I am the Bandit King of the East Sea.

Page 582

Instead of trying to escape, Sieg kicked open the door and fired a cannon shot directly at the security guard outside.

[Assassin Master: When an assassin fails to infiltrate for an extended period, the enraged assassin will kill all his enemies and gain a temporary power boost.]

Two minutes later.

The Vegapunk research institute was filled with the piercing sound of alarms.

Five minutes later, the research institute descended into complete chaos and was on fire. Flames soared into the sky, and even the Sengoku fleet in the nearby sea could see the fire from afar.

"Oh no! The research institute is on fire! It must be the Rocks Pirates who secretly infiltrated and sabotaged it!" Sengoku's expression immediately changed.

He knew that the main fleet's role in containing Whitebeard and his men had lost its value, so he could only immediately order the fleet to move toward Sien Island in preparation for a landing.

After the naval fleet retreated, Whitebeard and his crew made no attempt to pursue. They then contacted Higuma via Den Den Mushi, and the two sides reunited once again.

Amid the fire, Sieg looted some research materials and a portion of the research team, preparing to leave.

Meanwhile, the silent Grim Reaper Serent immediately informed Lox, who was still recuperating on Beehive Island, of this news.

"Is that really the case?"

After hearing Cilent's secret report from the Den Den Mushi, a murderous intent gradually surfaced in Rocks' eyes.

The wood is done.

The first mate outwardly complied but inwardly colluded with his trusted officers, subtly hinting at wrongdoing in his words, thus ruining a crucial part of Rocks' grand plan...

He couldn't pretend he didn't know these things.

The Rocks Pirates were almost entirely formed by Rocks's own formidable strength and intimidating presence, which forced them into a single pirate crew.

Once this deterrent force is lost, this already disorganized pirate crew will likely fall apart immediately.

...........

When Vegapunk slowly woke up, he found himself lying in a hospital bed, with a nurse sitting beside him, wiping the wound on his forehead.

"You're awake? Dr. Vegapunk."

A doctor was already waiting nearby. When he saw Vegapunk get up, he waved for someone to notify him and then immediately came over.

"Don't get agitated, your injury is nothing serious."

At this point, the doctor was also amazed:

"You are lucky to have escaped death."

"During the fire on Saien Island last night, you were shot in the forehead by a pirate, but you were lucky. This kind of gunshot wound, which should have been fatal, was not serious. It only caused you to be unconscious for a while."

"Last night?" Vegapunk's expression changed slightly. He touched his forehead and immediately sat up from the hospital bed.

"It's been a whole night? Where is Wang Xige?" Vegapunk asked anxiously.

Just then, the door to the room was pushed open, and Sengoku strode in.

"Wang Xige? Did you see Wang Xige, the vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates, during yesterday's chaos?"

Seeing Vegapunk looking at him with a puzzled expression, Sengoku gave a brief explanation.

"I am Vice Admiral Sengoku of the Navy Headquarters."

"Vegapunk, you are currently on a naval warship sailing towards Marineford, the headquarters of the Marines."

"I see...."

Vegapunk pondered for a moment, sighed softly, and explained:

“Last night, it was Wang Xige who sneaked in and shot me unconscious.”

Upon hearing this, Sengoku was slightly taken aback, and after a moment, he smiled and said:

"Looks like you're in pretty good luck."

"The Rocks Pirates' target was obviously you, but you were not recognized by King Sig, which is why you escaped this time."

"Good luck...?"

Upon hearing about the results, Vegapunk gradually developed a bitter smile.

"That's what I thought, but I was so excited that I forgot to introduce myself and missed it."

"It's just that I'm unlucky."

Vegapunk carefully recalled what had happened before he fell into a coma.

Sigurdsson revealed the existence of the "Time Fruit" in one breath, and then he made his move without hesitation.

This suggests that his guess was likely correct...

Wang Xige, he may very well really be a user of the Time-Time Fruit!

Therefore, he became enraged and took action only after this fact was revealed!

While Vegapunk was pondering, he was startled awake by Sengoku's words.

"Vegapunk, you have been arrested for allegedly participating in illegal research on the [Designer of Life]."

"However, given your exceptional scientific talent, as long as you serve the World Government and become a scientist under its command, these past events can be forgiven."

"Vegapunk, your talents shouldn't be wasted in prison..."

Sengoku patiently guided him, only to find that Vegapunk still seemed somewhat dazed.

"As long as I join the navy, not only will I be innocent, but I will also have ample funding and be provided with the greatest possible human and material resources?"

"I asked, somewhat listlessly."

"Not bad." Sengoku frowned; he had a feeling that Vegapunk's condition was not quite right.

Vegapunk remained silent for a long time.

The World Government's actions were exactly as he had initially anticipated.

If he agrees, he can get what he wants and join the World Government, devoting himself entirely to scientific research.

This is the best choice, bar none.

only....

"No...."

As Vegapunk uttered that single word, his gaze hardened, revealing a morbid fanaticism:

"Once I agree to join the navy, I will lose my freedom and there will be no turning back."

"By then, we'll only drift further and further away from becoming the great pirate King Hig!

"I will never be able to achieve that almost impossible goal!"

Vegapunk's breathing became rapid, and he unconsciously became excited.

"Excuse me... you just said you refused? Is this related to King Sig?" Sengoku immediately became wary, looking down at Vegapunk, his previous appreciation for his talent vanishing instantly.

Vegapunk raised his head, met Sengoku's gaze for a moment, before calming down and gently shaking his head.

"No, with such good terms, of course I won't refuse."

"But next... Vice Admiral Sengoku, could you please give me some peace and quiet so I can think things through?" Vegapunk asked earnestly.

Sengoku glanced at Vegapunk, remained silent for a moment, and then got up and left the cabin.

"Hey, Sengoku, how's it going? Did that guy agree?"

Garp grinned and walked over, punching Sengoku in the chest.

At this time, Garp was in his prime, with a towering physique, a broad chest, wide shoulders, short black hair, and sharp eyes.

Sengoku shook his head.

"I remember his homeland is Baltimore, a place known as the Kingdom of the Future, a place that reveres technology. It's understandable that a genius like Vegapunk would have an eccentric personality. Let's be patient and wait a bit longer..."

After Sengoku left, only Vegapunk remained in the cabin.

He picked up the mirror from the bedside table and gazed quietly at himself in the mirror.

In the mirror, the gunshot wound between his eyebrows had stopped bleeding, but his face was still a little pale.

He stared silently into the mirror, countless thoughts flashing through his mind like lightning.

"My research direction is correct."

"There are not only relationships of superiority over inferiority among Devil Fruits, but also relationships of positive and negative correspondence."

Vegapunk was later known as a man whose wisdom surpassed that of humans by 500 years.

In other words, the technology he possessed was 500 years ahead of the rest of the world.

In the world of One Piece, no matter what kind of advanced technology it is, its ultimate source is Vegapunk.

Even at this time, the young Vegapunk was simultaneously conducting multiple different research projects, including life design blueprints, exploring the abilities of the Brew-Brew Fruit, and... the positive and negative relationships of Devil Fruits.

Vegapunk opened his palm, having already activated his Devil Fruit power.

He saw his reflection in the mirror gradually fade and blur...

"The Time Fruit really does exist."

Vegapunk muttered to himself.

"The Reverse Time Fruit, which can only travel to the past, corresponds to another Time Fruit, which can only travel to the future."

"This is the closest we've come to success in 500 years!"

"Absolutely not to be missed!"

"Absolutely not!"

next moment.

Vegapunk's figure completely faded from the room, disappearing into thin air.

..............

When Vegapunk came to his senses, he was already back in the laboratory on Cygnus Island.