The news of Vegapunk joining Hachinosu caused no ripples on the seas.
The World Government has completely suppressed the issue of Egghead.
The Five Elders aren't stupid. If word got out about this utterly humiliating incident, the already low morale of the Navy would likely collapse.
But inside Hachinosu, the shockwaves from this news were even greater than those from Bullet's White Tiger Gundam.
Vegapunk —this name is god-like in the scientific world of the New World.
A monster capable of replicating Devil Fruit, a genius who holds the secrets of the Lineage Factor Core, is now bound to Hachinosu.
Stella's office was transformed into a temporary resource allocation center within three days.
Three huge blackboards were brought in, densely covered with the names and possible sources of various rare materials.
A pile of folders, about half a person's height, stood against the wall, each labeled "Urgent," "Top Urgent," or "Even Top Urgent."
The intelligence network and resource channels on Hachinosu began to operate with unprecedented efficiency.
Crocodile takes Moria on a shopping spree through the Underworld.
Jinbe personally returned to Fish-Man Island and finalized the materials procurement agreement with King Neptune.
One night, Lucci's CP 4-man group "visited" one of the World Government's few remaining secret warehouses in the New World and took away a large number of rare materials bearing the Navy's insignia.
In less than a week, the first batch of scarce materials began to be continuously transported into the port of Hachinosu.
Mountains of metal ingots, ores, and chemical reagents were being wheeled into the laboratory's warehouse by workers. Vegapunk stood at the warehouse entrance.
He showed a rare expression of surprise as he looked at the ever-increasing supplies.
"When I made that list, I was actually prepared to wait six months." He pushed up his glasses, his tone tinged with disbelief.
Gracia stood beside him, smiling smugly, his wrinkles smoothing out.
"That's the efficiency of Hachinosu."
You'll get used to it quickly. The batch of gene sequencers I requested only took three days from application to delivery.
Three days?
Vegapunk's rare surprise
"The approval process for a high-precision analyzer by World Government takes at least two months."
So you're no longer with the World Government.
Vegapunk was silent for a few seconds, then turned and strode towards the laboratory.
"Now that the materials are in place, let's not wait any longer—let's begin the first batch of replica experiments today."
Just as the laboratory was fully operational, a sizable fleet arrived at the port of Hachinosu.
All the main division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates were present.
Ace stood at the bow of the ship, the sea breeze making the hem of his black coat flutter.
Two years have passed, and the youthful naiveté on his face has completely faded, replaced by a composure born from experiencing life and death.
Marco stood behind him, blue flames flickering on his shoulders.
Vista's twin swords hung at his waist, the leather on the hilts polished to a shine.
Jozu's arms remained in a semi-diamond-like state, reflecting a cold light in the sunlight.
The other squad leaders lined up in order, all fifteen of them present.
This is the largest gathering of the Whitebeard Pirates since the Paramount War.
Roy was already waiting on the port pier.
Bullet stood behind him with his arms crossed, while Tesoro leaned against the pier railing, twirling gold coins.
Ace jumped off the bow of the ship and landed on the pier, the sound of his feet hitting the wooden planks was steady and powerful.
He walked up to Roy and extended his right hand.
Roy.
"Was the journey smooth?"
Roy grasped his hand, feeling the warmth emanating from the other's palm even more intense than it had been two years ago.
"I ran into a bunch of low-level pirates and took them out easily."
Ace's tone was relaxed, but a glint of fire flashed in his eyes. Marco stepped forward from behind Ace and extended his hand to Roy:
" Captain Roy, did you call us here because of that technology you mentioned before?"
"Bloodline enhancement is ready."
Roy grasped his hand, his tone earnest.
There are also multiple heart transplants.
You are allies of Hachinosu; this power should be shared by you.
Three days later, in the laboratory,
Dr. Gracia had prepared a full set of surgical equipment.
Custom-made bloodline replacement agents were used to immerse rows of cloned hearts in culture tanks. Each heart was meticulously customized according to the recipient's genetic sequence and beat slowly in a pale green nutrient solution.
Ace was the first to lie on the operating table.
"This is even more terrifying than fighting."
Ace looked at the sophisticated medical equipment above his head and, unusually, cracked a joke.
"Don't worry, just close your eyes and take a nap."
Gracia skillfully injected the anesthetic into his arm.
"When you wake up, you'll feel like a completely new person."
Ace's eyelids began to droop, and his consciousness gradually faded.
In the waiting room next door, the other squad leaders were either sitting or standing, and the atmosphere was somewhat somber.
Vista habitually drew his twin swords and wiped them clean; the blades were so polished they could be used as mirrors, but he kept wiping them.
Jozu clenched his fist, his diamond-like skin gleaming coldly under the light.
His knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists, but his rugged face remained expressionless.
"You say,"
Jozu suddenly spoke, his voice deep and muffled.
"If Pops had had these technologies back then... would the outcome of Paramount War have been different?"
The waiting room fell silent.
Marco leaned against the wall, staring at the ceiling, and remained silent for a long time before speaking.
Don't think about it.
My Pops chose his own path.
All we can do now is carry on with his will.
The surgery went smoothly.
When Ace woke up from the anesthesia, his first feeling wasn't pain, but a surge of power that came from the depths of his bones.
It felt like every muscle, every bone, and every blood vessel in my body had been reforged.
He tried clenching his fist, and his knuckles made a cracking sound.
The force was several times greater than usual, and even he himself was a little unaccustomed to it.
How are you feeling?
Roy stood at the door of the operating room, holding two cups of coffee.
He handed one of the cups to Ace.
Ace took the coffee and stretched his shoulders:
"Absolutely wonderful."
It seems like he could shatter a mountain with a single punch.
"That's good.
However, this is only the first step.
Roy took a sip of coffee.
"Next comes something even more important—multiple heart transplants."
Are you ready?
"At any time."
Over the next few days, the transplant operating room on Hachinosu was almost constantly busy.
Although Law's Op-Op Fruit ability is no longer available, Vegapunk's involvement makes the transplantation process incredibly efficient.
The division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates entered the operating room one by one according to their schedule.
Marco, Vista, Jozu, and the other fifteen squad leaders—not one was missing.