After hearing Vegapunk's words, Orochimaru, who had been all smiles, stiffened slightly and fell silent.
Inside, his heart was in turmoil: 'What does he mean? Could it be... no, impossible. Aside from Sensei and that fellow Danzo, who might have obtained some information from the laboratories I left behind, no one else could possibly know about my research into the Living Corpse Reincarnation!'
'But...'
Looking into Vegapunk's eyes, Orochimaru's resolve wavered again. The Naruto World was never short of monsters who became Jonin or even Kage-level powerhouses at thirteen or fourteen. While strength could skyrocket due to natural talent or a Bloodline Limit, wisdom and experience did not.
Vegapunk's gaze lacked the sharp edge of most young people, but was filled with a unique wisdom, curiosity, and calm composure characteristic of a researcher. It was a contradictory aura that only a fellow top-tier scientist could sense.
Top scientists are curious about everything in the world, but by the same token, those who don't know how to suppress their curiosity often don't go far. Even so-called mad scientists know when to stop when courting death; otherwise, they would have been dead long ago.
"What, it seems you don't quite believe me?" Vegapunk said with a smile. "Why don't we have a contest!"
"A contest in what?" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and asked. Seeing Vegapunk's confident expression, he was already starting to lean toward believing him.
"A contest of our research abilities. You choose the topic. If you win, not only will I serve as your assistant, but I will also hand over all the technology for Soul Reincarnation to you. If you lose, I will still teach you the Soul Reincarnation technology, but you'll have to be my assistant instead!"
Hearing such generous terms, Orochimaru felt both a bit of surprise and a subtle sense of irritation.
The surprise was that the other party really did know about the research he was conducting. As for the irritation... it was because he felt he was being underestimated.
Being allowed to choose the research topic himself was already a massive advantage. And regardless of victory or defeat, he would obtain the Soul Transfer technology—these terms were generous beyond belief.
As for the question of who would be the assistant... if the other party could truly defeat him overwhelmingly in a topic of his own choosing, then even if Orochimaru wanted to make him an assistant, the other party would naturally seize the lead during actual research.
One could say this wasn't a gamble at all, but rather a display of Vegapunk's intelligence and research prowess, asserting that he held an overwhelming advantage over Orochimaru in scientific capability!
It was precisely because he sensed this that Orochimaru felt underestimated. As a Ninja and a conspirator, Orochimaru naturally had a personality that would use any means necessary, but as one of the world's top researchers, he also possessed the pride of a top scientist. Being looked down upon like this naturally stirred his emotions.
"Hehehe hahaha... I never thought I'd be... so completely underestimated!"
"Then let me see what you're really made of! I accept your bet!"
After a few cold laughs, Orochimaru finally agreed to Vegapunk's bet. After all, the technique of Soul Reincarnation was something he dreamed of. He wanted to see just what level of researcher this old monster, who might be a reincarnator himself, actually was.
Furthermore, although Orochimaru's personality was rebellious and he had no intention of bowing to those stronger than him in power, he maintained a serious and earnest style when it came to scientific research.
In scientific research, strength is strength and weakness is weakness. This world didn't have a cheat like the Brain-Brain Fruit, and research ability wasn't like combat power that could be upgraded through constant development.
Orochimaru believed he could master more Ninjutsu and surpass anyone in the world through continuous research and study, yet he was instinctively won over by those with even greater research and learning capabilities. No one knew better than he did what kind of world-changing power such a generational genius could unleash!
..."Since you've given me the right to choose the research topic, then we shall have our duel right here in this research base!"
"We'll use the existing equipment and topics of this base for our research! I wonder if you can tell what kind of research is being conducted here?"
Orochimaru spoke to Vegapunk as he led him and Hancock into the research base. After glancing at the layout of the base and the instruments inside, Vegapunk pondered for a moment and spoke.
"The research here should be human animalization? Or rather, transforming humans into demi-human creatures?"
"However, looking at the layout and location of the laboratory, what's specifically being created should be Fishman-like lifeforms, right? Wanting to give humans the ability to act underwater, breathe underwater, and swim at high speeds—that should be the project of this research base!"
Orochimaru wasn't surprised by Vegapunk's words: "Not bad. It seems you do have some skill. So? How long will it take you to get results?"
"You're asking me how long? If the equipment here is sufficient, give me half a month, and you will see perfect results!"
Orochimaru's footsteps paused slightly, and he turned his head: "This is no joke, Mr. Vegapunk!"
"I would prefer you call me Dr. Vegapunk. In fact, half a month is considered slow! If certain special instruments and raw materials unique to my place were here, this is something that could be completed in a few hours!"
Vegapunk's face showed some disdain. In reality, Orochimaru's research was exactly what Vegapunk had done before—the so-called Artificial Zoan Devil Fruits.
If he didn't insist on making a so-called Devil Fruit, as long as he collected some animal genes, Vegapunk could directly manufacture a Gene Modification Fluid to give humans the abilities of a Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
He wasn't like the original Vegapunk who insisted on perfection. After all, ordinary Zoan-type users were basically high-level cannon fodder and didn't require too much effort.
By removing the Devil Fruit's Awakening ability and some of its potential, and not insisting on making it look like a fruit, half a day was indeed enough for him to produce a Gene Modification Fluid. The reason he used Artificial Devil Fruits back when he was researching was merely to fetch a good price.
After all, Devil Fruits were famous in the One Piece World and were considered high-end products. Something like a Gene Modification Fluid didn't have that kind of brand recognition. Although the effects were actually the same, the price for the former was several times that of the latter, so naturally, it was better to make it in the form of a fruit.