Kuma lay on the operating table.
Vegapunk, now missing his large head, stood beside the operating table with his hands behind his back, waiting for his first clone, Shaka, to complete the preparations for the modification surgery.
The Pacifista Project had entered a new phase.
Through the modifications performed on Kuma's body, Vegapunk had already gathered a considerable amount of data. However, there was still a long way to go before achieving success.
At that moment, a Den Den Mushi suddenly rang.
Vegapunk took out the Den Den Mushi from his pocket and answered it, only to be stunned.
"Dr. Vegapunk, would you like to come to my side?"
Hearing this familiar voice, both Vegapunk and Kuma were shocked and instinctively looked at the Den Den Mushi.
Hmm, it was just an ordinary Den Den Mushi!
After a brief moment of surprise, Kuma quickly regained his composure, a gentle smile returning to his face.
Of course.
The current Reddy was no longer the man who needed to hide everything. He was now the fifth emperor of the sea, capable of standing against Marineford.
With that tone, Kuma didn't believe someone like BIG MOM could defeat Reddy.
"I refuse!"
Vegapunk snapped out of his daze and ended the call directly.
"Why reject Dr. Reddy?"
Shaka, who had just finished preparing for the modification surgery, put on his surgical gloves and walked over to stand opposite Vegapunk.
He would assist Vegapunk in performing the surgery.
"It's said that Dr. Reddy obtained an unbelievable ransom from Marineford."
As one of Vegapunk's clones, Shaka naturally knew that the biggest problem plaguing the original was research funding, which was why he had no choice but to work for the World Government.
Now, Reddy not only had ample funding but was also surrounded by genius scientists.
From any perspective, joining Reddy would be at least a hundred times better than serving the World Government.
"What I need isn't just that little bit of funding."
Vegapunk curled his lips disdainfully. "The most important thing right now is the Pacifista Project. Without sufficient power, achieving peace is just an illusion."
"You're jealous of Dr. Reddy."
Kuma, lying on the operating table, suddenly spoke, startling Shaka.
Although he was one of Vegapunk's clones and shared information with the original and the other five clones, updating their databases daily, he hadn't realized Vegapunk would feel jealous of Reddy.
Even if Reddy's achievements in the field of the Bloodline Factor were outstanding.
Vegapunk's face darkened. "Are you joking? Me, jealous of him? I am the world's greatest scientist, Dr. Vegapunk!"
Kuma smiled without saying anything, his expression clearly stating, "You are jealous of him."
"To be honest, that's possible."
Shaka looked up at the original and said quietly, "Dr. Reddy's achievements in the field of the Bloodline Factor have already surpassed yours. Accepting his invitation now really isn't appropriate... Well, at least not until the Pacifista Project and the Seraphim Project are completed."
Vegapunk: "..."
Soon, under the gazes of Kuma and Shaka, he raised his hands in surrender and muttered reluctantly, "Fine, I admit I'm a little jealous."
Shaka and Kuma exchanged glances.
Kuma's smile grew even gentler.
The two then continued listening as Vegapunk poured out his thoughts.
"Back then, I wanted him to take me with him, but he refused."
Vegapunk shook his head regretfully. "The World Government did give me ample funding, but they also made many demands. Dr. Reddy is different. We're both scientists. We speak the same language and understand each other."
"But..."
"Now he's become a major figure on the seas and has secured abundant funding, no longer needing to worry about money."
"I don't want to lose to him."
Kuma shared the same ideal as Vegapunk—both wished for world peace and understood that achieving this required necessary power.
As for Shaka, he was one of Vegapunk's clones.
With no outsiders present, Vegapunk didn't hide his feelings and rambled on for a while, venting his frustrations.
Jealous?
Of course Vegapunk was jealous that Reddy could conduct research without any constraints.
Envious?
Absolutely!
Reddy possessed a genius mind, and his achievements in the field of the Bloodline Factor surpassed even Vegapunk's.
The clones he created had been proven in battle to be monsters comparable to Marine Admirals.
With both intelligence and overwhelming power, what ideal couldn't he realize?
But precisely because of this, Vegapunk didn't want to accept Reddy's invitation before completing the Pacifista Project and the Seraphim Project.
Did the world's greatest scientist have no pride?
"So I chose to stay and assist you."
Kuma gazed at the white ceiling, a gentle smile on his face as he thought of his daughter Bonney, who remained at the Punk Hazard research facility.
Achieving world peace was his ideal, but not Reddy's.
He had known this since his first meeting with Reddy.
That was why he ultimately didn't go to Punk Hazard with Bonney but chose to stay at Egghead Island to help Vegapunk, who shared his ideals, complete these two crucial projects.
To this end, he willingly became Vegapunk's test subject, undergoing modification surgeries to collect detailed data.
"Enough talk. Let's begin."
Vegapunk chuckled and scolded, then put on surgical gloves and signaled to Shaka.
Shaka handed him a scalpel and suddenly said, "Actually, the Seraphim Project is already a success."
"Don't joke around!"
Vegapunk scoffed. "The current Seraphim are just big toys, worthless."
Shaka shrugged and said no more.
Even if the current data was sufficient to produce Seraphim with strength no less than—or even surpassing—Marine Vice Admirals, such results were still nothing compared to the clones Reddy had created.
This wouldn't convince the original, a perfectionist.
...
"He actually refused?"
Reddy held the Den Den Mushi, taking a while to process that Vegapunk had turned down his invitation.
Weren't you the one who hinted before that you'd be willing to come with me?
What now?
Changed your mind?
Think the World Government suits you better?
It's not like I'd withhold your funding.
Reddy regretfully put away the Den Den Mushi and turned his attention back to the three complex molecular structures displayed on the system interface.
Vegapunk's refusal was awkward.
The breakthrough was within reach, yet he lacked the necessary scientific manpower to realize it.
It felt like a delicious cake was dangling right in front of him, just out of reach.
"Guess I'll have to settle for small-scale lab production."
Reddy gave a wry smile and shook his head, not wanting to dwell on the issue too much.
Lab production just meant higher costs.
Now that he had partially solved the energy accumulation efficiency problem, he could afford the expense.
The rest depended on whether Beal and the others could surprise him.