The next morning.
York proactively invited Vegapunk and his team for a formal meeting. However, the venue was no longer the cramped, chaotic tavern, but the secluded, rocky cove where both their ships were moored.
York sat cross-legged on the grassy embankment.
Though he was only two meters tall—relatively short compared to the massive scientists—he exuded a suffocating aura of absolute authority without even needing to look angry. Having ruled Skypiea as a literal "God" for a year, he had cultivated the heavy, immovable presence of a true sovereign.
Coupled with the overwhelming confidence born from his strength, the current York was beginning to mirror the terrifying demeanor of his former Captain, Rocks D. Xebec.
The four scientists of MADS, now completely sober, approached the embankment. Seeing York sitting there, bathed in the morning light yet radiating the gravity of a black hole, they felt a collective shiver run down their spines.
'We vastly underestimated him yesterday,' Vegapunk thought, swallowing hard.
"Sit," York said casually, gesturing to the ground in front of him. "It's just grass. I imagine you geniuses won't mind getting a little dirt on your coats."
The four men hesitated, but eventually sat down in a semi-circle before him.
It wasn't that they lacked conviction. As the greatest scientific minds in the world, they possessed immense pride. But more than their pride, they understood what a 3-Billion-Berry bounty truly meant.
He had the power to slaughter them in the blink of an eye. And with Dragon and Kaido looming in the background, they wouldn't even have a fraction of a chance to escape.
Fortunately, Stussy had briefed them late into the night. She had explained York's ideals, assuring them that he was not a chaotic, mindless butcher like other pirates. He had a plan for the world.
"I have the same question as yesterday," York stated, skipping the pleasantries. "Are you willing to work for me?"
Vegapunk took a deep breath. He was the de facto leader, so he spoke first.
"My dream is to achieve world peace through the power of technology," Vegapunk said, his eyes serious. "Can your rule help me achieve that?"
"No. I cannot achieve permanent peace," York answered frankly, not missing a beat.
Vegapunk blinked, taken aback by the blunt rejection.
"The desires of the human heart are endless," York explained calmly. "As long as humans exist, conflict will exist. If the peace you wish for is a utopia without any friction, the only logical way to achieve it is to exterminate the human race."
"I cannot do that, nor do I wish to."
York leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Vegapunk's. "What I can achieve, is to become the King of the World."
"Through absolute, overwhelming power, I will suppress major wars. I will ensure that inevitable human conflicts occur within a heavily regulated framework. At the very least, senseless massacres and the unchecked tyranny of the Celestial Dragons will end."
"This hegemony cannot last forever. But while I draw breath, I can maintain this enforced peace. A hundred years, or perhaps only a few decades of stability—can you accept that kind of peace, Vegapunk?"
Vegapunk's mouth parted slightly. He fell silent, his massive brain analyzing the brutal, undeniable logic of York's proposition.
Seeing Vegapunk lost in thought, Vinsmoke Judge seized the opening.
"I want to revive the Germa Empire!" Judge demanded, his fists clenched. "I want Germa 66 to rule the North Blue again! Can you help me?!"
"HAHAHAHA!!"
York threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing off the cliffs.
"I am a man who will conquer the entire world, Judge! The North Blue will naturally fall under my domain!!"
York's grin turned sharp. "However... if you swear fealty to me, I have no problem entrusting you with the authority to govern the North Blue as my Viceroy."
Judge tilted his head, his eyes narrowing skeptically. "Are you really that confident? Rocks was a legend, and he failed! He was your Captain! Do you truly believe you can succeed where he fell?"
"Hehehe..." York chuckled, resting his chin on his hand.
"So what if he was my Captain? I was just born in a later era. That doesn't mean my potential is inferior to his."
"More importantly, it is because of his failure that I am certain I will succeed!" York spread his arms. "Isn't it the same in your laboratories? Who guarantees a 100% success rate on the first trial?"
"It is precisely through numerous failures, and the accumulation of hard-learned data, that you achieve the perfect experimental result! My ambition to conquer the world follows the exact same scientific principle!"
Judge's brow furrowed. As a scientist and a king, York's cold, calculated logic struck a profound chord within him. He, too, fell into a contemplative silence.
Next was the tall, skinny scientist with the mohawk. At this point in time, before adopting his Underworld epithet, he went by the name Scien (Queen).
Scien looked at his two speechless colleagues. He realized York had preemptively answered most of his own questions. After a brief moment, he asked the one thing he cared about most.
"If we join your crew... will you restrict our freedom?"
"As long as you don't betray me, and don't leak our proprietary research to my enemies, you can go wherever you want and build whatever you want," York stated, holding up a single finger.
"My only absolute requirement is loyalty. No betrayal."
Scien grinned, satisfied with the answer. He leaned back and nudged the man sitting next to him with his elbow.
Caesar Clown, the youngest of the four, swallowed nervously. He asked the fatal question the others had been too proud to voice.
"If... if we refuse your invitation... will you kill us?"
"Of course!!"
York beamed, flashing a gentle, yet utterly murderous smile.
"You four possess the greatest scientific minds on the planet! If you don't join my ranks, whoever you end up working for will eventually become an obstacle to my global unification!"
"I don't subscribe to the naive belief that if I spare a genius, they won't build weapons for my enemies. A key asset is key precisely because they are irreplaceable!"
York's eyes darkened, the Haki in the air growing heavy. "Therefore, if you refuse me, I will slaughter you all with a 100% certainty. I will nip that future risk in the bud right here, right now."
York's words were brutally blunt, but ironically, they dispelled the last of the scientists' concerns. A man who only spoke pleasantries could never overthrow the World Government. This man was a true, calculating conqueror.
York paused, letting the death threat hang in the air.
"My patience is limited. You have until the sun sets today to decide."
With that, York closed his eyes and said no more.
The four scientists sat in heavy silence. Minute by minute, the hours ticked by. Stussy and Ivankov occasionally brought out drinks and food from the ship, but no further words were exchanged.
Finally, as the afternoon sun began to dip toward the horizon...
Vegapunk let out a long sigh. He looked at York and nodded.
"Your logic is sound. I will place my trust in you."
Judge crossed his arms. "I need Germa revived. I cannot achieve that if I die here today. I am in."
Scien (Queen) smirked, tossing a rice cracker into his mouth. "I actually wanted to join yesterday, but nobody else spoke up! Count me in!"
Caesar glared at Scien, annoyed, before looking back at York. "I-I don't want to die either! I'll work under you!"
Hearing the unanimous surrender, York opened his eyes. His murderous aura vanished, replaced by a radiant, welcoming grin.
"Excellent! I look forward to a very pleasant, and very profitable, cooperation!"
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