I am the Bandit King of the East Sea.

Barrett scratched her head and said bluntly:

"Actually, I want to obtain the power of the ancient weapon Pluton, so that I can become the strongest in the world!"

"But Tom refused..."

That being said, Barrett couldn't bring herself to mention threatening Tom earlier in front of Crocus, her former partner and benefactor.

"Pluto?"

Tom, Crocus, and the others all changed color drastically.

Kurokas hadn't expected that Barrett's purpose was this, and he certainly hadn't expected that Barrett would actually say it out loud!

"What on earth is this guy doing?"

Both Crocus and Tom were filled with helplessness at that moment.

Among those present were Barrett, Tom, two disciples, and the entire Sig Mountain Bandit Gang—a large and complex group. Yet, Barrett openly revealed this secret.

"Pluto? Isn't Pluto in Alabasta?"

Amidst the gathering yellow sand, Crocdale's gaze sharpened, landing intently on Tom.

But after a moment, she withdrew her gaze, her sharp eyes gradually softening, and she no longer cared.

After being defeated by Whitebeard, the obvious disparity in strength between the two led Crocodile to begin pursuing the power of the Ancient Weapons.

After being defeated by Sieg, Crocodile gradually abandoned the Ancient Weapons and turned to pursuing her own power.

She is no longer as interested in Hades as she used to be.

Tom was also feeling extremely frustrated and helpless as he watched Sieg slowly walk towards him.

Is Sieg coming too?

If the blueprints for Hades fall into Sieg's hands, the consequences will be extremely serious!

"Mr. Tom."

Sig nodded to Tom.

“I would like to ask you to help me…modify my pirate ship,” Sig said.

"Modify a pirate ship?" Tom was taken aback. Sig's words were unexpected; he didn't ask for the blueprints for Pluton.

“Yes… my pirate ship is a swamp gas-powered ironclad warship,” Sig said.

"I've heard that you are the world's number one shipbuilder, the man who built the Oro Jackson."

"I suppose modifying such a ship wouldn't be difficult for you."

“Methane-powered? That sounds interesting.” Tom grinned.

When his masterpiece, the Oro Jackson, is mentioned, he can't stop smiling.

“I haven’t taken on any shipbuilding or ship modification business for a while, but I can take this job out of respect for Crocus.”

Tom readily agreed.

As long as they don't ask for the blueprints for Hades, everything is negotiable.

“Mr. Tom…” Iceberg, standing nearby, sounded a little anxious.

"The Sea Train project has just been completed, and the trial is not far off. The World Government will probably come again soon."

"Should we not take on any more shipbuilding business during this period?"

“Yes, Mr. Tom,” Franky chimed in from the side.

With his trial imminent, this period could very well be the last time of Tom's life.

Tom, however, decisively shook his head.

“What are you talking about? As a shipbuilder, building ships is my duty at all times! Even if I face trial tomorrow, I will not stop building ships!”

Seeing Tom nod in agreement, Sieg breathed a sigh of relief.

Barrett had already asked Tom for the blueprints for Hades, but Tom refused.

If he were to ask for it at this moment, Tom would most likely refuse. Tom has a strong personality, and forcibly demanding it before they have much of a relationship would easily lose him favor. If pushed too far, Tom might burn the design drawings on the spot and then commit suicide.

"For the sake of a peaceful life, I should proceed with caution on such an important matter," Sieg pondered.

.........

A moment later.

Higuma's armored pirate ship sailed from another port in Water Seven and eventually docked at Shipwreck Island.

"I see, so that's what biogas power is all about? It's quite interesting."

Tom, Franky, and the others have already boarded the Ironclad Pirate Ship and are observing the vessel.

Tom isn't just a shipbuilder who only makes old-fashioned wind-powered sailboats; he's an engineer who created the Sea Train, a high-tech marvel.

Franky, who later transformed himself into a cyborg through various modifications, also learned from Tom.

While the swamp gas-powered ironclad pirate ship was novel, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible to Tom.

"There's nothing wrong with the ship itself. The only problem is that if it's going to maintain a high speed, it should consume a lot of methane, but I don't see any methane as an energy reserve."

After watching the Ironclad Pirate Ship, Tom made this judgment.

“You mentioned biogas reserves… Our ship doesn’t need too many biogas reserves.” Sig glanced at Crow beside him.

Kro was silent for a moment, then he stretched out his palm. Methane gas spewed out from his glove and was ignited by an electric spark igniter into a pale blue flame that bloomed above Kro's palm.

At the same time, the pale blue flames from the methane rocket boots beneath his feet lifted him into the air.

"I am a user of the Swamp-Gas Fruit, which allows me to produce swamp gas continuously. Swamp gas reserves are not a problem."

Chloe pushed up his glasses with the heel of his hand and said calmly.

Over time, Kroo has gradually come to terms with himself.

"Wow! Swamp-gas Fruit? Rocket Boots? This is so SUPER cool!" Franky's eyes were shining, and he stared at Kuro, letting out a loud roar.

"Cool...cool?"

Kro's eyes widened slightly, and he was unusually a little flustered.

Having had the fruit for so long, he had gradually come to terms with himself, but this was the first time in all that time that he had heard the word "cool".

"Kid, you have a really good eye!" Kro nodded deeply.

Chapter 570 Barrett: Sig, teach me to become stronger!

Tom was a decisive man. After taking on the ship modification business, he immediately got to work with his two apprentices, Franky and Iceberg, that very day.

However, even outside of work, Tom always kept some attention on Sieg.

After all, his younger brother from Fishman Island had specifically called to remind him before.

So, while working, Tom struck up a conversation with Crocus, who was lending a hand beside him:

"Kurokas, actually I'm also very curious about Sig."

"Barrett and you actually joined the Sig Mountain Bandits at the same time... especially you, Crocus, who has already retired."

"After the Roger Pirates disbanded, you all seemed to go your separate ways, but in reality, you were all waiting for the right moment. Why did you reappear?"

Tom did indeed have doubts.

Crocus and the others actually had their own missions. These members of the Roger Pirates were scattered all over the world, quietly lying in wait for someone.

But this person doesn't look like Sieg at all. The age doesn't match.

Crocus paused for a moment, then said leisurely:

"That's a long story."

"Initially, it was just a deal. He helped me find Brook, and I temporarily served as his ship's doctor... Has so much time really passed?"

Crocus smiled faintly.

"So, Crocus, what kind of person do you think Sig is?"

Tom considered for a moment, then spoke:

"Could he, like Barrett, actually want to steal my Hades blueprints and then... build two hundred Hades ships?"

Two hundred Pluto ships?

Crocus's face twitched; he was momentarily stunned.

When did ancient weapons capable of destroying the world become so numerous that they could be counted in the hundreds?

"No, no, Sieg isn't that kind of person."

Crocus wiped his sweat and quickly said:

"Tom, in my opinion, Sieg is actually a bit like you."

"Similar?" Tom was also taken aback; he hadn't noticed it at all.

Then, he heard Crocus continue:

"The shipwrights of Water Seven have protected Hades' blueprints for generations, partly to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands, and partly to preserve Hades' power to counterbalance other ancient weapons that might be discovered."

"People like you can be called guardians."

“And Sig is actually doing something similar.”

Tom was slightly taken aback.

"Could it be that Sieg is guarding another ancient weapon... perhaps Aquaman?"

Tom asked in surprise:

"Could it be that Sig is the current Sea King, the one promised to Princess Shirahoshi?"

The person with whom we made the appointment?

Crocus imagined Sig and Shirahoshi, who was still a child at the time, and quickly shook his head.

"I don't think so. I was talking about something else."