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Walking out of the research base, Kyle soon spotted the vice admiral waiting at the harbor. As Kyle nodded politely to take his leave, the man lifted a hand and pointed at the blueprint in Kyle's grip.
"Compared to the box you delivered, that blueprint in your hand is the real key to this mission, Rear Admiral Kyle."
"Don't let carelessness be the reason it gets damaged."
Kyle paused, glancing down at the paper.
Strange twisting lines covered the page, mixed with formulas, numbers and letters. A quick look was enough for him to tell it was the outline of a warship.
"Thank you for the reminder."
He gave a small smile, then stepped onto his ship.
The vice admiral watched him go before turning away.
From start to finish, Kyle never learned the man's name, but the gains from this trip were without question enormous.
"Becoming friends with Vegapunk, huh?"
He couldn't help a small grin. It was something most people would never even dream of.
Vegapunk's intelligence, combined with the Nomi-Nomi Fruit, must have already reached a level normal minds couldn't comprehend.
For someone like that, if Kyle wasn't strong enough himself, standing face to face with him would've inspired a kind of instinctive, soul-deep shiver.
Because if you thought about it, everything about you could be understood in an instant by that terrifying intellect. A man like that could almost be considered godlike, not even on the same dimension as ordinary people.
And Kyle knew exactly how terrifying Vegapunk's future research would become.
Artificial Devil Fruits. Pacifistas. Seraphim.
Each one an unimaginable creation of science with devastating power.
He pulled out from his coat the device that could roughly detect Devil Fruits within a few thousand meters and fell into thought again.
Two to three kilometers was nothing compared to the vast world of pirates, so it wasn't surprising Vegapunk saw it as useless junk and tossed it in a corner.
But for Kyle, it was good enough. With the intel he had, he could probably figure out the general location of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. With enough time, finding that Logia fruit wasn't impossible.
As for the blueprint in his hand, after studying it more carefully, he concluded it must be Vegapunk's latest technological creation.
"A seastone warship."
Yes. The tech that allowed Marine ships to pass safely and easily through the Calm Belt.
This advanced technology was the foundation for the Marines' fast response and mobility across the Grand Line and the world. It would dramatically shorten travel time and cost, making the navy far more agile.
"Controlling a scientist comes with ridiculous benefits."
Kyle let out a quiet sigh.
Vegapunk's importance needed no explanation, and during their short talk, Kyle had already formed the beginnings of a friendship.
He turned and looked at Crocodile, Rosinante and Kaku, his expression growing complicated.
"The power I have still isn't enough."
If he had enough wealth and a good territory, he could even kidnap Vegapunk from the World Government and push his plan forward. If he succeeded, his forces would grow rapidly.
With a Marine identity as cover, he would become a hidden power in the world, waiting for the day to spread his wings and stir up the massive storm that would change everything.
That same day, T. Bone received a call from headquarters ordering them to return to Marineford immediately.
"Looks like the higher-ups are eager for the seastone ship technology."
Kyle smiled.
He handed the blueprint to Crocodile. The latter seemed to understand and left at once.
The warship turned around and sped toward Marineford.
Along the way, Kyle sorted out his priorities.
"Do everything I can to max out Armament Haki."
"Push the Rokushiki techniques further."
"When I hit the limit, then I'll look for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
He also had a sense of what was coming. Not long after Roger became Pirate King, he would surrender himself and be executed at Loguetown, shocking the world and triggering the Great Pirate Era.
Kyle was now standing at the crossroads of history, at the most turbulent moment.
Half a month later, their warship reached Dressrosa to restock.
Standing at the bow, Kyle gazed at the kingdom and recalled what would happen here in the future.
"Rosinante, I heard this kingdom originally belonged to your family?"
Rosinante froze. "Where did you hear that?"
Kyle gave him a faint smile.
"As a descendant of one of the Twenty Kings, I can't help wondering what potential lies in you."
After a pause, he added,
"And from what I know, your brother has already begun making a name for himself and built his own family."
"Something like the Donquixote Family, right?"
Rosinante fell silent.
He didn't know where his superior got this information, but clearly the man understood him well.
"Tell me, do you think the two of you will be on opposite sides in about ten years?"
Kyle asked.
Rosinante's cheek twitched, and he sighed. "Sir, we're brothers."
Kyle only chuckled at that.
Rosinante said nothing else, though a shadow crossed his eyes.
Soon Crocodile and the others returned with large bundles. They had bought daily necessities, mountains of meat and vegetables.
They also brought news that surprised Kyle.
"Just heard something interesting," Crocodile said, lighting a cigar and grinning.
"A powerful guy I once fought passed through here not long ago."
Kyle raised a brow. "Who?"
At the same time, he couldn't help thinking Crocodile was acting more and more like his old pirate self. Maybe he was remembering things.
But that version of Crocodile was far more useful to Kyle anyway.
"Douglas Bullet."
Crocodile exhaled a ring of smoke, his eyes turning sharp.
"That guy?"
Kyle blinked.
Then he laughed.
"You know which direction he sailed?"
Crocodile nodded with a knowing look. "Of course. Looks like he's heading to Punk Hazard."
He paused, then smirked.
"He'd make a hell of an ally."
"If you can tame him."
Kyle narrowed his eyes slightly.
Two years ago, he had fought Bullet.
In that battle, Bullet had been knocked out with a single punch, but it didn't mean he was weak. There were barely a handful of people in the world who could withstand Conqueror's Haki infusion head-on.
Even when Bullet fought Rayleigh, Rayleigh used Observation Haki frequently just to avoid his attacks.
Kyle also knew very well that Bullet worshiped power itself and willingly followed those stronger than him.
"He really is a good one to recruit."
Murmuring to himself, Kyle looked out at the open sea ahead.
"..."
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