"What a pity. I never expected you to know Mr. Dragon as well."
Robin sighed.
Shaka shook his head.
"It isn't a pity. I'm a scientist, not an arms inventor."
"Back then, Dragon had just left the Marines. His Freedom Army was either fighting a war or on its way to fight one."
"Though I approved of his goal, our paths were different."
Shaka's tone was calm. Even now, he was certain that his choice back then had been the correct one.
A poor army could not produce anything worthwhile. No matter how many inventions and designs he created, they could only gather dust in the Revolutionary Army's hands. He had already experienced that sense of helplessness once in his hometown of Baltigo.
Vegapunk did not like the World Government, but only they possessed enough resources to support his research and turn one wild invention after another into reality.
"Come with me. The main body is waiting for you at the abandoned site."
Shaka turned and walked away, and Luffy immediately jogged after him.
Nami and the others remained where they were, exchanging hesitant looks.
Everyone knew Vegapunk served the World Government. That meant this was World Government territory. Just because he knew Luffy's father did not mean he was on their side.
In the end, Sanji was the first to step forward.
"Let's go. If we don't make contact, we'll never be able to understand him, right?"
"Yeah."
Soon, the entire group followed.
"Helmet Punk, did you say my dad used to be a Marine too?"
Luffy ran up beside Shaka with a grin and asked curiously.
"Mm. Come to think of it, I have some connection, more or less, with quite a few of you. Let's pass the time on the way. I'll tell you some interesting things."