As Vegapunk issued commands, the expansive Dictate Room fell into a hushed silence. Everyone reached for earplugs and sunglasses, fixing their gaze on the large screen.
Displayed on it was what seemed to be the structural diagram of the Flying Fortress. At the very bottom, a small block representing the power chamber glowed a fiery red.
"I think…"
Rowen began to speak but stopped himself, realizing he didn't have earplugs or sunglasses.
However, at that moment, Vegapunk gave the order.
"Ignite!"
The next second…
Buzz!!
The conduit in Rowen's hand seemed to come alive, thrashing wildly. It emitted a heart-pounding surge of electricity, and the specially designed conduit began to soften and melt in the face of the intense current. Rowen activated his Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki), gripping it tightly. His fingers left clear imprints on its surface.
Zi Zi Zi!
Suddenly, an electric current extended from the conduit, rapidly covering the ground. Its voltage was so strong that Rowen was reminded of the day he was struck by lightning on Hell Island. He was electrified from head to toe, unable to move.
However, Vegapunk seemed to have anticipated this. He reached out and pressed a button on the control panel. An insulating wall rose from the ground, separating Rowen from the rest of the Dictate Room.
The entire screen was filled with blue electric currents. Deafening thunder resounded in their ears. Rowen stood still, eyes wide, pondering one question: I'm just here to charge a weapon, what's going on now?
Fortunately, as the current surged through the conduit, the Flying Fortress soon emitted a rhythmic vibration, similar to when a car's engine started. The powerful surge of steel and fuel revitalized everyone within the Flying Fortress!
"It worked!!"
"One successful ignition!"
"Quick, while it's still going! Have someone replace the parts!"
Vegapunk jumped for joy, and the Dictate Room erupted in cheers.
On the structural diagram of the Flying Fortress displayed on the wall, the red icon was replaced by blue, and a large "SAFE" was added next to it. A group of people eagerly gathered at the other end of the wall, waiting for Rowen to appear. When they saw him, they rushed over and shook his hand repeatedly.
"Thanks for your help, Vice Admiral Rowen! You've been a great help!"
"It's a success on the first try, all thanks to you, Vice Admiral Rowen!"
"Yeah! After Garp Vice Admiral crushed the conduit, we thought we were done for. Luckily, you were here!"
'So it was him!' Rowen gritted his teeth, he knew there had to be some catch to Garp wanting to switch shifts with him!
The Five Kages… oh no, the five Headquarters Vice Admirals joining forces might not be enough to take down King. However, it wasn't as perilous as Garp had claimed. King would have a slim chance of killing any of them, let alone all five together.
There was no need for him to rush down to take over!
But now that things had come to this, he couldn't exactly go down and challenge Garp to a fight. Sengoku wouldn't let him off the hook.
Heh.
Rowen slowly moved away from the crowd and said to Vegapunk, "Mr. Vegapunk, I'm here to charge the Super Electromagnetic Cannon."
The Super Electromagnetic Cannon!
This was the heavy artillery that the Marines had prepared for this war! Personally escorted by Garp, they aimed for absolute certainty! There was no harm in giving it a try, what if it worked? Dealing with Kaido was one of the most troublesome tasks for the Marines among the Yonko. Killing him would be a welcome turn of events!
"Oh right, almost forgot the main task!"
Vegapunk slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing.
"You all keep checking, I'll take Vice Admiral Rowen out for a bit!"
"Understood!"
…
In the corridor, Rowen curiously observed the labyrinthine passages around him. Beyond the complex layers of corridors, one could faintly discern the metal components on the walls. Conduits flickered with a blue electrical glow, pulsating as if breathing.
"Is Vegapunk-San always occupied with this? What about the Pacifistas for peace?"
Since their last meeting in South Blue, Vegapunk hadn't contacted Rowen again. And even that encounter was brief; Rowen handed over the sea map and didn't even step into the base.
Calculating from the time Rowen started supervising combat training with Zephyr until now, it had been a whole year!
"The Pacifistas are in the final stages of development. Upgrading them isn't an easy task… Currently, the PX-3 model is sufficient for use. The PX-4's cost can't be lowered, so there won't be a large-scale deployment for now."
For the Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Rowen, these matters weren't exactly classified information. Vegapunk didn't hold back and explained in detail.
Just like how Caesar's Super Electromagnetic Cannon was vetoed by Sengoku, the new version PX-4 also faced the issue of high production cost. Caesar had been teased by Vegapunk earlier for creating a useless toy, only to face the same problem himself.
Fortunately, as the World Government's most highly regarded top-level scientist, even if there was no immediate need for PX-5's development, Vegapunk couldn't afford to be idle. He was soon reassigned to another major project.
That was the Flying Fortress beneath their feet!
"The Dials from the Sky Island have a specific growth cycle. Due to the mobilization at the G-10 Branch, the demand quickly exceeded the supply… Gan Fall had no choice but to use a newly acquired Sky-Flying Ship diagram from the royal refugees of Birka to trade with the Marines. This was done in exchange for more Vearth."
Gan Fall definitely knew how much attention the birth of Gold Land Shandora would attract. Even "Berserker" Wiper, after being threatened by Rowen, wouldn't voluntarily disclose the information. As a ruler, he certainly wouldn't spill the beans.
Vegapunk explained while walking down the corridor. At one point, he glanced at Rowen and said, "The blueprint was left by the ancestors of the Birka people hundreds of years ago, but the design on it far exceeds the limits of that era… Previously, the World Government suspected it had a connection to the Ancient Weapons and prohibited its construction."
"Then, something changed about half a year ago… Nibelung Household stepped forward and allowed this plan. They, along with many officials within the government who supported ending the Pirate Era by controlling the Ancient Weapons, provided funds. I was then tasked with overseeing the construction."
"And so, we have this Flying Fortress, named the Ark!"
"Ark? Like Maxim?"
Rowen recalled the wooden ship that appeared in the original story, one that could even reach the moon. He nodded in recognition.
It was perfectly normal for the World Government to be wary of the Ark's emergence.
In terms of technology, it certainly shouldn't be a product from hundreds of years ago! If it were so easy to build Sky-Flying Ships, Vegapunk wouldn't have started designing aircraft after Tsuru led the team to find a Sky Island.
Only a fool wouldn't recognize the immense advantages of aerial dominance in warfare, but it had been hindered by technological limitations.
The relationship between Nibelung Household and himself was too complicated to unravel. And counting the time, half a year ago?
While they were constructing the Flying Fortress, Lirisk seemed to lead a team to Water 7… and not long after, news arrived of Mayor Iceberg being assassinated.
As for Water 7, there were hardly any people within the government who didn't know that it was related to the Ancient Weapon Pluton! Many individuals in the One Piece world held crucial secrets.
Rowen didn't want to disrupt their efforts to alter the original story; that would only weaken his narrative advantage. But Iceberg's accident had already affected him. His presence had rippled through the storyline.
He hadn't investigated whether Franky was still in Water 7. He believed that with Iceberg's death, every move he made would be seen as some kind of signal from the Nibelung Household.
Especially the widely known battle between him and Lirisk.
The number one lackey of the Celestial Dragons, crushed!
Rowen didn't dwell on it too much, but Vegapunk looked at him with surprise. He commented meaningfully, "Vice Admiral Rowen, you're quite well-informed!"
"We had to consult many old scholars from the Sky Islands to successfully decipher the name 'Maxim'. Although it's not a taboo ancient knowledge, it's radically different from the script of the Blue Sea. Many seasoned archaeologists have never seen anything like it."
Rowen: "…"
Oh boy!
While the Sky Island script was indeed different from the Blue Sea script, it had been translated into a font he could understand in the original story. So Rowen remembered it well and never considered it a significant matter.
But in the real world of the One Piece world, being able to read the Sky Island script or even the ancient Sky Island script that hadn't been used for hundreds of years, Vegapunk couldn't help but doubt!
"If I were to say… I'm an extraterrestrial, would you find that strange?" Rowen's face twitched as he spoke in a teasing tone.
Vegapunk looked at him deeply, then stopped in front of a large door. He nodded.
"Yes, I would, but I believe it!"
"The more I get to know you, the more I feel there's something peculiar about you… People often say that the more they know, the more they realize how ignorant and insignificant they are. I used to scoff at that saying!"
"But since I met you, I've started to believe it."
Creak…!
The metal winch slowly began to rotate, pulling the doors open, left and right.
Staring at the artillery behind the doors, which had undergone who-knew-how-many modifications and exuded a fierce aura, Rowen's eyes widened in shock.
"What is this?!"
"I thought you'd give me an answer, Vice Admiral Rowen…"
Vegapunk stepped into the room. The sticky sensation beneath his feet made his skin crawl.
(End of this chapter)
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