Cudius took a good look around the small, rundown dock. The pce ractically falling apart, showing none of the prestige one would expect from a "master shipwright." It looked like the kind of pce barely able to produce a fishing boat, let alone a vessel worthy of royalty. "Tom, the so-called 'best shipwright,' living in ditions like this?" Cudius thought.

  Turning to Spah a sly smile, Cudius said, "By the way, aren't you supposed to be trag down those schors researg taboo history alongside the Marines? What brings you here to Water 7? Don't tell me you're here to ission a ship as well?"

  Spandine's face twitched, visibly unfortable with the questioruggled to respond, shifting uneasily. Just as he opened his mouth to expin, a young voice cut through the tension.

  "They're not here to order a ship! They're here t Master Tom to Enies Lobby and vict him!" The young man, known as Cutty Fm, but ter famous as Franky, blurted out angrily.

  "Fm!" Tom shouted, trying to silence his apprentice. He g Cudius, the realization dawning that this young man was someone important, someone who could make a Wover official like Spandine grovel. He didn't want to escate matters without fully uanding Cudius's iions.

  Feigning ignorance, Cudius frow Spandine, who now looked like he wao melt into the ground. "vict him? On what grounds?" Cudius asked, feigning genuine curiosity. "What did Tom do?"

  Spaammered, uo e up with a smooth response, but ultimately surreo the situation. "Well, Yhness, it's... plicated. Tom here... he built a ship for the Roger Pirates. The Oro Ja. Given the ret... uhm... scrutiny around anythied ter, we were instructed to iigate anyone associated with him. Shipwright or not, building a ship for the Pirate King could make one an aplice."

  "He's just a shipwright!" Cutty Fm interjected angrily. "He didn't team up with Roger. He just made him a ship!"

  Cudius chuckled and cpped Spandine on the shoulder. "So, you're just looking to climb the ranks by bringing in someone like Master Tom, huh? Trying to show off to the higher-ups?"

  Spandine ughed awkwardly, not daring to deny it. "Uh… well, Yhness, it's... it's ly like that..."

  "Rex, Spandine. Don't make such a big deal out of this," Cudius said smoothly. "The man's a shipwright. Shipwrights build ships, don't they? Do you expect him to open a and instead?"

  "Yes, yes! Exactly, Yhness! I was overthinking things," Spandine quickly agreed, nodding vigorously.

  Indeed, Cudius was right. The situation with Tom was hardly worth all this fuss. If you branded every person who provided Roger with services as an aplice, you'd have to start arresting cooks who fed him, tailors who clothed him, and shopkeepers who sold him supplies. The Five Elders wouldn't want to waste their time on such trivial matters.

  The truth was, Spandine had just wao make himself look good. His efforts in finding the elusive schors were going nowhere, and he needed something to show the Five Elders he was still w hard. So, he'd thought targeting Tom would make for a of "progress."

  "Well, if Tom is talented enough to build a ship for the Pirate King, he must be skilled indeed. And I just happen to need someoh his expertise," Cudius said with a pleased nod. He then turo Tom, atg with both fusion and hope in his eyes. "Tom, would you sider building a ship for me? Of course, you'll be well-pensated."

  Tom hesitated, taken aback by the sudden shift. Wasn't this mao arrest him? How had this turned into a business proposition? "Well… I..."

  Sensing an opportunity to ingratiate himself, Spandine jumped in before Tom could finish his thought. "Tom! You should sider it an honor to build a ship for His Highness! You built one fer, but building one for His Highness Cudius? That's a blessing in itself! Yhness is one of the most esteemed Celestial Dragons, far more important than any pirate! If you do a good job, he might even put in a good word for you. No one would dare trouble you after that!"

  For all his faults, Spandine was a master of fttery, and Cudius couldn't help but smirk in amusement. Spandine's words, while exaggerated, were well-timed. Cudius wasn't above enjoying a bit of well-delivered praise.

  "Alright, alright, Spandine, enough," Cudius said with a ugh. "Let's not bully the man. I'm here to do business, not coerce him. If Tom isn't happy, he won't put his best work into the ship. And I don't want a sed-rate vessel."

  Spandine bobbed his head vigorously. "Yes, Yhness. Such wisdom! Your insight and patience are truly unmatched. I could never hope to pare."

  Tom finally uood the situation. This portunity, ohat might just save him from the trouble looming over his head. If he could win the favor of a Celestial Dragon, particurly one as iial as Cudius, he could finish his sea train project without fear of the Wover's interference.

  "Yhness," Tom said, finally making up his mind. "I'd be hoo build a ship for you. I promise it'll be one of my fi works."

  Cudius's face broke into a satisfied grin. "Excellent! That's what I wao hear."

  He turned back to Spandine and said, "Now, Spandine, since I've found a talented shipwright here, there's o cause trouble, is there? After all, the Wover should be nurturing talent, not stifling it. This way, Tom put his skills to good use, being us all."

  "Yes, yes, Yhness! You're absolutely correct. How could I have been so shhted?" Spandine agreed eagerly, eager to stay in Cudius's good graces.

  "Good. Then go focus on your actual assig, those schors, was it?" Cudius tinued, waving a dismissive hand. "When I report to the Five Elders, I'll let them know you were the one who helped me find su excellent shipwright. They'll be pleased to hear you're f talent for the gover."

  Spandine's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, Yhness! Yenerosity knows no bounds. Assisting you is the greatest honor of my life."

  Cudius chuckled, amused by Spandine's endless fttery. "Alright, enough. Go on now."

  Spandine quickly took his leave, bowing and scraping as he departed with his agents, clearly relieved to escape the situation without any repercussions. Ohe gover agents were gone, Cudius turned ba with a rexed smile.