Whoosh!
Carlo's figure vanished from the secret chamber within the ruins of Oden Castle.
No one knew what had happened there, only a corpse left behind slowly rotting, making it seem like a silent crime scene…
* * *
New World, Egghead Island.
Inside the secret laboratory above the clouds, Carlo appeared, carrying the Devil Fruit extraction device in his hand. He walked straight toward Vegapunk's usual lab, and as expected, found him in the middle of an experiment.
He stepped in and called out, "Dr. Vegapunk."
Focused on his work, the scientist only snapped out of it when he heard the voice. He turned to look at the newcomer.
"Carlo. You brought it back that quickly?"
His gaze fell on the device in the man's hand.
Carlo shrugged his shoulders. "It wasn't anyone strong. As long as I found them, taking it was easy."
He handed over the Devil Fruit extraction device. After all, with a teleportation ability like his, very few people could resist his assassination.
Vegapunk chuckled and took it. "Come with me. The materials are ready."
He turned and led Carlo toward the Seraphim cultivation chamber.
Inside the chamber, there were many tanks filled with green nutrient fluid in all sizes. Most of the cloned bodies inside were Jinbe and Weevil, the reason being simple: they were tough and durable.
Vegapunk stopped in front of a tank containing a Seraphim Jinbe clone and activated it. Inside, the Seraphim suddenly opened its eyes, then, like diving into water, its body leapt downward and disappeared into the bottom of the tank.
Splash!
With the sound of water, the cloned Seraphim Jinbe emerged from the ground in front of the two men and stood there.
A trace of admiration flashed in Carlo's eyes as he praised, "The power of technology is really amazing."
Even though he had seen it many times, he still couldn't help but be impressed. Devil Fruits themselves were already absurd, yet technology could replicate something this absurd...
This Seraphim was using the Swim-Swim Fruit ability, once held by a pirate from the destroyed Donquixote Family.
Vegapunk murmured, a bit lost in thought, "Technology is the future. One day, we will create free and unlimited energy. It will be available to everyone in the world. That will be a truly dreamlike world. But…"
He paused, then came back to his senses. "We have to deal with the World Government first. They've kept this world locked away for far too long, they've made the world suffer."
Carlo smiled. "We will. Very soon."
Vegapunk nodded. "I believe in Sakazuki."
After saying that, he gestured for Carlo to follow and instructed the Seraphim Jinbe to return to the lab. He then activated the modified giant bear that had consumed the Munch-Munch Fruit.
The bear opened its mouth wide, turning it into something like a large door. Vegapunk placed the newly recovered Devil Fruit inside, then ordered the Seraphim to enter as well. The bear's mouth closed, and from within its body came a series of mechanical sounds, as if a massive factory was operating inside.
Beside it, Vegapunk operated the console. Several cables extended from it, all connected to the modified giant bear. Data from inside the bear rapidly flashed across the large screen, and he adjusted things continuously based on it.
After a short while.
Hiss!
Steam burst out from the bear's ears. Then its mouth opened wide, expanding into a door-like shape.
The Seraphim Jinbe stepped out. There was no visible change in its appearance, but the Devil Fruit that had been placed inside had completely disappeared.
Carlo looked at the Seraphim and touched his chin. "By the way... after the fusion, can it still use its original ability?"
Vegapunk replied, "Of course. The Seraphim's abilities come from special blood, so they can coexist. And we have already overcome the barrier between Devil Fruits.
"With the Munch-Munch Fruit and precise calculations, we can perfectly separate and fuse abilities. This is different from directly consuming a fruit and altering the Lineage Factor.
"With this fusion method, abilities can be removed at any time. There is no need for the host to die to retrieve them.
"However, this only applies to abilities fused through the Munch-Munch Fruit. For those who have already eaten a Devil Fruit, the only way is to kill them and recover it using the extraction device."
As he spoke, he had the Seraphim sink into the ground, then reappear. Then he brought over a small metal part and placed it in its hand. Once the ability activated, the metal quickly rusted and aged.
Vegapunk picked it up and crushed it lightly. It turned into powder.
Carlo gave a slight nod.
This was already extremely advanced technology. If they wanted, they could create large numbers of dual-ability users using the Seraphim. Afterward, the abilities could be removed without needing the host to die.
After a brief moment of thought, he placed his hand on the Seraphim.
"Then I'll be going, Dr. Vegapunk."
The scientist quickly stopped him.
"Wait!"
He turned and ran inside, then came back with several green syringes and handed them over.
"These are ability blood serums. I don't know what you plan to use them for, but they can support its use of the Swim-Swim Fruit for a period of time."
Carlo accepted them and nodded. "Got it."
Holding the green serum in one hand, he placed his other hand on the Seraphim and looked at Vegapunk.
"Goodbye, Doctor."
Whoosh!
His ability activated, and he vanished from Egghead Island instantly.
* * *
New World, New Marineford.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Carlo appeared with the Seraphim Jinbe.
"I have completed the mission, Fleet Admiral."
Sakazuki looked at them and nodded. He opened a drawer, took out a prepared nutrient solution, and walked over.
"Let's go. To the prison."
Carlo placed the green syringes on the ground for now, then put his hand on him.
Whoosh!
With the Seraphim that had fused the Ripe-Ripe Fruit ability, the three of them vanished.
* * *
They reappeared deep beneath New Marineford, inside a prison.
Inside the temporarily modified cell, there was only one prisoner: an unawakened member of the Three-Eye Tribe.
Pudding.
The sudden appearance of the three startled Pudding awake from her sleep.
She had been imprisoned here for dozens of days. The place was so silent it felt as if time no longer moved, the same lights and the same surroundings repeating day after day. Only when the guard came to deliver food could she barely come back to her senses and remind herself that she was still alive.
She opened her eyes and looked at them, then froze.
Her body trembled uncontrollably as she backed away, a faint pain throbbing in her forehead. The agony of having her eye gouged out still lingered, and even after days, the instinctive pain remained.
Carlo opened the prison door, dragged Pudding out despite her resistance, and removed the Seastone chains.
She was still in a daze, unable to react, when Sakazuki grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up, moving her toward the Seraphim Jinbe.
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