However, it seemed that Saturn had no intention of acknowledging Souta Kiryuu, this "lowly experiment subject." He didn't even bother using the CP0 agents' Den Den Mushi to contact Souta or Vegapunk.
He simply sat in silence, watching Souta snatch Vegapunk right from under his nose.
"Satan, you still remember Bartholomew Kuma, don't you? The last of the Buccaneer race? His Paw-Paw Fruit ability can scatter people across the seas with ease. I hope you're prepared to hunt down every one of those scientists whose families you've been holding hostage!"
Souta tilted the surveillance Den Den Mushi toward Kuma, forcing Saturn to look upon the surviving heir of the Buccaneer clan.
Years ago, at God Valley, Kuma had only just eaten the Paw-Paw Fruit at the age of nine. Even under the interference of Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin, Kuma had miraculously escaped Saturn's grasp. Not only that, he had saved over five hundred slaves and residents of God Valley that day.
His terrifying stamina made him seem like a perpetual motion machine, launching people across the battlefield without pause. That was the power of the Buccaneer race: unmatched endurance, monstrous defense, and strength rivaling that of giants.
"Kuma, scatter the scientists to remote islands across the seas," Souta ordered coldly. If not for Vegapunk's strong objections against slaughtering those who refused to follow, Souta would have chosen a far bloodier solution.
And since Saturn refused to even acknowledge him, there was no chance he'd pay ransom to retrieve the captured scientists. Souta knew the old tyrant only wished to wipe him out completely. For decades, no one had dared speak to Saturn like this.
"Understood." Kuma's reply was quick and steady. As long as it didn't involve direct killing, he had no objections. In a flash, he used his Paw-Paw powers to send the unwilling scientists—and those whose families remained under the World Government's control—flying to isolated islands where they would have to fend for themselves.
Under Souta's crushing presence, however, many scientists and researchers chose to follow him willingly.
Together with Vegapunk, Souta carefully sorted them: eliminating those with questionable loyalties, discarding anyone tied to the World Government through life paper. In the end, Souta secured nearly one-third of the Science Division's top minds.
These were brilliant individuals—elite researchers coerced by threats or bribes into serving the Government. Now, they were Souta's spoils of war.
As a massive laboratory lifted into the air on Souta's blazing flame-clouds, the chosen scientists hurriedly carried their research and equipment aboard. Among the most vital was the cutting-edge stem-cell transplant apparatus, guarded closely by Souta and Kuma.
"Can your stamina really sustain this entire floating laboratory across the ocean?" Vegapunk asked, his massive head furrowed with worry. His life, reputation, and research were all now tied to Souta's survival.
"Relax. Just follow my lead," Souta said with confidence. He remembered that deep in the New World, there existed another Sky Island. When the Supernovas Kid, Hawkins, and Apoo formed their alliance, Kaido had leapt down from there. Even Urgi had once recovered from his wounds on that same island.
Souta intended to take refuge there, away from Saturn's grasp and Admiral Kizaru's relentless pursuit. Bonnie also needed time for treatment. As for whether fate would have him cross paths with Kaido himself—that would depend on luck.
With a roar, Souta transformed into a crimson dragon, carrying the floating laboratory away from Egghead Island. As he departed, he unleashed a fiery dragon's breath, obliterating several research buildings and burning out every last surveillance Den Den Mushi and CP agent Saturn had left behind.
Meanwhile, Kuma teleported back to the ship, retrieving Bonnie and the Tontatta tribe before relocating them into the airborne lab. The ship itself was destroyed along with the naval fleet in port—Souta would leave nothing behind for the World Government.
Inside the airborne laboratory, Vegapunk immediately began examining Bonnie's condition. As the world's greatest scientist—a true polymath—his medical expertise was unparalleled.
"She can be cured!" Vegapunk's firm declaration made Kuma collapse into tears, clutching Bonnie as sobs wracked his enormous frame. Even Sentomaru and several of the gathered scientists found themselves moved to tears by his raw emotion.
"This tiny princess of the Tontatta tribe… she has the Healing Fruit, doesn't she? Excellent. Then Bonnie's treatment time may be greatly reduced," Vegapunk muttered with growing interest, examining Princess Mansherry. His curiosity over the mechanics of a healing-type Devil Fruit only deepened.
Having already succeeded in creating the artificial Azure Dragon Zoan, he had long since set his sights on the Paramecia fruits—research vital to the Seraphim Project. With Souta funding his experiments, the possibilities were limitless.
Thankfully, Souta's own innate lightning abilities allowed Vegapunk to store and convert energy, ensuring the floating laboratory remained powered. Preparations for Bonnie's surgery could now begin in earnest.
Meanwhile, Kuma scoured the skies, searching for the legendary Sky Island of Baron above the hidden island of Inran. He even reached out to Dragon for guidance, learning of its rumored location.
As Souta and Vegapunk pressed toward Baron Island, Saturn erupted in fury within Mariejois. Kizaru, who hadn't even reached Egghead yet, found himself cursed and berated. Saturn demanded the Admiral scour the seas until both Souta Kiryuu and Vegapunk were captured.
"This most dangerous experiment and the greatest scientist in the world must be brought back—at all costs!"
And, as if that weren't enough, Saturn snarled: "And bring back Bartholomew Kuma, the last of the Buccaneers, as well!"
Kizaru's expression twisted into his trademark bitter grimace. Egghead lay in the latter half of the New World, perilously close to Kaido's territory. Even an Admiral dared not roam recklessly there.
Not even Sakazuki himself would launch such a risky operation. If two or three of the Yonko crews converged on them, not even all three Admirals together could hope to walk away unscathed.
So Kizaru nodded, feigning compliance while sharpening his talent for slacking off, conducting a "search" with all the enthusiasm of a cat chasing shadows. The last thing he wanted was to provoke Kaido or Big Mom.
Elsewhere, the Navy Headquarters also received Saturn's order: issue a bounty on Souta Kiryuu.
And so it was decreed—Souta's first bounty would be set at 300 million Berries.
Saturn himself despised this "worthless experiment," branding him forever as "Experiment No. 88." He forbade Sengoku from giving Souta any other title, even ordering Morgans of the World Economy News to never publish him under another name.
Saturn wanted this ant to carry the shame of his designation for life. A failed experiment, daring to defy the highest authority of the world.
Experiment No. 88, Souta Kiryuu—must die.