As Kuma and Drake left the church, Kuma suddenly spoke, "Oh, right, you haven't read the newspapers on Fish-Man Island recently, have you? There's been a major incident these past few days."
Drake curiously took the newspaper Kuma handed him and immediately saw the large smiling face on the front page.
The headline "Straw Hat Pirates Revived" couldn't be more conspicuous. Drake knew what the so-called major incident was without even reading the content.
Two years ago, during the Summit War, the Straw Hat Pirates' active participation had made them famous across the seas.
They had defeated the Marines alongside the Whitebeard Pirates, becoming the most talked-about crew on the seas.
Even the Marines recognized the immense potential of this pirate crew that had emerged from the weakest sea and risen to prominence so quickly.
But potential was potential; the true powerhouses of the sea didn't pay much attention to the Straw Hat Pirates. After all, potential did not equate to strength.
The Straw Hat Pirates themselves, not blinded by external praise, were also aware of this.
No one could feel the power at the world's peak more keenly than they, having been on the battlefield of the Summit War, nor could they feel the vast gap between themselves and that peak.
Luffy wanted to become the Pirate King and achieve his dreams, so they needed strength commensurate with those aspirations.
Therefore, they decided to temporarily part ways and undergo individual training.
Thus, the Straw Hat Pirates, who had gained so much fame two years prior, fell into silence.
The newspaper, however, featured extensive coverage of the Straw Hat Pirates' reappearance and their rampage on Sabaody Archipelago.
It seemed they had completed their training and reunited on Sabaody Archipelago. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in the story.
Drake skimmed through the news. The Straw Hat Pirates had caused quite a stir immediately upon their reappearance.
Two years ago, due to Drake's intervention, the Sabaody Archipelago incident had not occurred. But unexpectedly, after two years, the Straw Hat Pirates had still managed to create a similar event.
The newspaper didn't explain the cause and effect, only stating that the returned Straw Hat Luffy had attacked a Celestial Dragon, attracting the attention of Marine Admiral Kizaru.
In the original Sabaody Archipelago incident, Kizaru had casually dealt with the Supernovas, calling them "terribly frightening" and sweeping through the pirates on Sabaody Archipelago.
Luffy and his crew were utterly defeated by Kizaru. If not for Silvers Rayleigh's intervention and Bartholomew Kuma's actions to send them away, the Straw Hat Pirates would have been annihilated on Sabaody Archipelago.
But this time, Kizaru faced the Straw Hat Pirates after two years of training.
Kizaru's personality was well-known, and since the Straw Hat Pirates were the type of pirates who wouldn't directly confront the Marines, the Straw Hat Pirates successfully escaped shortly after the battle began.
Kizaru pursued them symbolically for a while before returning to Marine Headquarters empty-handed.
Although it was obvious to anyone that such a level of combat revealed nothing definitive, the public saw that the Straw Hat Pirates not only escaped successfully but had also fought an Admiral to a standstill in the previous battle.
It could be said that the Straw Hat Pirates' return had made the world once again recognize their strength.
Drake stroked his chin. Speaking of which, he had "stolen" quite a few of the Straw Hat Pirates' experience points in the New World.
For example, Fish-Man Island, which they had now reached, should not involve any major conflicts for them.
However, the two most important experience dungeons for Luffy, Whole Cake Island and Wano Country, were still remaining, so the future was still promising.
However, it seemed the place Drake was about to go was also one of the Straw Hat Pirates' experience dungeons.
…
As Drake and his companions prepared to depart, undercurrents were also surging on the Future Island of Egghead.
In a room filled with various instruments and exuding a high-tech atmosphere, an old man resembling a famous figure from Drake's past life in the scientific community angrily slammed his hands on the console.
On the screen before him, an old man with a large beard and cold eyes stared through the screen at the old man.
This old man, with rosy cheeks, graying hair, a cranial structure resembling an apple tree branch inserted into his head, a large tongue extending from his mouth to his abdomen, and wearing a lab coat, was none other than the world's greatest scientist, Vegapunk.
And the face on the screen belonged to the pinnacle of world power, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, one of the Five Elders, the Warrior God of Science and Defense.
It was clear that the conversation between the two was not pleasant.
Vegapunk frowned and asked, "What has your World Government done?"
Saturn replied unhurriedly, "Vegapunk, understand your position! All your research funding is provided by the World Government, meaning all your research successes are the property of the World Government.
It's already a great concession that we haven't interfered with your research. How to use that research is also the right of us, the World Government.
I advise you to focus your efforts on developing the Seraphim. Without Kuma as the initial sample, your research might not be going very smoothly, right?"
Vegapunk said, "You don't need to worry about that, and don't change the subject. That's not what I'm talking about.
You've made a move on the Mother Flame, haven't you? I don't know how you did it, but the unexplained loss of a cluster from the Mother Flame is definitely your doing, isn't it?
The Mother Flame is essential for realizing my dream—the free sharing of energy worldwide. It absolutely cannot be handed over to you for misuse!"
Saturn's face turned cold, and he said angrily, "Control yourself. You are merely a scientist; you have no right to dictate to the World Government!
Your job is simply to complete the research we assign you. Vegapunk, no one cherishes your talent more than I, a fellow scientist.
Therefore, don't do anything that I cannot tolerate!"
The screen flickered, and the image disappeared.
Vegapunk clenched his fist and said, "Are you kidding me! I am not a scientist like you. I will never help you create terrible weapons!"
Vegapunk had long ago resolved himself as a scientist; he would never allow his inventions to become blades in the hands of others.
On the other side, Saturn, looking at the blank screen on the warship, also had a grim expression.
Vegapunk's stubbornness displeased him greatly. Although Vegapunk's unparalleled talent was regrettable, there was no other course of action at this point.
A connected Den Den Mushi on the side transmitted a female voice, "How about it? I told you that guy wouldn't do as you wished. After all, who knows him better than I do? I am his… 'desire'!"
Saturn said, "Then the rest is up to you. As long as we obtain the Mother Flame and all of Vegapunk's knowledge, we will absolutely keep our promise regarding what you desire."
"Then it's a deal!"
The transaction was agreed upon, and triumphant laughter echoed from the Den Den Mushi.
Saturn hung up the Den Den Mushi and walked out of the cabin. Besides the warship he was on, there were over twenty accompanying warships.
This was undoubtedly the lineup for a Buster Call. This massive fleet had been dispatched to completely annihilate Egghead.
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