Hearing Souta Kiryuu's words, Vegapunk felt a rare flicker of temptation.
He hadn't expected Souta to have such secrets, such connections. To think he had discovered the legendary Golden City of Shandora, and even held ties to the Gold Emperor, Tesoro…
"Are you certain you're not deceiving me?" Vegapunk asked cautiously after a moment's thought. He knew this was a golden opportunity to escape the World Government's grip.
But another question lingered—did Souta Kiryuu truly have the power to protect him?
"I'm not lying. I've also found a Sky Island." Souta leaned in, whispering so quietly that even Sentomaru, the loyal bodyguard, couldn't hear their exchange.
From far away in Mariejois, Saturn's face grew darker as he monitored the scene.
"Is that true?" Vegapunk's eyes gleamed with interest once more. The advantages Souta offered tugged at him irresistibly.
Not only could Souta's dragon form carry them away at any moment, but it also gave them a way to elude the World Government's pursuit.
These hard facts made Vegapunk's heart itch with possibility.
At present, he was already hiding his research on artificial Devil Fruits, secretly studying Ohara's texts and Poneglyphs in defiance of the Government's ban. The weight of these secrets pressed heavily on him.
He knew they could turn on him at any moment and erase him.
"Stop hesitating. Saturn is watching us right now. No matter what you do, you're already unsafe!" Souta's grin was sharp, triumphant. Today, whether Vegapunk wanted to or not, he would leave this island at his side.
"Fine, fine. I'll go with you. But you must help me move my most important equipment—and that giant robot as well."
Vegapunk's enormous head tilted, his mind racing. In the end, he wagered his life and freedom on Souta Kiryuu.
"No problem!" Souta exclaimed, thrilled. He had finally convinced the world's foremost scientist to join him. His power would soon rise.
"Oh, one more thing. Did the Government leave a piece of your Vivre Card? If so, you'd better prepare some kind of blocker, like a signal jammer for Den Den Mushi. I don't want their agents tracking us down."
"Don't worry. I've already accounted for that," Vegapunk said with a sly smile. He had long prepared for the day he might flee.
It was true—the Government had once forced him to create a Vivre Card, but he already had a way to neutralize it.
"Good," Souta said, satisfied. Speaking with someone this clever was easy.
Then he turned to Sentomaru. "Hey, bodyguard. Vegapunk's coming with me. Are you going to keep protecting him, or will you return to the Navy and chase after Kizaru?"
Souta smirked. Sentomaru was blunt to a fault, almost incapable of lying. With flaws as severe as Baby 5's, he could never truly stand on his own.
"Wh–what? Doctor, you really intend to leave the World Government? But… what about Uncle Kizaru?"
Sentomaru's voice shook with conflict. He had been raised by both Vegapunk and Kizaru, and didn't want to be torn between them. If they split paths, he didn't know what to do.
"Sentomaru, I can no longer remain under the Government's control. You must choose your own path," Vegapunk told him gently. He had no desire to dictate another's fate—no more than he had with Stussy, the clone.
"Then… then I'll stay with you, Doctor," Sentomaru said firmly after a long pause, memories of his childhood flashing through his mind. He would never abandon the man who had raised him.
"Then pack up. We're leaving." Souta bared his teeth in a wide grin as Vegapunk began hurriedly gathering his most vital research notes and instruments.
"Oh, by the way, Doctor. Which of your medical machines is used for stem-cell transplantation? There's a girl I know—she's suffering from Jade Scales, a terminal illness." Souta's thoughts turned to Bonney, as Kuma's anxious expression made the request urgent.
Vegapunk froze, startled. "Wait… how do you know about stem-cell transplants? I've only just developed that technique. It hasn't even been announced to the world!"
No one should know.
"I don't have time to explain. Let's just say I know someone with a power that can see the future." Souta brushed it off casually, then moved among the unconscious scientists, searching for the ones who had tormented him the worst.
Now was the time to settle old debts.
"Souta, I hope you won't slaughter them recklessly. They were only following the Government's orders," Vegapunk warned sternly, stepping in his path. He couldn't allow Souta to become another Caesar, a monster in human skin.
"The others can live. But Shiodai Bengo must die!" Souta snarled, firing a laser from his eye. The beam pierced straight through the rat-faced man with the curled mustache.
Blood sizzled against the air, and silence fell.
Even Vegapunk said nothing. He despised that vile little scientist—more beast than man, worse even than Caesar. The man had killed countless test subjects. If not for Saturn's protection, Vegapunk would have cast him out long ago.
"Doctor, make me a list. Who here are diehard Government loyalists, who can be taken with us, and who's tied to a Vivre Card. I want it all sorted." Souta barked as he summoned flame-clouds, preparing to lift an entire laboratory—building, equipment, and all.
He couldn't yet manage something on Kaido's level, like lifting Onigashima itself, but moving a research facility or two was well within his reach.
"Your mastery of this power is impressive," Vegapunk admitted, awe flickering in his eyes as he watched Souta's control over the artificial Azure Dragon Fruit. Its effects were even stronger than he had imagined.
"If only you'd given me this fruit sooner," Souta muttered, glancing back. "Maybe I would've grown stronger faster… maybe I would've escaped Punk Hazard years earlier."
The remark left Vegapunk momentarily embarrassed, though he said nothing.
Under Souta and Kuma's overwhelming pressure, the remaining CP agents were swiftly crushed.
The surviving scientists were herded into an open square, where they were divided—those to be taken, those to be cast away. The World Government would not have the luxury of reclaiming them all.
"Saturn," Souta said mockingly, glaring into the hidden surveillance Den Den Mushi. "Tell me—what price will you pay to buy these scientists back?"