Chapter 152: News from Punk Hazard, Discussion on Egghead!
"..."
Inside his office, looking at the plaque hanging on the wall.
Roy doubted life.
What was even more incredible was that Fleet Admiral Sengoku actually approved of this plaque.
"Although in principle, only Admirals can declare the 'Justice' they uphold."
"But your achievement of defeating 'Golden Lion' hasn't been commended yet, and the sea is becoming more unstable—it's good to let the evils of this sea see the banner of the Marine's 'New Era' and hear the voice of the new generation."
Just now, Sengoku replied like this.
"Roy, if you don't fear the potential hostility from The Zodiac and are willing to shoulder the name of 'Justice'... keep it."
Me? Fear The Zodiac?
I AM The Zodiac!
Roy didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he was helpless.
Since Sengoku said so, hanging a plaque was fine.
Besides—'Justice Above the Stars' matched him, the 'Star Lord', quite well.
So putting this aside, Roy sipped his cola while looking at new intel sent during his absence.
[The World Government is discussing candidates to fill the 'Warlord' vacancy left by Crocodile's death. Currently, the preliminary candidate is 'Tyrant' Bartholomew Kuma.]
[The 'World Inspection' Special Envoy of the World Government is confirmed to be a Celestial Dragon, but the specific person is unknown.]
[Big Mom's pursuit of Nezumi has slowed down. Her subordinate pirates and islands in the New World show signs of movement.]
[Top Secret - According to reliable intel, she is enraged by Neverland's disappearance and plans to hold her birthday Tea Party early, officially declaring war on The Zodiac at the party.]
[Besides guests from past Tea Parties, it is said she also invited 'Pirate Guru' Ochoku, who is also greatly interested in Neverland.]
Roy browsed the intel—his authority granted him access to complex and important information.
Undoubtedly...
Filling the Warlord vacancy was expected—Kuma filling the spot originally meant for Hananafuda in the manga, but now replacing Crocodile because of him.
As for the World Inspection Special Envoy, after confirming Imu was likely behind The Zodiac's bounties, Roy understood the envoy was probably a member of the God's Knights.
If Imu was truly wary of Star Lord and The Zodiac, only these powerful Celestial Dragons closely related to Imu were qualified for the clean-up mission.
As for Big Mom's reaction, Roy wasn't surprised either.
Among the Four Emperors, Big Mom was the most unstable—willful like a child, acting without considering consequences.
She held a grudge against Nezumi, never stopping her pursuit of The Zodiac.
Plus, the 'Neverland' she coveted was likely related to The Zodiac.
Roy wouldn't be surprised by anything she did.
"Official declaration of war..."
Roy muttered internally, coldness in his eyes. "Just what I wanted."
"But she is an Emperor after all. To deal with her... mm, I need to get that ability first."
Muttering, he continued browsing the intel.
Then...
"Hm?"
His gaze caught another report.
Not top secret, but a special action report from a Detention Unit warship.
[Detention Unit Ship DT-G-83 Report]
[Received a report from SSG Scientist Dr. Vegapunk. This ship proceeded to Punk Hazard to detain SSG researcher 'Caesar Clown' for violating safety regulations and causing the recent 'Punk Hazard Explosion'. Upon arrival, the World Government informed us the criminal needed separate detention, so we transferred him to a World Government transport ship.]
[The transport ship was sunk in the New World. Caesar Clown escaped and is missing. End of summary.]
Reading this, Roy frowned.
He heard about the major event involving the Marine Special Science Group (SSG) after returning to Headquarters.
SSG Chief Scientist Vegapunk reported his colleague 'Caesar Clown' for dangerous illegal research. Caesar, in anger, detonated a research product.
This destroyed the SSG research center 'Punk Hazard', turning it into a forbidden zone.
Vegapunk's research base moved to the New World afterward. Caesar was arrested but escaped during transport.
The Detention Unit report clarified the sequence of events.
"The World Government wanting to detain Caesar separately makes sense. He was a member of MADS, talented in research, especially Lineage Factor."
Knowing the plot, Roy knew Caesar was one of the only two people capable of creating 'Artificial Devil Fruits' in the original story.
But here came the problem...
"The route of a World Government transport ship is 'Top Secret', unknown even to the Detention Unit."
"For such a ship to be attacked and Caesar to escape..."
Thinking of this, Roy sneered.
He knew this proved how deep the connections of the mastermind behind this prison break were within the World Government.
Based on future plot, he could almost pinpoint the 'Mastermind'.
Of course, Roy didn't care much about such dirty dealings.
What he truly cared about was...
"With Caesar gone from Punk Hazard... that fruit should be completely ignored."
He whispered.
Yes.
He knew clearly—inside the Punk Hazard research institute, there was a fruit he cared about greatly.
The only artificial Devil Fruit made by Vegapunk, deemed a 'Failure' by the world's greatest scientist.
But Roy thought otherwise.
"Judging from Caesar's 'SMILE' fruits in the original story, artificial fruits have clear defects—at least the ones Caesar made."
"But the one Vegapunk made is different."
Roy knew Vegapunk's artificial fruit was almost indistinguishable from a real Devil Fruit, practically 'Perfect'.
So...
"I'm not sure if artificial fruits can be analyzed by the Fruit Encyclopedia."
"But Vegapunk's fruit... is worth a try."
At the same time, New World.
Marine Science Unit 8th Research Institute.
Of course, it was now renamed 'Egghead'.
This World Government-affiliated island in the New World wasn't originally noteworthy—ranking 8th meant it wasn't used for core research usually.
But now, things were different.
At Dr. Vegapunk's request, this island would become the research institute and residence of the great scientist 500 years ahead of his time.
Naturally, this island would become 'Special'.
For example, right now...
VMMM!
In the center of the island, white clouds were generating constantly.
Knowledgeable people would recognize—these weren't ordinary clouds, but 'Island Clouds' unique to Sky Islands.
Their accumulation silently explained the owner's intention.
He wanted to lift this ordinary island into the sky, turning it into a 'Sky Island'.
Besides that.
Outside the island, massive 'Renovations' were visible.
Exposed cables looked like biological nerve endings; giant engineering arms modified the island's environment directly.
"Just modifying the institute, I can't understand the plan... There's even this method of modification—hey, can anyone explain how the structure in Zone B was completed?"
"Isn't that holographic projection technology? I heard it wasn't finished three days ago?"
"Are you an idiot? That's Dr. Vegapunk—what does three days ago have to do with now?"
"I remember Vegapunk said this is the Fabri-phase (Factory Layer). If this place looks like this, what about the Labo-phase (Research Layer)?"
"Speaking of which, Dr. Vegapunk hasn't appeared for days... did he invent something amazing again?"
Looking at the busy robots, scientists from other zones felt awe.
They were outstanding scientists, or they wouldn't be here.
But precisely because of their knowledge, they understood the gap between them and Vegapunk better.
His flash of inspiration might be worth their lifetime of research.
"Truly Dr. Vegapunk."
They sighed, looking at the center of the island.
There was an 'Egg-like' structure.
The central area of the 'Labo-phase', Dr. Vegapunk's residence.
But they didn't know, inside the giant egg-like institute...
"You are saved!"
The world's greatest scientist, Dr. Vegapunk, was surprisingly excited.
He wasn't young; white hair and wrinkles showed it. With an apple-stem antenna on his head and a large tongue, his movements were somewhat slow.
But now, he was gesticulating excitedly.
"You mean the 'Fountain of Youth'?"
In front of him was a massive, burly man.
He wore a spotted hat with bear ears and rimless glasses.
He was 'Tyrant' Bartholomew Kuma.
"Exactly, the Fountain of Youth... no, this thing isn't natural spring water at all."
Vegapunk said excitedly.
He held a test tube.
Inside, the seven-colored liquid was clearly the famous 'Fountain of Youth'.
Yes—for most rulers, including Kings, the Fountain of Youth was something they craved but couldn't get.
Even if someone obtained a little, they would save it for themselves or sell it for an astronomical price on the black market.
But for Vegapunk, the Chief Scientist of the World Government, getting some wasn't hard.
Recently, Vegapunk had been researching it.
Until today, he finally reached an incredible conclusion.
"It can directly increase the user's life force. I think its original effect might be the exact opposite..."
"Incredible, simply incredible. I never thought someone could actually do such a thing!"
He said.
Kuma didn't understand the technicalities.
But he understood the gist.
"You mean..."
"'Fountain of Youth' can cure Bonney?"
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