Pirates on Rocks' Ship 996

“Of course, I’ve heard that some extraterrestrials have invaded our planet, but I believe that with your strength, dealing with those extraterrestrials shouldn’t be a problem, right? The World Government’s higher-ups said that the reason those extraterrestrials were able to occupy some territory in the North Sea is simply because they possess teleporters, so they asked me to research that as well. However, I lack some important information, so the teleporter I’ve developed so far is not yet fully mature!” Vegapunk nodded and replied.

Reina was taken aback. The matter of the teleporter was somewhat unexpected. He wasn't surprised that the World Government would have Vegapunk research the teleporter, but Vegapunk's claim that he had already developed some things, though they weren't quite mature, surprised him.

Suddenly, Reina remembered that Vegapunk's true form seemed to have appeared suddenly. Could it be that this guy in front of him really created a teleporter?

You should know that Dr. Assie and Judge have two extraterrestrial teleporters for research, and they still haven't been able to replicate them.

"Doctor, you underestimate extraterrestrial visitors. But it doesn't matter. Just come with me to the North Sea for a few days, and you'll understand!" Reina waved his hand with a smile and said, "When I saw you suddenly appear just now, did you use a teleporter?"

Vegapunk chuckled. He knew exactly what Reina was planning, but the teleporter was still unstable and the teleportation distance was difficult to control. It wasn't a mature invention yet, so he didn't dare to make any boastful claims.

"It's hardly a teleporter, and it can't compare to the enemy's teleporters. Tell me, what's wrong with my idea?" Vegapunk had no intention of talking to Reina about teleporters. In his view, those things were no different from toys. His own brain library was the only thing that was truly useful to this world.

Reina smiled at Luffy and the others, pointed at Vegapunk, and said, "You guys didn't understand what this guy just said, did you?"

Luffy, Usopp, and the others nodded obediently, making Nami and Jinbe blush a little; their companions' intelligence was indeed sometimes a bit worrying.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand. I’ll explain it simply. This old man envisions a way to connect the whole world. Through this connection, everyone can obtain any information they want. Does this sound familiar?” Reina said with a strange laugh.

Luffy and the others still looked completely bewildered, and even Robin and Jinbe were somewhat puzzled this time.

“Those extraterrestrial visitors!” Reina prompted, “Don’t you think their plans are very similar to this old man’s? No matter where we do what we do, as long as one of them knows, it’s the same as all the extraterrestrial visitors knowing! No matter how we try to sabotage them, when they encounter us, reinforcements will always arrive immediately!”

With Reina's hint, the Straw Hat crew widened their eyes and said in disbelief, "Indeed, according to Dr. Vegapunk's plan, we are all in a brain library, just like his identity. As long as one clone discovers the enemy, it can immediately use the teleporter to send all the clones there!"

“That’s right, those extraterrestrial visitors were exactly like that!” Sanji suddenly realized that the extraterrestrial visitors were exactly as Vegapunk had imagined, so he looked at Reina and said, “Uncle Reina, do you mean... those extraterrestrial visitors... fulfilled Dr. Vegapunk’s vision?”

Reina nodded, looked at Vegapunk, and said, "Yes, I'm sure they have a perfect way to realize Dr. Vegapunk's vision, and they must have experienced all the obstacles you've thought of and those you haven't. So... we can refine your vision from their experience!"

Chapter 984 Agreement

Although Vegapunk didn't understand Reyner's meaning at first, after careful explanation to the Straw Hat crew and Reyner, he finally understood.

His idea was not just an idea; the extraterrestrial invaders currently invading them in the North Sea were already using his idea very skillfully. Wasn't this a ready-made example? As long as he figured out the other party's "brain library" model, even if he couldn't copy it exactly, he could at least make his idea more complete.

So Vegapunk is incredibly excited right now, he's practically ready to tell Reina to head to the North Sea immediately.

However, Reina did not immediately send Vegapunk with him to the North Blue. Instead, he first told Vegapunk what he knew, because even if they went to the North Blue, it would be very difficult to figure out how the other party had done it!

“You’re right. Their warriors aren’t their true forms, so they have no fear of death, and we have no need to interrogate them!” Vegapunk nodded and replied.

However, this made Vegapunk troubled. He had originally hoped to take Reina away after he arrived, and he had already made plans for the research institute.

“I’ll give you two choices. You can stay here and continue your research using the resources the World Government has given you! You should also know that even if you leave now, our Whitebeard Pirates don’t have enough resources and funding to support all your research!” Reina shrugged and said, “So if you want to continue your research, then stay here! I’ll find a way to contact you later, and I’ll inform you immediately of any information about extraterrestrial visitors!”

"If you really don't want to stay here, I can take you away to our Whitebeard Pirates' Crescent Moon Island, where your safety will at least be guaranteed! But you definitely won't be able to do your research as you please, because we simply don't have enough funds to support you! Not to mention, your six clones will be completely useless once you're on Crescent Moon Island!"

Reina did not deceive Vegapunk; instead, he told Vegapunk everything and let him choose for himself.

“Of course, if you go to Crescent Moon Island, you can work with Dr. Assie on the teleporter. That’s our main research topic right now! And of course, your former colleague, Mr. Vinsmoke Judge, is also on Crescent Moon Island.” Seeing Vegapunk remain silent, Reina said with a smile.

"Didn't you capture two teleporters? Haven't you made any progress?" Dr. Vegapunk asked curiously.

“I don’t know either. Our research institute has always been managed by Dr. Assie, and I haven’t been involved. But I heard him and Mr. Gag mention that there seems to be some problem troubling them, preventing their research from continuing!” Reina shrugged and replied.

Upon hearing this, Vegapunk sighed and said, "You're right. If I want to continue my research, staying here is the best option. But to be honest, I'm really fed up with those people from the World Government! And here, I can't just do whatever I want to research!"

After meeting him, Reina finally realized that Vegapunk's stay here wasn't as good as he had imagined. If it weren't for the research funding from the World Government, he probably would have left long ago.

But apart from here, there is nowhere else that can support his research. Even the World Government cannot meet all his requirements, let alone anywhere else.

After thinking carefully, Reina whispered to Vegapunk, "Is there a quiet place? I have a way that might solve this!"

"Oh?" Vegapunk was taken aback, then nodded and said to Vegapunk Number One, who was standing next to him, "You show the Straw Hat Pirates around the island. Mr. Reyner and I have some things to discuss!"

Vegapunk No. 1 nodded and led Luffy and the others away.

After Luffy and the others left, Reina spoke up, "Our Whitebeard Pirates has a Devil Fruit user who can move through mirrors. I can place some special mirrors along the way back so she can connect to Crescent Moon Island and come here! Your main body can remain here, but you can secretly transfer what you need to Crescent Moon Island first! Once the time is right, you can completely break away from the World Government through the mirrors!"

Upon hearing this, Vegapunk chuckled and said, "By the way, I can also help you research the teleporter, right?"

“Of course, you’ll be a member of our Whitebeard Pirates from now on! It’s normal to do some research for our crew, isn’t it? Since extraterrestrial visitors can create something like a brain library, we certainly can too. You won’t even have to die then! But if you don’t want to be a pirate, you can be free. We never force anyone!” Reina replied with a smile.

“I understand, I’ll do it your way! But if you have a plan, it would be best if you let me go to the North Sea. I want to see those extraterrestrial visitors with my own eyes!” Vegapunk did not refuse Reina’s suggestion and replied.

“No problem. Xuan Yue Island is currently in the North Sea. Once the mirror passage is established, I will come to pick you up immediately!” Reina nodded and said seriously.

"That's good! You guys are pretty amazing! You managed to move an island from the New World to the North Sea! How did you do that?" Vegapunk was quite satisfied with Reina's arrangements, but he was still a little curious about Crescent Moon Island.

Reina didn't hold back either, directly telling Vegapunk the design plan and original intention of Crescent Moon Island.

"If you have time when you're free, Doctor, you could help upgrade Xuan Yue Island. Right now, the island's movement speed is too slow, and energy is a big problem!" Reina said with a smile.

“Energy isn’t just a problem for you guys, it’s a big issue for me too. If we can find the blank century of history, we might be able to find new energy sources! I guarantee that their energy source back then was different from ours now! You should know about that giant warship, Hades, right?! It’s useless for ordinary people to find it. That giant ship should also have the same energy source as this giant robot!” Vegapunk said, looking at the dilapidated giant robot beside him.

“In short, we can study these things slowly. The extraterrestrial visitors are the real problem! If they break through the North Sea's defenses, our world will be doomed. All the research you've done and all the efforts I've made will be in vain!” Reina shook his head and said.

"Is it really as serious as you say? Then why don't you get the World Government to take it seriously? Don't underestimate their power! On this ocean, no force can rival them!" Vegapunk warned.

Chapter 985 Accident

"You think I don't want to?" Reina said with a wry smile in response to Vegapunk's suggestion. "But you should know what kind of people the World Government is. You know about the extraterrestrial attack on Mary Geoise a while ago, right?"

Vegapunk nodded and replied, "I know. I heard that because of that incident, the higher-ups on Mary Geoise are paying more attention to the extraterrestrial visitors, but apart from ordering the Navy to eliminate them, they haven't taken any other action!"

"They'll launch a surprise attack on Mary Geoise because I told them I stole their teleporter and left it there!" Reina said with a smirk. "I didn't expect them to actually do it, but even so, the World Government has no plans to send reinforcements to the North Blue!"

“The World Government…” Vegapunk sighed and said, “Sometimes I really don’t understand what they’re thinking!”

Although he holds a high position in the World Government, he has no real power. He works for the World Government purely out of coercion and the lure of research funding.

“What they seek is different from what you seek!” Having already learned the secret of the final island from Robin, Reina was well aware of the World Government’s plans.

Moreover, after contacting the information he obtained from Vegapunk, Reina already had some answers in his mind.

However, he doesn't intend to tell Vegapunk everything right now. The secret of the final island was obtained by Luffy and his crew, and even if he were to tell them, it could only be Luffy and his crew who told Vegapunk. Reina is very clear about this.

After discussing the details with Vegapunk, Reina found the Straw Hat crew wandering around the island. To them, this island could indeed be considered the island of the future. Although Vegapunk called it the past, the past is the past, and this is the future.

"Luffy, Dr. Vegapunk and I have finished discussing what we needed to discuss. Is there anything else you need to say? If not, we're about to leave!" Reina called out to Luffy, who was having a great time.

"Eh? Going back so soon? This place is so interesting, let's stay a few more days!" Luffy said with a regretful expression.

"Really? You can stay here a few more days if you want, but I have more important things to do in the North Sea, so I won't keep you company! Since you came on the Sunny, I'll head straight back!" Reina said with a smile.

"Will Dr. Vegapunk go to the North Sea with you?" Franky asked curiously.

“He’s a member of the World Government, unlike me. I’m a pirate!” Reina didn’t say it explicitly, but he did reveal some information. Whether they understood it or not was none of Reina’s business.

Nami originally wanted to go back as soon as possible, since they still had things to do in the North Sea. The matter of the extraterrestrial visitors had not been resolved, and the North Sea was still relying on Weiwei and the others for help. It was not appropriate for them to stay here for too long.

However, Vegapunk seems to want to continue talking to Robin about Ohara, and also let Luffy spend a few days there. Given Luffy's personality, he'll probably lose interest after exploring the island in a few days!

After saying goodbye to Vegapunk, Luffy, and the others, and just as he was about to leave, Vegapunk suddenly called out to Reina.

"What's going on?" Reina asked in surprise, noticing the change in Vegapunk's expression.

"The World Government's ship is coming. If you leave now, you'll probably run into them!" Vegapunk said helplessly.

"Huh? People from the World Government?" Cao Mao and his group were quite surprised.

This isn't the North Sea. If they encountered the World Government here, they'd probably fight, and Vegapunk wouldn't be able to explain it to the World Government afterwards.

"What do we do now? You're not going to tell me to hide from them, are you?" Reina asked, frowning.

As a pirate, it's normal not to clash with the Navy or the World Government. When sailing normally, if you encounter a Navy ship, you usually turn around and leave.

However, as the vice-captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, Reina represents the Whitebeard Pirates when he goes out. Since they became the world's number one pirate crew, they have never avoided the Navy. Usually, it is the Navy that avoids them.

Furthermore, the Whitebeard Pirates are usually in the New World, so they don't have many opportunities to encounter the Marines.

If Reina backs down now that he's been cornered here, it'll be embarrassing if word gets out.

However, if he were to reveal himself now and the World Government were to learn of his connection with Vegapunk, it would not be beneficial to their future plans.

At this point, Reina understood why Vegapunk was unhappy. He probably also understood Reina's predicament, so he didn't tell Reina to give way to the World Government's ships.

"What are they doing here?" Unlike the flustered Straw Hat crew, Reina didn't take the World Government's people seriously, but he needed to be careful about Vegapunk.

“The CP0 people borrowed Seraph Empress from me to go to the North Sea. They’ve probably come back to return her. She’s been gone for so long, and I need to reorganize the data on Seraph! Right now, Seraph is still just a child and not fully developed! Only when they have enough combat experience and the ability to handle things can they be considered to have completed the first step of growth!” Vegapunk said helplessly.

“I see. Then why don’t you just have them return the Seraphim to you without having to go to the island? I can stay on the island for another day, and then I’ll leave after they leave!” Reina said after thinking for a moment.

Upon hearing this, Vegapunk breathed a sigh of relief. He was worried that Reina would clash with the World Government, and if the World Government's higher-ups found out about his contact with the Whitebeard Pirates, the World Government would no longer trust him.

Then, he'll have no other option but to leave with Reina.

But now is not the time for him to break away from the World Government. He needs the funds and resources from the World Government to help him complete the Brain Library project.

After obtaining Reyner's consent, Vegapunk began giving orders, instructing the World Government's ships not to approach and to leave immediately after returning the Seraphim.

However, after receiving Vegapunk's order, the World Government's ships did not stop, but continued to head towards the port of Future Island. Left with no other choice, Vegapunk had to send out the mechanical sea kings guarding the perimeter to block the World Government's ships.

It's better for him to fight the other party himself than for Reina to do it. Then he can explain to the World Government's higher-ups that there was a problem with the machine, or that his research was at a critical juncture and he didn't want to be disturbed. He can just throw out an invention and that will be enough to appease the World Government's higher-ups.

Chapter 986 Rob Lucci's Suspicion

To Vegapunk's surprise, after he deployed the mechanical sea kings, the World Government's ships did not stop. Instead, they attacked the mechanical sea monsters while requesting to dock at the port.

Both sides became suspicious of each other's unusual behavior. Vegapunk thought the other had discovered something, while the World Government officials, because of the sudden attack by the mechanical sea monster, thought something had happened on the island and wanted to go ashore to check.

After all, this place is still very important to the World Government, especially for Vegapunk's safety.

"Hehe... Looks like they've discovered something!" Reina chuckled as he watched the World Government's ship approach the port. "Doctor," he said, "if I just take them out myself, will we get caught?"

Like Vegapunk, Reina believed that the other party had discovered something, otherwise they wouldn't be so eager to go to the island.

“This…” Vegapunk hesitated for a moment. He had no doubt about Reiner’s strength. As long as he acted quickly and killed the other party and his ship instantly, he could say that he knew nothing even if the World Government investigated.

As for the traces of their presence, Vegapunk's abilities would allow him to erase them without any problem.

But now there is a problem: did the other side contact the high-ranking officials of the World Government before they came?

If the other side has already contacted the World Government after discovering the situation here, then even if they deal with the other side now, it won't make much difference, and they might even miss their chance to escape.

"Why don't we let them come up? Then the Doctor can block the signal here and test them! If they already know we're on the island, we can kill them and move immediately! If they're just suspicious and don't have any evidence, we can try to dispel their suspicions. The worst outcome is that we'll just have to kill them later!" Robin suggested after thinking for a moment.

“It seems this is the only way now! You should go to the room where the giant robot was stored. It’s a secret room, and the World Government doesn’t know about it. I’ll have Shakya stay there with you, so you can stay informed about what’s going on here through him!” Vegapunk thought for a moment and then agreed with Robin’s suggestion.

Shakya is the name of Vegapunk the First, just like Vegapunk the Second, who is called Lilith. They both have their own names and areas of expertise.

As for Reina, he did not refuse, for the sake of Vegapunk and their future plans.