Vegapunk watched York in silence.
"York, what you're holding... is the dedicated encrypted Den Den Mushi Sentomaru set aside for me.
It has one of the highest-security channel protocols for certain advanced communications nodes built into it..."
"It was also a contingency I personally set up with Sentomaru years ago, out of certain... precautionary considerations.
To deal with... extreme situations like today's."
"But." Vegapunk changed tack and stated a harsh truth.
"This Den Den Mushi was originally designed so that I-[Vegapunk himself]-could, in a crisis, directly,
securely contact Sentomaru, whom I trust most, or...
as an absolute last resort, activate a preset protocol and attempt to contact a select few potentially trustworthy individuals among the Marine leadership.
Its identification code, voiceprint, even its brainwave frequency authentication... are all bound to 'me' as an individual."
"So, in other words, this Den Den Mushi can only contact Sentomaru, or terminals that directly authenticate 'me.'
You want to use it to bypass all authentication and connect directly to anyone's private line? That's virtually impossible..."
After hearing Vegapunk's words, York visibly stiffened, his expression turning vicious.
Clearly, he was deeply dissatisfied with this answer, and felt an even greater despair.
But Vegapunk had no intention of stopping.
Instead, he seemed to want to seize this opportunity to impart some of his long-held thoughts and conclusions to this satellite who had originated from him, yet gone astray.
"York, even if you force me to contact someone else, I must tell you,
the Marines cannot be trusted.
At least, not for the kind of 'defection' and 'acceptance' you're imagining."
Vegapunk's tone grew serious, taking on a scholar's analytical air:
"Gern Reginald Sigma...
From his joining the Marines to his gradual rise to Fleet Admiral,
right up to his declaration of independence and upheaval of the world,