd like him to visit Egghead... There are so questions I'd like to ask him."
"I'll try."
With that, Stella transford into a Cloud and drifted into the sky alongside the swirling sand...
"Don't just 'try'... I've been waiting for this for a long ti." Vegapunk's mind wandered to his recent, repeatedly failed research on the Lineage Factor.
...
"Have Fujitora, Momousagi, and Chaton returned yet?"
"After receiving your notice, we spared no effort and rushed back imdiately."
As the ssenger finished speaking, the three figures walked in through the door.
Sengoku didn't stop them.
Nodding at everyone present, he said, "All of you, co with to Enies Lobby."
"Let's see how Michael handles this matter."
"And while we're at it, I'll make you understand exactly why Tom must not die!"
"Under... what pretext are we going?"
"The Five Elders are going for an inspection. As for us... we're attending a judicial re-education course for high-ranking military officials."
"You're really sothing."
Hearing this, Kizaru gave a thumbs up.
"No wonder you're that guy foster father."
"Like father, like son huh."
-----------------------------
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