News about Elbaf swept across the world.
Marine Headquarters had been thrown into near chaos by Den Den Mushi calls from every side.
Member nations demanded an explanation, the Revolutionary Army openly voiced support for the Giant Tribe, and Adventure Groups relayed the Image Shell footage at ports everywhere.
Everyone was waiting for the Marines to make a statement.
But Rock did not remain at Headquarters to handle the public uproar. A top-level encrypted Den Den Mushi call directly interrupted the meeting.
Once the call connected, Vegapunk said only one sentence.
"The thing you asked me to prepare has awakened."
Half a day later.
Punk Hazard.
Using the speed granted by their fruits, Rock and Kizaru secretly entered the deepest part of the island.
There were no Marine insignias here, nor were there any World Government personnel.
Even most of the island's researchers had no idea such a hidden experimental zone existed underground.
Heavy metal doors opened one after another.
Identity verification.
Blood verification.
Electromagnetic identification.
Only after the seventh isolation door rose did the true core area appear before them.
Kizaru adjusted his sunglasses.
"Scary~"
"I've worked here for so many years, and I never knew there was a whole city down here."
Vegapunk hurried over to greet them.
"The laboratories outside are only for the World Government to see."
"This is the true core."
A large portion of the research funding came from Tesoro, while the Marines were responsible for transporting legally acquired Lineage Factor samples.
The Five Elders had always believed Vegapunk was still researching improved Pacifistas.
They did not know.
Beneath the Pacifista Program lay another project capable of changing the nature of war.
At the end of the laboratory, four enormous incubation chambers slowly lit up.
The nutrient fluid drained away, and white mist spread