Chapter 149: The First Trial Run of the Sea Train
Meanwhile, Robin had finalized the basic modification plan for the Dark Maru with Tom, and they had also agreed on the price. Since Wood was the captain, Robin naturally needed to confirm his approval of the plan. Upon seeing that the plan included two private rooms, Wood, who no longer had to share space with the rough crewmen like Russ, was immediately satisfied.
"If everything goes smoothly, we should be able to start modifying your pirate ship the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, however, we will be conducting the final adjustments and tests on the Puffing Tom. After that, we'll check out your pirate ship as well. If you're interested, would you like to witness the birth of the first-ever sea train? This is the proudest achievement of my life!" Tom said, with his usual habit of inserting "proud achievement" into his sentences.
It was clear from his expression that Tom was genuinely proud and excited when he mentioned the "sea train." For Tom, building a ship for the Pirate King, Roger, was indeed an honor, but he didn't consider the Oro Jackson his greatest masterpiece. The Puffing Tom and its predecessor, the Rocketman, were Tom's and his disciples' highest achievements.
Although the Oro Jackson was built by his hands, it embodied the dreams of the Pirate King, Roger, and his crew. The sea train, however, represented Tom's fourteen years of dedication and his lifelong dream.
The next morning, Water 7 saw its liveliest day in centuries, as the entire city plunged into a festive atmosphere. Ordinary citizens, merchants, and shipwrights alike all took the day off and flocked to the port of Water 7.
Tom had kept the progress of the sea train project under wraps, but the people of the island had always been keenly interested in this unprecedented mode of transportation. Adding fuel to the fire was Franky, who had gone to a tavern the previous night to buy drinks for Tom and had ended up bragging about the project. The news spread like wildfire, and by today, the entire city knew that the final adjustments and testing of the sea train would take place.
The residents of Water 7 were highly confident in the success of this trial run, especially since the Rocketman had already been a technical success a few years earlier. However, its excessive speed had caused it to derail easily, leading to the development of the second-generation Puffing Tom.
Once operational, the sea train would easily travel between the surrounding islands, alleviating trade difficulties and addressing issues like the dangers posed by the Aqua Laguna, the Water Gods. Tom would then be celebrated as the greatest hero of Water 7, bringing prosperity to the city and its neighboring islands.
Early that morning, when Tom and his crew arrived at the sea tracks carrying the engine of the Puffing Tom, the port was already packed with onlookers. Seeing this, Tom immediately shot a disgruntled glare at Franky. It was obvious that Iceburg's calm and collected nature wouldn't have let this information slip; it was most likely Franky's fault for boasting.
Despite his stout build, Tom possessed immense strength and could lift a ship with one hand. Carrying the engine of the Puffing Tom ahead of his crew was no problem for him. The crowd, upon seeing Tom's Workshop crew approaching, instinctively parted to let them pass.
However, this situation spelled trouble for Wood and Robin. Water 7 wasn't far from Enies Lobby, one of the World Government's three major strongholds. Given the attention the sea train project had attracted, it was impossible that Enies Lobby hadn't sent someone to monitor the proceedings.
Wood might have been fine; after all, a bounty over 100 million berries was not unheard of in the first half of the Grand Line, but it was Robin who was the real concern. As the "Devil Child," she was a criminal relentlessly pursued by the World Government, and Spandam of CP9, one of the key figures in the destruction of Ohara, was stationed at Enies Lobby.
"Blend into the crowd and don't draw attention to yourself by staying too close to us. But don't wander off too far on your own either; there are World Government agents on this island," Wood warned Robin.
Hearing that there were World Government agents on the island, Robin instinctively trembled, but upon seeing Wood's reassuring figure, she felt a surge of calm and nodded obediently, slipping into the crowd.
"My apologies, Brother Wood. I didn't anticipate that my foolish apprentice would go around boasting. If you're concerned about causing unnecessary trouble, you're welcome to return to our workshop or wait on your ship," Tom offered apologetically.
If Tom had known that the event would be so grand, he certainly wouldn't have invited Wood and Robin to join the sea train's trial run.
"It's no problem. Enies Lobby is Enies Lobby, and Marine Headquarters is Marine Headquarters. I'm a pirate with a bounty issued by Marine Headquarters, not a criminal wanted by the World Government. Even if someone from Enies Lobby recognizes me, they're unlikely to interfere. Besides, there are plenty of pirates on this island, aren't there?" Wood replied confidently.
Although the Marine Headquarters, Impel Down, Enies Lobby, and the World Government all worked for the same cause, they each had distinct responsibilities. A pirate with a bounty from Marine Headquarters might not necessarily be pursued by the officials of Impel Down or Enies Lobby.
However, criminals wanted by the World Government were an exception. Any of the three agencies would be obligated to arrest such individuals on sight. Those deemed worthy of a World Government bounty were true global criminals, and their numbers were few.
Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army, was one such individual. Fisher Tiger, who caused chaos in the Holy Land of Mariejois, was another, as was the Fish-Man swordsman Yasuo, who killed a Celestial Dragon. And, of course, Nico Robin, the "Devil Child," was on that list as well.
Wood's assumption turned out to be correct. Though his 120 million berry bounty seemed impressive in the first half of the Grand Line, Enies Lobby didn't consider him worth their attention. However, among the crowd was Spandam, who had recently been transferred to Enies Lobby. When he saw Wood walking alongside Tom and his crew, some ideas began to form in his mind.
Spandam, a newly appointed member of Enies Lobby's management, was the son of Spandine, the man who had used the "Golden Den Den Mushi" to initiate the Buster Call on Robin's homeland of Ohara. It was because of this that Spandine was highly regarded by the World Government and was poised for another promotion. Spandam, leveraging his father's influence, had landed the position of chief at Enies Lobby.