Chapter 193: New Warlord? Edward Weevil?
Before Star Lord, Vegapunk made his true request.
That was news enough to shake the sea.
SSG's Chief Scientist, Dr. Vegapunk, whose every past invention shook the world, wanted to betray the World Government and join "The Zodiac"?
To be blunt—if the Five Elders knew a bit of his words now, they would eliminate Vegapunk immediately.
He truly risked his life.
At this moment, Roy fell silent.
The information in Vegapunk's words just now was too huge; he was still absorbing it.
Even for him who knew the plot and investigated much of the "World's Truth" recently, this was absolutely shocking.
Among them, only one piece of news concerned him most.
The world doesn't allow new lineage factors to appear; all Devil Fruits are "Bound"—this was the helpless conclusion Vegapunk reached after experiments.
But the key was...
"..."
Roy looked at his Fruit Encyclopedia, at the "Lineage Factor Development" progress bar, and the text below: [Upon completion of analysis progress, unlock 'Fruit Creation Slot'].
In this moment, he finally understood the significance of this Fruit Encyclopedia update.
"After lineage factor development comes 'Fruit Creation', same as Vegapunk said!"
He was almost certain that after this analysis completion, he could truly touch the essence of "Lineage Factor"—creating "New Fruits"—as Vegapunk said.
Thinking of this, Star Lord's answer had no hesitation.
"Allowed."
He nodded gently.
Yes.
He was sure he would master the essence of lineage factors after successful analysis.
In this case, Vegapunk's research and talent on lineage factors became hugely significant.
He naturally wouldn't hesitate to include the world's number one scientist in the organization—one more didn't matter now anyway.
Oh, wait, thinking carefully, even more than one.
"Besides you, Bartholomew Kuma can also join The Zodiac."
Star Lord said calmly.
"You, Jewelry Bonney, and him can leave with Neverland today—I will have Hitsujii (Sheep) provide Bonney with the Fountain of Youth daily, ensuring her body doesn't deteriorate until she is completely cured."
After Star Lord spoke.
Vegapunk finally smiled.
"No, Leader."
He changed his address to Star Lord directly, but then shook his head. "Kuma and Bonney, this old man indeed intends to ask you to take them away."
"But please forgive this old man... cannot leave temporarily."
His expression was very solemn.
"This old man has an unfinished research on this Egghead—that research is very important. To complete it, this old man must have some core data provided by Saturn..."
"So, this old man cannot leave."
Speaking here, his eyes were full of expectation.
"If the research succeeds, this old man can fulfill one of his long-cherished wishes... create 'Infinite Energy'."
Hearing this, Star Lord understood the research Vegapunk insisted on completing.
"Emeth?"
He looked at Vegapunk, speaking the name.
"Hm?"
Hearing this, Vegapunk was naturally puzzled. "Emeth? Who is that?"
"The robot you are researching."
Under Vegapunk's widening eyes again, Star Lord said softly, "It was Joy Boy's partner, its name... is Emeth."
At this moment, Vegapunk was almost speechless.
How do you know everything?
He wanted to ask.
Yes—as Star Lord said.
The thing Vegapunk insisted on staying to research was a giant robot from the "Ancient Kingdom" 800 years ago.
It appeared suddenly 200 years ago, attacking the Holy Land Mary Geoise, but stopped due to energy depletion.
Saturn, one of the Five Elders, gave it to Vegapunk for research, and Vegapunk indeed discovered something.
That was the core driving the robot.
According to Vegapunk's research—this core corresponded to some extremely special energy.
Something he once discovered while exploring the Pluton dock in Water 7.
The energy core of that robot was once "Eternal Flame".
Based on its energy core, plus top-secret ancient kingdom research intel provided by Saturn, Vegapunk almost touched the root of that energy.
He even thought of a name for that energy—Mother Flame.
He was sure that energy would realize one of his biggest dreams as a scientist—providing "Infinite Energy" for the world!
So, even knowing the relationship between the World Government and Imu, he still chose to stay on Egghead for a while.
But he didn't expect...
"You... do you know that robot?"
In this moment, Vegapunk suspected slightly.
This Star Lord before him not only knew Imu, the World Government, and the world's truth well, but now even spoke the name of that ancient robot.
Considering his research on lineage factors and the World Government's obvious wariness of him.
Gulp...
Vegapunk swallowed.
"E... excuse the question, how old are you now?"
He suspected this person before him might be like the Five Elders and Imu... an "Immortal" existence?
Clearly, Star Lord wouldn't answer Vegapunk's inquiry directly.
"I grant your request—you can stay on Egghead. After your research is complete, someone will come to pick you up."
"However..."
Speaking here, Star Lord paused slightly. "Inside Emeth, there is something left by Joy Boy in the past. I will take it."
Half an hour later.
"What's wrong, Vegapunk?"
Returning to Neverland, Kuma looked at dazed Vegapunk and Hitsujii beside him, asking puzzledly.
"Ah, in my opinion, probably scared by the Leader?"
Hitsujii crossed his arms, nodding constantly. "After all, I get scared by his aura occasionally too, very normal."
"Mm, the result of this discussion is out—Lord Kuma, you and Miss Bonney need to leave Egghead with me next..."
Hitsujii briefly informed Kuma of the negotiation result.
Hearing he would join The Zodiac and leave with Hitsujii, Kuma didn't hesitate.
Just as he said before—as long as Bonney could be cured, he didn't care about any conditions.
But...
"Vegapunk, you aren't leaving with us?"
Hearing Vegapunk would stay on Egghead, he raised an objection for the first time.
He looked at Vegapunk. "If Bonney and I leave, Saturn will..."
He knew well, if he and Bonney left now, Saturn would definitely trouble Vegapunk upon knowing.
"Let Lord Hitsujii take Bonney—I stay too!"
So, Kuma made a decision without hesitation.
"No."
At this moment, Vegapunk seemed to finally recover.
He shook his head. "The time for your first modification agreed with Saturn is almost up. If you stay, this old man must modify you, or directly disobey Saturn."
"But if you leave now, this old man can say you unilaterally broke the promise—after all, you are a vicious 'Pirate'."
Speaking here, he winked at Kuma.
"Even if Saturn suspects this old man, he can do nothing to me, at most increasing surveillance... without this old man, he can't complete that research."
Vegapunk's words were very confident.
As the world's number one scientist, he was qualified to be confident—in scientific research, he was number one.
Even the "Warrior God of Science and Defense" had to rely on him.
"..."
Hearing this, Kuma fell silent.
Looking at this scientist who met him by chance but helped him constantly, his gloved fists clenched.
"It's okay."
Vegapunk patted Kuma—he seemed to want to pat the shoulder, but due to height, patted Kuma's waist.
"Later when this old man is monitored and hard to leave Egghead, you come to pick this old man up."
He chuckled.
Hearing this, Kuma looked at him seriously.
"When the time comes, I will definitely come."
"Regardless of the opponent, I will take you away."
He made a promise.
So, the two friends smiled at each other.
"Hey, hey, Tei (Racoon Dog), Heki (Porcupine)—you are members of the organization now, don't make promises on your own."
Hitsujii laughed aside. "At least respect me as a Top Executive, right?"
Saying so, he didn't deny Kuma and Vegapunk's promise.
But then, Vegapunk seemed to remember something suddenly. "Right, what about Kuma's Den Den Mushi call just now?"
Before leaving, he clearly cared about the intel Kuma received.
Kuma didn't hide it naturally. "Same as your guess, about 'Warlord Appointment'."
"They said news about two new Warlords will be in the papers tomorrow, so specifically notified me and that Mr. Edward Weevil. A government warship will come to our location later to take us for an exclusive interview with the World Economic News Paper, telling us not to act rashly."
He spoke casually.
Because clearly—after deciding to join The Zodiac and tear up the agreement with Saturn.
Warlord, interview, all non-existent.
But...
"Sorry, Lord Kuma."
Next moment, they heard Hitsujii's calm inquiry.
"You seemed to mention—Edward Weevil?"
"Yes."
Hearing Hitsujii's inquiry, Kuma was puzzled but answered without hesitation. "Because of Gecko Moria's death recently, another Warlord seat is vacant."
Speaking here, Kuma's tone was inevitably strange.
Currently, two Warlord seats were vacant—Crocodile and Gecko Moria.
Both died at the hands of Lord Hitsujii's colleagues.
Thinking he almost became a Warlord too, Kuma felt weird.
"Recently, the Government received a recommendation from allied nation 'Germa Kingdom', deciding to recruit pirate Edward Weevil as a 'Royal Warlord'."
"According to intel, the latter seemed to annihilate over twelve pirate crews in North Blue single-handedly within a month and quelled riots in two countries."
Kuma told Hitsujii what he knew and the intel received just now.
"I see."
Hearing this, Hitsujii nodded.
"I understand."
His words were calm.
But at this moment, Vegapunk and Kuma... suddenly felt an inexplicable Chill.
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