The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

Its identification code, voiceprint, and even brainwave frequency verification... are all bound to the individual 'me'.

"So, in other words, this Den Den Mushi can only contact Sentomaru, or directly verify 'me' on a terminal."

You want to use it to bypass all verification and directly connect to anyone's private line? Almost impossible…

York visibly stiffened upon hearing Vegapunk's words, his expression hardening.

Clearly, they were extremely dissatisfied with the answer and felt a deeper sense of despair.

However, Vegapunk showed no intention of stopping talking.

Instead, it seems that he wants to take this opportunity to instill some of his long-held thoughts and judgments into this alter ego that originated from himself but has gone astray.

"York, even if you force me to contact other people, I must tell you..."

The navy cannot be trusted.

At least, it's not the kind of 'surrender' and 'acceptance' you're thinking of right now.

Vegapunk's tone became serious, carrying a scholarly analytical quality:

“Gern Reginald Sigmar, this person…”

From his joining the navy to his gradual ascension to the rank of admiral.

Until now, with its declaration of independence, all its history and major events have shaken the world.

I have studied and analyzed them carefully.

“I even…tried to choose this man.” Vegapunk sighed deeply.

“When he last came to Egherd and took the ‘Mother Flame,’ I secretly observed and assessed him.”

His demonstrated strength, decisiveness, and deep-seated hostility towards the World Government truly showed me another possibility.

“But,” Vegapunk’s voice deepened, “fate is fate.”

"He's not Straw Hat Luffy, he's not 'D'..."

He lacked that kind of "destiny" quality associated with "liberation" and "dawn" that I had studied in ancient texts.

Therefore, he is not suitable.

Or rather, he wasn't 'the one' the world had been waiting for for hundreds of years.

"More importantly, I have carefully analyzed every turning point in his naval career."

Every crucial battle, every major political decision and personnel change...

I discovered that every step he took was meticulously calculated, coldly weighed, and driven by an absolute desire for control over power and the situation.

"This is a man who takes 'pragmatism' and 'power above all else' to the extreme, while also possessing a deep and far-sighted mind."

Vegapunk concluded, "He may need technology and utilize talent, but he will never trust, much less truly share power and the future."

To him, everything was merely a tool and a pawn in achieving his goals.

This includes technology, and it also includes...people.

“So…” Vegapunk seemed to want to elaborate on his point of view further, trying to make York realize the potential dangers and true nature of surrendering to Gern.

"Shut up!!!"

An impatient shriek abruptly interrupted Vegapunk's mouth, which was about to continue babbling!

"Snapped!"

York slapped Vegapunk hard across the face while he was being held captive!

"You old bastard who keeps spouting about fate!!!" York stood up, looking down at Vegapunk.

“Fate, fate! Destiny, destiny! It’s all the same!!” She waved her other arm, roaring excitedly.

"Look outside! The revolutionary army has been beaten like dogs by the navy (referring to Long being captured)."

What nonsense are you spouting about fate?! Did your fate analysis even arrive at this conclusion?!

"And another thing!!" York pointed to himself, "I'm on the verge of death now!!"

The World Government wants to kill me, Blackbeard wants to capture me, and the Straw Hat crew wants to slaughter me!

Where does my 'fate' lie?! Huh?!

"Can your pretentious analyses and your vague 'waiting' save my life right now?!"

"Can you spare me from being chopped into pieces and thrown into the reactor?!"

"I don't care whether Gern is scheming or using me!"

I don't care if he's a 'D' or not!

All I know right now is that he is currently the only one who might...

There are also people capable of confronting the other three parties, and who might even need what's in my head!

"If I go with him, I might have a sliver of hope! If I stay here and listen to your endless ramblings about fate, I'm doomed!!"

After saying that, York stopped looking at Vegapunk and reached for the Den Den Mushi again, his eyes filled with madness.

"Top-secret network? Binding verification? Then crack it!"

Modify it! Or... simulate your signal!

Don't tell me you can't do it!

You are 'me'! You are Vegapunk!!

Next, York forcibly held down Vegapunk in an attempt to remove the Den Den Mushi's restrictions.

While struggling, Vegapunk continued to utter words like "fate," "D," "the sun god," "Straw Hat Boy," and "liberation."

Faced with Vegapunk's incessant ramblings and attempts to dissuade him about "fate"

York's patience reached its breaking point and was finally broken!

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!!!"

What destiny, what liberation, what bullshit Party will!

These vague and intangible things are less useful to her than a bullet that can penetrate a wall!

Survival! Only by surviving can one truly be considered "destiny"!

"Since you're unwilling to help me voluntarily... then don't blame me for using force!!"

York leaned forward abruptly and grabbed Vegapunk tightly with both arms!

"Remove the restrictions! Open the backdoor to the highest communication protocol! Now! Immediately!!"

She not only had to physically control Vegapunk, but also, from a data perspective...

Forcibly crack or take over the highest communication permissions bound to Vegapunk's main body!

"Uh... York! Stop! You can't force it like this..."

"The island is now filled with alarms! Enemies are everywhere!"

What difference does it make if there's one more or one less?! Hurry up! Give me the permissions!!

"York, don't you understand?"

Straw Hat Luffy...

He is the key, Nika! He is the warrior of liberation!

“The will of D is passed down…” Vegapunk struggled, his voice still stubbornly repeating those words in broken sentences.

York was furious as he put pressure on Vegapunk continued to try to persuade her with his theories!

"Liberation? Soldiers? Key?!"

"What do those trivial matters from hundreds of years ago have to do with my head being about to be moved?!"

"Can Joy Boy appear and shield me from the bullets?! Can Apollo come down and roast Blackbeard?!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the access was revoked, and the Den Den Mushi reconnected, exactly as Vegapunk had said at the beginning.

The Den Den Mushi directly contacted Vegapunk, who was supposedly...

[A very small number of potentially trustworthy individuals within the Navy's high command]

"Beep beep beep... Blu, Blu, snap!"

"I am... Captain Coby from the Navy Headquarters and a member of the secret special forces unit 'Sharp Blade'!"

"Dr. Vegapunk, is there anything I can help you with?"

Chapter 679 Avoiding War

Meanwhile, on the other side, Egghead Island is a complex network of internal passageways and ruins.

Satan Saint and Blackbeard walked silently down the corridor, one after the other.

Satan Saint walked with steady steps, his cane tapping the ground with a rhythmic "thump-thump" sound.

Blackbeard, following behind him, grew increasingly grim and impatient.

He kept glancing around, his lips pursed downwards, clearly seething with anger.

Finally, after turning another corner that was empty except for charred marks, Blackbeard couldn't hold back any longer.

"Hey! Lord Five Elders!" He stopped in his tracks, his voice tinged with obvious annoyance.

"What are you doing? Shopping? What's so interesting about this lousy island?!"

He strode to Satan's side, attempting to look the world's highest authority in the eye (despite the height difference), his tone agitated.

"If you ask me, we should go straight to Vegapunk right now!"

That old guy must have hidden the core data, but there has to be some clues!

With our abilities, are we afraid we won't find it?

He licked his toothless lips, a fierce glint in his eyes: "Or, let's join forces and attack the Straw Hat Pirates!"

"Straw Hat Boy just finished fighting with me, so he's definitely not fully recovered and is at his weakest!"

His most capable subordinates, the Green-Headed Swordsman, the Black-Leg Cook, and Jinbe, were all crippled by my men!

It won't recover in a short time!

Blackbeard became increasingly convinced of his own reasoning, and his voice grew louder:

"Now all that's left is Straw Hat Boy, a lone commander, and a few insignificant crew members!"

With the two of us working together, taking them down would be a piece of cake!

This would eliminate 'Nika,' a major threat, and also force Vegapunk to reveal his whereabouts—a win-win situation!

After venting his frustration, Blackbeard saw that Saint Satan remained expressionless, not even lifting his eyelids, as if he hadn't listened at all, and his displeasure reached its peak.

So, he offered his final reason, which was also his truest and most urgent expectation.

"Or, at the very least... I could go and save my men!"

Blackbeard spread his hands, feigning concern for his subordinates: "Van Augur, Shiryu, Burgess, Samuel... and Kuzan!"

They're all my important comrades! The island's in such chaos, and the navy's after them! I can't abandon them!

These words were spoken with "sincere sincerity," befitting a captain who values ​​loyalty and righteousness.

Unfortunately for him, Saint Satan merely glanced at him coldly and saw through all his schemes.

“Heh…” Satan Saint let out a soft laugh.

"I advise you... to stay close to me."

Blackbeard was taken aback: "What?"

Saint Satan stopped and slowly turned around to face Blackbeard.

"You think... I'm just leading you around here 'randomly'?"

“Isn’t that right?” Blackbeard retorted, sticking out his neck.

To be honest, after I agreed to be 'honest,' I always felt that this old guy was just being deliberately mysterious.