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The Strongest Frost Loli (133)
🕑 Added 2024-09-30 17:00:08 +0000 UTCChapter 133 - Sea Train
There existed entities known as “Ancient Weapons.”
Weapons from a distant past, their creation shrouded in mystery, yet undeniably real.
One of them was called “Pluton.”
Some believed it still existed, while others believed only the blueprints remained. Those who knew of its existence sought the powerful Ancient Weapon.
The World Government was no exception.
“The blueprints of Pluton… So it truly exists,” one of the Five Elders remarked.
“Yes. Naturally, there are pirates who are after the blueprints. If it falls into the wrong hands, the World Government will be powerless to stop them,” a man replied.
The speaker was Spandam, the chief of Cipher Pol No. 5. He passionately argued that the World Government, possessing such a weapon, should be the one to put an end to the Great Pirate Era.
The Five Elders, listening to his report, agreed that there was merit to his words.
“…But first, we need to obtain the blueprints. Do you know who has them?”
“Yes, I’ve confirmed it’s in the possession of a shipwright in Water Seven – Tom.”
“Shipwright… Tom?”
One of the Five Elders raised an eyebrow.
He had heard the name. And it wasn't that long ago. He pondered for a moment, placing a hand on his forehead, trying to recall the details.
It was the shipwright who was sentenced to death for building Gold Roger’s ship, but was granted a stay of execution for creating the Sea Train.
“Tom, the creator of the Sea Train… I see. If the blueprints were passed down through generations, then he would be the most suitable candidate.”
“The ingenuity to conceive of a completely new form of transportation. The skills to realize it. A capable individual, indeed.”
“…You know of him?” Spandam asked, surprised.
He hadn't expected the Five Elders to know about a shipwright living in a single city like Water Seven. He was taken aback by their reaction.
The Five Elders all nodded.
“We know of him. We’re hoping he might be the one to change the current situation.”
The Sea Train was a revolutionary invention.
A new ship that could transport both cargo and people. It didn’t require a Log Pose, and since the tracks emitted a sound that repelled Sea Kings, it wouldn’t be attacked.
Above all, the Five Elders hoped it would challenge Twilight’s dominance in the shipping industry.
If the Sea Train became widespread, shipping would change. They hoped it would break their dependence on Twilight. That was why they had been keeping an eye on Tom.
“However, if he has the blueprints… We can’t act recklessly,” one of the Five Elders said.
“What?” Spandam exclaimed.
The blueprints of Pluton could potentially put an end to the Great Pirate Era. Such a powerful weapon was within their grasp, and yet, the Five Elders said they couldn't act recklessly.
Spandam couldn’t understand it.
“Why not?! If pirates obtain the blueprints of Pluton, we might not be able to stop them! We could lose everything!”
“That’s just a possibility. We don't underestimate the power of the Ancient Weapons, but even if we obtain the blueprints, it won’t matter if we can’t defeat the current threat.”
“With the Ancient Weapons, we might even be able to defeat Twilight! How can you even consider not obtaining it?!”
“Twilight’s influence has spread throughout the world. You speak of defeating them, but even if we obtain Pluton, we won’t be able to fight them.”
More precisely, they wouldn’t be able to fight them openly.
While Twilight was a pirate crew, they were also a trading company that handled essential shipping routes around the world. Even with a powerful weapon, even if they defeated most of the pirates, there was no guarantee that economic activity would continue as before.
Even if they could manage shipping without Twilight, the Grand Line was a treacherous sea. Simply navigating between islands was difficult, and currently, Twilight possessed all the necessary expertise.
The World Government couldn't afford to antagonize Twilight, not until they could gradually break their dependence.
“Do you understand? You seem to think defeating the pirates will solve everything, but the situation is more complex than that. It’s more beneficial for us to have Tom build several Sea Trains than to forcefully obtain the blueprints from him.”
Besides, Twilight also considered other pirates a nuisance. They had received reports from the Marines that Twilight ruthlessly crushed any pirates who interfered with their shipping routes.
They were working harder than the other Warlords. And since the World Government couldn’t afford to have them defect, they had no choice but to accept their demands.
…The fact that the more successful Twilight’s business was, the fewer people turned to piracy because they had stable jobs was almost laughable, but they couldn’t say anything.
Spandam clenched his fist in frustration.
But the issue of the Pluton blueprints remained a concern. They had to prevent them from falling into the hands of other pirates.
“We’re assigning you to Tom’s security detail. At the very least, we need him to build a few Sea Trains before he’s allowed to die.”
“We can provide the funds and materials. Twilight might have already intervened, but we want to maintain some influence.”
“…Understood,” Spandam said, gritting his teeth.
***
Crash!
Spandam kicked the desk, sending it flying across the room. He was furious that things weren’t going his way. His subordinates, unsure how to console him, simply exchanged glances, waiting for the storm to pass.
“Damn it! Damn it! With Pluton, Twilight would be nothing! But those old geezers…!”
He was enraged, his breathing ragged as he lashed out at anything within reach.
Pluton was said to be a cannon capable of destroying an entire island. No matter how strong an individual was, they were powerless against such a weapon.
And above all – He could rise through the ranks with such a weapon.
He was plotting ways to obtain the Pluton blueprints when the door opened, and someone entered the room.
“Who is it?! I didn’t say you could come in–”
“Whoa, whoa, calm down. I came to check on you,” a voice said.
“Father?! What are you doing here?!”
The newcomer was Spandine, Spandam’s father.
He had lost an arm during the Ohara incident, but he wasn't a front-line fighter. Having survived through his exceptional political skills, he wouldn't lose his position over a single injury.
He plopped down on the sofa and ordered one of Spandam's subordinates to bring him some tea. He drained the cup in one gulp.
“…So, what’s got you so worked up?”
“Well…”
Spandam explained the situation, and Spandine listened patiently. When he was finished, Spandine nodded.
“The Pluton blueprints… I see. That is quite a valuable asset.”
“Right?! But the Five Elders are saying the Sea Train is more important!”
“Calm down. I understand their reasoning… I lost my arm to Octavia, the one they called “Reverberation.””
He had encountered her in Ohara. She had effortlessly defeated two of his CP9 agents and had even fought against five Vice Admirals without sustaining any significant injuries.
While he hadn't seen her face, considering the characteristic golden skull mask and her strength, it had to be her.
…But it had actually been Kanata in disguise.
“She has a bounty of 3.8 billion berries. One of the highest bounties in history. Even killing her is a feat. The fact that “Witch” defeated her means she’s at least that strong, right?”
“Well… I suppose that makes sense.”
Several years had passed since Twilight joined the Seven Warlords. The World Government had been manipulating information, trying to replace the moniker “Dragon Slayer Witch” with “Twilight Witch,” but Spandine knew the truth.
If Kanata was as strong as the woman he had seen in Ohara, the one who had fought against Berg and Sakazuki without flinching, then it was understandable why the Five Elders were so concerned.
“Twilight, in addition to their strength, is also involved in trade. They must be a thorn in the Five Elders’ side. The only sea that can function without them is the East Blue. Once people experience a higher standard of living, they can’t go back. The citizens’ dissatisfaction will be directed at the World Government.”
“That’s why we need Pluton! If we eliminate the pirates, we won’t need Twilight anymore!”
“I doubt it. Their ability to deliver goods all over the world is undeniable. They’re essential. Besides, that monster woman’s strength is abnormal. I doubt we could even kill her, even if we had an Ancient Weapon.”
Spandine sighed and asked for more tea.
Spandam hadn’t seen it himself, but even Berg and Sakazuki, working together, couldn't land a decent blow on her. It was a hopeless situation.
He didn’t want to be involved with such a woman. He had hoped to convince Spandam to back down, but the Five Elders’ orders made that impossible.
“…Speaking of Octavia, she took Olivia and her brat from Ohara. We know where Saul is, but…”
They had sent Cipher Pol agents to Hachinosu after Octavia’s death, but they hadn’t found any information about Olivia and Robin.
While they had reported it to the Five Elders, they were optimistic, saying, "That woman has no intention of overthrowing the World Government.”
She hadn't made any moves to search for the Road History Poneglyphs, and besides, considering her current status and wealth, it would be foolish to disrupt the very system she benefited from. Spandine agreed with their assessment.
“For now, just focus on guarding Tom. You understand what guarding means, right?”
“…You mean surveillance.”
“Yes. He’s an important asset. It would be beneficial to become closer to him, but… I’m not asking you to do that. You can leave it to your subordinates.”
“This is turning into a real pain…”
Spandam sighed.
He had initially planned to arrest Tom for building Roger’s ship and use that as leverage to obtain the Pluton blueprints, but that was no longer possible.
He needed to find another way.
“Oh, and… Everyone already knows he built the Pirate King’s ship. It’s going to be overlooked, considering he’s building the Sea Train.”
“You knew?! Why didn’t you tell me?!”
Spandam, despite all the talk about the Sea Train, hadn’t known.
