"Why are you so scared?"
"Weren't you getting along quite well with that kid back then?"
Vegapunk chuckled softly as he looked at Sentomaru, whose face had gone a bit pale.
Back when Sanders was still with the Marines, Vegapunk had invited him to assist with certain research— especially because of his Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit) ability.
Electricity, after all, was a form of energy— and Vegapunk's dream was to create a world where energy could be shared freely.
Naturally, over time, Sanders came into contact with Sentomaru, Vegapunk's bodyguard.
Their relationship could be described—at the very least—as half-friendly.
So in theory, Sentomaru shouldn't be this terrified.
"Uh… I'm still the old man's subordinate…"
Sentomaru lowered his massive axe, its head making a dull sound as it touched the floor.
"And he's a pirate now. I'm a Marine."
"Besides, the old man was one of the people who captured him back then."
By "old man," he clearly meant Admiral Kizaru (Borsalino).
Sentomaru served in the Marine Science Unit and was Kizaru's direct subordinate.
After speaking, a realization struck him—his face changed, and he exclaimed:
"The old man! I've got to tell him Sanders came here!"
To the Marines and the World Government, a pirate infiltrating Vegapunk's lab was no small matter.
They needed to reinforce security immediately.
Sentomaru grabbed his Den Den Mushi, intending to contact Kizaru without delay.
At that moment, Vegapunk and Bartholomew Kuma exchanged glances— their eyes drifting toward a small corner of the lab where a monitor Den Den Mushi was hidden.
Before leaving, Sanders had discreetly returned all the surveillance devices to their original places.
Meanwhile…
Not far from the island housing Marine Science Unit's 8th Research Base, a Marine warship cruised over the sea.
On board stood Admiral Kizaru, clad in a striped suit, draped in the cloak of justice, orange sunglasses perched on his nose, and a wide-brimmed round hat on his head.
As the ship approached the 8th Research Base, Kizaru felt the temperature begin to drop.
A visible puff of vapor escaped his mouth.
"Brr… It's cold… Way colder than the Punk Hazard zone."
Staring at the speck of land slowly growing on the horizon, Kizaru murmured to himself,
"Vegapunk really had the nerve to strike a deal with a pirate… What a headache."
He was acting on direct orders from the Five Elders.
And he knew very well that a pirate with a bounty over 200 million was currently on the island.
As the island loomed larger, Kizaru shook his head and sighed:
"Oh well, no point overthinking."
"This is my job after all."
"Hope the Tyrant knows what's good for him… Otherwise, this is going to get messy."
Just then, a Marine officer hurried over:
"Admiral Kizaru! We've lost all contact with the 8th Research Facility!"
"Oh?"
Kizaru raised an eyebrow with his signature sleazy grin, lips twitching slightly.
"All of them? No one at all?"
"Yes, Admiral Kizaru!"
The reporting Marine stood at attention and replied loudly, Neither the Marines stationed on the island nor the World Government staff—none of them are answering. The Den Den Mushi just keeps ringing without a response!"
Kizaru's grin faded slightly as he frowned.
Before heading to the 8th Research Base, he had instructed increased vigilance to prevent
Bartholomew Kuma from escaping.
To avoid alerting the "Tyrant," he had even refrained from contacting Sentomaru, his own direct subordinate.
But now? Every single line is dead.
That was… troublesome.
If Kuma kidnapped Vegapunk…
The Five Elders would be furious—no doubt about it.
Kizaru could already imagine the chaos.
Kuma's Devil Fruit powers were no joke— if he intended to flee, especially with someone in tow, even Kizaru himself might not be able to stop him in time.
And if Vegapunk were taken away… Who knows where that lunatic would be taken to?
"Troublesome… I'm just a damn salaryman," Kizaru muttered lazily to himself while patting around his coat.
A moment later, he pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
Since he couldn't reach the personnel on the island, the only option left was contacting
Sentomaru directly.
This was no longer just about fulfilling the Five Elders' assignment— he had to confirm Vegapunk's safety.
However, after fiddling with the snail for a while, the line remained completely silent.
Kizaru furrowed his brow. "Huh? Is this thing broken?"
"Admiral Kizaru, that's a black surveillance Den Den Mushi," the Marine beside him whispered.
"It can't be used to make calls."
"Ah… makes sense," Kizaru nodded.
Then he reached into his coat again and pulled out a different Den Den Mushi.
Just as he was about to dial Sentomaru—
Brrrru~ Brrrru~
The Den Den Mushi rang first.
Kizaru connected the line, and the snail morphed into a face resembling Sentomaru's.
His voice instantly came through, loud and panicked:
"Boss! It's bad!! The 8th Research Facility has been infiltrated by pirates!!"
The shout made Kizaru wince slightly and poke a finger into his ear.
"I see… I got it, Sentomaru."
"Are you and Dr. Vegapunk alright?"
"Did Bartholomew Kuma hurt the Doctor?"
Kizaru asked in his usual unhurried drawl—calm, yet unmistakably serious.
The loss of contact with the entire island did leave him genuinely concerned for Vegapunk's well-being.
But Kizaru wasn't actually worried about Vegapunk's life.
He knew Bartholomew Kuma had come for his daughter, and for that reason alone, he would never harm Vegapunk.
What concerned him far more… was the possibility that Kuma might abduct Vegapunk and flee with him.
That would be a serious problem.
"Huh?!"
On the other end of the line, Sentomaru froze. His voice blurted out in confusion:
"Boss, how do you already know that 'the big guy' came here?!"
He had intended to report Sanders, not Kuma.
So hearing that Kizaru was already aware of Kuma's arrival took him completely by surprise.
Kizaru paused for a second.
But instead of explaining, he calmly asked again:
"Is Dr. Vegapunk safe?"
Sentomaru, not suspecting anything, immediately responded:
"Dr. Vegapunk's fine."
"Kuma didn't hurt him."
Then, his voice grew more serious—
"But I was talking about another pirate who invaded!!"
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