"The current plan is for Aranea to serve as the commander of the Pacifista unit. These units will use Kuma's Lineage Factor as the prime template. We will first modify ordinary humans to match his physique before turning them into cyborgs."
In the laboratory, Dr. Vegapunk pulled out a planning sheet and began explaining his recent research direction to Alucard. "With the assistance of your Lineage Factor, Captain, they will possess even more terrifying regenerative capabilities. As for their offensive abilities, I originally intended to use Borsalino's Glint-Glint Fruit powers, but that is no longer an option. Therefore, I have decided to swap it for the Hot-Hot Fruit."
Alucard set the planning sheet down and gave a thin smile. "Enough with the tedious explanations. Just give me a timeline."
"Manufacturing time alone? I could produce the first batch in two to three years. The bottleneck is the cultivation chambers and the nutrient solutions required for the manufacturing machinery. Those are still in the Marineford laboratory. Starting from scratch would cost an immense amount of time and raw materials..."
Alucard interrupted Vegapunk's rambling. "Enough nonsense. Just tell me where I can go to steal them."
"As expected of the Captain, straight to the point."
Dr. Vegapunk spread his hands. "I have an old friend named Judge. He surely has ready-made stock available. I was hoping we could 'borrow' some from him."
The Vinsmoke Family, currently a renowned family of assassins and mercenaries in the Underworld. Rumor had it that Doflamingo, a Joker in the Underworld, also maintained dealings with them. Finding them shouldn't be too difficult.
"Go."
Alucard uttered that single word and turned to leave the research center.
Vegapunk's expression froze. He quickly said, "Captain, I am a man of the shadows. How can I go out and show my face like that?"
Whether it was back with the Government or now with the Immortal Pirates, Dr. Vegapunk had always adhered to the principle of staying behind the scenes and remaining a dedicated "tech-hermit." This wasn't just a personality trait; it was because his identity was highly sensitive, and a veil of mystery served as his best protection.
Alucard paused his step. He turned and leaned close to Dr. Vegapunk, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "If you don't do this, how can we get your face onto a bounty poster faster?"
With that, Alucard departed without looking back, leaving Vegapunk alone to wryly smile.
Usually, it was Vegapunk who played others. He hadn't expected the day to come when he would be the one getting played. Alucard was clearly intending to bind him firmly to his warship, likely as a safeguard against betrayal.
"Captain~ aren't you quite the supporter of rebellions?"
Before Alucard took his final step out of the room, Dr. Vegapunk called out with a long, suggestive drawl.
Alucard turned his face slightly, his eyes hidden behind his signature round sunglasses, and laughed. "The same game is only interesting if played after a while. If it happens too often, it becomes tedious."
Having said that, Alucard's body phased through the wall and vanished.
"Heh, what a terrifying fellow."
Vegapunk's shoulders twitched. He knew that this time, no matter what, he had to make an appearance.
…
The Vinsmoke Family was a household name in the New World. Using Doflamingo as an intermediary, a meeting between Dr. Vegapunk and Vinsmoke Judge was arranged almost instantly.
Floating upon the seas of the New World was a colossal warship that resembled a mobile city: the Kingdom of Germa.
Dr. Vegapunk sat in the reception room of the castle, enjoying the coffee served by a maid. Standing behind him was a team of scientists in white coats.
Alongside them were members of the Immortal Pirates: the Black Thorn Pirates led by Fallon, the Iron Arm Pirates led by Urdaha, and Vegapunk's personal bodyguard, the future commander of the Pacifistas, "Female Dragon Knight" Aranea Highwind. Next to her stood the silent, vacant figure of the former Warlord, Bartholomew Kuma, now the Immortal Pirates' Human Weapon No. 1, PX-0.
Such an exaggerated lineup illustrated just how much importance Alucard placed on Dr. Vegapunk... actually, that wasn't it. Vegapunk, fearing for his own safety, had brought this many people himself, and Alucard had given him the authority to pick whoever he wanted.
"Hey, those people are the big shots from the Immortal Pirates, right?"
"I never thought I'd see so many legends all at once..."
"So that's the legendary Vegapunk? That's what he looks like?"
As Dr. Vegapunk sipped his coffee, he recalled the words Alucard had said to him before he left: "I'm not really in the mood for the betrayal game lately. I have your Vivre Card now; we can play cat and mouse instead."
Thinking of those words, Vegapunk couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile. He truly felt like he had boarded a ship of thieves.
Aranea, standing between Vegapunk and Kuma with one hand on her hip and feeling a bit restless, couldn't help but wave at a nearby maid. "Excuse me, could I get a cup of coffee too?"
"It's been a long time, Vegapunk."
Before the maid could move, the massive doors swung open. A burly man entered the reception room, followed by three young men and a woman.
It was the head of the Vinsmoke Family, Vinsmoke Judge, along with his three sons and daughter.
"Oh dear," Aranea spread her hands. "Looks like no coffee for me."
"Indeed. It's been over twenty years, hasn't it, Judge?"
Dr. Vegapunk set his coffee cup down. When he saw Judge's limbs, he fell silent for a few seconds before asking, "Regenerative prosthetics?"
Judge appeared calm on the surface, but he was actually suppressing a raging fire in his heart. He gave a thin, cold smile. "Courtesy of your new Captain."
He really does have a lot of enemies... Vegapunk thought privately.
"The man rumored to have had his limbs severed by Alucard-sama is standing here with all four limbs intact."
Urdaha tapped his own steel prosthetic right arm with his left hand. "I wonder if I could enjoy a bit of that technology myself?"
Urdaha's words caused the atmosphere in the room to turn ice-cold. Yonji, the most hot-headed of the Vinsmokes, nearly made a move, but seeing the Immortal Pirates' emblems on the group across from him, he was forced to swallow his rage.