-Real World-
Doflamingo had been completely exposed by the Sky Screen broadcast. Every secret, every scheme, every hidden alliance had been stripped bare for the world to examine. Not even his most intimate strategies had been spared from public scrutiny. This was the humiliating predicament facing the former Heavenly Yaksha.
Vergo had been operating undercover within the Marines for over years. His mastery of institutional manipulation would earn grudging respect from every pirate on the seas—no one had expected such a long-term infiltration to be possible. The man had played the system like a virtuoso.
Special Executive Sugar, wielder of the Paramecia-type Hobi Hobi no Mi (Hobby-Hobby Fruit), could transform anyone she touched into living toys. This ability was fundamentally unfair in its application. The world now understood that countless illegal toy laborers toiled beneath Dressrosa's surface, working day and night for the Donquixote Family's profit.
Princess Mansherry of the Tontatta tribe possessed the Paramecia-type Chiyu Chiyu no Mi (Heal-Heal Fruit), capable of mending any injury within moments. Despite her tiny stature, this ability operated at an almost game-breaking level, allowing the family's executives to recover from fatal wounds and return to battle. In prolonged conflicts or wars of attrition, unless the enemy possessed overwhelming individual power, most forces on the seas would prove no match for the Donquixote Family.
The Heavenly Yaksha's scientific partner, Caesar Clown, had become so notorious that he was nearly overshadowing Dr. Vegapunk himself. This was primarily due to the incredible innovations he'd displayed through the Sky Screen.
Based on the current timeline, artificial Zoan-type Devil Fruits should already exist. Caesar had been operating directly under the Marines' noses, secretly trading with Kaido's Beast Pirates—one of the Four Emperors—thereby strengthening enemy pirate forces. This was equivalent to defecating on the entire Marine organization's collective head.
No one could fathom how he'd acquired the lineage factors of the three former Admirals, using them to create fishman replicas with copied natural Devil Fruit abilities. The pseudo-Admirals—dubbed SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward had demonstrated legitimate Logia powers despite being artificial constructs.
Though these counterfeit Admirals had been defeated by Admiral Smoker, their destructive capabilities shown in the Sky Screen had attracted attention from numerous underground forces. Any organization that could contact Caesar Clown and acquire his scientific products would command significantly more respect and fear on the seas.
After taking inventory, all four individuals were directly connected to Doflamingo. Many had underestimated the former Celestial Dragon's capacity for chaos. His strategic planning reached remarkably far into the future—no wonder he could orchestrate a world-ending crisis like the Rumbling five years hence.
This fallen World Noble found himself targeted not only by enemies but by former allies as well. Even the Five Elders harbored suspicions about his ultimate intentions. As for the Marines, every officer wanted to see him flayed alive.
However, regarding the future revelations from the Sky Screen, one force stood to benefit more than any other: the Marines.
The volume of intelligence exposed by the broadcast was so overwhelming that the entire Marine organization was energized beyond measure. Since they now knew the future in advance, they could prevent these catastrophic outcomes from occurring. If they didn't eliminate the G-5 branch spy network immediately, when would they ever get such an opportunity?
Under orders from Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Admiral Kizaru—the fastest man in the Marines—received operational command to capture both Vergo and Caesar Clown. The scientific madman's life was to be preserved at all costs. Such high-level talent shouldn't be allowed to escape.
The Marine Science Division had previously expelled Caesar voluntarily, and Sengoku had severely reprimanded those responsible afterward. Borsalino had been implicated in that decision and suffered a month's salary deduction as punishment.
Admiral Kizaru's mission to the G-5 branch carried elements of personal redemption. Successful completion would restore his full salary, while failure would extend his financial penalty.
When money became a factor, the Admiral displayed remarkable motivation. He didn't slack off for a single moment during transit, flying at nearly light-speed toward Punk Hazard with uncharacteristic urgency.
Punk Hazard had inadvertently become the center of global attention, and spy Vergo could no longer maintain his cover. When his figure appeared aboard the Marine prison vessel, his former colleagues stared at their commander with complete disbelief.
Faced with questioning from his supposed comrades, Vergo offered no verbal explanations. Instead, he demonstrated through decisive action that he was indeed a Doflamingo-trained infiltrator who had spent over a decade embedded within Marine ranks.
Vergo struck down every nearby Marine at the first opportunity. He no longer cared whether his former colleagues lived or died—he simply didn't have time for sentiment with so little opportunity remaining.
This man was serious and merciless from the beginning. Any Marine who blocked his path would be killed without hesitation. Vergo had only one mission now: escape Punk Hazard with Caesar Clown in tow.
"Everything that needs destroying has been destroyed," Vergo announced as he broke through multiple defensive layers to reach the scientist. "I've arranged a ship. We can depart immediately."
Despite the considerable time required to overcome various obstacles, Vergo finally stood before Caesar Clown. Though this mad scientist was suspected of embezzling research funds, such concerns seemed trivial now. Their immediate priority was rapid evacuation.
"The fishman weapons—my pseudo-Admirals—were perfect! They were pure art!" Caesar ranted with manic enthusiasm. "But this damned Sky Screen exposed everything prematurely. I don't have any experimental data to work with now!"
This scientific madman had spent the first half of his life pursuing weapons of mass destruction. As a conceited genius, he fully believed in the Sky Screen's revelations about his achievements five years hence.
The thought that he might someday surpass Vegapunk—the man who'd looked down on him for so long—filled Caesar with vindictive joy. Much of his current extremism could be traced directly to Vegapunk's dismissive treatment.
"Before we leave, I'm giving the Marines a farewell gift," Caesar declared with unhinged glee. "I'm going to erase Punk Hazard from the map entirely."
Though he felt brief sadness at abandoning his experimental equipment and secret facilities, this melancholy was quickly replaced by maniacal anticipation.
Just as the two conspirators prepared to evacuate the laboratory, a golden flash materialized before them with trailing afterimages. The newcomer wore a Marine coat of justice, his face bearing the characteristic lazy expression that somehow radiated overwhelming pressure.
"Where are you two gentlemen headed?" Admiral Kizaru asked with deceptive politeness. "Would you like me to provide transportation?"
"Admiral Kizaru!" both men exclaimed simultaneously.
These criminals had encountered the person they least wanted to face. Vergo hadn't anticipated that Marine Headquarters would take the situation so seriously as to dispatch an Admiral directly to Punk Hazard, essentially leaving Sabaody Archipelago's Marine defenses understaffed.
"The Marines sent me here personally," Borsalino continued, his usual humor noticeably absent. "You should understand what that means regarding our attitude. Come with me back to Marineford."
This man had rushed here desperately to avoid continued salary deductions. He'd lost all patience with the two traitors before him.
Vergo gripped a bamboo stick, coating it with Armament Haki while simultaneously hardening his entire body with the same technique. As a long-term spy within the Marines—a violent organization by nature—he understood exactly what awaited him if captured and returned to headquarters. Despite the overwhelming odds, he summoned the courage to resist an Admiral.
"Since you insist on fighting," Borsalino sighed, "don't blame me for the consequences."
The Admiral transformed into a golden streak of light, carrying Vergo's body as he systematically demolished every surface in the factory. The spy was given no opportunity to mount meaningful resistance.
Blood from the Marine traitor splattered across every inch of the Punk Hazard laboratory. Vergo bore the full brunt of an Admiral's wrath—alone and utterly outmatched.
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