"Baizinbur…?" Kong took the request documents and asked, squinting.
"Yes. It's one of the islands that served as a secret research base for Dr. Vegapunk before he joined the government," the bespectacled scientist replied. "A large amount of secret data is stored there, and now Chief Vegapunk wants to retrieve the materials."
"Vegapunk has been with the government for ten years now, hasn't he?" Z asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes. "If it's important, why didn't he get it earlier?"
It was indeed suspicious. Someone who hadn't left Marineford in ten years suddenly wanted to go to the New World to retrieve something. This naturally raised a few eyebrows.
"Actually, we have Zephyr-san to thank for this."
The bespectacled man adjusted his glasses, and under their confused gazes, he explained, "Before joining the government, Chief Vegapunk worked with the Vinsmoke Family on a
cloning experiment. The experimental materials kept on that island are the conclusions from that project. Zephyr-san's body, which was corroded by Alucard's blood, has many similarities with project 720. So, that is to say…"
"Vegapunk wants to use me for his experiments?" Zephyr sneered, but his expression quickly changed. The muscles on his body began to twitch grotesquely, as if something inside him was about to burst out.
Zephyr quickly took a palm-sized rubber ball with a small air gun attached from his pocket. He put the nozzle of the small air gun into his mouth, and after inhaling the liquid inside, his twitching muscles and increasingly crimson skin gradually returned to normal.
Kong watched the scene with a complicated expression and frowned. "Zephyr…"
Zephyr raised a hand to stop Kong from continuing, his breathing a little ragged. "I'm fine."
At that moment, the bespectacled man spoke. "Zephyr-san, if you have to look at it that way, then yes. But the Alucard virus in your body is getting stronger. The tranquilizer Chief Vegapunk developed, we don't know how effective it will be. Even if it's for your own good…"
"I understand."
Kong spoke. "I'll approve this special voyage for Vegapunk. However, in addition to the government's special agent team, I'll add an elite Marine unit to go with them."
"That won't be a problem," the bespectacled man said, nodding. He then turned and left. "I'll inform Chief Vegapunk right away."
After the man was gone, Zephyr put the tranquilizer away and said to Sengoku, "Cloning experiments are inhumane."
"But we need Vegapunk's power…"
Kong's face was grim as he opened the documents Vegapunk had submitted. The more he read, the more serious his expression became, until he reached the last line.
[Pacifista Research Project]
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Just as Zephyr was about to leave, there was another knock on the office door. Kong called out, "Come in!"
The door was pulled open, and Tsuru entered. After exchanging a nod with Zephyr, she passed him and came before Kong. "A madman is causing trouble in the North Blue."
For Tsuru to use the word "madman" was a testament to how troublesome this person was.
When Tsuru placed a wanted poster in front of Kong, he clenched his fist and said bitterly, "The Vinsmoke Family?"
"They've already conquered one of the four kingdoms in the North Blue. It seems their cloning technology has achieved initial results, so they can't wait to put it to the test," Tsuru explained.
Tsuru then asked, "We can't let him continue his rampage. Which three units should we send? If it were up to me…"
"I have other arrangements for you, but the Vinsmokes… Hmph! I have a special way to deal with them!" Kong sneered.
"…"
After a moment of contemplation, Tsuru decided to ask. "If I may ask, what method do you intend to use?"
"Alucard is from the North Blue, isn't he?" Kong said, a hint of cunning on his face.
Tsuru, being the tactical genius she was, understood everything from that one sentence. "I see. I understand."
....
Half a month later, in the New World, at Baizinbur Island.
The Marine battleship and the government's ship passed through the whirlpools and arrived at the isolated island. On the battleship, Tsuru led a group of female Marines, including Momousagi and Shirokitsune, as they disembarked.
"I heard that many years ago, two of the Three Monsters, Alucard and Kaido, had a fierce battle here. Then, Vice Admiral Garp led Vice Admiral Kuzan and… Vice Admiral Sakazuki to arrest them and capture Kaido," Shirokitsune said, walking behind Tsuru on her right, looking at the primitive forest before them.
"But later, on the way from Marine Headquarters to Impel Down, Kaido sank the warship and escaped," Momousagi added from the other side.
"One day, we will definitely arrest them all and bring them to justice!" Tsuru said sternly, her resentment flaring up at the mention of the deceased Sakazuki.
"Um… I need to go to the secret lab to retrieve the old experimental data. Could you please come with me?" Vegapunk said, having disembarked from the government ship.
"Understood. That's what we Marines are here for," Tsuru said, strictly protecting Vegapunk along with the government agents, as his importance was no less than that of an Admiral.
When they reached the center of the forest, Vegapunk suddenly stopped and said to the people around him, "It's right here."
Everyone was stunned because there were no obvious buildings, caves, or other landmarks.
Then, Vegapunk crouched down and felt around the ground. Suddenly, the top layer of dirt flipped open, revealing a hole with a staircase leading down.
"Could I go in alone?" Vegapunk asked.
"That's impossible," the government agent refused without hesitation. Not even a one-in-a- million chance would they allow Vegapunk to be out of their sight. What if he ran away?
"Heh, fine by me…"
Vegapunk chuckled lightly, and with a stomp of his foot, a loud thud echoed from the entrance of the hole.
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