The MADS research vessel was a side-wheel steamer—a rare sight in this era of wind-powered ships.
Twin paddles churned the waves as pressurized steam drove the blades, propelling the ship steadily forward.
Steam engines, submarines, even icebreakers—none of it surprised Dimon anymore. The world was full of relics and glimpses of technologies that didn't quite fit their age.
Watching the Marine battleship vanish over the horizon, Vegapunk and his colleagues finally exhaled in relief.
The Mad Scientists of MADS
"Thank you," said the scientist with the enormous head, adjusting his glasses. "I'm Dr. Vegapunk. Stussy's told me plenty about you. You have our gratitude."
"I'm Dimon," he replied, smiling faintly. "No need for thanks, Doctor."
He studied the man before him—the so-called genius "five hundred years ahead of his time." Vegapunk's oversized cranium rose like a tower, nearly as tall as the rest of his body. It wasn't just for show; the Brain-Brain Fruit allowed him infinite memory storage. Dimon half-expected the thing to burst one day.
Stussy looped her arm through his, cheerfully taking charge. "Let me introduce everyone~!"
Besides Vegapunk, there were three other core members:
Caesar Clown, the pompous scientist with the Gas-Gas Fruit.
Vinsmoke Judge, proud father of a yet-unborn boy who'd one day be known as Sanji.
And Queen, the rotund genius destined to become one of Kaido's future All-Stars, with the Ancient Zoan: Brachiosaurus Fruit.
Introductions done, they exchanged greetings. Curiosity sparkled in every eye—scientist meeting specimen.
Vegapunk smiled. "This isn't the place to talk. Come, Dimon. Let me show you around."
The Lab of Miracles
They walked through gleaming corridors, each chamber humming with experiments beyond the age. Stussy served as his personal tour guide, explaining every project with unrestrained enthusiasm—until they reached a cloning lab.
The stark white room was lined with glass pods. Inside each floated a developing body—humanoid, suspended in amniotic light.
Dimon's brow rose. "Cloning? Already?"
He remembered Stussy's clone, the one that would later serve as an CP0 agent. But these pods held only men.
"These," Vegapunk said calmly, "are clones of a deceased scientist. I've been testing whether I can 'revive' him. But without the memory blueprint, the result is just a body. The soul… doesn't return."
Then his eyes gleamed with sudden excitement. "When Stussy joined, I tried cloning her too—but failed. Her immortal cells resist replication! Fascinating!"
"Immortal cells?" Dimon echoed.
"My term," Vegapunk said proudly. "The cells of you immortals—'Eternal Ones'—are unique beyond measure!"
Stussy chuckled softly. "My main research project since joining has been studying those eternal cells."
"Any success?"
She puffed her cheeks and shook her head.
Dimon only smiled. The revelation didn't surprise him—immortality had to come with rules.
The Deal of Science and Power
After the tour, they settled in the lounge. Vegapunk poured himself coffee, adding an absurd number of sugar cubes. Stussy poured Dimon a drink and nestled close beside him.
"After Vegapunk discovered the Lineage Factor—the blueprint of life itself—the World Government came for us," she said. "Sengoku chased us for days. You showing up saved us."
"Lineage Factor?" Dimon repeated.
"Also called the Design of Life," she explained eagerly, as though trying to impress a bored student.
Dimon took a sip of wine, nodding absently.
"You're not listening!" she huffed, cheeks puffed out.
"I'm listening," he said flatly. "I just don't understand."
Turning to Vegapunk, Dimon got to the point. "Doctor, I came here with a request. In Wano, I found something—the Ancient Weapon, Pluton."
"What!?"
Caesar and Queen nearly jumped out of their seats. Vegapunk froze mid-sip.
"The super-warship of legend," Vegapunk whispered. "Said to rival the gods themselves…"
"I found it," Dimon confirmed. "But it's inert—needs a power source. I want you to make it work."
Vegapunk hesitated, eyes clouding. To awaken a weapon capable of ending the world went against every peaceful ideal he held—but curiosity warred with conscience. Ancient technology! The pinnacle of lost civilization!
"Shurorororo~!" Caesar snickered. "If Vegapunk won't help, I will! I'm just as brilliant!"
Queen raised a hand. "Me too! Let me see it up close!"
Judge stood up entirely. "Please, allow me to participate, Lord Dimon!"
Three eager maniacs; one reluctant genius. Vegapunk sighed, defeated.
"Very well. I'll take the commission. I can't promise success, but I'll try. It'll require significant funding…"
Dimon grinned. "Don't worry, Doctor. I'm the Shogun of Wano. You'll have an entire nation's treasury behind your work."
Money wasn't a problem.
He'd just make Wano's "beasts and oxen" work harder.
The scientists stared, a little stunned.
Stussy blinked, then laughed. "No wonder you disappeared all these years! The mysterious land of Wano, huh? The samurai country—source of Seastone! I've always wanted to visit~"
Return to Wano
It had taken him only hours to find the MADS vessel—but nearly half a month to bring it back. When they finally anchored at Wano's port, Kaido was waiting.
The moment he saw Stussy, his eyes widened. "Sashi… what now?"
"Sasuga ne, Kaido~," she sang sweetly.
"Stussy…" Kaido's look toward Dimon all but said: This is your scientist? Seriously?
Dimon ignored him, gesturing grandly. "Prepare a feast, Kaido. These are our guests—and Stussy's just… tagging along."
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews.
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/MugiwaraTL