Approaching the Future
From the bridge of the Heaven's Embrace, Egghead Island looked nothing like the other islands of the Grand Line. Instead of jagged cliffs or jungle canopies, a sprawling cluster of domes, towers, and floating platforms shimmered like something out of a sci-fi manga.
The largest dome — the Labo-Phase — gleamed white under the sun, encased in what looked like a translucent bubble. Surrounding it, massive wind turbines spun lazily, and ships drifted at the perimeter under Marine flags.
Robin studied the horizon through a spyglass. "Egghead's officially neutral… but the Government keeps 'security forces' here at all times. Which means…"
Reiju smirked. "Which means we're about to make them panic."
Government Perimeter Patrol
As the Embrace closed in, a Marine loudspeaker blared from one of the patrol ships.
"This is a restricted zone! Identify yourselves or turn back immediately!"
Vegito stepped out onto the figurehead — tail swaying — and called back without Den Den Mushi assistance:
"I'm Captain Vegito of the Heaven's Embrace! We're here for the food, the tech, and maybe a nice souvenir if you don't annoy me."
The silence that followed was delicious. Then the panicked shouts started.
"It's him! Full alert! Contact Command!"
The Overreaction
Within minutes, the Marine patrols formed a blockade. Sirens blared. Den Den Mushis crackled with frantic voices.
On the other side of the line, Robin muttered, "That's four warships, two Pacifistas, and… oh dear. They've activated a Buster Call beacon."
Nami groaned. "We haven't even touched the island yet!"
Vegito shrugged. "Guess we make a flashy entrance."
Breaking the Blockade
Kuina and Tashigi leapt from the deck in perfect sync, cutting through the first line of cannonballs midair. Mink lightning from Carrot and Wanda arced across the water, short-circuiting the lead Pacifista.
Reiju unleashed a poison mist that corroded the hulls of two ships without harming the crews, leaving them flailing for control.
Vegito himself vanished in a blink, reappearing above the last warship — and with a single downward slap, sent it spinning like a coin until it capsized.
The blockade was gone in under two minutes.
Entering the Dome
The Embrace slid under the Labo-Phase's entry bubble without resistance — because by the time they reached it, the island's automated defenses had scanned Vegito and, instead of attacking, broadcast a single message over the intercom:
"WELCOME, OUTSIDER. I HAVE BEEN EXPECTING YOU."
Nami blinked. "That's… not ominous at all."
Meeting Vegapunk
The docking platform was a bizarre mix of pristine white and cluttered chaos — drones zipping overhead, robotic arms carrying crates, holograms of machinery flickering in the air.
And in the middle of it stood Dr. Vegapunk — or rather, one of his satellite bodies: a tall, stylish woman with short silver hair, sharp glasses, and a lab coat over a skintight black suit.
"Lilith," Robin murmured, recognizing the schematics from her research.
Lilith grinned like a cat with a laser pointer. "So you're the one who keeps making the Government wet themselves. Welcome to Egghead, Captain Vegito."
The First Exchange
Vegito tilted his head. "You expecting me because you're psychic, or because you've been snooping?"
Lilith tapped her temple. "I read everything. Including reports classified at the highest level. You've caused more data spikes in their alert system than the entire Worst Generation combined."
Reiju smirked. "We get that a lot."
Lilith's eyes flicked to Vegito's tail. "And you're not from here. Which means you're either my greatest research opportunity… or my biggest mistake."
The Tour
Despite her words, Lilith led them deeper into the Labo-Phase.
Food Printer Bay – Nami's eyes lit up as she printed a perfect tangerine pie in seconds.
Weapons Lab – Kuina and Tashigi tested holographic sword arenas that adjusted difficulty based on the user's reflexes.
Clothing Fabricator – Carrot nearly exploded with joy when a scanner built her a mink-tail–friendly spacesuit in under a minute.
The whole time, drones zipped overhead, scanning every crew member. Lilith occasionally smirked but said nothing, filing data away.
The Serious Turn
In a sealed observation room, Lilith finally dropped her casual tone.
"The Government has me under constant watch," she said. "But there's something they've ordered me to destroy. I haven't. Instead, I've hidden it here on Egghead."
Robin leaned forward. "What is it?"
Lilith brought up a hologram — a glowing sphere inscribed with strange markings. "A complete, functioning Mother Flame reactor. It's the power source the Elders want for their new weapon. I… disagree with its intended use."
Vegito crossed his arms. "So you want us to take it."
Lilith smiled. "Not just take it. Make it vanish so completely they'll think it never existed."
Comedy Amid the Tension
While the adults talked world-ending tech, the Minks had somehow hacked a snack drone to chase Carrot in circles, dropping tangerines on her head.
"Why is it targeting me?!" Carrot yelped.
"Maybe it thinks you're a vending machine," Wanda deadpanned.
The Alarm
Before Vegito could answer Lilith's offer, sirens screamed. Red lights pulsed along the ceiling.
Lilith cursed. "They're here. CP0 — and they've brought a Seraphim."
Nami groaned. "Already?"
Vegito grinned. "Perfect. Let's make Egghead our playground."
CP0's Arrival
The docking bay doors exploded inward as Lucci, Kaku, and Stussy strode in with the cool precision of trained killers. Behind them hovered a Seraphim — a childlike figure with Mihawk's eyes and blade, but wings of black flame.
Lucci's voice was cold. "Vegito. By order of the Five Elders, you—"
Vegito was in front of him before the sentence finished, flicking his forehead hard enough to launch him through two walls.
Kaku blinked. "…Yup. Thought that might happen."
The Brawl
Kuina intercepted the Seraphim's sword strike, sparks flying as steel met steel.
Boa turned Kaku to stone mid-leap — only for Vegito to de-petrify him seconds later just so he could kick him into a drone bay.
Robin sprouted hands from the ceiling to grab Stussy mid-dodge, while Reiju poisoned the air around the CP0 landing team's reinforcements.
Lilith simply leaned against the wall, watching the chaos with fascination. "You might actually survive this island."
Vegito's Finisher
When Lucci staggered back into the bay, Vegito caught him by the collar.
"Tell your bosses," Vegito said, voice low, "that if they want Egghead… they'll have to build a new one."
He hurled Lucci straight into the departing CP0 ship, caving in the hull and sending it crashing into the sea.
Aftermath and Setup
With the CP0 team gone, Lilith led them to a sealed vault.
"Inside is the Mother Flame. I'll help you get it off Egghead — but once it's gone, the Government will know I betrayed them. Which means I'll need a… new home."
Vegito smirked. "We've got plenty of room."
The vault doors slid open, bathing the room in eerie light. The hum of the Mother Flame filled the air.
Robin whispered, "That… could power entire continents."
Vegito just grinned. "Or keep it far from the wrong hands. Let's move it."
[World State Updated]
Crew: Lilith Vegapunk unofficially aligned; recruitment pending.
World Government: CP0 humiliated; Egghead security compromised.
Foreshadowing: The Mother Flame's existence ties directly to Imu's endgame.
Next Destination: Extraction of the Mother Flame — and deciding where to hide it.