Bartholomew Kuma gently set the book in his hands aside and turned toward Kizaru, a calm smile resting on his lips.
"Borsalino... did you come to see me?"
Kizaru's golden eyes glinted faintly in the lab's sterile light. "You could say that... it's almost time, after all."
Silence filled the massive laboratory.
Kizaru's gaze lingered on the man bound to the steel chair before him. The faint hum of machinery blended with his thoughts, pulling his mind back to simpler days days when they all sat together, sharing hot pizza, laughing, and dancing to songs whose meanings he still didn't understand.
Those were good days. In a life filled with missions, orders, and blood, those moments were the only times he'd truly felt... alive.
"Save Kuma."
The thought struck him, firm and unyielding.
The Pacifista Program an unholy creation of the World Government was designed to forge perfect weapons of war.
But now, with the Navy beginning to stand apart from that decaying institution... what was stopping them from saving one man's soul in the process?
Kuma was kind, gentle even. If the Navy could preserve his consciousness while taking control of Vegapunk's research, it wouldn't just be mercy it would be strategy.
A perfect, risk-free bargain.
Kizaru made up his mind. He'd bring this up to Fleet Admiral Sengoku later. But for now...
He turned his attention back to Vegapunk, who was still fiddling with a nearby console. "Come with me," Kizaru said quietly. "There's something we need to discuss somewhere private."
Vegapunk frowned, confused, but nodded.
Together, they left the main lab, their footsteps echoing down the long metallic corridor lined with flickering blue lights. They arrived at an isolated observation chamber completely soundproof, shielded, and clean. Kizaru had already confirmed it with his Observation Haki; not a single spy snail or listening device remained.
"Borsalino," Vegapunk said, his tone cautious, "what's going on?"
Kizaru didn't answer immediately. He turned toward the panoramic window, gazing down at the sprawling city of machines below them. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, heavy with meaning.
"Vegapunk... my dear old friend," he said slowly, "do you want to save Kuma?"
Vegapunk froze. His pupils shrank to pinpoints, and for a moment, he forgot to breathe.
Of course he wanted to.
But how could he?
He was a scientist a genius, yes, but still a man chained by the World Government's leash. His inventions funded by their coffers, his research directed by their orders. He traded brilliance for freedom, and in return, they used that brilliance to craft weapons of slaughter.
The cost of that bargain... was Kuma's very humanity.
"Borsalino!" Vegapunk's voice trembled with urgency. "You can't be serious! This is a contract Kuma and the World Government have an agreement! It can't be undone!"
Kizaru turned, his lazy half-lidded eyes now burning with a sharp, dangerous light.
"Vegapunk," he said quietly, "do you really think I still take orders from the World Government?"
"What are you saying?"
"The Navy," Kizaru said, stepping forward, his voice calm but carrying the weight of a storm, "no longer needs to bow to them."
He stopped right in front of Vegapunk, leaning slightly closer.
"The Navy is inviting you, old friend. Not as a subordinate of the World Government... but as the chief scientist of a new, independent force one that will soon rule these seas."
He straightened, letting the words sink in.
"Join us, Vegapunk. Become the Navy's true lead scientist."
He smiled faintly. "And don't make this hard for me... you know I'm rather decent with my hands and my sword."
The tension hung in the air like a drawn blade.
Alabasta – Nanohana Port
The engines of the G-3 Fleet roared, their thunder rolling across the harbor as waves crashed against the docks. The ships were ready to depart once again.
King Cobra, Princess Vivi, and their royal guards stood assembled to see them off.
All eyes turned toward the young man standing at the bow, the Justice cloak fluttering behind him Rear Admiral Renn Hawk.
"Rear Admiral Hawk," King Cobra said solemnly as he stepped forward, "Alabasta will forever remember your aid. Should the Navy ever require our assistance, the kingdom will stand beside you without hesitation."
Renn gave a small nod, his gaze steady. "Then I'll hold you to that, Your Majesty."
He turned toward Smoker and Hina standing nearby. "The rest is in your hands."
Smoker grunted around his twin cigars. "Yeah, yeah. You talk too much."
Hina adjusted her glasses and gave a crisp nod. "Alabasta will be protected. You have my word."
Renn turned and walked up the ramp onto the flagship.
As the battleship slowly pulled away from the port, the figures on shore grew smaller until they vanished entirely.
He stood at the prow, the salty wind whipping across his face.
This journey to Alabasta had yielded more than he ever expected.
He had convinced Nico Robin the sole survivor of Ohara, the so-called "Demon Child" to join him. She would become the intellectual cornerstone of his vision: a Navy that sought truth, not suppression.
Power and ideology. Both were needed to reshape the world.
And with King Cobra's cooperation, the gold from Skypiea now had a legitimate channel for "cleansing" its origins.
He smiled faintly. Everything was falling into place.
Then, he called up the familiar, glowing interface in his mind.
[Current Justice Points: 102,168]
For the first time since arriving in this world, his Justice Points had broken the hundred-thousand mark enough to elevate one of his abilities to the peak of the world's standards.
His eyes narrowed as he calculated.
Armament Haki. Observation Haki. Martial Arts – Fist. Physique.
All four were currently at the High level Vice Admiral class. Each could now evolve.
"If I enhance Armament Haki," he mused, "I could strike like Zephyr break through most pirates' defenses with a single blow."
"Or if I raise Observation Haki, I could glimpse a few seconds into the future, like Katakuri... controlling the flow of battle entirely."
"Or maybe strengthen my combat technique, refining every strike to perfection."
His mind raced between options until his gaze finally settled on the last one.
Physique.
Names flashed through his mind like lightning: Akainu, Aokiji, Kizaru, Kaido, Big Mom, Whitebeard...
What did all these monsters share in common?
An inhuman, indestructible body.
The body was the foundation the vessel that contained power and will.
Without a body strong enough to hold it, even the greatest Haki was wasted potential.
And in this sea ruled by monsters... without a monstrous body, one would never stand at the top.
"Then it's decided," Renn murmured, eyes hardening. "System upgrade my physique to the highest tier."
[Ding! 100,000 Justice Points consumed.]
[Physique upgraded to Top Tier – Admiral Level.]
A shudder ran through him.
Every muscle fiber in his body tore apart then instantly regenerated, denser, stronger, alive. His blood roared through his veins like thunder. Every heartbeat was an explosion of strength.
Power surged through him, primal and unrestrained.
He raised his hand and clenched his fist.
Crack.
The air around his knuckles twisted, compressing under the sheer force.
This this was an Admiral's physique.
The strength to stand face-to-face with the monsters of the world.
[Renn Hawk]
Branch Commander, G-3 Base – Rear Admiral
Observation Haki: High (Vice Admiral)
Armament Haki: High (Vice Admiral)
Physique: Top (Admiral)
Martial Arts – Fist: High (Vice Admiral)
Conqueror's Haki: High
Remaining Justice Points: 2,168
Remaining Lifespan: 3,650 days
Renn exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of his newfound power settle within him.
Then, his eyes shifted toward the endless horizon.
"Relay my command," he said calmly.
"Set our course "
"Destination: the Devil's Triangle."
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