As they spoke, Punk Hazard was already close.
The ship slowly approached the edge of Punk Hazard, and an ominous purple mist, with a pungent, sweet, and bloody smell, spread like a living thing, quickly enveloping the hull.
The island before them was completely shrouded in this dense, seemingly living poisonous mist. Visibility was extremely low; they could only vaguely make out the outlines of some dilapidated buildings, corroded and full of holes.
The air was terrifyingly silent; no birds chirped, no insects buzzed. Even the sound of waves crashing against the reefs was swallowed by this eerie purple mist.
Looking around, the ground was littered with the stark white bones of various animals, even large Sea Kings. They were all frozen in postures of painful struggle, clearly having had their lives taken by the poisonous mist in extreme agony.
The entire island seemed to have transformed into a massive toxic gas graveyard, exuding a chilling aura of death.
"Cough, cough…" A crew member who stood a little too close accidentally inhaled a wisp of the purple mist. Immediately, his throat and lungs felt as if they were on fire, burning painfully. He coughed violently, tears streaming down his face.
"Be careful! Hold your breath, everyone!"
Doflamingo immediately warned them, his face appearing somewhat grim against the backdrop of the purple mist.
"This isn't ordinary mist; it's highly poisonous gas from the lab explosion earlier!
One breath can burn your respiratory tract. Inhaling too much…" He paused, his voice tinged with a chill, "will lead to full-body nerve paralysis, leg paralysis, and eventually, suffocation in agony!"
He didn't need to say more; the Whitebeard Pirates had already felt the terror of this poisonous mist. Trebol and Diamante were the first to pull out high-grade gas masks from their luggage and distribute them to everyone: "Quick! Put them on! Do not directly touch this mist!"
Everyone quickly took the masks and securely put them on, isolating themselves from the deadly poisonous mist.
Through the mask lenses, they surveyed this hellish land, their expressions growing solemn.
Led by Doflamingo, their "familiar" guide to the terrain, the group carefully disembarked onto the island, treading on crunchy bones and scorched earth, making their way deeper into the island, sinking and rising with each step.
Doflamingo, relying on his memory, tried to avoid the densest areas of poisonous mist, guiding the group through ruins.
Finally,
They stopped before a massive, heavy metal door, cast from a special alloy and appearing to be extremely airtight.
The door still bore some traces of explosions and impacts, but it was largely intact. On its side were complex identification devices and some pipe interfaces.
"This is it," Doflamingo said, pointing at the door with a complicated tone, "Caesar Clown's main laboratory entrance. I hope what you're looking for… is really inside."
Just as Doflamingo was about to step forward and operate the access control system, the heavy alloy door suddenly emitted a dull hydraulic sound and slowly slid open from the inside!
An even colder air, mixed with the smell of various chemical reagents, surged out from within the door, temporarily dispelling some of the poisonous mist at the entrance.
Immediately after,
A figure with long black hair, wearing goggles and a white lab coat like a mad scientist, rushed out from inside, seemingly muttering experimental data.
It was Caesar Clown!
As he was about to leave, he clearly hadn't expected such a large group of people to be standing at the door. He looked up, and his eyes behind the goggles instantly widened, his mouth forming an exaggerated "O" shape. He froze in place as if struck by lightning.
His gaze first fearfully swept over the group of pirates, all of varying sizes but each exuding a powerful aura. Finally, his eyes fixed on the towering, unignorable figure, majestic as a mountain—
—Whitebeard! Edward Newgate! One of the Four Emperors!
Caesar's mind went "buzz," instantly blank. Cold sweat instantly drenched his back.
W-w-w… Why is an Emperor, Whitebeard, at the entrance of my lab?!
He let out a silent scream internally, his legs starting to tremble uncontrollably.
How could such a world-class figure come to such a godforsaken… no, a place where even birds would be poisoned to death?!
In extreme fear, his gaze sharply turned to Joker—Doflamingo—standing nearby.
Could it be… could it be that Joker's business has grown to this extent?! Even Emperor Whitebeard has become his client and personally came to pick up goods?!
The moment this thought emerged, Caesar's fear was instantly replaced by a huge, indescribable surge of ecstasy!
Shurororororo!!! He almost couldn't help but burst out laughing, What wonderful news! This is an Emperor! If even Whitebeard is using weapons or Devil Fruits I created… then haven't my scientific achievements received the highest recognition in the world?!
Funding! Vegapunk! World Government! Do you see this?!
The expression on his face rapidly transformed from extreme terror to a distorted smile, flattered and even tinged with sycophancy and pride. His body unconsciously straightened a little, as if he could already see himself reaching the pinnacle of his life.
Then he suddenly reacted.
He almost scrambled forward, practically using both hands and feet, bowing exaggeratedly, almost ninety degrees, to Whitebeard's massive frame. His voice, high-pitched and trembling from excitement and deliberate flattery, exclaimed:
"Shurororororo! W-welcome! A warm welcome to Mr. Whitebeard for gracing Punk Hazard with his presence!!"
He looked up, his eyes behind the goggles gleaming with excitement, "Your arrival, such a distinguished figure, truly makes my humble laboratory… shine, shine with glory! Yes! Shine with glory!"
His gaze quickly swept over the gas masks worn by Whitebeard and the commanders behind him. Immediately, he put on an expression of "deep apology, poor hospitality," gesticulating frantically:
"Oh dear! How rude! So rude! Look at the surrounding environment… these damned poisonous mists haven't been completely dealt with yet. Please excuse the sight, and please don't mind it at all!"
He thumped his chest, solemnly promising: "Don't worry! I will arrange it immediately!
I'll clear away these bothersome mists as quickly as possible!
It absolutely, absolutely will not delay our… hmm… important cooperation!"
....
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