Vegapunk's Transaction

Trade?

What was this guy suddenly talking about?

Bright had to admit that Vegapunk's out-of-the-blue remark left him completely baffled.

What trade could there possibly be between them?

And at a time like this, why bring up a trade?

Right now, all he had to do was grab this guy and escape from here.

Though Vegapunk's words had thrown him off for a moment, Bright didn't hesitate at all. He lunged straight at Vegapunk.

This chief scientist of the government, possessing technology five hundred years ahead of the rest of the world, would soon become his own ticket to safety!

Smack.

Vegapunk casually raised his hand and slapped Bright's reaching claw aside, a hint of disdain in his voice. "You don't like listening to people talk, do you, kid?"

Bright's eyes widened in shock.

His hand had gone almost completely numb from that single slap.

The scales he'd been confident could even stop bullets seemed utterly useless! They'd even been cracked with ease, and his whole body spun from the force of the blow!

"Naughty brat,"

Vegapunk paid no attention to Bright's reaction. He casually pulled over a table, sat down on it, and spoke with a slightly impatient tone. "Alright, then let's talk about the consequences of you escaping from here."

Bright staggered back two steps, putting distance between himself and Vegapunk.

Was this guy really a researcher?

What was that strength all about!

Bright remained on guard but said aloud, "The Ryugu Kingdom is a member nation of the World Government, and Fish-Man Island is under the protection of the Whitebeard Pirates. The government won't launch a full-scale attack on Fish-Man Island for a nobody like me."

Maybe Fish-Man Island didn't matter much to the government, but the Whitebeard Pirates were different. They were an opponent the government would need to prepare thoroughly to face.

"Since Fish-Man Island won't be in danger, I don't believe the government can catch me, a fish-man, in the sea."

Even if he couldn't swim now, he could fly.

"That's true enough. Seems you're not completely brainless."

Vegapunk hopped onto the table and crouched down. The world's greatest scientist curled his lips into a mocking grin. "But what about the fish-men locked up in Impel Down?"

Bright's expression froze.

Right. Arlong and the others were still imprisoned in Impel Down.

In the original story, Arlong was scum—no, fish-man scum—but he was undeniably good to his fellow fish-men. Before Bright regained his memories, Arlong had taken good care of him. He was like an older brother to Bright, second only to Brother Fisher Tiger, and on par with Jinbe.

And—

Vegapunk was right. If he chose to run, Fish-Man Island might be fine, but they would definitely suffer.

But what Bright felt ashamed of was that he hadn't seriously considered their situation before.

Or rather, he'd clung to the wishful hope that "this probably won't affect them, right?"

Bright sighed.

"Tell me the terms of your trade, Doctor."

Since things had already come to this, spending half a minute listening to Vegapunk's proposal wouldn't hurt.

"Excellent!"

Vegapunk's eyebrows practically danced with excitement as he adjusted his glasses. "Trust me, kid, you won't regret this."

"I can tell you one thing in advance: the government has been in contact with the new captain of your Sun Pirates, that guy named Jinbe. From my estimates, the moment he becomes a new Shichibukai, your captured comrades will be set free."

He chuckled. "Even though you've stumbled into a classified government facility, which normally wouldn't be connected to that, with my approval, things are different."

Bright nodded calmly. He already knew this. "So, what should I pay?"

This kid... pretty composed, huh.

Vegapunk looked at him with interest. "What you need to do is simple: cooperate with my research."

"Research?"

Bright's eyes darkened.

He had no interest in letting someone study his body.

"Don't rush to refuse. This research should be very beneficial to you!" Vegapunk took off his glasses, breathed on them, and casually wiped them with the corner of his lab coat. Squinting, he almost looked kind. "Do you know what Devil Fruit you ate?"

Bright pretended to know nothing and shook his head. "No, but I think it must be a very powerful fruit."

"Haha, thanks for the compliment."

Vegapunk laughed heartily and put his glasses back on. "That's an Artificial Devil Fruit I created based on the Lineage Factor of that Beasts Kaido."

"An Artificial Devil Fruit? Impressive!" Bright tried to show just the right amount of surprise. "So, my ability is a replica of Kaido's Mythical Zoan Azure Dragon Form?"

"Hahaha, you really don't like listening to people talk, do you, kid?"

Vegapunk's smile was mocking. "Didn't I say it? It's based on Kaido's Lineage Factor, not on his ability."

"..."

Bright's expression stiffened for a moment.

Was it what he thought it was?

"If I had to put it, you're probably a Kaido Fruit Devil Fruit User, right?" Vegapunk's grin was blinding. "By blood relation, what would you call Kaido? Father? Or older brother?"

"Hey, if Kaido suddenly found out he had a new blood relative, he'd be pretty happy, wouldn't he?"

Happy?

If that monster found out about this, the first thing he'd probably do was fly over and hit him with a Thunder Bagua, turning him into paste.

How could that bastard allow someone else to have the same ability as him?

Not to mention, this ability of his was born from the shame of Kaido's past.

"So, Doctor, what you're saying is, besides getting the same ability as Kaido, I'll also get a monster's body like his?" Bright was still a bit excited.

If that was the case, the gain was way bigger than he'd imagined!

Even if he'd probably be targeted by Kaido afterward, it was definitely worth it.

Kaido was a true natural-born monster, on par with Charlotte Linlin! His physique was second to none in the entire world!

If this fruit could copy even Kaido's natural body, that would be insane!

Looking at it that way, that brat Momonosuke in the original story really was a chosen one.

He'd basically inherited the bloodlines of two monsters, right?

"That's right." Vegapunk nodded matter-of-factly.

"That's incredible!"

Bright gave a genuine compliment.

"But don't get too excited too soon," Vegapunk added. "The body's growth still takes time. Modifications at the Lineage Factor level are different from acquiring an ability; they need to be done bit by bit. And in the end, the result depends on compatibility."

"Is that so?"

Bright was a little disappointed.

But it didn't matter. His goal was just to wait safely until the Straw Hat Pirates changed the world. As long as he had enough power to protect himself, that was fine.

"So, Doctor, what's this research you mentioned?" Bright asked.

Vegapunk hadn't hidden anything about this fruit; he seemed quite sincere.

Bright's wariness eased a little. Listening wouldn't hurt.

"How about we try making you stronger?"

Vegapunk hopped down and walked up to Bright. His face was flushed with excitement, and the look in his eyes made Bright instinctively step back. This guy's gaze was terrifying right now. "I've already infused Kaido's Lineage Factor into this fruit. So why can't we infuse even more Lineage Factors?"

Bright didn't speak.

He knew nothing about this kind of thing.

"Lineage Factors are a wonderful thing,"

Vegapunk spread his arms, spinning in a circle as he backed away. "In our human Lineage Factors, there are millions of years of evolutionary traces. But most of it is useless—redundant parts we discarded over long evolution. They're all dead now."

He stopped spinning abruptly, striking a pose on one leg like a golden rooster, his left leg raised high and his right hand pointing at Bright. "But you fish-men are different."

"Your Lineage Factors record the information of all your ancestors. All of that information is active. Every newborn fish-man or mermaid randomly activates one of their ancestors' bloodlines."

"So, since you've already fused Kaido's Lineage Factor, why can't you activate several bloodlines at once?"

Several bloodlines?

What a wild idea.

But Bright imagined himself with several bloodlines at once—octopus arms, kissing fish lips, a swordfish nose.

"I'd turn into a monster, wouldn't I?" he couldn't help saying.

"That's the crux of the problem."

Vegapunk changed his posture, turning sideways with his arms crossed, looking at Bright askance. "Different Lineage Factors conflicting with each other would make the body collapse. It's like how you can only eat one Devil Fruit."

He paused. "But using the ability you got as a mediator changes things. Just like with Kaido's Lineage Factor, if you fuse the Lineage Factor into the ability, you can avoid that conflict!"

The ability?

It could do that?

Or was the fruit Vegapunk had made special?

Bright hesitated, then asked, "Doctor, what exactly is a Devil Fruit ability?"

"Heh, that's a dangerous secret. Better you don't know."

Vegapunk gave a strange smile, tilting his neck until his head was almost parallel to the ground as he looked at Bright. "You just need to answer me: do you want to join my research?"

"In the distant past, in that ancient era before intelligent life appeared, the seas were filled with many, many monsters! As their descendant, kid, don't you want to experience their power?"

He had to admit—he was tempted.

Bright thought for a moment. "Then, Doctor, two more questions. Why do you want to help me get stronger? And why should I trust you?"

"Why? Because this research is interesting, of course. As for the second question..."

Bright watched as a mocking grin spread across the doctor's face. "Kid, do you really think you could leave without my permission?"

Bright's lips tightened.

Thanks to ' 529 ' and 'Tattoo 365' for the 100-point tips, and to 'Xi Cun' and 'Shi Zhang Shi Xi' for the 1,500-point tips! Much appreciated!

Who would've thought—Buggy the Genius really became a Yonko. You just can't predict what's going on in Oda's little head.