In his previous life, Kaido didn't pay much attention to these trivial matters at sea, but Queen had once told him about the Peace Research Institute.
Funded by the loan shark king Du Feld, this institute gathered the world's most intelligent geniuses to research various scientific fields.
It aimed to lead humanity into a 'new era.'
However, a few years after the Peace Research Institute was established, its various research achievements caught the attention of the World Government.
The era-transcending scientific technology allowed Vegapunk to be granted an exceptional audience with the Gorosei.
At that time, the Lineage Factor had just been developed and lacked data support.
Therefore, this research achievement, except for a few key personnel, had always been kept secret from the outside world.
Later, after extensive experimental data verified that the forbidden domain 'Lineage Factor' truly existed and was controllable, bad news followed.
Several members of the Peace Research Institute were hunted by the World Government.
Vegapunk and Caesar joined the World Government's Marine Science Unit, while Queen and Judge chose to leave and pursue their own paths.
Kaido knew that Queen had a deep obsession with the Lineage Factor, because this scientific research achievement was mainly discovered by Vegapunk and Judge.
Queen liked to create destructive weapons and viruses and had strong imitation abilities.
He was able to harness the power of the Vinsmoke family's Lineage Factor for his own use, constantly modifying his body structure, and later integrated the laser technology developed by Vegapunk.
Kaido collected his thoughts and said in a deep voice, "Not long ago, the World Government issued a warrant for the Peace Research Institute… If possible, we must get these scientists under our wing before the World Government does."
"Scientists… what use can these people be?"
Wald snorted, clearly not fond of scientists: "Not only can they not contribute anything to us, but they also constantly demand large sums for project research funding."
Asking Vegapunk to research biochemical killing weapons would certainly not interest him, but if it were Queen, Caesar, or Judge doing the research, that would be different.
Scientists of this caliber, by combining the research achievements developed by the Peace Research Institute over the years—such as exoskeletons, Lineage Factor, cloning technology—with their own areas of expertise, could create terrifying destructive weapons.
Of course, if Vegapunk couldn't be won over, he would be eliminated directly, to prevent the World Government from benefiting.
"The power of science, once turned into a weapon of murder, is truly terrifying."
Kaido smiled chillingly, his eyes full of madness: "Binjack, find them for me."
Half a month later.
Peace Research Institute.
A piercing alarm sounded, and crimson warning lights flashed wildly in the laboratory corridor.
Hearing the dense gunfire from outside, Queen, Judge, and Caesar, who were stationed at the Peace Research Institute, looked at each other, frantic: "Vegapunk was captured by the World Government?"
"I should have known he shouldn't have agreed to go to that country to implement artificial rain; the news must have leaked…"
Caesar's eyes darted around; to ensure the secrecy of their research, the Peace Research Institute changed locations periodically.
Judge sneered, "Hmph, it's good that he was captured. I've already gotten what I wanted. Let's go our separate ways!"
He immediately picked up his military rifle, shouldered his weapons, and frantically prepared to escape through the laboratory's escape tunnel.
Caesar watched Judge open the escape tunnel and immediately rushed to follow, grabbing several killing weapons he had developed: "Hey, Queen, aren't you going to hurry up and follow? If we're late, they'll break into the lab and catch us."
Queen chuckled twice, a dark glint flashing in his round glasses.
He unhurriedly extracted two tubes of deep blue liquid from a nitrogen tank, placed one under the laboratory table, set its explosion time, then snatched the research blueprints from the table and hastily followed.
A minute later, the group appeared before a hidden mechanical door in a large rock behind the island. Caesar glanced at the three Marine warships floating in the distance, his expression extremely grim.
"I knew it. As soon as Stussy learned Vegapunk had left the institute, she immediately found an opportunity to sneak away. She must have gotten the news in advance. That pirate woman really hasn't changed her ways!"
Judge had, at some point, changed into a simple combat suit. This was part of the scientific technology left behind by the Germa Kingdom. As long as he returned to the kingdom and combined the Lineage Factor with the combat suit, he would surely restore Germa 66 to its former glory.
Caesar looked at Judge, who was flexing his muscles, his eyes eager to test the combat suit. He paused and asked, "After we escape, what do you two plan to do?"
Judge's lips curled slightly, and he looked at Caesar with a condescending gaze: "I am the Prince of the Germa Kingdom, so of course, I'm going to fight my way out and return to the kingdom!"
Queen said excitedly, "Me… anyway, I'm only interested in killing weapons. Although I've gained some things being with you guys these years, Vegapunk's pacifist ideals have made it very difficult for me to suppress my urge for human experimentation. After escaping from here, I want to open my experimental paradise and join a faction that shares my interests."
After speaking, both looked at Caesar suspiciously: "You, kid, you're not planning to defect to the World Government, are you?"
If they won't throw me into Impel Down, I might consider it… Caesar Clown thought to himself.
Caesar chuckled, "Haha, how could that be? Vegapunk was captured by the World Government, and there's no news yet. We don't know if he'll be secretly executed by the World Government."
What he cared about were Vegapunk's research achievements. Many theories and knowledge were difficult for them to replicate.
But those research achievements would be enough to benefit them for a lifetime.
Judge sneered, "Who cares if he's dead or alive? But it's best if he's dead; that way, no one will compete with me for the title of the world's greatest scientist!"
"Hey, even if he dies, the world's greatest scientist should be me!"
"Your crappy research counts as the world's greatest?!"
"..."
The rare peaceful chat was immediately broken. The expressions of the few people were very ugly. Judge heard a violent explosion from the laboratory behind him, knowing that the laboratory's self-destruct sequence had begun, and their opportunity had also arrived.
Judge, Queen, and Caesar said in unison, "Enough talk, let's fight our way out of here first!"
...As news broke that the Peace Research Institute had been destroyed and three vicious scientists had hijacked a Marine warship to escape, Hanafuda brought some bad news with a gloomy face.
He had previously gathered intelligence in the Underworld about an Ancient Zoan Pteranodon Devil Fruit, and sent people to purchase it for five hundred million Berries. However, on the return journey, they were ambushed by fellow pirates.
The Devil Fruit fell into other hands. Hanafuda personally went to settle accounts, only to find that the pirate crew had pledged allegiance to the recently emerged Worst Generation Pirate Alliance.
The Worst Generation Pirate Alliance: Kaido, Silver Axe, Gan Zhui.
Three great pirates from the former Rocks Pirates had miraculously reformed an alliance. With their respective powerful strengths and prestige, they had successively captured several islands in a short period, gathering over five thousand men.