Dr. Vegapunk and the other Egghead Island researchers faced a highly complicated relocation effort.
There were simply too many people and pieces of equipment to move, causing the entire sea beast fleet to travel at a very slow pace.
This created many other problems as well. The voyage had been forcibly extended, meaning the fleet could no longer follow its original supply plan. The food and fresh water consumed by so many people were enormous. Although every ship's supply hold had been filled before departure, those reserves simply could not sustain the fleet for such a long time.
The route plan needed to be changed. That was already set in stone.
At the same time, the fleet's slow speed had given rise to another problem. In recent days, the New Marines headquarters at Whole Cake Island had basically confirmed that Borsalino had led a Marine fleet away from Marineford and was heading toward the New World.
Based on all the information they currently had, Tsugikuni Yoriichi was almost one hundred percent certain that Borsalino and his people were coming for them.
Just as he had expected, the Marines and the World Government had no intention of allowing Dr. Vegapunk to fall under the New Marines' control.
It was foreseeable that once the two sides met, another fierce battle would break out.
Although Tsugikuni Yoriichi was stronger than Borsalino, and the Marine Vice Admirals accompanying him posed no threat to Yoriichi, that did not mean the crisis could be resolved so easily.
Borsalino possessed the Logia-type Glint-Glint Fruit. If his primary objective was to destroy their fleet, then even with Tsugikuni Yoriichi protecting them, he likely would not be able to protect everyone.
There was naturally no need to worry about Tsugikuni Yoriichi's own safety, but Dr. Vegapunk and the researchers