Sakazuki gave a low laugh. "Don't say it's only Kong. I never intended to keep those ones at headquarters either. Plans are unpredictable things, and we still don't even know what cards the government is holding. All we can do is prepare the most foolproof plan."
Vegapunk smiled. "Straightforward as ever. But what about filling the gap in battle strength? If you kill everyone, won't that leave a huge hole?"
Sakazuki shook his head. "It doesn't matter. We have Bullet. When the time is right, I'll hand him the More-More Fruit. With his Haki and physique, every ability of his will grow a hundredfold. Not even I could stand against him then. He'll be the mountain that suppresses the world, and no one would climb over him.
"After that, it'll be up to you. Technology is the primary productive force, so arm the Marines as fast as possible and crush the world with superior weapons. Smash this rotten system that's lasted thousands of years."
There was no other choice. This wasn't a world run by ordinary people. It was dominated by those with overwhelming power.
The history of the One Piece world stretched far back. The destroyed Tree of Knowledge had been five thousand years old. Alabasta's history alone spanned four thousand years. And yet, it still existed.
A kingdom had stood for four millennia without collapsing, its technology stagnant and systems unchanged, looking the same as it did four thousand years ago. Unscientific forces had blocked the course of history.
At the peak of the world stood men strong enough to destroy islands and split seas. They had held progress back. In such an environment, the idea of equality was a joke.
Those who ate Devil Fruits or had monstrous bodies were like gods to regular humans, and they didn't even bother to hide it.
Pirates and Fruits had to be destroyed and controlled, while gods, royalty, nobles, and their systems needed to be dismantled. Once that handful of people was dealt with, everything else would fall into place.
The entire world would be cleansed under the cannons of the Marines of the future.
* * *
The next morning.
As soon as he woke up, Law rushed off to find Rosinante. He wanted to go back to the Third Research Institute right away.
Rosinante dragged himself out of bed with great effort, his face carrying two heavy bags under his eyes as regret filled him. They had stayed late with the researchers yesterday and gotten just five hours' sleep, leaving him to wonder inwardly how this kid could be so full of energy.
"Law, it's too early," he muttered, looking tired. "They won't be up yet."
Law spoke with certainty, "They're already at work. I asked yesterday. There's little to do on the island, so they usually sleep just four hours."
Rosinante smacked a palm to his face, defeated. "All right, fine. Let me wash my face."
He headed for the bathroom.
At the doorway, Law nodded eagerly. "Mm! Hurry up!"
Rosinante spun back, baring his teeth. "You're driving me crazy, brat!"
* * *
By midday, Enel finally wandered lazily into the Third Research Institute. He spotted Rosinante's face, dark circles plain as day.
"Morning," he said with a grin. "Hey, is that a new disguise? This isn't the time for undercover work. You don't need to hide anymore. Yahahaha."
Rosinante was ready to snap. "I'm just tired! And you just woke up, didn't you? Damn it!"
Enel stretched. "Ha. Of course not. I just gave your brother a round of electrotherapy. Now he's back in the nutrient pod, resting."
Rosinante sighed.
Enel rolled his eyes. "No need to pity him. The man's too confident for that. He must know some kind of secret, so the government won't touch him for now. They'll probably just lock him up until he dies. If I don't squeeze some interest out of him now, when will I get another chance? Who the hell wants to live in a cell every day? Worry about your own life instead."
He glanced around. "And where's that little brat?"
Rosinante pointed to a lab through the glass. Law was already busy, darting back and forth and asking endless questions as he lent a hand to the researchers. "There. Don't ask me where he gets all that energy. Brought me here at the crack of dawn."
Enel laughed. "Same as me back then. He's got potential."
Rosinante clicked his tongue. "Then why not let him stay on Punk Hazard for training? In a few years he'd be one of the world's top doctors."
Enel slapped his forehead with a groan. "Are you even thinking before you speak? Let him stay on Punk Hazard? You might as well sign his death warrant. This place isn't the Marine HQ. It's full of researchers and soldiers. The CPs are everywhere. Most of the people were trained by the government. That fruit you took was from them. If you leave, that kid might vanish the moment you're gone.
"Better let him stay at HQ a few years for him grow stronger, then bring him out. At the very least, no one dares openly snatch someone under the Marines' nose. The last one who caused trouble there was that Golden Lion. And Uncle ripped his head clean off."
Rosinante forced a laugh. "Oh, right."
Enel let out a sigh, irritation clear in his voice. "Honestly… You were pretty dumb as a kid, but at least tolerable. Now that you're grown, I realize, you're not just dumb. You don't use your brain at all. Your scatterbrained idiocy has gotten worse. Maybe we should ask Teacher to swap out that skull of yours with a mechanical brain, then we wouldn't have to worry about you messing up."
He finished with a malicious grin, staring at Rosinante, who quickly shook his hands in refusal.
* * *
A few days later.
A marine warship cut across the seas, leaving Punk Hazard behind.
Holding his new transfer orders in hand, Sakazuki prepared for the voyage back to headquarters.
The Reverie was approaching, and Marineford had issued a summons. Every admiral and senior officer not tied down by critical missions was to return immediately.
Their duty was to escort the kings and rulers of the world as their ships sailed toward Mariejois. After all, with every Reverie, reckless pirates would inevitably lurk along the route, hoping to strike at the vessels of kings. All for the sake of earning a higher bounty, feeding their vanity with blood and chaos.
As Punk Hazard faded into the horizon, Sakazuki returned to his cabin. He took out the device and the box of screw-like audio storage units.
For a moment, he simply stared at it, his voice heavy. "Fifteen years…"
Shaking his head, he called out toward the door.
"Carlo!"
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