"Is something wrong, Lord Vergo?"
"Nothing much. I just wanted to ask whether Caesar's experiments had started. Are you on Punk Hazard right now?"
"Yes! I'm on Punk Hazard right now."
Punk Hazard.
At a harbor by the sea.
Aboard a huge ship with no identifying markings, a tall, beautiful woman with long, grass-green waves of hair and golden eyes, her bangs occasionally covering her left eye, held a Den Den Mushi receiver. Watching her subordinates unload supplies, she spoke into it.
"Lord Vergo, I'm aboard the ship delivering the machinery Caesar requested to Punk Hazard. What is it?"
"Has something happened?"
Vergo tapped his fingers lightly against the desk, apparently considering something.
Then he raised his head and spoke into the receiver. "I'll come over in a bit and take a look myself. Caesar has abducted a few too many children lately. Parents from the surrounding area have come to me about it. He needs a reminder that his main research priority is the Artificial Devil Fruits the young master wants. As for Big Mom..."
He paused briefly, apprehension filling his eyes. Then, remembering who the young master's Artificial Devil Fruit research was mainly intended for, that apprehension vanished.
He continued, "He can pursue that research, but he'd better stop abducting children so brazenly. If the Marines find out, everything will be ruined."
"All right, get back to work. I'll find an excuse to come over later."
Vergo hung up, put the Den Den Mushi back in its place, and took out another one. Whoever he called, his expression turned gentle, even bearing a faint, false smile.
After hanging up, his face instantly returned to its cold indifference.
He pondered for a moment, then stood, draped the leather coat hanging behind his chair over his shoulders, and went to