Egghead, below the middle levels, deep inside an abandoned laboratory from a bygone era.
York, the satellite embodying Vegapunk's "desire," paced restlessly back and forth.
With things having come to this, the smug satisfaction of his successful betrayal had vanished from his face, replaced by anxiety.
Before him, Vegapunk, restrained by a special device, spoke gently and persuasively to the bewildered York.
"York, listen to me.
The most rational choice you can make now is to go back to the Straw Hat Pirates.
Tell them the truth, apologize sincerely, and admit your mistakes.
Then leave this island together with them and me."
Vegapunk's voice carried a fatherly note of counsel.
"I've observed Straw Hat Luffy. Although he can be reckless at times, he has an astonishing capacity for forgiveness.
His companions aren't completely unreasonable, either.
If you truly repent, perhaps..."
"Shut up!!" York stopped pacing and cut Vegapunk off.
Then the panic on his face abruptly vanished, and his tone grew heated.
"Vegapunk! You're me! And I'm you!"
"We share most of our memories and thought patterns!"
"York..."
"So don't try to soothe me like I'm some idiot!!" York's voice was shrill. "I know exactly what I've done!"
As he finished, York pointed a trembling arm at Shaka's fallen body.
"I shot Shaka dead! Shaka, who represented 'wisdom,' who always coordinated everything for us like an older brother!"
"Vegapunk, I put a bullet through his head with my own hands!!"
"If I go out and 'turn myself in,' who am I supposed to surrender to?
Lilith? Pythagoras? Atlas? Or Edison?
How would they look at me?
They'd only see me as a traitor, someone who murdered his own family!!"
"And there's the Straw Hat Pirates! That long-nosed guy, that orange-haired woman, that reindeer..."
"They saw me trap them with their