Punk Hazard.
The entire secret laboratory had entered its highest lockdown state.
Layer upon layer of heavy metal doors had sealed shut, cutting off all outside signals.
The fruit interwoven with silver-white and dark red floated at the center of the incubation chamber.
Vegapunk stood before the instruments, staring fixedly at the constantly fluctuating data with fervent eyes.
"The ability fluctuations are stable."
"The Lineage Factors have begun to merge."
"The rejection reaction is far smaller than I expected."
As he spoke, he could not help turning to look at Rock.
"The Electromagnetism cell activation concept you provided was indeed the key."
"Otherwise, these materials could never have coexisted within the same system."
Strings of data refreshed wildly across the screen.
Things that should have repelled one another, or even caused each other to collapse, were now being forcibly held in a delicate balance within that fruit by a special force field.
Vegapunk watched the data, and the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
At that moment, Rock turned and headed for the exit. As Vegapunk watched his departing back, he suddenly spoke.
"You really aren't going back to Mary Geoise to demand an explanation?"
Rock did not stop walking.
"There's no need."
Vegapunk froze slightly. Rock said flatly, "They know that I know. That's enough."
Vegapunk fell silent for a moment at those words.
Of course, he understood. Rock was not letting it go, nor had he failed to see the machinations behind Ink Tide Island.
On the contrary, he knew everything.
But Rock had no intention of confronting Mary Geoise, because questioning them would only give the Five Elders' prepared excuses a chance to be used.
Silence, however, would make them far more uncomfortable.
Vegapunk suddenly laughed.
"You really are something. That's scarier than flipping the