Sakazuki seemed to have thought of something:
"How's the situation in Alabasta?"
Karol had always been paying close attention to that place:
"Crocodile's scheme has already begun to bear fruit."
"The side effects of Dance Powder are starting to show."
"This year, rainfall in Alabasta has dropped sharply. It hasn't reached the point of complete drought yet, but it's not far off—probably within the next year or two."
"By then, Crocodile will make his move, right?"
Sakazuki nodded slightly:
"Keep an eye on him. The most important thing there is the Revolutionary Army."
"We can also begin the operation."
"Find a chance for the Revolutionary Army hiding there to make contact with Nico Robin."
"And that old fellow Sengoku... He was supposed to last a few more years, but I didn't expect things to move this fast."
His tone grew cold as he finished.
Karol spread his hands helplessly, reaching out to touch Sakazuki.
Whoosh—
The two disappeared into the crimson magma...
...
In the New World, Punk Hazard.
Vegapunk wore a grave expression as he called Law into a separate laboratory.
Law was puzzled but didn't ask questions. He was no longer the scrawny kid he used to be.
Under the stimulation of electricity that promoted cell growth, combined with a special nutrient solution with no side effects, his body had grown stronger.
His height had shot up to two meters, his build resembling a smaller version of Skarn—compact and well-proportioned muscles.
As soon as they entered the lab, Law spoke up:
"What happened, Vegapunk-sensei?"
That's right... Law had also become Vegapunk's disciple.
Vegapunk handed him a document with a serious look:
"Take a look at this."
Law glanced at the document and frowned after just two lines:
"This is... so vicious."
"Is this Caesar's plan?"
The page was filled with notes about virus experiments and human testing.
It even listed in detail the number of children and live subjects required for the experiments.
In Law's memory, among all the scientists on the island, only that bastard Caesar could come up with something this ruthless, with absolutely no bottom line.
Vegapunk nodded:
"That's right. It's Caesar's plan."
"Someone under him secretly copied this and gave it to me."
"And he's already begun executing it."
"I called you here because we're going to arrest him. I've already spoken to the Elders."
"Enel will be back soon. The two of you will handle this together, just in case."
...
Punk Hazard, noon, Research Facility No. 3.
A researcher nervously approached Caesar Clown:
"Boss..."
Caesar, frustrated by his failing experiment, turned around and roared:
"Bastard! Didn't I tell you not to interrupt me during experiments?!"
"Do you have a death wish?!"
The researcher flinched in terror and hurriedly said:
"N-no, Boss!"
"Vice Admiral Enel is here to see you. He's outside."
At the mention of Enel, Caesar's breathing grew heavier, but he reluctantly set down his work, suppressing his anger:
"What the hell is that thunder freak doing here?"
"Where is he?"
The researcher shook his head:
"I don't know."
"But he's at the front gate of the research facility."
Caesar snorted coldly, pushing the researcher aside as he walked out:
"Don't touch anything on my desk."
...
Outside the facility.
Caesar shoved the door open and said impatiently:
"What the hell do you want this time?"
He hated dealing with that thunder freak, but the guy never listened to reason—he only used brute force...
Enel said lazily:
"Brought something nice back. Thought I'd show you."
"Come with me."
Hands in his pockets, he strolled away leisurely.
Caesar clicked his tongue but followed obediently.
Yet after less than five minutes, Caesar stopped.
This wasn't the direction of Facility No. 1.
Nor Facility No. 2...
Caesar sensed something was wrong, his expression darkening:
"What are you up to, Enel?"
Enel turned, smirking maliciously:
"Luring the animal out before killing it, obviously."
Caesar's pupils shrank sharply as he gritted his teeth:
"You're joking, right?"
"Thunder freak."
Enel's gaze turned cold:
"I don't have time to joke, Caesar."
"Your crimes have been exposed."
"Resisting arrest... will get you killed."
A wave of Conqueror's Haki laced with killing intent crashed toward Caesar. His gaseous body trembled slightly.
"Bastard..."
Glaring at Enel, Caesar suddenly detonated himself.
Gas and poison burst outward in a violent explosion, spreading with the shockwave.
Then Law's calm voice rang out:
"ROOM!!!"
From the nearby forest, a translucent barrier appeared, instantly expanding to cover a third of the island.
All the gas and poison were trapped within, halting their spread immediately.
Seeing the situation turn against him, Caesar shoved a hand into his pocket, about to make his escape—
Boom!!!
A deafening crash of thunder.
Lightning struck Caesar squarely, sending him into spasms as Enel walked over slowly:
"To be honest..."
"When I first saw your human experiments back then, I already wanted to kill you."
"But orders were orders. My hands were tied."
"Never thought after all these years, you still haven't stopped."
"Experimenting on children and innocent civilians... you really are something."
He squatted before Caesar, staring coldly as he grabbed his hair and lifted his head.
Caesar propped himself on one hand, glaring through the pain:
"Bastard... what's wrong... with me developing weapons?!"
"Doesn't the Navy... want to kill more pirates too?!"
"My research... is exactly what they need!"
"Even your missiles... were built for the same purpose!!!"
"As long as... my experiments succeed!"
"Such weapons will bring... world peace!"
His voice grew agitated as he looked at Enel.
Enel said:
"You're not wrong."
"But... don't make yourself sound so righteous, as if I'm the villain here."
"Your filthy nature can't be hidden behind pretty words."
"Die."
He pulled out a Devil Fruit extractor and stabbed it into Caesar's body.
Caesar writhed desperately:
"What is this..."
"Don't move!!!"
His trembling hand revealed a detonator. Breathing heavily, Caesar shouted:
"I knew this day would come..."
"I planted bombs all over the island! That brat's power range is already at its limit, right?"
"A third of the island, huh? Impressive..."
"But not enough!"
"Let me go..."
"Or we all die!!!"
-----------
The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg. 414 chapters in total