When Minos asked for some weapons research materials, the doctor proved unbelievably cooperative, almost impatiently handing a huge pile of documents over to the two of them.
Facing Minos's somewhat puzzled gaze, Dr. Vegapunk shrugged. "This way, those idiots in the World Government won't keep pushing me for results, and I can squeeze out a bit more funding."
Minos curled his lip. Dr. Vegapunk's research for the World Government was probably like squeezing toothpaste from a tube. Most of the extra funding likely went toward things that interested him personally.
Minos had noticed that these so-called weapons blueprints were practically shoved into the corners of Dr. Vegapunk's laboratory. The research materials placed in the center had basically nothing to do with weapons.
Clearly, this doctor was quite skilled at fleecing the system, dragging out progress, and using the World Government's funds and equipment for his own research.
Of course, there was another reason: Vegapunk did not think Whole Cake Island could develop anything from them. In truth, aside from Red-Hair, the Four Emperors had become established powers, but their foundations were too shallow. Other than Kaido, who retained some research capability through his obsessive militarization, the research standards of the other factions were mediocre at best—basically equivalent to amateur scientists.
Otherwise, Charlotte Linlin in the original story would not have been fooled by Caesar into funding him for so long.
So Vegapunk naturally did not care about pirates taking a few weapons blueprints. Without sufficient machining precision and foundational materials science, most high-tech weapons were no different from scrap metal. Tianlai Novel Network
Of course, freaks were everywhere in the Pirate World. Iron Man Franky, for example, could directly turn himself into a cyborg using scrap metal. He was even more outrageous than Tony Stark from Marvel. But even a master of Black Technology like him could only manufacture a few weapons himself; mass production was absolutely impossible.
But Minos did not care about that. He was not taking these weapons blueprints for himself, nor for the Charlotte Pirates. He was doing it for Baby5.
Baby5's Weapon-Weapon Fruit actually had enormous potential. In some ultra-high-tech world, she might even have been capable of sweeping through the Four Emperors alone with that Devil Fruit ability.
Ordinary guns and cannons simply could not bring out the Weapon-Weapon Fruit's true power. At the very least, weapons like Electromagnetic Cannons and Laser Swords should have counted as its standard development.
As long as the Weapon-Weapon Fruit had blueprints, it did not require materials or manufacturing skill to directly transform into those high-tech weapons. Therefore, Baby5 was actually a learning-type Devil Fruit User, but she had been completely held back.
Even if Vegapunk's weapons blueprints did not suit his needs, Minos could directly exchange for high-tech weapons from other worlds through the Golden Scales. As technological products, as long as they were not too absurd, their difference from this world's rules was minimal.
After walking out through the base's gates, Minos immediately saw the Marines standing before him, along with Katakuri and the others.
"Little brother, could you hand Dr. Vegapunk over to me?" Kizaru narrowed his eyes and spoke with a cheerful smile.
Though he sounded cheerful, Kizaru's entire body radiated danger. Minos believed that if he showed even the slightest opening, this man would immediately launch a Flash Kick.
However, Katakuri, standing opposite Kizaru with a cold expression, looked somewhat disheveled but was not injured. He more or less kept Kizaru in check.
The strong on the seas often had abilities that countered one another, and Katakuri's Observation Haki, which could foresee the future, undoubtedly naturally countered Kizaru, who was famed for his speed.
Had it been Aokiji or Akainu instead, after fighting for nearly ten minutes, Katakuri's current problem would not merely have been looking disheveled. He would inevitably have suffered serious injuries.
Kizaru raised an eyebrow and did not make another move. Before Katakuri, who possessed the ability to foresee the future, even though Kizaru could practically be called the sea's fastest man, he knew he had no chance of taking Dr. Vegapunk back.
Minos smiled. "Of course. Dr. Vegapunk is vital to the entire Navy, even the entire World Government. We Charlotte Pirates wouldn't dare shoulder such a huge burden for real!"
The Four Emperors might run rampant in the New World, seemingly beyond the reach of both the World Government and the Navy, but that was only because the cost paid and the benefits gained were not enough.
In fact, the Navy alone possessed enough combat power to steadily overwhelm two Yonko Crews. Garp, Sengoku, and the new generation of Three Admirals could absolutely rival three Yonko Crews in terms of top-tier combat power. Not to mention how many hidden forces the World Government might possess.
If the World Government and the Navy were truly enraged, wiping out a Yonko Crew would only be a matter of how high a price they were willing to pay.
"However," Minos continued, "we at least need to ensure our own safety before we can release Dr. Vegapunk, right?"
At Minos's words, Kizaru narrowed his eyes. "That is indeed a problem. If I let you leave, but you don't return Dr. Vegapunk, what then?"
Minos smiled. "How about this, Admiral Kizaru? Hand over the Navy's fastest ship to us, then come with us for some distance. What do you say?"
"Once we are some distance away from this island, we'll return Dr. Vegapunk to you, and then you can take the ship back."
"With your strength, you are a little stronger than all of us combined, yet not strong enough to protect Dr. Vegapunk directly in the middle of a chaotic battle. That way, both sides will have something to worry about, and there won't be any misunderstandings."
"A very fair idea. Are pirates nowadays all so cunning and clever? How terrifying." Kizaru wore a frightened expression, yet did not seem to object. He directly ordered his subordinates to prepare a ship.
Unfortunately, after witnessing his earlier display of power, no one believed that old fox's expression at all. Among the Three Admirals, Kizaru could be said to be the most calculating and the most inscrutable. Almost no one could tell what he was truly thinking from the expression on his face.
Well, of course, perhaps that was simply his natural expression, and his ability to disguise himself was just too strong...
Minos secretly felt fortunate. It looked as though Kizaru had taken a step back because of the hostage in his hands, but Minos knew perfectly well that Dr. Vegapunk's combat power might not even be inferior to Kizaru's. This so-called hostage was complete nonsense. He was merely gambling that no one in the Navy actually knew Vegapunk's true strength.
Before you continue