"As for your previous question, maybe they really are geniuses, it's just that this environment makes people lose the desire to strive, not feeling motivated to improve."
Vegapunk responded rather plainly to the suggestion made by the agent concerning his former colleagues, without taking it too seriously.
Similarly, the people sent by the World Government didn't probe further because their purpose had already been achieved.
Previously, their intelligence division had analyzed that Vegapunk had something valuable in his possession but hadn't revealed it yet. Bringing up Judge and the others was mainly to press Vegapunk a bit.
The World Government funds worldwide, and Vegapunk holds unparalleled financial resources, yet he hasn't produced suitable results. This seems rather unusual indeed.
Originally, they thought Vegapunk was the most honest in MADS, but now it seems he's quite the slick old hand, expertly skimming funds.
Without pressuring him a bit, he truly can just idle away.
Looking over the former members of MADS, now the most diligent is actually Queen. Judge has his own business, using funds that were originally his own. Caesar is also a slacker, incredibly bold, cheating Four Emperors' funds for his own freedom.
Ba Jin currently has no projects, and Vegapunk's goal is also to research his interests using government funds, only Queen is different.
If he were to follow these former colleagues, his means of communication would be the Wolf Fang Club.
Queen's treatment has already maxed out, his hobbies mostly satisfied, even having Shaymin as a partner. Under such circumstances, if he were to idle for funds, he really might meet the gates of Hell sooner.
Hence, the Peacekeeper began to enter mass production, with a price for a warship still within an acceptable range.
Moreover, according to the special agent's test on the prototype's power, he believed this Peacekeeper was enough to tackle most pirates, adding a significant core strength to the Navy's grassroots.
...
Time continues to pass, yet a piece of major news has emerged on the calm sea, issuing from Whitebeard's chase order.
Blackbeard - Marshall D. Teach violated the sole ironclad rule of the Whitebeard Pirates - no harming of companions.
For the sake of the Dark-Dark Fruit, he finally revealed his long-hidden fangs, murdered Thatch who obtained the fruit, and began his escape.
And presently, while Whitebeard hasn't reached the state of hooked up to IV lines, although elderly, thanks to medical adjustments, he's still relatively robust. He immediately issued the chase order for Blackbeard across The Sea.
This news shocked many across The Sea, as before this, nobody thought a member of the Whitebeard Pirates would touch Whitebeard's taboo.
Even in Hundred Beasts, this news caused quite a stir, and Yamato's vigilance was heightened, as she was facing Kaidou at the moment.
Her hands gripped Agan 7.0 tightly; the mighty Agan 7.0, unscathed by the pain of the Second Generation demise, persevered to today, becoming Yamato's weapon of choice.
"Father, what exactly do you want to tell me?"
"Oh ho ho, don't be so tense; I just want to reason with you, my silly daughter."
"Spare me! I don't believe you! Your adoptive father isn't here, you're just trying to relax my vigilance, then hit me hard with a club, mock me saying I'm still too weak! I won't be fooled again!"
You've done this not for the first time, a person won't fail in the same thing twice... uh... five times... uh... anyway, I don't trust you!"
Simply recalling past experiences, she discovered she'd been duped by Kaidou more than once, so this time she didn't plan to lower her guard, she said as she directly transformed into Human-Beast Form, demonstrating her seriousness towards Kaidou.
"Tch..."
"You just made a tch sound, didn't you! You definitely have a scheme!!"
Seemingly finding his daughter hard to fool, Kaidou appeared slightly discontented but nonetheless tossed the latest newspaper to Yamato.
"Newgate, that old fellow's news, his son killed another of his sons. He might be going crazy with anger, no, with his personality, probably consumed by both anger and sorrow.
When I crewed alongside him, he was always unique, uninterested in treasures or fame, he wanted that so-called family. But Yamato, do you know why Newgate is like this?"
"Why... why?"
"Because that so-called son of his is too weak!"
Hearing this, Yamato shivered; whenever Kaidou said someone was too weak, it often meant potential misfortune for her. Fortunately, Kaidou didn't move directly this time but instead picked up the wine gourd and drank.
"That old guy, anyone willing to call him old man can join him directly, and no matter who it is, as long as they call him old man, they receive his protection.
How could he possibly not run into problems? If his son were strong enough to prevent others from killing him, there wouldn't be so many troubles!"
Most things, in Kaidou's view, can ultimately be summarized in one phrase - inadequate strength. To him, as long as one is strong enough, there's nothing unsolvable.
Kaidou had preached his own philosophy not just for a day or two, but Yamato still felt something was amiss. As a whiff of alcohol reached her nose, she finally realized the issue; it seemed this wasn't ordinary spirits but that accidental product.
"Wait, father, what are you drinking?!"
"Oh? Eggnog, that's all, today I want to teach you another thing; when there's a disparity in strength, even if you discover the enemy's plot, it's useless. Compared to conspiracy, the open scheme is what's truly terrifying.
Mountain Collapse... Hakken!"
This time, Yamato didn't fall for it, Kaidou found this satisfying as it marked growth.
But this didn't mean he would stop; although Yamato didn't relax her guard, he could still assault her head-on. Even with Yamato fully prepared, Kaidou's fierce attack still suppressed her.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With their clash came a series of thunderous booms, and the pirates on Ghost Island knew that their Governor and the young Miss were engaging in their routine sparring.
No one took it to heart, continuing with their own affairs, except fishing Page One was somewhat distressed, as the fish seemed about to take the bait but ended up fleeing.
Not only the fish fled, but Blackbeard too, and Whitebeard failed to intercept him in the New World, allowing him to pass through Fishman Island, even injuring several guards there.
To this, Whitebeard wasn't unwilling to chase but unable to; the clashes in the New World grew more intense than before. If he left the New World to pursue Blackbeard, the other pirates eyeing his territory wouldn't hold back, they'd surely stab him in the back.