Chapter 268: Vegapunk's Decision, Judge's Ambition
Science Island—
The temporary name given by Monica to the remote island where Vegapunk and several of the world's top scientists had gathered.
By dusk, tensions had reached their peak.
In a room filled with advanced instruments, more than a dozen lab-coated scientists stood huddled together.
One of them, a thirty-something man with a braided hairstyle, stood in front of a machine, hand resting over a red button.
The others kept their distance—about five meters away—wary and tense.
Among them, a tall, burly blond youth who didn't look like a scientist clenched his fists in anger.
"Dr. Kukuru, you didn't discover the genetic blueprint alone," he growled. "You have no right to decide what we do with it!"
Dr. Kukuru—the man with his hand on the button—remained calm.
"This discovery is too dangerous," he said, voice firm. "It should not be spread."
Then he turned sharply toward the blond youth. "Especially not to you, Judge. I've felt your ambition from the first time we met."
"This design must never fall into your hands!"
"You…"
Judge's expression darkened.
He had joined this illegal research team hoping to use science to revive the Germa Kingdom.
Now that the project was a success—now that he had access to the blueprint—he could build a powerful army and conquer the North Blue. That was his family's past glory, and he intended to restore it—and go even further!
But now, Kukuru wanted to destroy everything?
He couldn't accept that.
Yes, he had memorized parts of the blueprint, but not all. Only the full combined research of the group could create the complete life design.
Only then could he build the ultimate biological weapon.
"Don't pretend to be some righteous saint," Judge sneered. "This is an illegal research group. You think too highly of yourself."
"You're stalling for time. What are you—a spy from the World Government?"
That last line made everyone freeze.
They glanced at Kukuru, who still hadn't pushed the button.
They all knew—once he did, the machine would wipe the designs permanently.
And with the group already fracturing, there'd be no way to recreate it together again.
So if he really wanted to destroy it, why the hesitation?
"Is he stalling on purpose?!"
"Is he really a government agent?!"
"Damn it!"
"We need to leave now!"
Panic swept the group. Kukuru's face turned stiff.
He really wasn't with the government. He had been planning to push the button only at the last possible moment—when the Navy arrived.
His goal had been to scare the others into scattering, preventing them from ever recreating the design together.
That was his whole plan.
But now, caught in the middle of their fear and suspicion, he froze.
Judge didn't.
He seized the moment, stepped forward, and stabbed Kukuru in the chest.
Shing!
The knife sank in deep.
Kukuru looked down at the blade in shock, then up at Judge's cold eyes.
"You…"
He coughed up blood, trying to speak, but no full words came.
"Kukuru!" the others shouted, finally reacting. They shoved Judge aside and caught the collapsing scientist.
Judge didn't care. He ran to the machine and began memorizing the last few screens of data.
But—
In that moment, the others accidentally helped Kukuru back toward the red button.
With his final breath, he reached out—
And pushed it.
BEEP!
The machine sparked violently. The screen went dark.
"KUKURU, YOU BASTARD!!!" Judge roared.
BOOM!
He punched the machine, shattering it into pieces.
The others stared, stunned. They hadn't known Judge was that strong.
Thud!
Kukuru's body finally slumped to the floor, a peaceful smile on his lips.
"Kukuru!!!" the others screamed again.
Then, slowly… they backed away from Judge.
They realized—
With the machine destroyed, only they could recreate the blueprint.
But no one wanted to be used by him.
They weren't interested in conquest—only science. That's why they had come together on their own terms.
And now…
Judge, meanwhile, was too angry to care.
The blueprint was gone.
His eyes turned to the scrawny young man seated in the back of the lab.
"Vegapunk! You freak! Why did you install a self-destruct on the machine?!"
But Vegapunk ignored him.
Calmly, he stood and said, "You planning to leave? My deep-sea drones have detected six Navy warships approaching."
"They'll land in about two minutes."
"What?!"
"The Navy's coming?!"
The scientists panicked and began grabbing their things.
"Damn… Kukuru really was a government agent!" Judge growled. Still, he was secretly relieved. His distraction had worked.
"You're not leaving?" Vegapunk asked Judge.
Step, step.
Judge approached, eyes sharp. "You contributed the most. You must have a backup. Hand it over!"
"Heh."
Vegapunk chuckled. "Only people without confidence need backups."
"…"
Judge couldn't refute that.
They were both scientists—but Vegapunk was on a different level. He didn't need to study; he simply created.
"Then come with me," Judge urged. "We're running out of time!"
"I've decided to join the World Government," Vegapunk replied calmly.
"No!" Judge objected. This man was key to his dreams of conquest. He couldn't fall into government hands.
Judge lunged forward—
BOOM!
An explosion rocked the lab, blowing open a wall.
The ground trembled. Judge staggered back, trying to stay upright.
Alarms blared. Red lights flashed.
"The admiral's here," Vegapunk said. "If you stay, we'll be coworkers soon."
"Damn you!!" Judge hissed.
But there was nothing he could do. Vegapunk refused to cooperate, and the Navy was closing in.
As he retreated, Judge growled, "Even without you, I'll recreate the blueprint on my own!"
He turned and fled to a hidden panel on the floor.
Clunk!
A circular staircase descended underground.
A secret tunnel—his escape route.
He had memorized several diagrams. That would suffice.
As he prepared to escape, Judge glanced back at Vegapunk one last time.
But before he could descend—
FLASH!
A golden light filled the room.
Then a sleazy voice echoed—
"Speed is weight, little brother… ever been kicked by light?"
BOOM!
Judge didn't even react in time.
A searing kick sent him flying from the lab, unconscious before he hit the ground.
"You must be Dr. Vegapunk," said Kizaru, golden light radiating from his body as he appeared before Vegapunk.
The doctor nodded. No words were needed.
"Didn't expect you to be so cooperative," Kizaru grinned. "Makes things easy."
They walked out together.
...
Outside the lab—
Vegapunk saw that no one had escaped.
Except for the dead Kukuru, all the others had been captured by Marines and CP0 agents.
"So this is the lab of that notorious science group," Sengoku said, standing atop a nearby hill.
"No wonder Evernight City couldn't find it," he added. "They built it inside a mountain."
With the barren terrain and total lack of food or resources, few ever visited this area.
"Exactly. If no one had leaked their location, we wouldn't have found it either," Vice Admiral Tsuru agreed.
Soon—
All the scientists were assembled at the foot of the mountain. Even Kukuru's body was brought out by a soldier.
"Mr. Sengoku, all personnel captured. One casualty," Kizaru reported.
"One dead, huh?"
Sengoku frowned but said nothing more.
The real danger was just beginning.
"Prepare to return to G1 Base," he ordered.
"Yes, sir!" Kizaru replied and began organizing the escort.
Alongside them were three warships led by the CP0 commander and his top officers—plus six elite CP0 agents and other unknown CP factions.
Combat-wise, their force rivaled—or surpassed—the strongest pirate crews.
But against that man…
No one was confident.
(END CHAPTER)
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