r18novel Chapter 242 Re-launch, the Omnipotent Man of Egghead Island
Chapter 242 Re-launch, the Omnipotent Man of Egghead Island
Chapter 242 Re-launch, the Omnipotent Man of Egghead Island
Let's rewind to a month ago, when the dust hadn't completely settled in the Alabasta incident.
Egghead Island, a futuristic and heavily guarded island, is operating smoothly.
On this day, a special shipment arrived.
A white transport ship without any markings quietly docked at the most secluded port.
Agents in CP0 white uniforms escorted a life support pod that exuded a chilling aura.
They quickly passed through layers of security checks and arrived at Vegapunk's main laboratory.
In the center of the laboratory, Dr. Vegapunk looked at the familiar figure inside the life support pod.
It was the former Shichibukai, the "Tyrant" Bartholomew Kuma. At this moment, his eyes were closed, and his massive body was covered with scars left in Alabasta.
This guy's vital signs were weak, and he had almost completely lost consciousness.
A clear pang of heartache flashed in the doctor's eyes, which finally turned into anger as he glared at the agents.
"Doctor," the lead CPO agent said, his tone icy and devoid of any human emotion.
"By order of the Supreme Command, the Pacifista prototype PX-0, Bartholomew Big Bear, has been found to be exhibiting uncontrollable risks in Alabasta and has suffered severe damage."
"You are hereby formally ordered to execute the final formatting procedure while the object is unconscious, completely erasing all its personal memories, emotions, and independent consciousness, transforming it into a living weapon completely obedient to the World Government. This is the order."
An order bearing the seal of the World Government was presented to Vegapunk.
Vegapunk's brow furrowed instantly. His genius brain, which was said to be five hundred years ahead of the world, worked at lightning speed, trying to find an excuse to shirk responsibility or delay.
"Wait! Although Big Bear's injuries are serious, they are not irreparable!"
"His consciousness data is also a core foundation of the Pacifista project. A hasty complete formatting could lead to unpredictable technical risks, or even render the entire project unworkable! I need time—"
"Doctor!" The CPO agent interrupted him rudely, his voice even colder.
"An order is an order, there's no room for negotiation. We know what you're thinking, and please don't forget—"
He paused deliberately, took a step closer, and lowered his voice, as if a venomous snake were flicking its tongue.
"That little girl named Bonnie—we've been keeping an eye on her the whole time. You don't want anything to happen to her, do you?"
Bonney! Vegapunk's pupils contracted sharply.
Using Big Bear's love and protectiveness towards his daughter, and threatening Bonnie's safety, they forced Big Bear to voluntarily undergo physical modifications.
This is a common tactic used by the World Government to control Kuma, and it has always been a sore spot for Vegapunk.
He originally thought he could use the excuse that Kuma was seriously injured and needed treatment to delay the inevitable, but he never expected that the World Government would once again play this despicable trump card.
A surge of anger rose within Vegapunk, and he almost blurted it out.
"Don't try to threaten me with that! I've already heard about what happened in Alabasta!"
"That little girl summoned the most terrifying Heroic Spirit. Do you think your World Government can even reach into the clutches of a Heroic Spirit?!"
But he didn't shout it out.
Because he saw the CP0 agent's unwavering coldness in his eyes, and the other agents behind him forming a subtle encirclement.
He knew that the world government could do much more than that.
They might not be able to touch Bonney, who is protected by Hercules, for the time being, but they could easily destroy Vegapunk's life's work.
Another CP0 officer, seemingly sensing his hesitation, added.
"Dr. Vegapunk, you are the most important scientist in the world government."
"Your knowledge and wisdom are the wealth of all mankind and should be used to maintain world stability, not to get entangled in the father-daughter relationship of a pirate."
"If you try to comply while secretly disagreeing, we can only assume that your research direction has gone astray. All projects on Egghead Island will be frozen indefinitely, and all data will be destroyed on the spot."
"Think of your crop improvement techniques that can solve famines, and your medical inventions that can cure diseases —"
"Are you really willing to let all these beneficial achievements go to waste for the sake of one person?"
This attack truly struck Vegapunk's weak point.
He was not afraid of death, but he could not bear to watch his inventions, which could have benefited the world, be stifled by political struggles and dirty deals.
The air inside the laboratory seemed to freeze, and the faint hum of the life support pods sounded particularly jarring.
Vegapunk looked at the giant bear inside the cabin, which resembled a sleeping bear, and then he seemed to see Bonney's stubborn little face.
Finally, his enormous head drooped slightly, his clenched fists slowly loosened, and his voice trembled almost imperceptibly.
"----I see----"
The CP0 agents nodded, leaving two to supervise, while the rest quickly left the island.
In the instant he turned his back to the CPO agents, an unprecedented spark ignited in the depths of Vegapunk's eyes.
He had to do something for his friend, Big Bear!
In the midst of his intense longing for this miracle, he felt a burning sensation on the back of his hand.
He glanced at it discreetly while adjusting the equipment.
On the back of his left hand, three bright red Command Seals, emitting a faint glow, were slowly emerging.
This is! The mark of being chosen that Dieter spoke of!
The Holy Grail War! Heroic Spirit Summoning! Heroic Spirits from another world, possessing incredible power!
His eyes flickered, finally fixing their burning gaze on the World Government's surveillance system overhead.
A bold plan instantly took shape in his genius mind.
He pretended to begin preparing the equipment and energy needed for the formatting process.
At the same time, he used his absolute control over the laboratory to quietly mobilize resources right under the noses of the world government.
In a completely secluded laboratory, beyond the reach of even the World Government's surveillance, a simple summoning array was quickly set up.
Vegapunk scratched his head: "Let me think about the information I got from the Whitebeard Pirates—"
"It should be—you are under my command, and my fate is tied to your sword—but that doesn't feel right with all the fighting and killing."
"Then it is your wisdom that is bestowed upon me, and my talents that depend on you!"
"Respond to my call, obey my will, answer me!"
A dazzling light appeared! Within the summoning circle, a figure gracefully materialized.
She was a beautiful woman dressed in clothing that combined Renaissance style with futuristic technology.
She possessed an unforgettable, exquisite face, with a confident smile playing on her lips, as if she understood the secrets of all things.
She blinked her turquoise eyes, which seemed to hold the stars, and looked at Vegapunk, her tone light and curious.
"I have come in response to your summons. Hmm—what an interesting Master. The technology tree of this world seems to have been developed in a rather—unique way?"
Vegapunk felt the information being stuffed into his brain.
Looking at the legendary figure before him, described in historical records as omnipotent, he felt reassured and, without any pleasantries, went straight to the point.
"Sir—I need your help!"
Let's return to the present, to a sea area near Egghead Island in the New World.
A somewhat dilapidated pirate ship is moving in a way that is————
Well, it wasn't exactly fast, but it was a barely acceptable speed as we sailed towards Egghead Island.
It was Bucky the Clown and his henchmen, along with the anxious Bonnie, and Hercules, who stood silently guarding her like an iron tower.
"Too slow! Too slow! Bucky! Is your boat made of snails?!"
Bonnie stomped his feet on the deck in frustration, staring at the seemingly unchanging horizon in the distance, his cheeks puffed out in anger.
"Since we parted ways in Alabasta, that red-haired guy has probably already returned to the New World and settled down his territory several times over!"
"We're still crawling on the road! I wonder how my dad is doing now!"
Her eyes reddened at the thought of the pain that Big Bear might be suffering.
Bucky was on the verge of tears, his messy blue hair making him try to explain.
"Hey, Bonnie, this isn't my fault! You know how the weather is in the New World; we've already tried our best to avoid all the storm zones!"
"And besides, my great Bucky has been—uh—meticulously maintained!"
"Hahaha! You're right, my friend! Speed is important in an adventure, but a composed and kingly demeanor is even more crucial!"
A boastful voice broke in.
Jason stood ostentatiously at the bow of the ship, striking a pose as if braving the wind and waves.
"You know, when I led the Argo in the search for the Golden Fleece, I also went through many hardships! But it was this unwavering will and the leadership of an excellent captain like myself that ultimately allowed us to reach our destination!"
"Aren't you right, my dear friend Hercules!"
He very casually patted Hercules's muscular arm, while continuing to talk.
"But it's alright! Since this young lady is Hercules's Master, I, Lord Jason, will naturally do my utmost to help you find your father!"
"This is the code of honor for heroes!"
Surprisingly, Baki's dim-witted underlings were very receptive to Jason's tactics.
As they watched Jason's dazzling figure and listened to his impassioned speech, their eyes shone with admiration, and they brandished their weapons and shouted.
"Oh, oh, oh! Well said, Lord Jason!"
"As expected of a Heroic Spirit summoned by Captain Buggy! He has the same spirit as the captain!"
"Long live the great hero Hercules! Help Sister Bonnie find her father!"
Bucky looked at his easily fooled subordinates, covered his face, and felt even more exhausted.
Why did he have to be so impulsive back then? Or maybe he tripped and fell? Anyway, how did the Command Spell inexplicably summon this thing?
Although—occasionally this guy's performance can indeed boost morale and make his position as captain more secure.
Amidst the commotion, the massive, eggshell-like outline of Egghead Island finally appeared on the distant horizon.
However, before they could get close, a piercing alarm suddenly came from the island!
A huge shadow quickly emerged from beneath the sea!
Several mechanical sea monsters, made of a mixture of metal and biological tissue, broke through the water's surface. Their red-glowing electronic eyes locked onto Buggy's pirate ship, and they opened their mouths, which were filled with energy cannons and serrated edges, and pounced!
"Whoa! Is it a Sea King?! No, it's mechanical! The World Government's latest weapon?!"
Bucky was so terrified that he almost split into his own element and escaped.
"Berserker!" Bonnie gave the order without hesitation.
"roar-!!!"
Hercules, who had been silent all along, let out a roar that shook the seas, and simply and brutally swung his massive battle axe.
His attack, accompanied by a terrifying sonic boom that tore through the air, slammed into the mechanical sea monster that was charging at first!
"boom!!!"
With a deafening roar, the massive mechanical sea monster was torn apart, its parts and twisted metal fragments scattering like a torrential downpour!
Immediately afterwards, Hercules was like a tiger among sheep.
With each swing, a mechanical sea monster was destroyed and sunk. The sheer violence it displayed left Bucky and his men speechless, before erupting into even louder cheers.
"Look, see that! This is our strength!" Bucky instantly trembled again, hands on his hips, laughing loudly.
"Hahaha! What mechanical sea monster? Compared to a powerful Heroic Spirit like the Berserker—huh?!"
His laughter stopped abruptly.
Because Egghead Island's defense system was clearly triggered to a higher level of response.
On the distant edge of the island, countless points of light appeared, indicating that more defensive turrets had been activated.
You can even see several naval warships speeding towards you!
On the bow of one of the warships stood a figure wearing a navy overcoat and smoking a pipe.
"We're doomed! It's a vice admiral! We're surrounded!" Bucky was instantly brought back to reality and ran away with his head in his hands.
"I knew I shouldn't have come to this godforsaken place!"
Jason also abandoned his nonchalant expression, his brow furrowing.
"The situation is dire. There are too many of them. Hercules is brave, but he must protect the ships and break through this defense—"
The vice admiral had picked up the communicator and appeared to be reporting the situation to the island and requesting instructions.
Just when the tension was high and the situation was extremely critical.
A gentle yet immense beam of light shot out without warning from somewhere in the center of Egghead Island, precisely enveloping Buggy's entire pirate ship!
A flash of light!
The next moment, to the astonishment of the marines who were waiting in the distance, the clown pirate ship vanished into thin air!
Only the remains of the mechanical sea monster destroyed by Hercules remained on the surface of the sea, slowly sinking.
The vice admiral froze, then shouted into the Den Den Mushi.
"Report! Target—target has disappeared! Suspected of some kind of spatial teleportation technology! Requesting instructions! Is it related to one of Dr. Vegapunk's experiments?"
An impatient woman's voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"The doctor isn't conducting any experiments. Just keep watch, don't make a fuss, and don't disturb him! Over!"
After saying that, he hung up the call immediately.
The remaining navy personnel on the sea were left looking at each other, at a loss for what to do.
Bucky, Bonney, Jason, Hercules, and Bucky's bewildered men all felt a blur before their eyes.
The surrounding scenery transformed from a turbulent sea into a vast laboratory filled with all sorts of sophisticated instruments and strange creations.
"W-What happened? Where am I?" Bucky looked around in horror.
Bonnie immediately and warily stood beside Hercules.
Then they saw two people in the center of the laboratory.
One of them was the tall Vegapunk, who was watching them excitedly, gesturing wildly.
"Success! Fantastic! Servant! Physical spatial coordinate positioning and matter teleportation, all successful on the first try!"
"Energy loss was kept below the theoretical value! We did it!"
"It's unbelievable that such a device, which defies the laws of physics, could actually be built, all thanks to that substance called magic. It's truly astonishing!"
Clearly, Vegapunk was hopelessly entangled in the divergent paths of science and metaphysics.
Everyone turned their attention to another person.
She was an exceptionally beautiful woman, dressed in an outfit that blended classic long gowns with modern technological elements, and sporting a charming and confident smile.
She gave Vegapunk a graceful high five, her tone light: "Of course, Master, this is the result of our joint calculations."
A glint of wisdom flashed in Vegapunk's eyes as he looked at Bonney and his group with a hint of apology.
"Long time no see, Bonnie—"
Then, the woman turned around, faced Bucky and his group who were still in a daze, gave a slight, elegant bow, and smiled warmly and kindly.
"Hello everyone. I've already heard about your situations from Master."
Her voice echoed in the empty laboratory, and at the same time, the command axes of the three Masters lit up simultaneously.
"Nice to meet you. I am the magician, Caster, Leonardo da Vinci. Please take care of me."
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