Chapter 662 Director Vic
"Iceberg! Flam! Are you willing to leave the Water City?"
Tom did not ask Kokoro and Yokozuna, as both the man and the frog would follow him, but he would respect the opinions of Iceberg and Franky no matter what choice they made. Even though the two were his apprentices, he could not force them. This was Tom's principle in life.
"I can go anywhere, but it would be even better if I could become a pirate with Vic!"
Franky had no worries about the upcoming crisis. With Vic, his ridiculously strong fellow apprentice, around, they would not be in danger. He had long wanted to become a pirate, and he believed that he had learned all of Tom's shipbuilding skills and could make a name for himself, so he naturally wanted to follow Vic as a pirate.
If Vic hadn't come, Tom would have been stabbed to death by a harpoon in a few days, just like in the original story, and Franky and Iceberg would have had nowhere to learn the craft of shipbuilding.
The fact that they were able to become top shipbuilders later on was enough to show that they were already able to stand on their own at that time. Even if they continued to build ships and practice at the same time, their foundation had been laid firmly. It didn't matter whether Tom led them or not.
"Iceberg! What about you?"
Seeing that Iceberg was struggling and didn't say anything, Tom continued to ask. He had no objection to Franky's choice. Franky and Iceberg were indeed ready to become apprentices. He had taught his two apprentices everything he knew. All he needed from then on was for them to accumulate experience in shipbuilding.
Franky has been clamoring to become a pirate for a long time, but Tom never takes it seriously. What one wants to do is a personal choice, just like the ships they build, it is the ship owner's choice whether to be a merchant ship or a pirate ship, and he only needs to build a good ship.
Here, he only teaches his disciples the craft of shipbuilding and the principles of being a human being, so that they can become outstanding men. As for what his disciples want to do after they have finished their studies, he does not care.
"Mr. Tom! I want to stay in Water City. You know the crisis Water City is facing. The sea level rises every year. In a few years, Water City will sink completely into the sea. This is my hometown. I don't want to see it sink into the sea. I want to stay here! Use the skills I have learned to change this outcome!"
Bingshan is a native of Water City. Seeing the sea level in his hometown rising every year, he feels a sense of urgency. After learning from Tom, he always wonders whether he can change the fate of Water City with what he has learned.
Now the master is leaving here, but he can't leave. Although Iceberg has some minor flaws, he is also righteous. So even though Iceberg has always disliked Vic, Vic has no ill feelings towards him, but admires him very much.
In terms of shipbuilding skills, Iceberg and Franky are equally matched. Franky is more emotional and free and easy than Iceberg, but Iceberg is better at major issues. If Iceberg really leaves this time, the Water City is doomed.
"Vic! Iceberg wants to stay in the Water City. Do you have any ideas?"
Since Franky's choice is respected, Iceberg's choice will be no exception. However, it will be dangerous if Iceberg wants to stay in Water City. If everyone else leaves and Iceberg is the only one left here, his fate will definitely not be good. Tom can only look at Vic for help. He doesn't want Iceberg to become a prisoner and be tortured because of him. In that case, he would rather not leave Water City and stand in front of his disciples!
"If you trust me, let me handle this matter!"
"please!"
Tom and his friends can only rely on Vic now. He is also glad that he did not refuse when Vic asked him to learn shipbuilding. Otherwise, without the master-disciple friendship, no one would rush to rescue him. Therefore, he has no objection to all of Vic's arrangements.
……
As the day of judgment approaches, Spandam finds that the people in Tom's studio no longer go out, and some of his plans cannot be implemented.
Without the small boats built by Franky, even if the Chief Justice came to the Water City, he would not be able to put the blame on others. In addition, since these people did not go out, other plans would be difficult to implement.
Since there were no loopholes, Spandam thought for a long time and chose the most direct way, which was to bring government agents to the door and use force. Anyway, they would win in terms of force, and this was the best way Spandam's simple mind could think of.
When Spandam and the CP9 agents broke into Tom's studio, they had already entered the illusion that Vic had woven for them.
What finally remained in their memory was that Tom was tortured and covered in wounds, but he just refused to give in. Franky was regarded as a threat to Tom and was stabbed to death with a finger gun. However, Tom still did not compromise. The Yokozuna escaped from the dock and swam directly into the sea.
When Iceberg, who they regarded as the second threat, was beaten half to death, Tom suddenly broke out and shook off the CP9 agent who was suppressing him. In front of everyone, he took out the design of Pluto from a secret compartment and walked into the burning sea of fire with Kokoro with a determined look on his face.
After that, the fire spread rapidly, and they could only escape from Tom's studio with Iceberg who was beaten half to death. Although there was still a survivor, according to the performance and conversation between Tom and his apprentice, his two disciples had no idea of the existence of Pluto's design drawings.
In order not to leak the design drawings, Tom went straight to his death, so even if there was a survivor, it would be of no use. This operation was considered a failure. Spandam kicked the unconscious Iceberg several times before leaving unwillingly. As for why he didn't kill Iceberg, maybe he still had a glimmer of hope!
If you want to put on a show, you have to do it in full. Tom's studio was really burned down. Many people nearby saw it with their own eyes. In the burned ruins there were three mummies that were burnt beyond recognition. Their shapes were similar to Tom, Kokoro, and Katie Frame.
These were of course the three evil pirates that Vic had prepared in advance. Later, many people saw a giant bullfrog rescue the unconscious Iceberg.
The injuries on the iceberg were caused by Vic's ability. They looked serious, but they were actually just external injuries. Tom's studio was about to be exonerated when the sea train was completed and people died and were injured. This really caused an uproar in the Water City and became a topic of conversation after dinner!
Wick respected Tom and Kokoro's decision, and the two returned to the Fishman Island where they were born to live in seclusion. As for Franky who wanted to join Wick's pirate group, Wick did not agree.
His pirate ship is made of alloy, which is impossible for Franky to repair. Even if it can be repaired, it will be very difficult. Only Wick can do it himself. Franky definitely does not want to stay in a pirate group that does nothing.
And Victor didn't want to take away Luffy's excellent shipbuilder, so he asked Franky to change his name and live in seclusion in Water City, while he himself left Water City directly.