Borsalino: So You Came to Punk Hazard to Stock Up, Huh?

Punk Hazard Technology Exhibition Area.

Dr. Vegapunk was describing some novel items in a display case to Ortolan, with Borsalino and Orbia keeping him company. It seems they have plenty of free time.

"Well? Take a look and see if you can spot any flaws," Dr. Vegapunk said smugly from the side.

Ortolan circled the display case a few times, his eyes fixed on the exhibit inside, a lifelike little bird that flew around in the case!

But the bird itself is an illusion, a holographic projection.

However, Ortolan couldn't find any flaws, which shows how amazing this technique is!

"Here are also light pressure gloves. After wearing these gloves, light will no longer be perceived only through sight. We can touch the holographic projection and the scene it creates, just like touching a physical object." Dr. Vegapunk said as he handed a pair of gloves to Ortolan.

After Ortolan put on the gloves, Orbia opened the display case and reached out to touch the bird. He could feel the touch as if it were alive!

"What amazing technology!" Ortolan's eyes gleamed, then he looked at Borsalino and asked, "Are there any special regulations governing these technologies?"

Borsalino paused for a moment, then pondered before saying, "There aren't any special restrictions on imagery, but military technology is more complicated. Any military technology within Punk Hazard, especially those classified as top-secret, must be confirmed and signed by the Commander-in-Chief and the Fleet Admiral, and authorized by the Five Elders, before it can be acquired. Other technologies, like this holographic projection, don't have such restrictions..."

"No restrictions, which means I can use it, right?" Ortolan asked excitedly.

"As Marine Admiral, although you have no jurisdiction over our Science Unit, you can certainly transfer some technologies that are not under your control," Borsalino said without hesitation.

This is the authority of Marine Admiral. If Ortolan were Vice Admiral, he wouldn't be able to arbitrarily touch anything belonging to the Science Unit. After all, although Marine Admiral are high-ranking figures, there are too many of them, and in terms of power and status, they are at most on par with the Science Unit.

The Admiral, on the other hand, is a completely different person, an absolute high-ranking officer in the Marines!

"Dr. Vegapunk, if you don't mind, I hope we can promote this technology. I don't know if you know, but recently our World Government is preparing a neutral zone plan called 'Golden City.' This plan is to unite multiple forces to create the most advanced system in the entire sea area..." Ortolan quickly told Dr. Vegapunk about this matter.

"Holographic projection, I think, can serve as a brand, a unique feature, and be implemented in the Golden City. It will host wealthy businessmen and political figures from all over the world, and it's also suitable as a starting point for holographic projection technology. Once this technology gains widespread acclaim in the Golden City, it might be able to spread and enter thousands of households!" Ortolan said.

As a leading scientific researcher, Dr. Vegapunk naturally hoped that the technologies he developed would benefit the entire world.

However, he was confined to the Science Unit. Although the World Government granted him many permissions, he really couldn't do things like taking the technology out to transport and promote it!

Upon hearing that Ortolan had connections and resources, he was overjoyed and immediately agreed with the Admiral!

At this moment, Ortolan finally experienced the benefits of being Marine Admiral once again. He could spend the money of the World Government to do his own thing and legally and legitimately obtain technology and benefits for himself. If he were a pirate or some other lowly scoundrel, could he enjoy such preferential treatment and benefits?

After viewing the holographic projection, Ortolan focused on observing the two new materials Island Cloud and Sea Cloud.

"Lightweight, easy to manufacture, and low-cost are the biggest advantages of this material. I'm thinking that if this material were used in new buildings, it might bring a new revolution to the construction industry. With current construction technology and building materials, the higher the building, the greater the difficulty and the greater the danger. But if this material were used to build buildings, although I haven't conducted any actual experiments, theoretically it would break the limits of existing building construction..." Dr. Vegapunk explained.

Ortolan was diligently taking notes. Indeed, he had only thought that this material could be used to connect the Skypiea, but he hadn't considered how much innovation this material would bring to architecture and even manufacturing.

Breakthroughs in materials technology often bring about changes across the entire industry!

"Originally, I had another idea: to combine this kind of buoyant Island Cloud with warship manufacturing technology to break through the current speed limit of warships. At the same time, perhaps with suitable external modifications, it could enable warships to hover at low altitudes... However, before I could explore this area, I was limited by funding and couldn't continue," Dr. Vegapunk said with some regret.

"What an idea! What an amazing idea! Perhaps the next generation of warships should develop in this direction. I want this technology too. I happen to have a world-class shipbuilding master in my possession. I'll give him this technology and let him help you realize this concept, Doctor!" Ortolan wrote this idea down in his notebook and said with great interest.

The speed of the Marines's current warships can be said to be the limit for ships of the same size. Their performance is very superior, but there is still a limitation. That is, their speed can only be considered among the best of large warships. Conventional pirate ships are often ordinary three-masted sailing ships, or even smaller, so they are faster.

Therefore, when engaging in pursuit battles at sea, it usually involves multiple warships encircling and attacking each other.

If the materials used in warships were to be transformed, and combined with this lightweight Island Cloud, reducing its weight to the extreme, then its speed would definitely be able to break through the limits.

Ortolan believes that this is indeed a possible direction for the next generation of Marine warship to be innovated!

Since he now has a mature shipyard and is independently producing warships, why not give it a try? Maybe it can boost the combat power of the New World Marines.

Next, Ortolan arrived at a special open square. This square was completely connected to the outside world and was open to the outside world. However, while it was springtime in Punk Hazard, it was like late autumn here. The plants and temperature in the square were noticeably different from those in the outside world.

"This plaza is controlled by a device called 'climate air conditioning,' which can completely control the climate, temperature, humidity, and other aspects of the entire plaza according to our autonomous adjustments, achieving full simulation!" Dr. Vegapunk said, his expression somewhat emotional.

After a pause, he continued, "My hometown is an island covered in ice and snow. Due to the harshness of its environment, the country has been unable to break through the limitations of development. When I was young, I had similar ideas about climate regulation and built a huge geothermal system there, but due to funding issues, I was never able to completely solve this problem... Now, I have finally perfected this technology."

"How wide can it cover?" Ortolan asked curiously from the side.

"This is a technology composed of multiple devices. The size of the coverage area depends on the number of devices. Theoretically speaking, if it is deployed across the entire island, this technology can completely cover the island. If it is deployed across the entire sea area, it can cover the entire sea area. If it is deployed across the entire world... you know what I mean?" Dr. Vegapunk raised an eyebrow and said with great pride.

Ortolan listened to this with great admiration. Although the idea of controlling the entire ocean or the whole world sounded a bit like wishful thinking, theoretically, this technology could indeed make the world's climate controllable!

What does this mean?

In the original story, Egghead Island in the New World was shrouded in such a device, and the climate of the entire island was under control, with spring-like weather all year round, making it suitable for living.

If this technology were to be popularized in the New World, the extreme weather phenomena currently plaguing the New World could very well become history, and the entire New World could become the most docile sea!

Just tell me how outrageous it is!

However, it is obvious that normally no one would spend unimaginable amounts of money to transform the entire New World; that would be truly a serious problem!

"If an island of a similar size to Punk Hazard were to be fully equipped with this technology, how much funding would it require?" Ortolan inquired.

"More than two hundred billion Belly, I guess," Dr. Vegapunk immediately replied, clearly having considered this beforehand.

Ortolan was stunned for a moment. More than 200 billion?

"Give me a copy of this technology. I want to install it in Golden City so those rich people can experience it. Forget about transforming the entire island, they can at least upgrade their own manor. They'll be more than qualified. They'll be lining up to order from me then!" Ortolan wrote it down in his notebook with a flourish.

Afterwards Dr. Vegapunk took Ortolan to see his artificial creations... Ortolan was amazed and even created a giant dragon for this guy!

That's right, it's the dragon that Zoro beheaded in the original story!

Seeing that Ortolan seemed very interested in this, Dr. Vegapunk gave him a brief explanation of the concept of the technology.

However, his so-called simple explanation was like listening to gibberish to Ortolan; he couldn't understand it at all. He could roughly grasp a few points, and Ortolan, Oltoren concluded that the operation of this thing could perhaps be considered within the area of 'reserved food'.

There's no need for artificial dragons, but large-scale artificial breeding of cattle and sheep is still worthwhile.

With the idea that it was free anyway, Ortolan also asked Borsalino to prepare the relevant information about the technology for him to take with him.

The development of the Calm Belt itself included considerations for entering the food industry. In fact, to be precise, Ortolan is now relying on the Calm Belt's stable climate year-round and the stable supply of pirate farming tools to cultivate food on a large scale and sell it abroad.

Now, if this technology can be put into practice, it can even be used to enter the meat processing industry!

"The World Government is such a waste! What's the point of having so many mechs? Wouldn't it be better to just monetize that technology?" Ortolan thought to himself as he took notes.

Shortsighted, far too shortsighted!

Or perhaps, the World Government themselves did not intend to use science and technology to create a beautiful world like Dr. Vegapunk did.

They only thought about using violence to suppress and perpetuate their rule.

Borsalino, watching Ortolan want this and that, finally couldn't help but say, "Hey, you've come to Punk Hazard to buy supplies, haven't you?"

"Dr. Borsalino, I am Marine Admiral, watch your words and respect your superiors! What I'm doing is applying technology to practice, it's a beneficial policy of military-to-civilian conversion, isn't it?" Ortolan patted Borsalino on the shoulder and teased.