*Achoo!*
"What's wrong? Catch a cold?"
"No, just a tickle in my nose."
Stepping into the lab, Dante saw that Vegapunk's head had somehow grown even larger. "Your head's gotten bigger again," he couldn't help but remark. "You really need to get that under control."
"Control it? Why would I do that?" Vegapunk said, his hands clasped behind his back and his long tongue lolling out. "I ate the Brain-Brain Fruit. The more data I absorb, the bigger my brain gets. It's only natural." He walked over to Dante, a thoughtful look on his face. "Of course, I've already come up with a way to deal with this. If I can hide the size of my head, I might even be able to go outside again. As long as they don't see my most obvious feature, I doubt the World Government will ever find me."
After all, they knew he was a Brain-Brain Fruit user, and his massive head was his most famous trait. If he could just conceal that, he was confident he could move about freely, recognized only by the few people he trusted.
As he spoke, Vegapunk's eyes scanned Dante from head to toe. "Speaking of which, you look like you've been enjoying yourself lately."
"Ahem. Let's not get into that."
'Can he really tell just by looking at me?' Dante thought. 'As expected of the man with the world's greatest mind.'
He cleared his throat and looked at Vegapunk seriously. "So, what did you call me over for?"
"Ah, right. I almost forgot." Vegapunk didn't seem to care about Dante's private life. Then again, for a man on these seas, Dante's record was remarkably clean, aside from a few rumors about a female pirate.
He turned and picked up a bottle filled with a shimmering blue liquid. "The little project you asked for? It's finished."
"You don't mean..." Dante caught the bottle Vegapunk tossed him, his eyes wide with surprise as he stared at the swirling fluid inside.
"That's right," Vegapunk nodded. "I developed it based on your request, using Bartholomew Kuma's Buccaneers lineage factor. It's designed to enhance physical training, boosting the user's Doriki and overall constitution." He sighed. "The only drawback is that it's not an instant fix. You still have to do the work yourself. From the data I've gathered, the harder you train, the greater the results. Of course, that's just theoretical. There's probably a limit, but I don't have enough test subjects to know for sure. Besides," he added with a grin, "people are full of infinite possibilities."
"Like some kind of protein powder?"
"What? Protein powder? I call it the Aqua Ursa (Water Bear), if you prefer." Vegapunk shot him a puzzled look before continuing with a hint of regret. "It's a shame it doesn't grant strength instantly. I still think my Cloned Super Soldiers are a more efficient option. I even asked Kuma about it, and he didn't object. He said he would carry out any order you gave him."
'It's not that I don't want to,' Dante thought. 'Cloning soldiers might be a bit inhumane, but it's undeniably the fastest way to build up our strength.'
Unfortunately, it was also incredibly expensive. If he had that kind of money, he wouldn't just stop at Kuma, he'd find a way to get a sample from Big Mom or Kaido.
"This is good enough," Dante said, shaking his head. "Even if Kuma agreed, it doesn't feel right. I've heard about the Vinsmoke family and their clone army. Are people who have been stripped of their dreams, humanity, and desires still truly human?" He looked at Vegapunk with conviction. "Ideals and desires are what drive people forward. It's that constant hunger that makes us strive for our dreams. Besides, strength that's earned through hard work is something a person will truly value."
"Ideals and desires are what drive people forward, you say?" Vegapunk looked at him, genuinely surprised. "I never expected that kind of insight from you. You're right. That's what makes a dream worth chasing. I suppose I'm also moving forward for my own desires."
A rare smile touched his face. "I think I finally understand why Kuma puts so much faith in you. It must be because you have a genuine respect for life."
Dante nodded seriously. "I've always respected life." He then raised the bottle again. "By the way, does this stuff have any side effects?"
"Side effects?" Vegapunk frowned in thought. "Well, it might cause a state of heightened mental alertness and an abundance of energy. Beyond that, I haven't found anything. At its core, it's just a training supplement. The results ultimately depend on the individual."
"I see. And the production cost?"
"The cost itself isn't high, but the materials are tricky to acquire. Mass production is impossible right now, even if we were to bleed Kuma dry for his lineage factor." Vegapunk spread his hands. "And I have a feeling you wouldn't let me do that anyway. Don't worry, I'm already working on alternative methods. It should be possible soon enough. Just don't get your hopes up too high. This potion can speed up training, but it can't turn an ordinary person into a powerhouse on its own."
He looked at Dante seriously. "Some people are born monsters, while others could train for a decade and never catch up to what a prodigy learns in a year."
"Yeah," Dante muttered. "I know the feeling all too well."
"Good. As long as you understand." Vegapunk set the topic aside and picked up a file from a nearby table. "The Propulsion system you asked me to redesign is also finished. Per your request, it can run on cola, solar power, or even be pedaled manually. Here, take a look for yourself. And don't worry, it's a completely different design from the Marines' version. I guarantee the World Government won't be able to trace it back to me."
"Thanks for all your hard work." Dante took the file, which was so thick it made his head spin just looking at it. He flipped through a few pages before closing it. There was no need to check the details. Knowing Vegapunk, he wouldn't have presented it if it wasn't perfect.
Still, he stroked his chin, tapping the thick stack of documents. "If we're going to sell these, we'll need to find a way to make them legitimate. They can't just appear out of nowhere. But if we do that, your name..."
"Handle it however you see fit. It's all yours." Vegapunk waved a dismissive hand, seeming to understand Dante's concern. "It doesn't matter to me if my name is on it or not. As long as I can work in peace, I'm happy."
It was just a small gadget, after all. While his resources here weren't as vast as what the World Government provided, the freedom was more than worth it. He was quite satisfied. Besides, Dante often gave him flashes of inspiration that, while making his head swell, were always exhilarating.
"Also," Vegapunk said, his eyes narrowing as his tongue flicked out, "I heard you all made a fortune on that cosmetics line recently. If that's the case..." He leaned in conspiratorially. "Shouldn't my research funding be getting another raise?"
"We didn't rake in a fortune or anything," Dante said with a grin. "But yeah, you're getting a raise, no question. Once the ships are built and shipped out for a solid profit, I'll even double it."
"What a generous boss! I'm liking you more and more." Vegapunk's eyes lit up with excitement. "Well, what are we waiting for? Hurry up and go build those ships! That's money just sitting there!"
Dante couldn't help but chuckle at the scientist, whose eyes gleamed with the same greedy spark Nami got around treasure. The world's top genius, reduced to this.
He pulled out a Den Den Mushi. "Hang on, let me make a call first."
He dialed, and a moment later the line connected. Just as Dante was about to speak, a wave of noise came from the other end. He frowned at the Den Den Mushi, which had taken on the features of his subordinate, Mock. "Why is it so loud over there? What are you all doing?"
"Boss! It's you! We're having a party!" Mock's cheerful voice boomed through the receiver. "And Boss Garp's grandson is paying for it all!"
"Garp's grandson?" Dante paused, his brow furrowing. "You mean Luffy? Where did that kid get the money to treat everyone?"
"Wahahaha! You know him too, Boss? He's a really interesting kid!" The Mock-faced Den Den Mushi let out a hearty laugh. "It's the money he saved up from working for the last two months. Boss Garp talked to him and when he heard we were celebrating, he offered it up without a second thought. What a generous guy."
As Mock spoke, the Den Den Mushi was apparently passed to someone else. Its features shifted, transforming into the face of a white-haired old man, and a familiar, booming laugh echoed through the lab.
"Everyone, eat and drink all you want! Tonight, it's on my grandson!"
Dante stared at the receiver.
'A party?' he thought, a vein throbbing on his forehead. 'That old geezer... Is he really scamming his own grandson for party money?'
===============
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