At the Navy Science Division…
Four Vice Admirals—Onigumo, Doberman, Momonga, and Vergo—had gathered together, engaged in an intense discussion about the technological genius who was about to arrive.
"You all received Fleet Admiral Sengoku's orders too?" Vergo asked with a puzzled expression.
"Yeah! You got it as well?" Momonga said in surprise. "My orders were to take turns standing guard here and protect the technological genius newly recruited by Navy Headquarters!"
"A technological genius? Who could it be?" Onigumo speculated. "Could Vegapunk be coming?"
"That can't be right," Doberman shook his head. "Everyone knows Vegapunk prefers staying on Future Island. He's never had any interest in coming to the Navy Science Division."
"Then that's strange," Momonga narrowed his eyes. "Aside from Vegapunk, who else in the Navy could possibly make Fleet Admiral Sengoku mobilize such a huge security detail?"
"Four Vice Admirals from Navy Headquarters rotating guard duty every day… this level of protection is practically on par with the Celestial Dragons!"
No matter how hard he thought about it, Momonga couldn't figure out which great scientist it could possibly be.
Just as everyone was discussing this heatedly, Sengoku's warship had already docked at the shore.
They've arrived!
The Vice Admirals' eyes lit up as they all moved forward to greet them.
They were extremely curious.
What kind of genius had appeared within the Navy to warrant such an extravagant level of protection?
Could his technology rival Vegapunk's?
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"Admiral Kizaru!"
The Vice Admirals stepped forward and saluted.
However…
After scanning the group, they discovered something strange.
Aside from an eight-year-old child following behind Kizaru, there was no one else present—let alone any scientist.
The Vice Admirals became even more confused.
"May I ask…" Momonga finally spoke up, unable to suppress his curiosity. "The great scientist you mentioned—the one we must protect and ensure no one disturbs… did he perhaps not come today?"
Sengoku smiled slightly.
"Kizaru, why don't you introduce him."
Kizaru stepped forward.
"Everyone, this little brat here is my younger brother, Xia Yu. From now on, he'll be working in the Navy Science Division."
Everyone turned to look.
Such a cute kid…
Honestly, much more handsome than that old monkey Kizaru.
But…
An eight-year-old working in the Science Division?
He probably couldn't do anything at all.
No need to think too hard about it—Kizaru must be trying to stuff another relative into the department again.
Slacking off and drawing a salary himself was one thing.
But now he was sending his younger brother here to slack off too?
"Hello everyone. My name is Xia Yu."
"I'm the one you'll be protecting. Please take care of me!"
Xia Yu spoke in a soft, childish voice.
Mm.
…Hm?
Wait.
What did that kid just say?
He was the one they were supposed to protect?
That meant—
He was the technological genius Sengoku had mentioned?!
The Vice Admirals collectively froze.
Sengoku's tone on the Den Den Mushi earlier had been extremely serious. He hadn't sounded like he was joking at all.
They had thought some great figure would appear.
Instead…
It was an eight-year-old child who wanted to do scientific research.
And he was Kizaru's younger brother.
Everyone knew what Kizaru was like.
A master of slacking off during work hours and spending his free time relaxing in bathhouses and massage parlors.
If that was the case, his younger brother probably wasn't much better.
Definitely not someone suited for scientific research.
The entire situation felt utterly ridiculous.
The Vice Admirals exchanged glances, each seeing the same speechless expression reflected in the others' eyes.
However, because of Sengoku and Kizaru's presence, none of them dared voice their thoughts aloud.
They could only smile awkwardly.
Just as the group was drowning in silent confusion, Xia Yu spoke again.
"Oh right, I also brought my friend. He can't talk."
The next moment—
The chubby Seraphim Kuma appeared before everyone.
Your friend?
And he can't talk?
What does that mean?
Curious, the Vice Admirals looked over.
Then they saw a strange child standing there—
Black wings.
Gray skin.
Flames burning behind his back.
"This…"
"Flames on his wings… is that a Lunarian?!"
"Why does he look somewhat similar to Kuma?"
The Vice Admirals were filled with confusion.
"He's a machine I created," Xia Yu explained calmly.
"His name is Seraphim Kuma."
"Seraphim Kuma, say hello to everyone. These people will be our security guards."
Seraphim Kuma raised his hand and waved silently toward the Vice Admirals.
At that moment, they finally understood.
The boy who resembled a younger version of Kuma…
Was actually a robot.
And it had been created by this eight-year-old child.
An eight-year-old… capable of creating robots?
And he had even used Lunarian Lineage Factors?
Perhaps…
Sengoku valued Xia Yu's potential so highly that he had ordered them to protect him.
After all, for someone so young to possess such talent was extremely rare.
Thinking of it that way, the Vice Admirals finally felt a bit less resentful.
"Don't underestimate this Seraphim," Kizaru said.
"His combat power has already reached the level of a Warlord of the Sea. You must protect this place carefully."
What?!
The Vice Admirals were stunned.
Even the Navy's mass-produced killing machines—the Pacifista—couldn't confidently claim to possess Warlord-level combat power.
Yet this small robot created by an eight-year-old child was supposedly stronger than the Pacifista developed by Vegapunk?
That sounded completely absurd.
Every Vice Admiral present opened their mouths wide, their brows tightly furrowed in disbelief.
To be fair…
Even Sengoku and Garp had once been shocked speechless when they first saw it.
Most of these Vice Admirals hadn't even reached Warlord-level combat strength themselves.
And now they were being told that a child-sized robot created by an eight-year-old might actually be stronger than them?
How could they not be shocked?
After a long moment of stunned silence, everyone gradually recovered.
"Cough… Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Momonga said cautiously.
"Is what Admiral Kizaru said… actually true?"
"Yes…" Doberman swallowed nervously. "Admiral Kizaru, you're not joking with us, are you? This child-like robot is really that terrifying?"
The other Vice Admirals leaned forward, ears perked up.
They were desperate to hear the answer.