"If I join, what do you want me to do?"
Roy didn't mince words when it came to Vegapunk's directness:
"The first thing -- Devil Fruit replication technology."
I need you to help me replicate a few top-tier Devil Fruit.
" Devil Fruit Re-creation..."
Vegapunk's voice carried a more complex meaning.
"I already have research results on this technology."
I successfully replicated one of Kaido Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon —although the color is wrong.
"The pink one?"
Roy laughed.
"I've got it. In Punk Hazard."
Vegapunk's voice suddenly rose a few decibels:
"You went to Punk Hazard?"
Roy briefly recounted his actions on Punk Hazard, but made no mention of Momonosuke.
After listening, Vegapunk sighed, his tone carrying the regret characteristic of a scientist regarding a failed project:
I considered that fruit a failure because the color was wrong.
Perhaps I was too fixated on perfect replication back then, always feeling that a difference in color was a flaw.
But after repeated testing, I found that its abilities are almost identical to Kaido's Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon.
Dragon breath, cloud control, flight, fire immunity—all the functions are there.
"Color doesn't matter, ability does."
"I need you to replicate more of these fruits."
"Given enough genetic samples and resources, I can replicate any Devil Fruit —including Logia."
Roy's eyes lit up. " Logia can be replicated too?"
"Certainly."
Vegapunk's tone carried the confidence of a scientist discussing their field.
"The essence of Devil Fruit is a special form of Lineage Factor."
While the elementalization ability of the Logia is more difficult to replicate than that of other types, it is not impossible.
The problem is that the World Government won't let me go in this direction—they're afraid that if Logia Devil Fruit become too widespread, they'll be hard to control.
"A bunch of short-sighted idiots," Roy commented bluntly.
Vegapunk did not refute this.
After a moment of silence, he began to explain his situation:
I'm currently on Egghead.
A small island on the northwestern edge of the New World, which the World Government claims is an experimental base for the Science Defense Division.
"What's the reality?"
It's actually a prison.
Vegapunk's voice betrayed an undeniable weariness.
"More than a hundred elite CP members are stationed on the island, ostensibly to protect my safety, but in reality to monitor my every move."
All my research data must be reviewed by the CP agency, and any project that 'does not comply with the regulations' will be immediately stopped.
" Admiral Kizaru personally overseeing the situation, is it also for protection?"
"That Borsalino guy..."
Vegapunk paused, his tone becoming somewhat complicated.
He's an old friend.
Although he's kept an eye on me all these years, at least he hasn't made things difficult for me.
However, if the Five Elders ordered him to kill me, I suspect he wouldn't hesitate.
"Then don't give him a chance to carry out orders."
After finding out the specific defenses on Egghead, Roy quickly calculated the situation in his mind.
Kizaru plus a hundred elite CP members—this combination would be a dead end for any ordinary pirate crew.
But for the core combat force of Hachinosu, it's just an afternoon's work.
"Let me be frank with you, Doctor."
Roy straightened up.
"Your situation is worse than I expected. To put it bluntly, Egghead is a prison drawn up for you by the World Government, Kizaru is your jailer."
All your research has been used to build weapons, and all the real science you want to do—energy, medicine, genetic optimization—has been suppressed and you're not allowed to do it.
How much longer can you endure this?
One year? Two years?
Or a lifetime?
Vegapunk did not answer.
"If you continue to stay on Egghead, sooner or later you will be drained of your value and disposed of like garbage."
The World Government doesn't need a tool that only makes weapons; it needs an obedient tool.
You're becoming more and more disobedient, aren't you?
A barely audible sigh came from the other end of the phone.
So don't hesitate.
Roy's tone was resolute.
"Three days later, the people from Hachinosu will arrive at Egghead."
You only need to do one thing—pack up the research materials and equipment you want to take with you.
Turn on the lab's defense system, then sit inside and wait for us to come and get you.
Leave the rest to me.
Vegapunk remained silent for a while, then asked a very practical question:
"I have several large pieces of equipment in my lab that I can't move."
High-energy particle accelerators, Lineage Factor analyzers, and Devil Fruit energy extraction devices—these devices combined weigh over two thousand tons; ordinary ships simply cannot transport them.
Roy almost burst out laughing.
"Doctor, you don't need to worry about any of that. Can't move it? I can move the entire island for you."
Vegapunk paused for a moment. "Move the entire island?"
"There are Devil Fruit User on Hachinosu with the ability of the Float-Float Fruit."
The fruit of Golden Lion Shiki is now in our hands.
Moving an Egghead wouldn't be difficult for him.
Vegapunk took a deep breath.
Roy could hear a slight clinking of glassware on the other end of the phone; he must have knocked something over on the table in his excitement.
Three days.
Vegapunk's voice regained its composure.
Three days is enough time for me to finish organizing all the materials.
The laboratory's defense system is independently powered; once activated, it can withstand at least half a day's attack even if Kizaru attacks at full strength.
See you in three days.
After hanging up the phone, Roy walked to the window.
Hachinosu was brightly lit in the night. The explosions on the training ground had stopped, but the night market in the port area was just starting to come alive.
The sea breeze carries the aroma of grilled fish and rum.
Roy learned that the Egghead was actually in a corner on the edge of the New World.
Roy chuckled, surprised that the World Government would dare to play this game of "blindly under the lamplight" with him.
To place such important experimental personnel in New World controlled by Roy.
That would be better, at least the World Government wouldn't be able to provide support so quickly after learning of the attack on Egghead.
If Vegapunk were to come to Hachinosu, the Devil Fruit replication technology, combined with lunar technology and Gracia's genetic modifications, would give Hachinosu a qualitative leap in combat power.
Imagine each core member equipped with three carefully selected top-tier Devil Fruits, plus bloodline enhancement and multiple heart transplants—
That wasn't just a dozen or so top-tier fighters; it was a terrifying legion that could send the World Government tumbling out of Mary Geoise and all the way out of the Red Line.
The operation three days from now must succeed.
No matter how fast Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit speed is, he can't possibly make a dent in the encirclement of Kaido, Bullet, and Hawk Eyes.
A hundred elite CP members are nothing more than a hundred moving targets in the face of Tesoro's lightning sweep.
Moreover, he has himself as a supporter.
With this lineup, let alone Egghead, even if the Marine Headquarters were to come out, they might not be able to stop it.