Grand Line, New World.
G-5 Base, Underground Third Level.
Completely isolated from the clamor of the outside world, this place had become a small, independently operating scientific empire.
Vegapunk, wearing a white lab coat stained with various oils and culture fluids, was operating several mechanical arms to precisely cut a piece of high-purity Sea Stone transported from Wano Country.
The entire basement was piled high with cutting-edge equipment procured from the black market. The total amount on those invoices combined was enough to buy an entire street on Sabaody Archipelago.
"Speed!" Vegapunk shouted at the top of his lungs without even turning his head. "The high-frequency particle analyzer I ordered hasn't arrived yet! This will delay my progress on reverse-engineering the energy conduction pathways of Pluton's main cannon!"
Just half a month ago, Kane personally took this scientific madman on a secret infiltration into the underground inland sea beneath Mount Fuji in Wano Country.
When Vegapunk saw with his own eyes the Steel Behemoth, stretching over a kilometer long, slumbering in the deep-sea dock, the world's smartest brain went into a ten-minute-long system crash on the spot.
Afterward, he clung to Pluton's cold armor like a madman, kissing and caressing it, utterly engrossed in studying its unreasonable keel structure and main cannon circuitry.
If Kane hadn't forcibly dragged him away, this old geezer would have happily set up home right there in the seabed dock.
That soul-shaking "field trip" completely ignited Vegapunk's scientific fervor and directly caused the G-5 Base's bills to explode exponentially.
On a sofa not far away, Kane sat with his legs crossed, flipping through a thick stack of bills. Seeing that long string of zeros made his temples throb uncontrollably.
The money burned in just one month was almost equivalent to G-5's military budget for over half a year.
Kaido's quarry in Wano Country was practically smoking from overwork. The weapons produced, converted into Berry, were immediately funneled into this bottomless pit of a basement.
"Calm down, Doctor," Kane said, tossing the bills onto the table. "The stuff is already on its way."
"Amateur," Vegapunk snorted disdainfully. "But... after personally witnessing that warship's internal structure, I finally understand what true creation art is. At most, in a few years, I'll be able to perfectly replicate its miniature energy drive module. By then, those coal-burning junk ships you currently have can be tossed straight into the garbage dump."
Kane raised an eyebrow but didn't respond. He stood up, brushing the dust off his Justice Coat.
"Take your time playing. I need to head to Mary Geoise to put on a little performance report for those old men up top."
For a full month, the outside world had been turned upside down due to Vegapunk's disappearance.
The Marine Headquarters had deployed all its forces, combing through the Four Seas and the Grand Line over and over again. Garp, in the first half of the Grand Line, beat any Pirates unfortunate enough to cross his path until they cried for their parents. Sengoku, in the South Blue, practically turned the area hundreds of nautical miles around the Bank Restricted Zone inside out.
The result was predictable: not a single strand of Vegapunk's hair was found.
The old geezer was now down here in G-5's basement every day, eating seafood noodles and working on cutting-edge technology. If they could find him, that would truly be seeing a ghost.
Two days later, Holy Land Mariejois.
Four figures walked along the broad, long staircase before Pangaea Castle, their presence heavy with oppressive tension.
Leading the way was Fleet Admiral Kong, his resolute face now so dark it seemed ready to drip with gloom. Half a step behind was Admiral Sengoku, clutching a stack of search reports, his brow tightly knotted. Zephyr walked to the side, arms crossed tightly over his chest, veins bulging on his thick forearms as he suppressed a surge of fury.
Kane walked at the rear, his military cap pulled low, wearing an expression of deep anguish and self-blame.
"Once we're inside, keep your words to a minimum," Kong said without turning his head, his voice lowered to a near whisper. "With no progress in a month, I'll take the blame for this scolding. Don't argue with those above."
Sengoku sighed. "This matter can't be entirely blamed on the Navy. The Bank Restricted Zone is CP's territory. They only notified us to clean up the mess after the person went missing. With the sea so vast, if someone is determined to hide, how could we possibly find them in just a month?"
"Save that kind of talk for here. Don't bring it up inside!" Kong's voice sharpened with severity.
The four passed through the long corridor and stopped before a heavy door. Guards pushed it open, revealing the luxurious, cavernous interior of the Hall of Power.
Five elders standing at the pinnacle of the world's power were scattered throughout the room.
Saint Nusjuro, the Financial War God, was polishing the scabbard of the First Generation Ghost Cutter. Saint Saturn, the Science Defense War God, leaned on his cane by the floor-to-ceiling window. Saint Marcus Mars, the Environment War God, sat on a sofa, flipping through some documents.
The atmosphere was so stifling it felt as if the very air had ceased to flow.
"Kong," Saint Saturn turned, his cane thudding heavily on the tiled floor. "One month. You mobilized all the Navy's elite forces, plus the combined fleets of the major Affiliated Countries. And this is the answer you provide?"
Kong stood at attention and saluted, his voice loud yet neither subservient nor defiant. "Reporting to the Five Elders, the Navy has searched all possible seas and routes. No trace has been found. The criminal is extremely cunning and left no trail to follow."
Saint Topman Warcury, the Agricultural Military God, spoke coldly. "Failure to find the person is incompetence. The World Government allocates vast military funds to the Navy every year, not for you to take joyrides at sea."
Sengoku stepped forward, about to speak, but Kong reached out and firmly held him back.
Saint Marcus Mars closed his file and swept his gaze over the line of high-ranking naval officers. "In light of the Navy's extreme dereliction of duty in this operation, next year's military budget will be cut by twenty percent. Those funds will be reallocated to the CP Organization to strengthen their intelligence network."
At these words, Zephyr, who had been barely containing his anger, clenched his fists tightly.
A twenty percent cut?!
Now, with pirates swarming the seas like locusts following Roger's death, every branch is constantly demanding more funds and personnel. Not only is there no increase in the budget, but they're cutting it by twenty percent to give to those useless CP bastards?
Sengoku's eyes turned red with fury. Kong gritted his teeth so hard his molars creaked, veins bulging on the back of his hands as he forcibly restrained himself from lashing out. Rank has its privileges, and this was the highest authority in the world.
Just then, a man in a white suit stepped forward from the shadows at the lower end of the Five Elders' position.
This was the CP0 Chief, wearing a bizarre cat-faced mask.
"A wise decision, Five Elders," came a voice from behind the mask, laced with obvious mockery. "If the Navy had been more diligent with their blockade, they could have intercepted the target at Reverse Mountain or the Calm Belt."
He walked up to Kong and Sengoku, his arrogant demeanor showing complete disregard for these high-ranking Navy officials.
"Fleet Admiral Kong, please keep your subordinates in line in the future. Don't let them—"
A sharp whistling sound suddenly echoed through the room.
In the blink of an eye, Kane—who had just been playing the role of a "remorseful good employee"—vanished from his spot.
A blur streaked across the hall.
A crisp slap resounded through the chamber.
It was a solid, full-force slap.
Kane's palm was coated with a visible layer of high-concentration Armament Haki, striking the CP0 chief's cheek as if swatting a fly.
The specially crafted mask shattered instantly, revealing a face beneath it contorted with utter shock and disbelief.
The man, weighing over a hundred pounds, was sent flying through the air, spinning seven or eight times before crashing heavily to the ground. A mouthful of blood mixed with several molars splattered across the expensive carpet.
The entire Hall of Power fell into a deathly silence.
Zephyr stared wide-eyed in astonishment.
Kong and Sengoku's pupils contracted sharply.
The Five Elders froze in unison.
Kane shook his wrist, then leisurely pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket, wiping the blood from his fingers.
"Trash, and you still have the nerve to stand there and talk?"