The Five Elders' Fury and Soaring Bounties / The Seven Deadly Sins Rise to Fame

Not until sunlight shone down did the incredibly sturdy space suddenly shatter, dissolving into a skyful of crystalline dust.

Sentomaru shook off his exhaustion and panted with excitement.

"I finally broke it! Uncle Punk!"

With no time to consider whether he had broken it himself or its user had released it, he raced toward the laboratory deep inside the research institute.

He sprinted all the way, and everywhere he looked, nothing was intact.

Sentomaru's heart grew heavier until he reached the innermost laboratory and found Vegapunk unharmed. Only then did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Uncle Punk! I'm so glad you're okay. I couldn't stop the intruders. I'm sorry!"

"It's not your fault. The enemy was too strong." Vegapunk shook his head and looked at the devastation around him with a helpless sigh. "What a headache. How am I supposed to report this to the World Government?"

Zephyr sat cross-legged on the ground nearby, tending to the gravely injured, unconscious Mammon with his other two students.

He took a deep breath and looked up at Vegapunk.

"Let's save people first and check the casualties."

With that, everyone got to work.

They spent the entire morning pulling many injured survivors from the rubble.

Many others had died in the aftermath of last night's battle. There were quite a few such unlucky souls.

When they took a final head count, Vegapunk realized something was wrong.

"Where's Caesar?"

"I don't know. I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find him."

Sentomaru shook his head, then suddenly narrowed his eyes. "That guy's a Logia user. He wouldn't be killed so easily. Uncle Punk, he's had bad intentions for a long time. Could he be the traitor this time?"

Vegapunk couldn't help but pause at that.

Like it or not, Caesar fit the profile of a traitor perfectly.

Caesar was also the only one who could have known the true state of his Artificial Devil Fruit experiment...

And now he had disappeared!

Could he be the traitor?

Chapter 57: The Five Elders' Fury and Soaring Bounties

Atop the Red Line, ten thousand meters above sea level, stood the holy land of Mary Geoise.

The World Government's headquarters building was located there.

The seven-story building symbolized the world's highest authority and had stood there for eight hundred years.

In the Room of Authority on its top floor...

The vast room contained only a few pieces of furniture: two armchairs, a long sofa, and an exquisite stone table.

On the stone table, a Den Den Mushi mimicked Vegapunk's expression with lifelike precision as it slowly recounted everything that had happened the previous night.

"...That was roughly what happened."

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the warrior god of science and defense, had a face dark enough to drip ink.

"You must be joking!"

Suppressing his anger, he said, "The entire research institute on Punk Hazard was destroyed, and the research data was burned to ashes. Vegapunk, that's what you're telling me, isn't it? I haven't misunderstood?"

Something so absurd sounded like someone had embezzled the research funds, then set the books on fire to erase the evidence once the deficit grew too large.

As Vegapunk's direct superior, Saint Saturn found that explanation hard to accept.

"Some organization called the Seven Deadly Sins that I've never even heard of? There's a limit to making things up!"

"It's all true, Saint Saturn."

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Vegapunk had a headache of his own.

Some things didn't matter until they were scrutinized, and he wasn't entirely clean himself. After all, he had indeed diverted plenty of funds, so it was only natural for the Five Elders to suspect him.

So he went on to explain:

"As for the Seven Deadly Sins, this organization made big news in the Sabaody Archipelago a few days ago. It was in the World Economy News back then."

Saint Saturn's frown deepened. He vaguely remembered that someone had indeed reported an incident of unrest in the Sabaody Archipelago to him a few days ago.

But the matter hadn't involved any Celestial Dragons, and he had forgotten such a minor issue as soon as he heard about it.

"Even if what you say is true, how did this group find Punk Hazard?"

"Well... I suspect there's a traitor inside the institute. We're still investigating."

At that point, Vegapunk had to explain the matter of the "Artificial Azure Dragon Fruit."

The research had been conducted with the World Government's support in the first place. He had previously reported it as an "experimental failure," so bringing it up now was tantamount to slapping himself in the face.

After hearing the whole story, Saint Saturn tightened his grip on his cane, but the anger on his face faded.

"In other words, your experiment succeeded?"

"No, it failed!"

That was the one thing Vegapunk would never admit. "The Seven Deadly Sins simply thought it was a success. One of them ate the fruit and did gain abilities similar to Kaido's, but there must still be flaws."

"Heh heh heh..."

Saint Saturn smiled without mirth and said calmly, "I don't care whether the research data was burned or not. Write another complete technical report afterward."

What was done was done, and anger would accomplish nothing. The immediate priority was to recoup their losses.

The other four members of the Five Elders simply listened quietly from the side without intervening.

All five held the highest authority, but each governed a different domain. Saint Saturn was responsible for scientific research.

However...

Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the warrior god of finance, snorted and said:

"Vegapunk, rebuilding the institute will require funding, but after all these years, you've made no progress on 'that research.' I'm beginning to seriously doubt whether you're even capable of it."

Vegapunk understood what he meant and answered calmly:

"Punk Hazard has now become an island of flames. It's unsuitable for rebuilding. I suggest moving elsewhere. I've already chosen a location: Egghead."

"The Navy's eighth research institute? That place has been abandoned for years. Only some old basic research facilities remain. Besides..."

Saint Nusjuro frowned deeply. "It's too close to Wano Country!"

"It's remote, and the existing facilities are still there. Rebuilding will save a lot of money."

Perhaps the prospect of saving money had persuaded the Five Elders. Saint Nusjuro reluctantly agreed to the request and issued a final warning:

"Our patience is limited. We need to see some progress on that research, at the very least. Do you understand?"

"I've already got a lead on the research. Rest assured."

Their conversation ended there.

Only then did Saint Saturn speak again. "The destruction of Punk Hazard will make us lose all face. Whether it's the Seven Deadly Sins or the traitor inside your institute, none of them can be spared!"

After a pause, he said coldly, "Compared to enemies from outside, a traitor within is even more hateful! I'll send Kizaru over immediately... As for the traitor, do you have a suspect?"

In the end, he had been asked about the traitor.

Helpless, Vegapunk could only answer truthfully. "Someone disappeared after the battle."

"Who?"

"Caesar, but I don't think it was necessarily him. According to Zephyr's two students, he was also attacked by a member of the Seven Deadly Sins at the time. Perhaps he was abducted."

"Hmph. Even if he's a corpse, bring him back!"

Saint Saturn said angrily, "Caesar M. Clown, if I remember correctly, he used to belong to the same organization as you, didn't he? Vegapunk, I don't want to see you shielding a former associate!"

"..."

Vegapunk had no answer, so he could only change the subject.

"According to the information we've gathered so far, several members of the Seven Deadly Sins are unusual. They have special titles."

He then told them what he knew about each of those members.

[Wrath] Samael was suspected to be a Logia Flame-Flame Fruit user who had already reached Awakening. He was extremely powerful and was also the culprit behind Punk Hazard's destruction.

[Lust] Sigma had eaten the Artificial Azure Dragon Fruit during this incident and now possessed the same abilities as Kaido. In battle, he had easily defeated Marine Headquarters Captain Mammon, who was also a Mythical Zoan user.

The mysterious cloaked man, Big Eye, was a Paramecia Storyboard Fruit user. He had developed the fruit to a great extent in a very short time after eating it and possessed the ability to seal off space. Only someone who had mastered Conqueror's Coating could break the seal.

He also possessed a Black Blade and was suspected to be a great swordsman!

But it was still uncertain whether he was a "titled member."

After hearing the detailed report, the Five Elders all looked shocked.

"Impossible! How can every member of an organization that appeared out of nowhere be this powerful?"

"These so-called titles mean they're officers, don't they? Seven Deadly Sins, seven deadly sins. Does that mean they have seven officers?"

"Those are just the organization's members! What about their 'lord'? Who is this lord?"

The Five Elders drew sharp breaths. They suddenly realized that this force would upset the triangular balance of the Grand Line.

Marine Headquarters, the Shichibukai, and the Four Emperors of the pirates.

The three great powers of the Grand Line maintained a delicate balance, more or less.

But if the information about the Seven Deadly Sins, who had appeared so suddenly, was true, then this was a powerful force no weaker than one of the Four Emperors!

No, they might pose an even greater threat than the Four Emperors!

The Five Elders exchanged glances, each recalling another pirate crew from decades ago, the true overlords among pirates.

"Is another troublesome figure like Rocks going to appear in this era?"

Saint Mars, the warrior god of the environment, closed his eyes and ordered hatefully, "Issue wanted posters immediately. The amounts..."

That evening.

Several brand-new wanted posters swiftly spread throughout the world, causing a sensation.

[Caesar M. Clown]

[Former Navy scientist]

[Bounty: 500,000,000 Beli]

[Only alive!]

Chapter 58: The Seven Deadly Sins Rise to Fame

The wanted posters swept across the world like a storm, carried free of charge to islands and countries everywhere by millions of News Coos.

The Dressrosa Kingdom, in the New World.

A small paddle steamer docked on the shore by the mushroom-shaped rocks. After a full day at sea, Caesar had finally reached his destination.

"Shu ro ro... Shu ro ro ro... Punk Hazard is finished, and all of Vegapunk's research over the years was destroyed in one fell swoop. How delightful."

Caesar couldn't keep the corners of his mouth down.

Although he had been hounded by a freakish Logia user earlier, he had now escaped safely. The two joys combined made him even happier.

"Now the institute is gone, but my research has to continue. For now, my only choice is to find him and work together."

With that thought, Caesar transformed into a wisp of gas and floated slowly up to a huge mushroom-shaped rock.

He gazed into the distance. Beneath the night sky, Dressrosa was brightly lit and bustling with activity.

At the center of the town stood the royal palace on its high ground. The man he was looking for was inside the palace.