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"Long time no see."
Kyle chuckled softly.
"Running into you here… that's a surprise. A pleasant one."
Vegapunk smiled back, but his gaze soon drifted past Kyle to the Marines in the distance, who were hauling waterlogged books out of the ruins. A trace of regret flickered across his face.
"Unfortunately, this reunion comes in the middle of a disaster."
Kyle followed his line of sight.
The men working nonstop were squads from G-18 Fortress, operating under Evans' command. They moved with urgency, salvaging every book they could from Ohara's wreckage and transporting them back to base.
"Reunions are meant to be happy," Kyle said quietly. "And this one is the beginning of our story."
He watched as another crate of books was lifted away.
"Civilization. Knowledge. They're built by generations of people, through hardship and sacrifice."
"It's a relief that someone still understands their value."
Vegapunk sighed. "It just happens to be the Marines."
When he first heard that Ohara had been destroyed, the shock and grief had been overwhelming. Countless treasures of humanity, buried beneath cannon fire.
It wasn't just an island that fell.
It was a loss to all mankind.
"They're my men," Kyle said calmly. "And the scholars of Ohara… they're not dead."
"I saved them."
"What?!"
Vegapunk's eyes widened, shock giving way to excitement.
"You mean Dr. Clover is alive? You rescued him?"
Then his expression shifted again, thoughts racing.
"That explains it. Headquarters has felt… off lately."
"There were even rumors. A powerful Marine in the West Blue clashing with Headquarters—against the World Government itself."
He looked at Kyle carefully.
"That was you?"
Kyle smiled faintly and nodded.
"I'm already an enemy of the world."
He paused, then fixed Vegapunk with a steady gaze.
"So your friend needs your help."
Vegapunk stiffened. Hesitation crept across his face.
"If our powers joined together," Kyle continued, turning his eyes toward the horizon, "we could change this world."
"You have the greatest brain in existence."
"And I…"
He smirked.
"I have power that surpasses everything."
"This would be an alliance between the strongest."
He glanced back at Vegapunk, a spark in his eyes.
"With the two of us working together, nothing ahead of us would be able to stand in our way."
A breeze swept past them. Kyle inhaled slowly, then asked,
"What does your ideal world look like?"
"Children laughing. Families living in peace. All races of the world coexisting as equals."
"No slavery. No tragedy. No needless suffering."
"No Celestial Dragons. No hereditary nobles."
"And those who stand above others would do so only to uphold justice and maintain order."
"If a prince breaks the law, he's punished the same as a commoner."
He looked at Vegapunk.
"Can a world like that exist?"
With each sentence, the scientist's expression shifted. Light began to gather in his eyes. By the time Kyle finished, the big-headed genius looked almost dazed.
"Does such a utopia… truly exist?"
Kyle smiled.
"It doesn't. Not yet."
"But if we create it, then it will."
Vegapunk's face cycled through doubt, longing, calculation. After a long silence, he let out a heavy sigh.
"My research requires enormous funding," he said slowly. "And a quiet place. Somewhere I won't be disturbed."
"After thinking it through… only the World Government has that kind of resource."
Kyle burst out laughing and waved his hand dismissively, brimming with confidence.
"Money. Materials. A research base. You don't need to worry about any of it."
"I'll handle everything."
Vegapunk looked up at him, skeptical.
"You can?"
Kyle grinned—and then delivered the one offer the great scientist could never refuse.
"I'll even let you study my lineage factor."
Vegapunk's pupils shrank.
He knew Kyle's background. Knew how utterly absurd his bloodline was.
No one was truly unkillable. Even the immensely gifted Lunarians could be slain.
But Kyle was different. Every method meant to kill him had failed. Worse—each one seemed to make him stronger.
To a scientist obsessed with truth, there was no greater temptation.
With the world's greatest mind, Vegapunk had dissected everything placed before him. Even the mysteries of Devil Fruits were slowly unraveling under his scrutiny.
And yet, the so-called "immortality factor" within Kyle remained a complete enigma.
"Are you serious?" Vegapunk's voice trembled as he looked up.
"Completely."
Kyle's smile didn't fade, but something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
"Though I can't guarantee you'll actually figure anything out."
He understood his own bloodline better than anyone. It had almost nothing to do with so-called "lineage factors." It was simply his personal cheat, something that belonged to him alone.
Let them study it all they wanted. At best, they'd just end up inventing fancy terminology to dress up what they didn't understand.
"Alright. I'll join you."
Vegapunk agreed without the slightest hesitation.
But at that very moment, the wind around them suddenly picked up.
"Don't rush to say yes."
"Vegapunk."
A low voice drifted through the gale. A cloaked figure twisted into view, his outline warping in the wind.
Kyle smiled faintly, completely unsurprised, his gaze settling calmly on the newcomer.
It was Dragon.
"Dragon?"
Vegapunk looked puzzled.
Clearly, the two of them already knew each other.
"I'm going to build an army," Dragon said, throwing back his hood with a grin. "An army that will overturn the world and reshape it."
"Vegapunk, join me."
As he extended his invitation, his sharp eyes locked onto Kyle.
In that instant, their positions were unmistakably opposed. Both men had their own ambitions, and Vegapunk's importance needed no explanation.
"This…?"
Vegapunk froze.
A moment later, his expression turned apologetic.
"I'm sorry, Dragon. I've already agreed to Kyle."
"He's given me a reason I simply can't refuse."
Dragon stiffened. A flicker of anger flashed in his eyes as he looked at Kyle, but it faded just as quickly.
"What he's done recently is admirable," Dragon admitted.
"Standing against the World Government. Defeating two Admirals working together. Rescuing the innocent scholars of Ohara from a Buster Call."
"There's nothing wrong with choosing him."
"But—"
His voice grew colder.
"This man's ambition is beyond your imagination, Vegapunk."
"Be careful."
"One day, he may bring upheaval to the world on a scale you can't even picture."
With that, Dragon's figure twisted and dissolved into the wind.
"Kyle."
Vegapunk turned toward him.
"Don't mind him," Kyle chuckled. "He's just jealous. Sour grapes."
"Mm."
"By the way, I want to read all the books Ohara left behind," Vegapunk said. "They're extremely valuable to me. They might push my research to a whole new level."
"No problem."
"I'm planning to find a place to rebuild the Tree of Knowledge. I'll construct an experimental base for you there and recruit a batch of top-tier scientists."
Kyle agreed without hesitation.
Vegapunk nodded in satisfaction.
Then the two of them stood in silence, watching as the Marines continued transferring the books.
Outwardly, Kyle looked relaxed.
Inside, though, the pressure was crushing.
Money. Resources. Territory.
Supporting the greatest scientist in the world wasn't cheap. Why else would Vegapunk, fully aware of the World Government's bad intentions, still choose to work under them?
Simple. The Government provided immense resources and convenience. He could conduct any experiment he wanted without worrying about funding.
And now that burden would fall squarely on Kyle's shoulders.
Troublesome.
But he quickly pushed the thought aside.
He had made his decision. No matter what, he would see it through.
"Money… There should still be a batch of gold up on Skypiea."
"As for territory…"
A spark flashed through his mind, and a smile curved his lips.
"Dr. Vegapunk."
"We may need a ship capable of traveling freely between Skypiea and the Blue Sea."
Vegapunk blinked, then replied without hesitation, "As long as we solve the energy issue and ensure sufficient propulsion, that's quite simple."
Kyle grinned and stretched out both hands.
Crackle!
Lightning burst into existence, blue arcs dancing wildly between his palms.
"You're a user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit?"
"Even better."
Vegapunk looked genuinely surprised.
Soon after, Saul and the others arrived with more people, all joining in to move the books.
Roughly two hours later, three warships were loaded to the brim with heavy volumes.
Vegapunk stood at the bow, glancing at Saul on a neighboring ship.
"You even have a giant in your ranks."
Kyle smiled. "He's my friend, Saul."
"We share the same ideals."
Vegapunk nodded, then asked, "Have you already defected from the Navy?"
Kyle bared his teeth in a grin. "Who knows?"
"Then it seems your background is more complicated than it appears," Vegapunk said lightly. "The World Government is likely still deciding how to handle your actions during the Ohara incident."
Kyle paused, then quickly understood and nodded.
"Just wait. I'm sure someone will contact you soon."
"From here on, your relationship with the Navy and the World Government may become… delicate. Ambiguous."
Vegapunk spoke casually.
"Is Dr. Clover at your base as well?"
Kyle nodded.
"That's wonderful news. There are many matters I'd like to discuss with him."
Vegapunk looked genuinely delighted.
Then he suddenly raised his head and studied Kyle.
"You're a very clever man."
"You know how to recognize what truly holds value."
Kyle gave a helpless smile. "I can't tell if that's praise or sarcasm."
"It's praise," Vegapunk replied.
"Thank you."
After that, silence settled between them.
Kyle stared at the rolling sea ahead, his eyes gradually growing serious.
The events of the past days replayed rapidly in his mind, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"I'm still too weak."
Not just in strength, but in influence.
The battle seven days ago… perhaps both sides had held back to some extent. Even so, facing two Admirals at once had placed him under immense pressure.
With that thought, he opened his status panel and dumped his accumulated points into the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, instantly maxing it out.
In the next second, the feedback flooding through his body made his pupils contract sharply.
"This is…?"
"A Logia awakening?"
"..."
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