Egghead Island.
Beneath the massive steel dome, an unprecedented giant vessel floated silently within the dock.
Its shape resembled a colossal deep-sea whale, its entire body forged from a special dark-gray alloy, seamless and smooth, exuding a sense of streamlined beauty.
This was the core of the Marines' "Sea Bottom Dredge" plan—the very first prototype submarine, personally crafted by Vegapunk: the "Deep-Sea Salvager No. 1."
On both sides of the hull, a pair of enormous mechanical arms, like the claws of some primordial beast, were folded tightly against the body.
Each joint gleamed with a cold metallic luster, capable of easily tearing apart steel ship hulls that had rested underwater for centuries.
At the bow, a massive spherical observation window of reinforced glass extended outward, connected behind to an intricate sonar detection system.
Something like this~
"Vegapunk, this detection system still doesn't look quite complete?"
Kizaru leaned lazily against the console, pointing at the messy signals flashing across the screen.
"Indeed, Borsalino."
Vegapunk scratched his head. "For now, the sonar system is still incomplete. It's barely functional at best."
Then his tone shifted. "But, as long as I have the funding and some more time, I'll be able to create the 'Eye of Money'..."
"By then, there won't be a single Belly in the deep sea that escapes its detection!"
"Yo~ That sounds pretty incredible."
Kizaru's gaze fell on the massive submarine's outer shell.
Painted across it was a brand-new, gleaming insignia of the Marine seagull.
This thing was directly tied to five percent of his cut...
He couldn't afford to let anything go wrong.
"Then, let's begin."
Vegapunk stepped up to the main control console, his expression sharpening.
"Deep-Sea Salvager No. 1, prepare to dive!"
"Floodgates open, dock gates release!"
"Vrrrrr——"
With a deep rumble, seawater rushed into the dock.
The steel leviathan slowly descended into the water, sliding silently into the abyss, wrapped in a storm of rising bubbles.
Inside the control room, massive screens displayed real-time footage transmitted back from the submarine.
Light dimmed rapidly as bizarre deep-sea fish flickered past the windows.
Depth: 3,000 meters... 5,000 meters... 8,000 meters...
"Warning! Warning!"
Suddenly, a massive red signal appeared on the screen, barreling straight toward the submarine at incredible speed.
"It's a colossal Sea King!"
"Its target is the submarine!"
Alarms blared sharply throughout the control room.
"Aiya~ what a headache."
Kizaru pursed his lips at the giant red signal rapidly closing in.
Before his words were finished, his figure dissolved into golden light and vanished from the room.
...
Deep beneath the sea.
A Sea King the size of an island had opened its massive jaws wide enough to swallow everything, ready to crush the iron intruder disturbing its slumber.
But in that instant—
A golden radiance suddenly flared above its head.
The light coalesced into a tall, slender figure.
"A colossal Sea King..."
"Terrifying, huh~"
"But... if you damage the prototype..."
Kizaru's eyes narrowed slightly, his lenses flashing dangerously.
"I'd be very troubled indeed."
The next moment—
Countless beams of dazzling light erupted from behind him.
"Boom boom boom boom——!"
A dense barrage of golden light bullets rained down like the fiercest meteor storm, tearing mercilessly through the pitch-black sea.
The barrage shredded the Sea King's hide, tougher than steel, punching gaping holes through its immense body.
Without even a scream, the giant creature was perforated into nothingness, dissolving silently into golden fragments.
Back in the control room, the alarms abruptly ceased.
"Yo~"
Kizaru's figure reappeared inside as if he had never left.
"Problem solved. Carry on, Vegapunk."
"..."
Vegapunk exhaled deeply, forcing his focus back to the controls.
So this was Borsalino going all out...
Terrifying!
"Continue the descent!"
"Target: 10,000-meter trench, 'Lost Wreckage' region!"
The submarine adjusted its angle and sank further.
Soon, the screens revealed a vast seabed plain littered with ancient shipwrecks.
This was a graveyard of time, ruins of history.
"Activate the arms!"
"Target: three o'clock, that three-masted wreck!"
The enormous mechanical arms extended outward, gripping the rotted hulk of a massive ship, carefully dragging it into the open cargo bay below the submarine.
"Excellent! Mission complete! Begin ascent!"
...
Half an hour later.
The "Deep-Sea Salvager No. 1" docked back at the harbor.
Its mechanical arms gently deposited the colossal wreck onto the central plaza.
Dozens of Marines immediately rushed forward, hauling several decayed wooden chests from within the ruined cabins.
The chests creaked open.
Most of the treasure inside had been ruined by seawater—but a few boxes of intact gold coins remained, gleaming brilliantly.
"Oh~"
Kizaru's smile widened as he admired the coins.
Not much, but this was only a single ship!
His five percent cut was guaranteed!
He glanced back, seeing Vegapunk already hurrying off with stacks of experimental data, eager to refine the prototype further.
Kizaru pulled out a Den Den Mushi and dialed.
"Purupuru~ kacha."
"Fleet Admiral, it's me—Borsalino."
His voice carried obvious delight.
"The submarine's first dive was a success!"
On the other end, Sengoku was silent for a moment.
"Good."
"How soon until the first official recovery?"
"A second test in three days. Final test in one week. If all goes smoothly, mass production begins immediately—and the prototype will be put straight to use."
"The first official recovery should be... one month from now!!!"
"Fine. Keep a close eye on it, Borsalino."
"Rest assured, Fleet Admiral—for the Marines' future, I won't take a single step away!"
...
At the same time, in the New World—aboard the Moby Dick.
The deck was suffocating with tension.
The laughter and cheer that once filled the air had long vanished, replaced only by deathly silence.
"Pops!"
Ace's bloodshot eyes locked onto Whitebeard.
"Teach killed Thatch!"
"He's broken the one unbreakable rule of this ship!"
"As his Division Commander, I must personally drag him back and make him kneel before Thatch's grave to atone!"
"Gurararara... go then!"
Whitebeard waved his massive hand. "My son will not lose."
"Thud——!"
Ace dropped to his knees, slamming his head firmly to the deck.
"Wait for me, Pops—I'll return!"
The next second, he leapt up, boarding his small-powered boat without hesitation.
"Boom——"
Orange flames roared from the stern.
"Teach has betrayed us—he can't stay in the New World..."
"He can only have gone... to Paradise!"
The small boat shot off like a blazing comet, streaking toward Paradise.