Sakazuki froze for a moment as he looked at Vegapunk.
Time had carved its marks on the scientist, just as it did on everyone else. Only now did he realize how long it had been since he first met the man during that arrest. Nearly twenty years had slipped away.
'So I've reached the age where I can call myself an old man too…' he thought, then chuckled softly to himself.
"You should take better care of yourself." He gestured toward the soldiers behind him. "Where should we deliver this subject?"
Four men carried in a stretcher-like device. Inside, restrained by heavy chains, lay Boa Hancock. She had been reduced to little more than a living husk.
"Send her to the First Research Institute, the Pacifista Project group," Vegapunk answered.
He stepped forward, peering through the glass. His eyes narrowed with mild curiosity. "Hm… she doesn't seem as impressive as you described. Pretty, yes, but not at the level of petrifying people."
Sakazuki walked up and opened the lid. "That's because of the seastone."
He removed the chains pressing against her body.
Vegapunk's face changed instantly. A strange, uncontrollable sensation surged through him, a power that made his mind waver.
"Put them back on! Now!"
Sakazuki merely smiled and tossed the seastone back inside. "How does it feel?"
The scientist's expression grew serious. "It's terrifying. I'd like to think I have strong willpower, but this sensation… this lack of control…"
He drew in a sharp breath. "Still, you're ruthless as ever. You didn't hesitate at all."
He glanced at Hancock again. Though she had been retrieved, her limbs were twisted and broken, crippled beyond repair. He shook his head in silence.
Sakazuki waved a hand. The soldiers lifted the device and carried her toward the First Research Institute. As they moved away, Vegapunk stood frowning, lost in thought.
"What is it?" Sakazuki asked.
The scientist hesitated, then said, "Nothing… I just had a new idea. People have always been unilaterally choosing to eat Devil Fruits, but why is the current Love-Love Fruit user so much stronger than her predecessors? Could it be that each fruit has a type of person it's best suited for? If the right individual eats it, the power could reach its true potential."
He grew quieter, more intense. "Based on the Devil Fruit encyclopedia and the records I dug up on past Love-Love Fruit users, none of them reached this level. So why now?"
His mind raced. "Imagine a person with strong body eating the Tiger-Tiger Fruit. Or one with frail body taking the Mouse-Mouse Fruit. Someone born stunningly beautiful consuming the Love-Love Fruit…"
His eyes lit with feverish inspiration. "Yes… yes! That's it! A natural synergy, a talent bonus!"
He burst into sudden laughter, ideas flooding his mind all at once. "Of course! That's the key! Hahaha!"
Turning on his heel, he cried out, "Forgive me, Sakazuki! I must go. I have to try something right away!"
The admiral waved him off. "Go on. Don't mind me."
As Vegapunk dashed away, Sakazuki's eyes narrowed, thoughtful. 'Joy Boy… the forbidden fruit of the government. That is the one that can awaken him.'
He let out a quiet snort. 'But in the end, it won't matter. When the plan succeeds, no one will escape. Not a single soul. They'll all die.'
* * *
Days later, East Blue, Foosha Village.
Luffy stood at the harbor, watching the Red Hair Pirates prepare to leave.
"You guys are leaving," he said quietly.
Shanks adjusted his cloak, which now hid his missing left arm, and rested his right hand on the hilt of his sword, sighing. "That's right. We've stayed here long enough. Time to move on. You'll be lonely now."
Luffy turned his head aside. "I will, but I won't ask you to take me with you anymore. I've decided to become a pirate on my own."
The corners of Shanks's mouth curved upward. He suddenly pulled a face at the boy. "Pfft! That's because I wouldn't take you anyway. You? A pirate? Not a chance. Hahahaha."
He laughed, and his crew followed, their voices rolling across the harbor.
Luffy clenched his fists. "I will! Someday I'll gather a crew as strong as yours. I'll find the world's greatest treasure and become King of the Pirates!"
Shanks studied the determined boy. His expression softened. "I see… Then take this."
He reached out and put his straw hat onto Luffy's head. "This hat is very important to me. Take good care of it. When you become a great pirate, bring it back to me."
Luffy choked back tears, nodding hard. "Mm!"
He could no longer hold back. Tears streamed down his cheeks, pattering onto the ground.
Shanks smiled, then turned and strode toward his ship. "Alright, everyone! Set sail!"
With cheers and laughter, the crew waved goodbye. Luffy stood frozen, straw hat clutched tight, hiding his tear-streaked face.
Only after the Red Hair Pirates vanished beyond the horizon did he lift the brim. His eyes were red, his face still wet, but his voice rang strong over the empty sea.
"I'll do it, Shanks! Just wait and see!"
* * *
Evening, aboard the Red Hair Pirates's ship in an unknown sea.
The crew filled the banquet hall, drinking, eating, and laughing as if nothing mattered more. Their noise startled the seabirds into flight.
At the stern, Shanks leaned on the railing, staring back toward the Foosha Village.
Beckman walked out of the cabin, a cigarette between his lips. "Knew I'd find you here."
He joined his captain at the railing, exhaling a slow ring of smoke. "So tell me, why did you do it? Was it worth it?"
Shanks gave a faint smile. "What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. I'm talking about your arm."
Shanks placed his right hand over the empty sleeve where his left arm had once been. It still ached faintly. "Of course it was. I bet everything on 'it'. We'll meet again in the New World."
Beckman frowned, not catching the subtle difference between 'it' and 'him.' "I believe in the boy too, but that alone isn't worth losing an arm. What are you hidin—"
Shanks cut him off, tugging him toward the cabin. "Don't worry about it. One day the answer will be clear. Until then, how about a bet? I'll wager I'm right. If I win, I want that bottle of wine you keep stashed away!" He laughed loudly.
"Hey! You're making me drop my cigarette!" Beckman snapped, dragged along despite his protests.
Nobody knew what Shanks truly felt, not even Beckman, his closest companion.
Before stepping inside the cabin, Shanks cast one last glance toward Foosha Village.
'If the stories are true, then maybe I've already been swayed without realizing it. Maybe that's why I never ate the fruit. Because it didn't choose me…'
He turned, a smile playing on his lips.
"Alright, everyone! Let's have a feast!"
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