"To kill the other five Vegapunks and become a Celestial Dragon yourself!" Violet's words struck like lightning, leaving everyone in the room stunned.
Even Vegapunk's clones—York, in particular—were left in a daze. Her face twisted with shock and disbelief. She never imagined that the main body had sent them here to confront a Spy. But what unsettled her the most was how Violet had, with just a few glances, completely read her thoughts. How could she possibly know what was going on in her head?
"Impossible…"
Just as York and the other Vegapunks were too stunned to speak, the sound of Buggy's slow, deliberate clapping filled the research room, jolting everyone back to reality.
"Well, Vegapunk," Buggy grinned, his voice oozing with amusement, "What do you think now? One of your clones wants to kill you. If you just say the word, we'll take care of her for you."
The room fell into an uneasy silence as the Buggy Pirates exchanged confused glances. Wasn't their captain usually a lot more… sympathetic? He hadn't even killed the two Tobiroppo from the Beast Pirates—he'd just sent them off to work in the mines. So why was he suddenly so cold-blooded when it came to Vegapunk's clone?
Wait a second…
Vegapunk's a man right? Oh, well… that makes sense.
Vegapunk snapped back to his senses, his small eyes narrowing as he looked at York, confusion written all over his face.
"Why, York? Why would you align yourself with something so filthy? What are Celestial Dragons even like? Haven't you seen them before?" he asked, his voice filled with bewilderment.
The other five clones stared at York, their expressions matching his confusion.
As York heard Vegapunk's words, she realized that the main body had believed what the woman had said. She also understood now that the woman was someone with devil fruit abilities—abilities that had caught her off guard, and more importantly, had drawn the main body to seek outside help.
York felt a wave of frustration builds within her. The worst part was that the help Vegapunk had sought was from the strongest pirate crew in the world today, the God Slayer Pirates—the same crew that dared to execute Celestial Dragons. Against that kind of power, York saw no hope at all.
York's patience snapped like a brittle thread. Her eyes, usually calm and composed, flared with anger as she stormed toward the Vegapunk clones and the main body. She pointed a trembling finger at them, her voice rising, sharp and cutting.
"Why?!" she spat, her voice a mix of fury and desperation. "Why are you asking me why?! Then let me ask you—why should I be the one to bear everything for all of you?! All your desires, your demands, your endless experiments—why do I have to carry the weight of it all? You expect me to shoulder your ambitions, but you've never once thought about the cost it's had on me!"
Her voice echoed through the lab, harsh and raw, as she stepped closer, her fists clenched at her sides.
"Since the moment I was separated from you, I've had my mind! My consciousness! I'm human too, damn it! And I want to live on my terms! But instead, I've been chained to your endless needs, stuck fulfilling your whims and ideas. Day after day. Have you even once stopped to consider what that's done to me?!"
York's voice faltered for a brief moment, the intensity of her feelings bubbling up to the surface. But she quickly regained her composure, bitterness dripping from every word.
"Do you think I don't know what it's like to have your limits pushed? To have your ambitions stretched thin until they're suffocating you? Of course, I feel it. But when it comes to the Celestial Dragons… who cares? If becoming one means I have to make others suffer to save myself, then what does it even matter to me? Why should I care about them?"
Her words reverberated through the lab, the room heavy with the weight of her outburst.
The room fell silent.
All five Vegapunks were left speechless, stunned by the realization of what their inflated desires had caused. York, who had once been just another extension of them, was now twisted by the immense pressure they had imposed. She had cracked under the weight of their expectations.
Vegapunk himself, usually the most brilliant mind in the room, was at a loss for words. His vast intelligence had failed him at this moment—he simply didn't know how to face his creation. The other five clones shared the same sentiment, caught in a rare moment of uncertainty.
Though they each represented different facets of Vegapunk's personality, all were undeniably brilliant. Yet, when confronted with York's emotional outburst, they knew what needed to be done. York had betrayed them. Her actions could not be ignored, and in this world, there could be no room for weakness. If they hesitated, she would likely turn on them, either destroying them or alerting the World Government.
But despite all that, York had shown a glimmer of humanity. Her independent consciousness marked her as more than just a clone—she was, in essence, a person. The clones, however, had no choice but to acknowledge that her existence could no longer be tolerated. She had to be eliminated.
Just as the clones stood frozen, unsure of how to proceed, a white-gold beam of light suddenly enveloped York. She didn't have time to scream, her form dissolving into particles of light that vanished in the air.
Buggy's cold voice cut through the silence.
"She's betrayed you, and she's made her decision clear. If you hesitate, I'll take care of it for you. I won't allow her the chance to warn the World Government about us. If they learn we've contacted you, it'll mean another war. My Crimson Empire needs time to recuperate, so… sorry."
With those words, everyone came to their senses, and an involuntary sigh escaped the Vegapunk clones. Buggy's decisiveness was something to behold.
"We understand."
Vegapunk and his five clones spoke in unison, their voices heavy with resignation.
"Go on with your business," Vegapunk added, his tone tired but resolute.
He paused, thinking for a moment before speaking again.
"Keep an eye on the situation overseas. The World Government must have noticed us by now, and they'll likely send CP agencies to investigate and prepare their countermeasures."
"Okay."
"Clear."
"Understood."
The clones nodded in agreement, each casting a complex look toward Buggy before turning and leaving.
"Why—"
Vegapunk stared blankly in the direction where York had disappeared, his mind spinning as he processed the events. After a long moment, he finally sighed deeply, the weight of everything settling on him. Turning to Buggy, he spoke with a hint of gratitude in his voice.
"Buggy, no matter what, you saved our lives. With the traitor gone, I can at least transfer some important data from Egghead Island in an orderly fashion." He paused, his gaze distant, as if reflecting on his life's work. "You've seen it when you arrived—the Egghead Island is the city of the future. I've spent most of my life here."
He looked at Buggy seriously now. "If York had contacted the World Government before I was prepared, this place would've been consumed by the flames of war, and all this crucial data would've been destroyed." Vegapunk smiled weakly. "So, thank you. My friend."
Vegapunk spread his arms wide, a gesture of gratitude.
Buggy, understanding the old man's emotions, nodded and returned the embrace. But the moment their arms wrapped around each other, Vegapunk locked him in place, then shot into the sky with a burst of speed. His mischievous laugh echoed down to the ground.
"Hahaha! You fell for it, Buggy! Although York's body was destroyed, her consciousness has returned to my brain. I can revive her anytime I want! So, she's not really dead!"
The crew below stared up in shock, dumbfounded by the old man's antics. Vegapunk seemed to be relishing in his trickery, floating in the air with a grin of pure mischief.
Robin facepalmed, clearly exasperated. "Dr. Vegapunk, not even the Four Emperors, Kaido, and Big Mom, would dare to get so close to Buggy, and you—" She sighed, then paused, noticing that Buggy didn't seem upset at all.
For a brief moment, Robin blinked, her gaze softening as she watched Buggy, who wasn't trying to retaliate or get free from Vegapunk's hold. "Wait... Is he... being considerate toward the old man?"
Gabban and the others watched as their captain did not attempt to escape, instead indulging Vegapunk in a playful back-and-forth. They quickly realized he was simply toying with the old man.
Despite the lightheartedness of it all, it was clear from the slightly melancholy expressions of the five Vegapunk clones that, though they were mere copies, they harbored deep emotions. It seemed Vegapunk didn't want Buggy to retaliate, perhaps not wanting to damage the relationship or cause further conflict.
After a while, Vegapunk gently lowered Buggy, setting him down with a slump. He leaned against the wall, lost in thought, saying nothing.
Crack! Crack!
Buggy remained silent, then gave the old man's shoulder a reassuring pat before nodding at Blueno, signaling him. Blueno, understanding without a word, opened the door to space.
"Everyone, let's head back for now. If you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out. I'll leave the Den Den Mushi here for you," Buggy said, his tone casual as he gave the ground a light tap.
"If you need help, we can even get you off Egghead Island. Just say the word."
Vegapunk nodded gratefully, his voice carrying a quiet, "Thanks."
Buggy waved over his shoulder, then stepped toward the door. Before disappearing through it, he understood the weight of Vegapunk's thanks. After all, Buggy had played the role of the villain, taking swift and decisive action to resolve everything. If Vegapunk had been left to deal with it on his own, who knew how long it might have taken or how far it would have gone?
Back on Onigashima, Buggy and his group resumed their daily training routines. Lately, not only had he brought Crocodile along every day, but he had also started taking Snuggle—who had mastered the Stone Fruit—and Gabban, the Fuwa Fuwa no mi user, out for occasional infrastructure projects.
This initiative greatly accelerated the development of the Crimson Empire's infrastructure, bringing it to levels far beyond that of many advanced nations in the world. With the help of their slaves, the happiness index of the people in the Crimson Empire skyrocketed!
As for the national income, there were no concerns. In addition to the enormous gold mines at the bottom of the sea—an untapped gold mine in its raw form—the country also possessed several other resources that were more valuable than gold. Most notably, there were the "Seastone" mines!
This rare ore had been sold recklessly when Kaido was in charge of Wanokuni. He didn't understand the principle that rare items are worth more, nor the profitability of a monopoly. But now, with Tesoro acting as the empire's first agent, the wealth of the Crimson Empire had increased exponentially. The quality of life for its citizens had improved dramatically.
At the same time, the Marine forces on Zephyr were being established. Notably, Lucci and his Special Talent Recruitment Bureau had attracted a variety of skilled individuals. In addition to some powerful samurai, several other noteworthy figures in the Wanokuni had appeared.
Among them were Denjiro, operating under the alias Kageshiro, Kozuki Hiyori posing as Komurasaki working as an oiran of the Tayu rank, and Otama, who had eaten the Kibi Kibi no Mi. Another addition was the Shinobu who had eaten the Paramecia-type Juku Juku no Mi. These individuals were some of the more famous talents from the Wano.
Kozuki Hiyori, in particular, had expressed a strong desire to meet Buggy. However, Buggy was currently in a critical breakthrough phase with the Mori Mori Fruit. He wasn't particularly eager to meet them yet. He had a strong sense that his devil fruit was beginning to move toward awakening under his efforts. It had been nearly a year since he started working on this.
Over the past year, the Crimson Empire has undergone rapid development. Cities like Flower City, Kuri, Hakumai, Ringo, Kibi, and Udon, the capitals of various county guards, have already entered the electrical age.
Thanks to the water and wind generators invented by Vegapunk, these major cities now have a steady supply of power. However, the countryside hasn't seen such output yet. Vegapunk suggested that Buggy should eventually build a production line on his own, since the generators he provided were mostly based on World Government technology, and too many could easily attract unwanted attention.
As for food production, Buggy saw impressive progress. Just a month after adding punk soil and rice seeds, Vegapunk developed Transgenic Hybrid Rice, which had a tenfold increase in yield per acre. The ingenuity of a scientist at work! In just one year, the Crimson Empire achieved food self-sufficiency, leaving Umit regretting their previous arrangement. After all, Buggy had bought food from him at great cost, and customers like that were hard to come by.
From that point, the Crimson Empire entered a phase of steady growth. However, the outside world began to take notice of the sudden disappearance of Fishman Island. The secrecy of the Crimson Empire was so tight that no one knew the Fishmen had settled within the Empire.
This tight security was largely due to Enel. A year ago, he had awakened his devil fruit, elevating his strength to that of an Admiral. His electromagnetic waves now cover the entire Crimson Empire, leaving no room for spy transmissions. Den Den Mushi, which works on radio waves, was easily intercepted by Enel, who could track and punish any unauthorized communication. For more than a year, no spies had managed to escape his watch.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group continued their cultivation. Snake and Hawk, in particular, showed the fastest progress. Their talents were undeniable, and their teachers included Hawkeye, Boa Hancock, Gabban, and Bullet. Even if their Lunarian traits were discovered, it would be nearly impossible for ordinary people to defeat them. With their strength nearing Admiral-level, they were on the brink of becoming formidable forces in their own right.
After all, reaching Admiral-level strength isn't just about having a powerful ability—it requires mastery in all aspects of Haki and physical skills. Moreover, their Devil Fruits haven't fully awakened yet, meaning there's still a bit of a gap in their strength.
Over the past year, the overall power of the Buggy Pirates has improved drastically. If outsiders were to witness it, they'd be shocked to the point of disbelief! The training environments available to the crew are truly unparalleled. The Sky Island, over 10,000 meters above, the seabed, more than 10,000 meters below, and the Boin Islands enhanced by Ultimate energy—these locations, combined with the support of their medical team, including Law, Hogback, and Mansherry, made it nearly impossible not to see growth in strength.
However, throughout this period, only Buggy, the mastermind, has not seen significant improvement. After all, if his strength increased drastically, it would be a terrifying leap! For Buggy, his opportunity lies in the Mori Mori Fruit.
Kalifa glanced at Robin, who was staring out of the window, and smiled, "Robin, have you packed everything?"
"Yeah, it's all packed," Robin replied, nodding.
"Don't worry, Captain Buggy said he'll take you there personally," Kalifa reassured her, patting her hand.
Robin chuckled, resting her chin in her hand. "It's fine if he doesn't make it in time tomorrow. Blueno's portal will handle it."
Kalifa raised an eyebrow, her smile widening mischievously. "Oh? Do you think so? Buggy is cruel, isn't he? My favorite woman is going on a trip with her pirate crew, and he doesn't even come out to comfort her?"
Robin gave Kalifa a blank look, not bothering to argue with the tease. She was too tired for this today.
Two years. That was the agreement Luffy made with his entire crew.
The straw hat pirates had risked their lives to break into Enis Lobby to save him—how could she possibly miss this appointment?
Initially, she worried that Buggy might not allow her to leave, so she proactively unlocked many poses to convince him. But when she discovered that he had no objections to her going on an adventure at sea, she laughed. She had underestimated this man's understanding and courage!
But, when she thought about it, it made sense. After all, she had left behind her life card, and there was always the portal to find her if necessary. Still, a small part of her felt sadness at their parting.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to tremble.
"So strong! This is the presence of... Captain Buggy!" Kalifa exclaimed, jumping to her feet.
Before Kalifa could fully react, Robin was already ahead of her. A pair of wings appeared behind Robin as her speed skyrocketed. With a powerful flap, she soared out of the window and into the sky.
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