"What?!"
After hearing Red's words, Kozuki Hiyori and the others all revealed stunned expressions.
Then they looked at one another in confusion and asked:
"Excuse us, Lord Red…"
"What are Ancient Weapons?!"
"Uh…"
This time, it was Red's turn to be caught off guard.
He immediately let out a laugh and said:
"Sorry. I forgot that you don't seem to know much about the outside world."
"But speaking of which, Kozuki Oden really never told you about any of this."
"It seems he truly never regarded you as the seeds of hope for Wano Country's liberation."
Not forgetting to take the opportunity to belittle Kozuki Oden a bit, Red smiled faintly, then directly laid out everything about the Ancient Weapons for Hiyori and the others.
And when they heard that beneath the island of Wano Country there was actually a gigantic weapon powerful enough to shake the world, their faces were filled with shock.
Especially because, from Red's words, Wano Country seemed to be an extremely important nation to the entire world.
And yet such a country had fallen into its current miserable state.
For no reason they could explain, Hiyori and the others felt a wave of sorrow in their hearts.
But very quickly, Hiyori—who had already resolved herself to lead Wano Country out of suffering—adjusted her mindset.
She lifted her head, and hope flickered in her clear eyes.
"The glory of the past has already become history. Other than proving our own incompetence, it has no meaning now."
"If Lord Red can guarantee that Ancient Weapon · Pluton can be extracted without causing destruction to Wano Country itself, then we have no objections at all."
"Also, if there is anywhere Wano Country can lend its strength, please speak freely."
"It seems the thick fog shrouding Wano Country's skies is finally about to be dispersed."
Red stood up and looked Hiyori up and down with open admiration.
As expected of the princess of Kozuki who had dared, at such a young age, to hide within the enemy's ranks. Whether in mentality or courage, she was far beyond anything Kozuki Momonosuke could compare to.
She was intelligent enough, and she knew how to judge the situation.
If nothing unexpected happened, then before Hiyori stepped down from the position of shogun, Wano Country would surely regain its former glory.
Perhaps it might even surpass the past.
After all, the ones supporting them now were the Straw Hat Pirates!
"I'm suddenly starting to regret letting you inherit the position of Wano Country's shogun."
At that moment, Red suddenly said something that left Hiyori and the others completely puzzled.
Then he chuckled lightly.
"Perhaps with your capabilities, you could handle an even greater stage."
"You flatter me, Lord Red. To be able to reclaim rule over Wano Country with your help, and prevent my ancestors from lamenting in the underworld, is already the greatest fortune I could ask for."
"All right then, as long as you're happy."
Red did not continue the topic any further.
Once Hiyori pressed the official seal of Wano Country's shogun onto the two contracts, the Straw Hat Pirates' objectives in Wano Country were finally all accomplished.
After taking back the contract belonging to the Straw Hat crew, Red did not even glance at it before handing it directly to Usopp and having him store it in his internal space.
"Next, we'll have to get the Scientific Research Corps to send people over to handle matters related to Pluton," Red murmured to himself.
If they wanted to extract Pluton without damaging Wano Country's structure, they would not only need to make use of Luffy's wildly unreasonable Nika power, but also require precise theoretical data to support the operation.
After all, Red and the others did not want to accidentally wipe out Wano Country while extracting Pluton.
Pluton's size was no smaller than an island.
It was just that the Scientific Research Corps was still occupied with other tasks, and surveying an entire island was no small undertaking.
So…
"It looks like extracting Pluton will have to be postponed for now."
"When the time comes, I'll have Moria and his subordinates come over to coordinate."
"It may waste a bit of time, but given the chance to command the remnants of the Beasts Pirates, I'm sure he'll be more than willing to take on the job."
"Come to think of it, it's almost been a month already. I wonder when the Scientific Research Corps will finally have results~"
Having just completed one stage of their mission, Red immediately began considering the next step in his plans.
But just then, the Personal Terminal on his wrist suddenly rang with a cheerful melody.
It was the special ringtone Uta and Brook had designed specifically for the Personal Terminal.
"Hm? What timing!?"
Seeing the caller ID on the screen, Red froze for a moment.
Then, not caring at all that Wano Country's people were still right beside him, he immediately answered the call.
"Hello, Dr. Vegapunk. I was just about to call you."
"Hm?!"
Clearly thrown off by Red seizing the initiative, Vegapunk was momentarily speechless.
"Uh… did you need something from me, Red?" Vegapunk suppressed the excitement in his heart and asked at once.
But Red waved a hand.
"Forget it. Your matter is obviously more important, Dr. Vegapunk…"
"Judging by the look on your face, don't tell me you've got good news for me?"
A sharp gleam flashed through Red's eyes as he guessed something, and he looked at the Personal Terminal expectantly.
Vegapunk, as if determined not to disappoint him, immediately grew excited again.
"That's right!!!"
"Red, the research topic you asked us to work on has already been successfully conquered!!!"
"And on top of that, we've also finished designing the blueprints for Laboon and Franky's brand-new modification plans!"
"When can you get back to the Pokémon Sea!? We still need to go over some final details with them, and then we can begin the modifications!"
"Really!?"
Red responded excitedly:
"Our side is basically wrapped up as well."
"In that case, Franky and I won't be heading to Zou for now."
"We'll head back right away and complete the modifications for Franky and Laboon."
Clearly excited, Red could not wait even for a second longer.
Because what came next would be a moment that witnessed history itself!
"Understood. Then we'll start making preparations on our end."
Vegapunk was obviously a man of action who valued efficiency above all else, and there was not the slightest trace of panic in his tone.
"As for the detailed matters, we'll talk about them once you return."
"No problem~"
Amid an atmosphere of mutual excitement, Red and Vegapunk both hung up the call.
The very next second, the Straw Hats who had been sitting quietly all instantly crowded around.
Among them, Franky was the most excited of all.
"How is it, Red!? That plan you mentioned before… is it really about to happen!?"
"Yeah!" Red nodded heavily. "As expected of a research team that even gives the World Government headaches."
"To think they could overcome such a difficult problem in so short a time… maybe in the future, the sea itself will be changed by their efforts!"
"It really is an event worthy of being recorded in history~"
Robin, who had recently been planning to personally write a historical chronicle, smiled softly. Her gaze swept across each of their faces one by one, as though she wanted to burn this scene into her memory.
"Multiple Devil Fruit users, huh!? Just hearing that sounds terrifying."
Because they were indoors, Sanji did not light a cigarette in front of the ladies, but he still unconsciously made the motion of pinching one out as he sighed in amazement.
"I'm super looking forward to it!!!"
"All right~" Red chuckled. "In that case, I'll take Franky back first so he can complete the modifications."
"As for the rest of you, continue your voyage and head to Zou to search for the next Road Poneglyph."
"Once Franky's modification is complete, we'll meet up again on Zou!"
"Huh!?"
Hearing Red's arrangement, Luffy and the others instantly showed disappointed expressions.
After all, something as cool-sounding as a cyborg upgrade—if they could not witness it the first time around, wouldn't that be a huge loss!?
"We want to go back too and witness Franky making history!"
Usopp raised his hand at once and submitted his request to return.
Beside him, Luffy and Chopper nodded repeatedly as well.
"Exactly, exactly!"
"For something this important, how can I, the captain, not be there!?"
"Wow, Luffy, you've actually learned how to use your status as an excuse!?"
Red smiled with inexplicable gratification, then waved his hand grandly.
"All right!"
"If even the future Pirate King isn't in a hurry to find the Road Poneglyph, then we'll all head back together…"
"…and see what kind of surprise Dr. Vegapunk and the others have prepared for us!"
"Yay~!!! Red is the best!!!"
The goofy trio instantly burst into loud cheers.
Anyone who didn't know better would think this matter had something enormously important to do with them.
But…
"If Franky's modification really succeeds, then in the future it can be widely promoted among the members under the Straw Hats' banner."
"It feels like I may have accidentally created a pirate-version cyberpunk era~"
Looking at the Personal Terminal in his hand, the corners of Red's lips rose, and anticipation shone in his eyes.
(End of Chapter)