"Logically speaking, our cooperation hasn't been particularly close," Michael stood beside Vegapunk, curiously examining the most technologically advanced location in the Pirate King World.
"Over these years, the World Government must have provided you with numerous benefits and research conditions?"
"Yes, extremely many... One could say all my current research is built upon resources provided by the World Government."
Vegapunk didn't hide anything, speaking frankly.
"Then why are you still willing to cooperate with someone like me whom you're meeting for the first time, rather than dedicating yourself wholeheartedly to the World Government?" Michael asked curiously.
"At least from your perspective, the World Government hasn't done you any wrong?"
"What about you?" Vegapunk countered without answering.
"So young yet already the Marine's Grand Inspector—in the future, you could become an Admiral, Fleet Admiral, or even Commander-in-Chief when older... Why do you still operate the Revolutionary Army?"
"Perhaps because... I dislike being a dog?"
"Michael, your answer is mine as well," Vegapunk clasped his hands behind his back, expression serene.
"No one wants to be a dog—whether Marine or scientist."
As the two walked ahead, Jack and Yamato followed like country bumpkins touring a grand garden, looking around and poking at everything.
"Hey! Who are you two? Don't you know outsiders aren't allowed here?!"
A sharp female voice rang out, followed by a barrage of bubbles.
Before Jack and Yamato could react, the bubbles had already struck their bodies...
"What the hell is this?!"
"W-wait... I feel weak..."
Just as Yamato and Jack tried to resist, they found their bodies collapsing helplessly.
This sensation... it was almost like coming into contact with seawater.
"Hmph! Devil Fruit Users, as expected!"
A young woman with short yellow hair and pink pupils appeared before them, shouldering a bizarre-looking gun.
She wore black gloves, a pink bodysuit with "PUNK02" printed on the left chest, a purple coat, and DOM boots.
This was Lilith, one of Vegapunk's six clones representing "evil."
The strange bubble-emitting gun in her hands was one of Vegapunk's inventions.
The bubbles were created using sea energy, making them highly effective against Devil Fruit Users.
Only because Jack and Yamato possessed exceptional physical strength—and since bubbles weren't entirely equivalent to seawater—were they not completely incapacitated, though weakened.
"Hehehe! Lilith, you're too worked up!" Crocodile stepped forward, blocking Lilith's path.
"They're with us."
"With you? World Government? Or the Marines?" Lilith's eyes were full of suspicion.
"I've never seen them before... and they're not even wearing Marine uniforms."
"They're from the SWORD Classified Special Forces," Stella said calmly. "I'll explain everything later... and Vegapunk is aware of their arrival."
"Huh? Vegapunk knows?" Lilith smacked her lips twice. "Tch, what a shame. I thought I could squeeze out some extra research funding."
"Whether it's the World Government, the Marines, or the SWORD Classified Special Forces, you've already received plenty of research funding, haven't you?"
"Research funding is something you can never have enough of."
Lilith shrugged and didn't press further.
Meanwhile, Crocodile used her Sand-Sand Fruit ability to absorb all the bubbles from Jack and Yamato.
Instantly, the pressure on their bodies vanished.
They stood up, glaring unhappily at Lilith.
"Tch, Yamato, should we take this woman out?"
"I'm down..."
"Enough, both of you. Settle down." Stella shot Jack and Yamato a glance.
"Have you two been with Michael in the Revolutionary Army for so long that you've forgotten discipline?"
Though they still grumbled, Jack and Yamato quieted down internally at Stella's words.
Even though Rosinante was now the overall commander of the SWORD Classified Special Forces, Stella's authority within Michael's faction was unmatched.
As the big sister figure to everyone, even stubborn hotheads like Jack and Yamato had no choice but to comply.
"Wait, what? The Revolutionary Army?" Lily frowned and asked, "Well, I don't really care who you people are... but Stella and Crocodile, aren't you two from the Marine? Since when did the Marine start mingling with the Revolutionary Army?"
Before Crocodile could even explain, Lily's expression had already shifted to one of sudden realization.
"Let me see... The original commander of the SWORD Classified Special Forces was the Marine's Grand Inspector Michael, who was expelled from the Marine five years ago after being exposed as the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army..." Lily counted on her fingers, muttering to herself,
"And you two were originally from the SWORD Classified Special Forces but are now part of the Revolutionary Army, which means you're Michael's people... So the person Vegapunk is meeting today is actually Michael!?"
Crocodile looked at Lily with slight surprise, while Stella didn't seem fazed at all.
"Crocodile, she might seem combative and reckless on the surface... but at her core, she's still a Vegapunk—brilliant as ever."
"Hurry up! I want to see what the man who keeps sending us gold for no reason looks like!"
Lily excitedly ran ahead.
Her mood swings were almost too fast to keep up with.
"Ahaha, please excuse her... Lily has always had an unusual fascination with Michael," said Shaka, Vegapunk's first unit representing "justice," as he approached.
"After all, Lily suffers from research-funding-deficiency-phobia..."
"What kind of weird condition is that?!" Jack and Yamato couldn't help but complain.
"Ahaha, don't mind it, don't mind it," Shaka chuckled softly.
"But with Michael here... perhaps the main body can finally tackle those difficult research hurdles. His timing couldn't be better."
...
"Are all six of your clones this noisy?"
Michael asked Vegapunk, listening to the commotion behind them.
"In a way, isn't it quite lively?" Vegapunk replied as they walked.
"Hmm... we're almost there!"
"Almost where?"
"Our first agenda item today... the Seraphim." Vegapunk turned to face Michael.
"A Seraphim modeled after you."