Where he stood

An invisible wave of electromagnetic energy quietly spread.

Inside the laboratory, all the surveillance equipment continued to function normally. Indicator lights blinked steadily, and the Den Den Mushi's eyes opened and closed, as though nothing had changed.

Yet on the surveillance feed—

The instruments, workbenches, pipes, experimental chambers... everything was there, except Rock and Borsalino.

It was as though the two men had never set foot in the laboratory.

Vegapunk stood before the console, looking at the "empty laboratory" on the screen, his eyes narrowing further.

"Oh, oh, oh... now this is interesting."

He stuck out his absurdly long tongue, his voice brimming with a researcher's peculiar excitement.

"Interfering with the signal itself through electromagnetic waves..."

"You aren't destroying the surveillance equipment. You're 'filtering out' the information during transmission."

"In other words, as far as the surveillance Den Den Mushi's 'perception' is concerned—"

"You don't exist."

He couldn't help laughing.

"In a sense, this is... information erasure through invisibility."

"Truly impressive, Vice Admiral Azure Dragon."

Rock had already walked over to him. He casually surveyed the complex instruments and formulas, responding with an easy smile.

"Compared to your inventions, Doctor—"

"This is just a little trick."

Vegapunk's gaze lingered on Rock for a moment before shifting to the approaching Borsalino. He spoke meaningfully.

"To think even you follow his orders..."

"It seems—"

He turned his gaze back to Rock, his voice carrying a little more certainty and curiosity.

"There really is something different about you."

Rock smiled. Rather than responding with flattery, he asked a question that cut straight to the heart of the matter.

"Doctor."

"There's something I'd like to know."

He turned slightly, his tone casual. "Why did you choose to join the World Government?"

"With your abilities, I don't believe those idiots could have caught you."

Vegapunk