Entering the West Blue

On Baron Island, a sky island in the New World.

A technological-looking laboratory stood atop the island's white clouds.

Dongye Huanglong and Kuma had forcefully taken over this small sky island, allowing everyone to rest and recover.

Vegapunk was also using the laboratory's limited resources to begin Bonney's first stage of treatment.

"Group Leader, this sky island is not suitable as our base. It is too close to the territory of the Four Emperors.

"And the sky islanders said they had seen an azure dragon pass by here.

"Kaido of the Beasts knows about this place, which means that the strongest creature of land, sea, and air might come here to kill himself.

"We have to leave as soon as possible."

Bartholomew Kuma seriously advised Dongye Huanglong. On Baron Island, they not only had to face pursuit from Marines like Kizaru, but also had to worry about running into Kaido of the Beasts.

That was simply too dangerous.

"I know. We'll rest up, then head straight for the West Blue!"

Dongye Huanglong looked at the crude map and thought for a moment before speaking. He actually wanted to go to the North Blue more, because Trafalgar Law and the Vinsmoke Family were there—both were targets he wanted to conquer.

Trafalgar Law's Op-Op Fruit was important, and the Vinsmoke Family's technological power was equally important. With the Vinsmoke Family's experimental equipment, the Seraphim project would progress faster.

But Baron Island was close to the Calm Belt bordering the West Blue, so Dongye Huanglong could only bring Vegapunk and the others to the West Blue first.

Besides, in the West Blue, Dongye Huanglong had set his sights on Capone Bege, who possessed the Castle-Castle Fruit.

With that man, Dongye Huanglong would no longer need to carry this laboratory himself. In the future, these scientists and experimental instruments would have another place to stay, making it easier for them to relocate at any time.

"Alright!"

Kuma did not object. Ever since learning that Dongye Huanglong possessed a degree of future sight, he trusted the man even more.

Kuma had once been a slave in Mary Geoise with his father, so he strongly identified with Dongye Huanglong, who had also been an experimental subject. He even felt as though they were of the same kind.

The Lunarian and Ancient Giant bloodlines within Dongye Huanglong made Kuma, a member of the Buccaneer Tribe, feel a sense of familiarity.

"Vegapunk, this time we're going to the West Blue to find a Castle-Castle Fruit User. You'd better first create an artificial human suitable for serving as a Paramecia Green Blood vessel."

Dongye Huanglong spoke to Vegapunk. In order to create more perfect clones, Dongye Huanglong and Kuma were now both willing to contribute their genes and lineage factors.

As long as the funding and resources were in place, Vegapunk could immediately mass-produce a batch of clone soldiers.

Then Dongye Huanglong would gain a large number of Pacifistas at the Supernova level!

"Sigh, there are no resources to work on Seraphim right now. And you carry Kaido of the Beasts' lineage factor, along with the bloodlines of many races. Cultivating your clone would be far too difficult.

"But Kuma's Buccaneer bloodline should be clonable. And Kuma's bloodline combined with Lunarian bloodline would be perfect for the first Seraphim test subject."

Vegapunk said helplessly. With no money, no resources, and no time, he simply lacked the capacity to work on anything else.

Dongye Huanglong and Kuma were both rare races as well as experimental subjects. Vegapunk had countless ideas in his head, but he had neither the money nor the time to research them.

"Forget it. Treat Bonney first. I'll figure out the rest!"

Dongye Huanglong said. It seemed he could only forcibly recruit Capone Bege, that Mafia Godfather. Once the Seraphim technology was perfected and Seraphim with the Castle-Castle Fruit ability could be created, he could discard Capone Bege whenever he wished.

After resting on Baron Island for a day or two, the refreshed Dongye Huanglong prepared to carry the laboratory away from the sky island.

He was going to cross the Calm Belt and enter the West Blue.

"Say, Kuma, can your ability send both me and the laboratory to the West Blue?"

As Dongye Huanglong held up the enormous laboratory, he suddenly asked. Honestly, he did not want to fly that far either, but he did not know whether Kuma's ability could launch such a massive laboratory through the air.

"...I'll try!"

Kuma looked at the giant laboratory and dragon, swallowed, and answered.

The giant dragon Dongye Huanglong had transformed into lit up with excitement. He immediately wrapped his body around the laboratory to protect it, so it would not shatter upon landing.

With a grave expression, Kuma clasped his hands together and released an incomparably enormous Air Bear Paw.

"Desolate Dragon Group Leader, there may not be enough power to send you all the way to the destination. Be careful to protect the laboratory when the time comes."

Kuma desperately activated his Paw-Paw Fruit ability. Veins bulged on his arms as he slapped the enormous laboratory and dragon away together.

"An incredible technique, Kuma! The Paw-Paw Fruit ability really is broken!"

Inside the giant bear-paw bubble, Dongye Huanglong shouted excitedly. With Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit ability, combined with Dongye Huanglong's advantage in plot knowledge and intelligence, he could build up his own foundation in the shortest possible time.

How much time would that save?

"Group Leader, the power of this bear-paw bubble may not be enough to leave the Calm Belt. Keep an eye on it."

Kuma also teleported into the laboratory. Panting heavily, he spoke to Dongye Huanglong.

To launch this enormous laboratory, he had already expended most of his strength.

Now his safety, Bonney's safety, and Vegapunk's safety were all in Dongye Huanglong's hands.

"Got it. As long as I'm here, you'll be fine!"

Dongye Huanglong said with a smile. Being able to use the Paw-Paw Fruit ability to accelerate through most of the Calm Belt had already saved him considerable strength and time.

Kuma's enormous travel bubble burst after flying for less than a day. Dongye Huanglong had no choice but to use flame clouds to continue carrying the laboratory across the remaining stretch of the Calm Belt.

After more than half a day of flight, Dongye Huanglong and the others finally entered the West Blue.

On a remote, barren island.

Dongye Huanglong brought the laboratory down to rest and recover his stamina.

"I know about the West Blue Mafia. The bandit Capone Bege is quite famous, and the island where they are stationed is called Nostra Island."

Vegapunk easily found information on Capone Bege within his giant brain. As a scientist, he also kept an eye on all the news across the seas, searching for things that interested him or interesting Devil Fruit abilities.

"Then after we rest up, we'll go find him directly!"

A determined gleam flashed through Dongye Huanglong's eyes. Any target he had set his sights on would never escape his grasp!

Because the weather and magnetic fields of the Four Seas were all normal, Log Poses were unnecessary for navigation there. With a nautical map, one could find every island in the West Blue.

Vegapunk also possessed maps of the Four Seas, detailed special editions provided by the World Government.

Every affiliated nation and non-affiliated nation was marked with perfect clarity!

After resting, Dongye Huanglong and the others continued toward their target.

Two days later, on Nostra Island.

A gigantic shadow fell over this Mafia stronghold. An enormous Crimson Giant Dragon appeared in the sky, and its terrifying pressure sent the Mafia members into panic!

Capone Bege stared at the dragon in the sky, and the cigar in his mouth fell to the ground.