"Mm." Stussy nodded, her expression turning grave. "There are two pieces of news. The first is a ssage from the World Governnt."
"The World Governnt hopes you can leave Egghead Island with your research data as soon as possible. They'll build you a new laboratory on Hope Island in the East Blue."
Vegapunk's brows imdiately drew together in displeasure. "They make it sound so easy. Tell them no. Egghead Island holds a century's worth of experintal materials and results, accumulated by countless scientists. How am I supposed to just walk away? On top of that, most of my ongoing experints are here. Leaving Egghead Island isn't a problem you solve by simply rebuilding a laboratory elsewhere."
Stussy, who didn't truly understand the depth of his research—even though she herself was a clone created by his technology—did her best to explain. "Because of the current Three Emperors Alliance. Not long ago, the Marines and the World Governnt suffered another major loss at their hands. Egghead Island is in the middle of the New World. The World Governnt might be afraid you'll fall into the hands of the Yonko. If that happened, their power would definitely grow even stronger, and that's the last thing the World Governnt wants."
But Vegapunk was as stubborn as ever. He grumbled, "The outer periter of Egghead Island is guarded by a large number of Sea Beast Weapons that can overturn pirate ships at any ti. On the island itself we've got fifty Pacifista and a do defense system. In a critical situation, we can even deploy the Seraphim. Even if pirates co, they won't be able to break through Egghead Island's defenses."
Stussy could only spread her hands helplessly. She knew just how formidable Egghead's defenses were. The sea beast weapons alone ringed the island like a living fortress; they could easily capsize not just pirate ships, but even large marine warships. That force by itself was enough to wipe out ninety percent of the pirates on the sea.
Moreover, both the Marines and the World Governnt placed imnse value on Vegapunk. If pirates really did invade Egghead Island, the Marines would definitely dispatch an Admiral to protect him—maybe even more than one.
"Besides that," Stussy continued, her gaze growing even more serious, "there's an even more important matter I have to report to you."
Seeing her expression, Vegapunk realized this wouldn't be sothing minor. He straightened and asked solemnly, "What is it?"
Stussy answered earnestly, "Yonko Marco contacted before. He already knows my CP0 identity, and he also knows that my true allegiance is to you."
"How could he know?" Vegapunk was visibly taken aback. His connection with Stussy was a tightly kept secret; even the World Governnt was unaware of it. How could Marco, a pirate, possibly know such a thing?
Stussy shook her head and went on, "I don't know either. But he told to tell you this: the World Governnt already knows about your research into the poneglyphs, and your clone, York, has betrayed you. Once you fully complete the Mother Fla and the Seraphim, the World Governnt will imdiately order your assassination."
Vegapunk's pupils shrank. He stared at Stussy in disbelief. He had never told anyone about his poneglyph research—not even Stussy. So how could Marco know? And how could he know about York? Why would he even say York had betrayed him?
Questions flooded his mind. Even with the greatest brain in the world, Vegapunk couldn't make sense of it. How did Marco find out? The two of them had never even t. Where was this information coming from?
Forcing himself to suppress the shock churning inside, Vegapunk pressed on, "Other than that, what else did Marco say?"
"Marco said he can provide you with shelter," Stussy replied. "He also said that he'll co to visit you himself after so ti."
At that, Vegapunk burst out in anger. "What a joke! A pirate coming here to visit ? What happens if the World Governnt finds out?"
Stussy stayed silent, and Vegapunk's face grew even more grave. He still couldn't understand how Marco knew any of this. He asked again, "Besides that, anything else?"
"No." Stussy shook her head.
Then she hesitated before asking, "Um, Doctor… you're not really researching those things, are you?"
Vegapunk fell quiet for a mont, then nodded. "Mm."
Stussy's eyes widened. She hadn't expected Vegapunk to actually be studying the poneglyphs and pursuing the void century. Everyone knew the World Governnt strictly forbade any research into poneglyphs. Anyone who did so would be sentenced to death—just like Ohara, twenty years ago.
After getting his confirmation, Stussy said solemnly, "In that case, we should prepare in advance, Doctor. Let's not grant the Gorosei authority over the Seraphim. As long as the Seraphim are under your control and protecting you, even if the Gorosei really decide to move against you, we'll at least have the power to escape."
Vegapunk hesitated, anger and frustration boiling up. "Where did I slip up? How did the world governnt find out I was researching the poneglyphs? And how did Marco know? I'm just a scientist—I only want to do my research in peace!"
Seeing Vegapunk so distressed, Stussy tried to steady him. "Doctor, now's not the ti to dwell on that! We should be thinking about what to do next."
Vegapunk still struggled to let it go. "But we have no way to prove that what Marco said is true…"
Stussy's expression turned grave. "But we also can't prove he's lying," she said, her tone serious. "He already knows you're researching the Poneglyphs and that York exists. Even if what he said is false, as long as he reports it to the World Governnt and they send people to investigate, they'll find sothing. Once a flaw is exposed, you're as good as dead."
"And if it's true," she went on, "then once you complete the Mother Fla and the Seraphim, the World Governnt will probably co to kill you just to silence you."
Vegapunk broke out in a cold sweat. He had no idea how Marco had learned any of this, but as a scientist, mysteries only made him more desperate for answers. He imdiately called out, "Stussy, contact Marco. I want to ask him how he knows these things."
"Understood."
As an intelligence agent, Stussy naturally had Marco's number. She quickly dialed the transponder snail.
anwhile, the Phoenix Pirates had already begun to move.
For Marco, Vegapunk—the world's greatest scientist—was soone he had to secure at all costs. If he couldn't, then he'd rather destroy him. If Vegapunk chose to side with the World Governnt, the difficulty of overthrowing them would skyrocket.
After all, the weapons Vegapunk created—especially the Seraphim—each possessed terrifying combat power. Vegapunk himself had dubbed them "the strongest humans." That title might be sowhat exaggerated, but if Vegapunk gained the World Governnt's full support and started mass-producing war weapons on the Seraphim's level, bringing them down would beco nearly impossible.
Anyone below Admiral level would likely struggle to defeat even a single Seraphim.
Even the mass-produced Pacifista had already greatly boosted Marine strength. If Seraphim could be mass-produced… then even if Marco had his "cheat" and could one day topple the World Governnt and defeat Imu alone, his crew and allies might all be slaughtered by the Seraphim along the way.
Just then, the transponder snail in Marco's arms rang out with a "purupurupuru."
He picked it up and connected the call. Stussy's voice ca through the snail. "Hello, this is Stussy."
Recognizing her voice, Marco asked calmly, "What is it?"
"Dr. Vegapunk wants to speak to you." With that, Stussy handed the transponder snail to Vegapunk.
The snail's features shifted to resemble Vegapunk. "Hello, this is Vegapunk. About the ssage you had Stussy deliver…" Vegapunk leaned in, anxiety spilling into his voice. "How exactly did you know about these things?"
Hearing the question, Marco grinned. "It's simple. I learned it through divination."
"Divination?" Vegapunk repeated, montarily taken aback.
But Stussy, as an intelligence officer, understood imdiately. She quietly reminded him, "Doctor, it might be Madam Shyarly of Fish-Man Island."
"Madam Shyarly?" Vegapunk frowned, confused. Even with the world's greatest brain, that didn't an he knew every person on the seas.
Stussy explained, "Madam Shyarly is Fish-Man Island's top fortune-teller. For decades, none of her divinations have ever been wrong."
Vegapunk believed what he was seeing, but he also understood that beyond the realm of science, this world held countless phenona science could not yet explain—and divination was one of them.
Right now, his mind was in turmoil. He really was researching the Poneglyphs. If the World Governnt discovered that, they would never let him live.
While Vegapunk was still hesitating, Marco spoke up. "I was just about to head to Egghead Island to find you anyway. We can talk it through slowly once I get there, it's fine."
Vegapunk imdiately panicked, shouting, "W-Wait, wait! What are you coming here for?! You're a pirate! If you show up, the World Governnt and the Marines will definitely follow! Are you trying to kill ?!"
"You don't need to worry about that. I'll have the Phoenix Pirates hold off the Marines," Marco replied. Then, in a more serious tone, he added, "Besides, I'm doing this to protect you. It'd be far too much of a waste for the World Governnt to erase a scientist of your caliber. I can provide you with research funds and materials."
"Even if you say that, I can't possibly beco a pirate!" Vegapunk yelled back.
"Besides, the World Governnt has no evidence that I'm researching Poneglyphs."
"The World Governnt doesn't need evidence to deal with you," Marco said calmly. "And York has already betrayed you. By now, they've probably gathered a whole basketful of proof."
"How can I just believe you about sothing like that?!" Vegapunk shouted, his voice rising with frustration.
Marco gave a cold little sneer. "Believe or don't, it doesn't change anything. As long as you're researching Poneglyphs, you're already on the World Governnt's kill list. You can say you never touched them, but you know very well yourself whether you have or haven't."
------------------
AN: Check out my P@treon For 75 extra chapters.
Thank You For your Support!!
[email protected]/noviceauthor777
-----------------------
To keep the chapters coming - Support with POWER STONES.
For Every 100 power stones - 1 BONUS chapter.
User Comments
0 comments from readers