Above the island. Sanders arrived by boat. "It's really cold here..." "No wonder the future Vegapunk installs a full-island air conditioning
Above the island.
Sanders arrived by boat.
"It's really cold here..."
"No wonder the future Vegapunk installs a full-island air conditioning system here."
Gazing at the snow-covered island below, Sanders murmured softly.
He glanced at the busy Marines on the island and slowly closed his eyes.
With his powerful Observation Haki, enhanced by the electromagnetic abilities of the Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit), he instantly scanned the entire island.
Every living being on the island became perceptible to his senses.
"They've already started talking?"
"That's going to be troublesome…"
Sanders frowned slightly—things were becoming more complicated.
Once he deduced their location, he had rushed here at top speed.
His goal was to arrive before the two had a chance to talk.
But he was still a step too late.
What Vegapunk and Kuma didn't know was this:
One of the Five Elders, St. Jaygarcia Saturn, had planted a surveillance Den Den Mushi in a corner of the lab.
Sanders originally intended to destroy the monitoring device before Kuma and Vegapunk met.
That way, even if Kuma rejected his invitation, he could still cooperate with Vegapunk without the Five Elders finding out.
At least then, he wouldn't have to lose his consciousness.
But sadly, he was too late.
"The Navy's defense is really weak,"
"No wonder I could get in so easily."
Sanders clicked his tongue in annoyance as he surveyed the Marine defenses on the island.
If security had been tighter, he might have been able to arrive before the lab was breached.
And considering his incredible speed at full throttle, that was saying something.
Now that his Observation Haki had locked onto the Marines—
—Sanders unleashed his Conqueror's Haki.
Before the Marines could even react, their eyes rolled back and they all collapsed unconscious.
After double-checking that no one had escaped his sweep, Sanders began walking calmly toward Naval Research Facility No. 8.
Meanwhile, inside the lab—
The conversation between Kuma and Vegapunk continued.
Unbeknownst to them, St. Saturn of the Five Elders was listening in.
"What do you plan to do with those clone soldiers?"
Kuma hadn't agreed to Vegapunk's proposal yet. Instead, he posed a question of his own.
"Will there be many soldiers like me in the future...? Will they become Marines?"
"Probably,"
Vegapunk replied, then abruptly changed the topic:
"Do you like electromagnetic energy?"
Vegapunk's thought process was as erratic as ever.
"If humans could fire laser beams, pirates would be scared out of their wits!
That's the crushing power of technology!"
"It would flatten those savage villains!!"
"With bodies as tough as shields, they'll be able to block bullets."
"Clone soldiers will become heroes who protect the weak."
"These warriors from the future will save the world—step by step!"
Vegapunk grew increasingly passionate as he spoke, his massive tongue flapping, spraying saliva everywhere.
"He may be a weirdo, but he's honest about his desires... He can be trusted."
Kuma recalled what Dragon had said about Vegapunk.
"Dragon said that about me?"
"What's he so smug about?!"
Vegapunk curled his lips in irritation at the mention of his old friend, Dragon.
"If someday, soldiers cloned in my image can save someone's life...
Then maybe my existence will have had some meaning."
Kuma spoke gently, a soft smile on his face.
"You're really going to agree to this?"
Vegapunk looked at him in surprise.
"Dragon's going to blow a fuse when he finds out."
Kuma was Dragon's comrade—almost certainly a member of the Revolutionary Army.
If Dragon knew that clone soldiers all bearing Kuma's face would one day raise their weapons against the revolutionaries…
He probably would lose it.
"To be honest,"
Kuma turned his head, gazing at the joyful Bonney playing nearby.
His eyes overflowed with warmth and affection, completely undisguised.
"As long as I can save Bonney…
Even if you're a devil, I don't care."
"Please… Save her."
Kuma's gaze was firm as he looked at Vegapunk, full of earnest pleading.
"You're really a saint, you know that?"
Vegapunk exclaimed.
"A saint? No... I'm just a cowardly pacifist."
"Bebebebebe!"
"Pacifist? I like that!"
Vegapunk lit up at the word, clearly amused.
"That'll be the name of the warriors of the future—Pacifistas!"
He laughed heartily as he made the declaration.
Meanwhile, at Mary Geoise—
In the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, St. Jaygarcia Saturn, one of the Five Elders, sat in his chair.
On the desk before him was a Den Den Mushi—transmitting everything being said between Vegapunk and Kuma.
"Clone soldiers are weapons."
"And the value of a weapon… is measured by how many people it can kill."
"Vegapunk… He really doesn't know how to seize an opportunity."
Leaning on his cane, Saturn sighed.
He reached for another Den Den Mushi to place a call.
But just then, the listening Den Den Mushi drooped its head— the signal cut off.
"Hmm?"
Saturn paused mid-dial, frowning as he looked at the silent Den Den Mushi.
"What, did it go hungry because no one fed it?"
He speculated aloud.
But he quickly brushed off the incident.
The rest of the conversation was no longer important.
It was time to send someone in…
To carry out his plan.
The Den Den Mushi in Saturn's hand connected.
The other side quickly picked up.
The transponder snail in St. Jaygarcia Saturn's hand morphed into a sleazy-looking face wearing sunglasses.
"Moshi moshi~ Lord Saturn! What are your orders?"
"Borsalino, I want you to head immediately to Marine Science Unit's Research Station No. 8."
"Did something happen?"
"Has a pirate invaded the place?"
Hearing that, the sleazy expression on Kizaru's face grew slightly more serious.
He had been friends with Dr. Vegapunk for a long time.
If some reckless pirate truly had the nerve to attack that place— then he'd have to go in a bit more seriously.
"You could say that... but not quite."
"Vegapunk is fine."
Saturn's tone was calm.
"Inform all Marines on the island and nearby—lock down the entire island immediately."
"Contact me again once you arrive."
This time, Saturn actually bothered to explain himself—rare for a Five Elder.
It was only because he was speaking to a Marine Admiral, and he happened to be in a good mood.
Otherwise, he would never justify his commands.
"But the situation in the New World is still unclear. You want me to leave Marine HQ now?"
Kizaru expressed his concern.
Aside from Fleet Admiral Sengoku, he was currently the only Admiral left at headquarters.
If something were to happen now, Sengoku would have no one else to deploy.
"I'll inform Sengoku."
"Nothing should happen in the New World—for now."
Saturn replied.
If possible, he would have preferred to deploy one of the Admirals currently stationed in the New World.
But those two weren't part of the Science Division, and since coordination would be messy…
Sending Kizaru was the simpler solution.
"Understood. I'll follow your orders."
Kizaru replied without further hesitation.
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