Eret swung his fist towards Kala, but he was quickly blocked by Burl.

"Iron Body!" he said as he withstood Eret's attack.

"Hey, what's the big idea!" Eret yelled, swinging a fist towards him.

His attack managed to break through Burl's defence, and then he quickly grabbed his face with his right hand.

"What gives Burl? You got some kind of problem with me?" Eret asked. Burl then grabbed his face with his hand. "Try to pull reverse move, huh? You dumbass, you should know better than that!"

Eret began to increase his strength and actually lifted Burl off the floor. "No one pushes me around!"

He began to squeeze some more force, and Burl to try to pull his hand off his face, but his grip was too strong.

"You should be calling me a drink, remember?" said Eret. "What did you forget that you're just a bartender and what's up with that outfit anyway? What the hell are you up to?"

Burl then prepared to use his Finger Pistol technique and thrust his finger towards Eret's face, but before it made contact, Lael grabbed his wrist.

"Not yet," he said and then promptly kicked Eret in the stomach, forcing him to release Burl and sending him flying across the warehouse.

"Whoa, are you okay?" Snotlout asked.

"Killing him now would put our mission in jeopardy," said Lael. "We need him alive."

"Right," said Burl as he recovered from Eret's attack.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Snotlout asked, looking confused. "Me, what you do to piss off the shipyard guy so bad?"

"I'm a bit more concerned about how he managed to get a hit like that on me," said Eret as he sat up. "And what's the deal? Why are you guys mastering onto my turf with a chip on your shoulders, acting like you own the place? And hitting girls, that's so not cool. Kalena and Kaley, I like my little sisters. How did you freaks even found us here anyway? This is my top-secret base!"

"How we found you is irrelevant as we are here right now, but know this we came to this town assigned on a covert operation," said Lael. "We're special agents, spies working for the World Government."

Eret's eyes widened.

"I would assume that even you would know why we came here and what we're after?" Lael continued. "Eret, we know the secret that you're keeping… Eric Earlson. The rumour was that Tom's other apprentice perished eight years ago, but you're still alive."

"That's pretty amazing detective work; I'm real impressed," said Eret looking as if someone had walked over his grave. "But I'm starting us our feeling down in my gut. Where is he? Where the hell is Iceberg?"

"He's dead."

Eret's eyes widened in horror.

"It's too late to feign innocence; we already know everything," Lael continued, and Eret knew that he was referring to the blueprints of Odin. "Tom entrusted them to Iceberg, and Iceberg entrusted them to you. It's been a long game, but now we are at checkmate. See, I know you have the plans for the ancient weapon, hand over Odin's blueprints Eric Earlson."

Eret just stood there still, trying to process what Lael had said about Iceberg. He remembered the private meeting they had when he gave him the blueprints when Tom showed them the blueprints and back when he and Iceberg apprentices.

"Are you listening?" said Lael looking, inpatient. "Hand them over this incident!"

"Did you just say hand?" said Eret and quickly extended his right fist.

Lael tilted his head slightly, and Eret's attack missed him completely. He then used his Shaved technique to getting close and thrusted his hand forward, pushing Eret so hard he went right through the wall.

"What the hell did he just do?" Snotlout stared bewildered. "It was so fast I couldn't even see what happened. Hey, are you okay?"

When the dust settled, everyone could see a secret room behind the wall, and it looked like some sort of workshop, though it looks and had been abandoned for quite some time.

"Oh my," said Lael noticing it.

"You found a room," said Kala joining him.

"What do you suppose is this filthy place's purpose?"

"There was a drafting tables," said Kala noticing the desks.

"Yes, where blueprints are made and perhaps hidden," Lael nodded and looked at the other members of CP9. "Find them."

They made their way inside the room and began looking through every nook and cranny.

"Look here, nameplates," said Burl as he brushed off the dust on the plates that were over the desks. "Eret Earlson… Iceberg… Tom… the shipwright."

Lael then noticed a picture on a side table. "This picture…"

"Keep your paws off of that!" Eret ordered. They turned around and saw that he was back on his feet, though barely. "You're poking your nose is in my personal space… my memories! This is the place where I grew up! What used to house the shipbuilding company Tom's Workers! Where the best damn shipwrights that ever lived applied his craft!"

He then began thinking back to when he was five years old, 18 years ago. He was out on the open sea trying to control a new ship he had just built, and right on his tail was a massive sea king resembling a centipede.

"Sea king!" he screamed and quickly fired the cannons on his ship. "Eat this!"

The cannons struck the sea king, but it didn't even notice and then dived down towards him. He avoided getting crushed, but the wave from the impact sent him flying into the air towards the shore.

On the shore was a massive scrapyard, and working there was a 9-year-old Iceberg who was salvaging some wood.

"Watch out, Iceberg!" Eric screamed.

Iceberg looked up and saw Eric ship disintegrating and Eric himself heading, shooting right past him.

"Hey, what in the hell is wrong with you?" Iceberg yelled.

Iceberg then turned around and saw the sea king and quickly made a run for it just as it dived down towards him.

Once the sea king left, Iceberg then punched Eric on the top of the head.

"Idiot! Don't you know that you're not supposed to be goofing around right now?" he yelled. "We got the ships to work on, not your crappy toys!"

"Don't yell at me when you don't have a clue what you're talking about; Ice for Brains!" Eric snapped. "It isn't some crappy toy; it's my super battleship that Battle Eret!"

"Whatever it is, you need to leave it alone before someone gets hurt!"

"This is Scrappy Heep Island! I can do what I want! Just you wait and see, I'm going to build a battleship awesome enough to take down a sea king!"

"Fool, what you're going to do is get yourself killed!"

"Oh, yeah!"

"Yeah, quick!"

"Na-huh!"

"Real quick!"

The two of them glared at one another, and it looked as if they would do this all day, but then the ship next then began to move.

"If you want to be a man, show some gusto!" said a voice.

They looked down and saw that the ship had been lifted by a long-horned cowfish fish-man. He was holding the ship in his right hand and was holding three long masks around his left arm, and he wasn't even breaking a sweat. If that wasn't amazing enough, he immediately tossed the ship about 50 feet into the air, and when it was upsidedown, he tossed the masts at it, and they landed perfectly in place. The ship then landed perfectly within the sea with not even a scratch on it.

"Well, there's the old launching ceremony," said Tom rubbing his hands together. "One more ship sailing with gusto. Right buddy?"

He was looking down at Magni, though he was a lot smaller and didn't have a single scar on his body.

"That's enough work for today," he said as he began heading back to the city with the boys mouth wide open. "What you say we head on home? Man, I'm hungry; let's see what's for dinner."

"Hey, hold on!" said the two boys rushing after him. "Wait for us!"

They soon made their way back home which was also where they worked, and they were eating a nice hot meal that had been cooked by Coco, who was perfectly sober back then.

"So today's Battle Eret model was number… what are you up to?" Tom asked.

"Eight, sir," said Eric proudly. "It was really beautiful."

"No, it wasn't," said Iceberg. "You're dum weapon he that you built for some reason fell apart after you almost killed both of us with it!"

"Shut your mouth, you stupid Ice for Brains!" said Eric with his mouth full.

Tom merely laughed as the two of them began fighting.

"All right, that's enough fighting boys," said Coco as she approached them. "Cut it out."

"He started it! Not me!" they whatever you build said in unison and then promptly glared at one another.

"My word, don't encourage those two, Tom," said Coco, looking at Tom as he kept laughing. "Keep laughing, and they'll keep misbehaving. Speaking of misbehaving, I heard that another ship carrying lumber was attacked by pirates. I swear, ever since the King of the Pirates was executed. This place has just gotten rotten with those no-good bums. They're taking over the city.

The people's spirits are really low, and because of all the flooding from Aqua Laguna, we can only get lumber and iron if we ship them in from other islands. But with all the storms in pirates everywhere, it's near impossible. The shipyards are so desperate for customers they are literally fighting each other for them. So many have closed down already. At this rate, Water 7 is on a course to sink into the ocean and fade from the world's memory and to think this city made its name, making unforgettable, unsinkable ships. Such a shame."

"Hey, you build a big super awesome pirate ship once, didn't you, Tom?" said Eric looking at Tom. "Will you teach me how to draw blueprints for one too?"

Tom laughed.

"What's so funny, huh?" Eric asked, looking confused.

"Eric, there's no such thing as blueprints for a pirate ship. It's the flag boy, Skull and Bones mean pirate ship, and a seagull flag means its navy. Whatever you build, just remember this building with pride and a whole lot of manly gusto."

Later that night, Tom was at his desk drawing blueprints.

"You sure are working late tonight," Eric noted. "What are you drawing?"

"This here is hope for our island," Tom smiled.

"It is?"

"Yep, well, at least that's what I'm hoping that it will turn into someday. Now to bed with ya."

"Yes, sir," Eric nodded.

A few days later, everyone was immediately shot as a large ship was sailing into port.

"The Judiciary ship is here!"

"What the heck is that?"

"A movable court, I wonder who they are here for?"

Marines then immediately handcuffed Tom began making their way to the courtroom, but Eric and Iceberg try to stop them.

"What you think you're doing?" Eric yelled as the Marines held them back. "Let him go, you big stupid jerks! He didn't do anything wrong!"

"Don't you worry, I'll be just fine," Tom assured them.

He then laughed as the Marines escorted him.

"No, Tom! Come back!" Eric yelled.

Tom was brought in front of the judge within the courtroom.

"Justice was brought to Gold Roger, King of the Pirates, by the way of execution!" said the prosecutor. "His ship the Oro Jackson was built none other by Tom, who stands accused before this court today. As penalty for aiding and abetting that vicious criminal, Tom will be taken to Enies Lobby where he will be executed!"

Iceberg and Eric had followed Tom and the Marines all the way towards the ship, and they had just heard his sentence.

"No," said Eric horrified.

Word immediately got around the town about the sentence.

"The verdict was read! Guilty! They're going to execute Tom!"

"They say it's because he built a ship in the King of the Pirates."

"Damn shame."

"That thing was a whole lot of grief into the world."

"Now building ships is not a crime, and one may sell them to almost anyone who wishes to buy, but we must make an exception for the King of the Pirates," said the judge. "On the charge of providing meaningful assistance to the man who terrorised the entire world, we hereby sentenced Tom to death." He then banged his mallet. "Take him away!"

Two Marines then attempted to drag Tom away, but he would move an inch, and he was far too big and heavy for them to move by themselves.

"Come on, time to go."

"Move it, you heard him."

"Hurry up!"

"Go already!"

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Tom then looked up at the judge. "I've got a new design for a completely new kind of paddle steamer. A train that will run on the surface of the ocean with gusto."

"Shut up," said a Marine as they attempted to drag him away. "Get moving!"

"This once great island has lost its gusto, our trade is not what it used to be, people have lost hope," Tom continued. "Water 7 is slowly sinking away; every day, our hard-working citizens are filled with worry. I can lift their spirits! I will by building are good people a Sea Train!"

Everyone then immediately looked at one another, wondering what a Sea Train could possibly be and how it could work.

"Quit flapping your gums and move your feet," said a Marine.

"No, let him stay," said the judge looking intrigued. "Sea Train? Tell me more."

"It's like a ship, but one that part out steam and runs on a track," Tom explained. "It will go between the islands, carrying people and all kinds of goods, even other ships. Most importantly, it won't be affected by conditions at sea."

Everyone was a little dubious about this invention, and some of them weren't afraid to express their opinions.

"That's ridiculous!"

"A railway on the water would be ripped to pieces once Aqua Laguna comes around?"

"And even if it doesn't, what are you going to do about all the sea kings out there?"

"It doesn't have to be a completely fixed track," said Tom, much to everyone's confusion. "It will be submerged under the water a bit, so it won't be bombarded by the waves. It will sway just like a rope in the water; the sea train will just use the tracks as a guide to get from place to place. I'm also considering installing a mechanism that emits a loud desolate sound underwater to discourage fish from getting anywhere near the tracks; it should work on sea kings as well so they won't pose a threat."

"Whoa, is all that possible?"

"If we can connect to Saint Kaia… Kvasir… Novta… and this island we can create a booming economy that will help out all of us," said Tom.

"Amazing."

"I will be finished with the blueprints very soon, but it will take a master shipwright to build it," said Tom.

"Now could the sea train run to Enies Lobby as well?" the judge asked.

"Without a doubt, your honour. Once the plans are in the can and the railway is in the water, people can go with gusto from island to island work or play. And once again, Water 7 will be a city filled with hope."

"How long will it take?"

"10 years."

"Then build it," said the judge banging his mallet. "If you agree to develop this Sea Train, I will give you the time to do it. Consider these next 10 years as probation!"

With that, cheers immediately erupted throughout the courthouse, but only Eric remained silent.

"That's great news!"

"Good luck, Tom!"

"Save Water 7, please!"

Back at their warehouse, they all began celebrating Tom's probation.

"I am alive!" Tom cheered as he laughed.

"I'm glad you see this as so funny," said Coco narrowing her eyes. "I thought you were a goner. I was worried sick over you, but I guess this plan of yours worked out there willing to forgive and forget the whole Gold Roger affair."

"I just got to tell you how amazed I am with you, Tom," said Iceberg. "What a great idea, it's unbelievable! To think that you can just come up with that on your own. It's brilliant when you told—"

Eric and then slammed his plate on the table. "Thanks for the grub; come on, Magni. I'll teach you the front crawl."

"Hey, we're all celebrating here, and you want to leave?" Iceberg stared. "What's your deal?"

"My deal?" Eric snapped, turning on him. "What happened to Tom was so unfair! He builds the only ship that was able to sail the whole Grand Line, something that no one else in the world could do, and those jerks want to put into death over it! They don't realise how hard that is; they could even string together a raft if their lives depended on it! I mean, I know the whole reason that our offices under this bridge was because those stupid people kick you out of town over that ship! You're the greatest shipbuilder the world has ever known, and they treat you like garbage!"

Tom then laughed, and Eric finally lost his grip, grabbed his shirt's hem, and began shaking him about.

"What are you laughing about, you big weirdo?" Eric yelled.

"Hey, stop attacking him!" Iceberg snapped.

Eric then made his way to the dock and began teaching Magni the front crawl.

"No, no, no, you're doing it wrong," said Eric. "Stroke order and pushed that water back! No, do it harder! Don't hold back!"

Tom and the others merely watched, and Iceberg shook his head.

"That Eric sure has a lot of nerve; if I were you, I would kick him out for what he just did," said Iceberg looking at Tom.

"Well, I know the boy can be a handful," Tom admitted. "But he is a fellow shipbuilder, and at his young age, he is almost on par with the best craftsmen on the island. He does build battleships, yeah. His problem is he's too honest."

He then began thinking back several years ago, he was correcting some scrap from Scrapheap Island, and they saw a young boy firing a makeshift cannon.

'Two years ago, I met that kid on Scrapheap Island; he had gone collect junk to make a cannon and was firing it with gusto.'

The three-year-old then finally noticed him. "Hey, old guy! Help me out, my good for nothing parents ditched me!"

"Apparently, his boat can handle his rambunctious behaviour, so they flew him off the ship," Tom continued. "Sounds like a couple partners pirates to me, hey? What a joke."

"Now, Tom," Coco scolded.

"But he is one tough kid, he's had a rough go at it, but he still got a good heart. I'm positive that both of you boys will grow up to be world-class shipwrights someday. There's no need for you to be rivals."

"I don't know about all that," said Iceberg turning his head towards Eric. "I can't see myself being friends with him."

"Well, I just need to finish those blueprints and then we'll build ourselves a Sea Train."

"Yeah, I bet he won't help us all."

"He can do whatever he wants," Tom laughed.

A few weeks later, Tom had finally finished the blueprints for the Sea Train, but now came the difficult part of actually building the thing. With that, he and Iceberg began collecting everything they would need to build it from Scrapheap Island.

While this was going on Eric, continue building his battleships, but he watched from a distance as Tom and Iceberg carried on building the Sea Train. Finally, a few months later, he gave in and began helping them carrying the supplies.

They didn't just have to build the train but also the track, and then they had to lay it out. They worked every day, no matter the weather, and eventually, they finish their prototype. Unfortunately, it was a bus as it crashed into the ocean, so they had to go through the blueprints again and create a new design.

This one managed to stay on the rails, but it was destroyed by a sea king, so they had to build another one. They kept on building it through rain and snow throughout the night up until they were completely worn out.

While they were building the Sea Train, the life of the shipwrights in Water 7 began to decline even faster.

"Suicide?"

"That's the word. Head of the fourth-largest shipyard. What a tragic story. They ran out of materials, so he took a ship out to sea to get some more, lost 50 men on the water. They have to close down his shop."

"Ah, man. With this be how it ends? Is this how Water 7 finally dies?"

Someone then immediately rushed over to them. "Hey, did you guys hear? Big news from Scrapheap Island!"

"No way, did they do it? Did Tom's Workers actually finish the Sea Train?"

They had certainly had; it had taken about eight years, but they had managed to complete the Sea Train, and it was named after its builder, the Puffing Tom. Everyone had gathered around in order to get a look at it, and it was certainly a sight to behold.

"Whoa, is this thing really going to work?"

"I don't know if I trust something that was built by a criminal."

"I'll try it out."

"What the heck, me too."

"Are they going to tell us how it works?"

In the driver's cab was Coco smiling at everyone. "All aboard, ladies and gentlemen!"

Everyone then watched as the sea train began to move across the water.

"There it goes!"

"The paddles are grabbing the railway!"

Everyone immediately began sharing as the train took off. Children began chasing down after it across the island. Upon seeing it making its way across the waves, renewed hope within everyone.