Chapter 272: Confiscation
Upon hearing Ian's words, Walnut nodded and immediately activated the power of the Quiet-Quiet Fruit. A soundproof barrier instantly sealed off the surrounding area, preventing any noise from leaking out. The members of the Dragon Hunter Pirates also tacitly formed a perimeter, keeping the rebel forces at a distance.
Ian did this to protect Alions and the others. To be honest, he hadn't expected Waldo to suddenly drop such a bombshell about the Ancient Weapon. Hearing something like that wasn't necessarily good for Alions and his group.
Fortunately, Alions and the others were currently searching the palace ruins, looking for any other survivors in need of help, and hadn't noticed that the sound in this area had suddenly vanished.
Waldo grinned, looking at Ian, and said, "Looks like you know what the Ancient Weapon is too!"
"Of course!" Ian nodded. "I've heard the names of the Ancient Weapons."
"Knowing the names doesn't mean you understand them!" Waldo replied. "In fact, even we aren't entirely sure what the three Ancient Weapons look like. The only one we're relatively certain about is Pluton—a battleship considered the most evil in shipbuilding history. It's said to be powerful enough to destroy an entire island with a single cannon shot. Most importantly, it seems this ship still exists, sleeping somewhere in this world..."
Ian nodded. He knew about the Ancient Weapon Pluton. He was well aware that this ship had been built long ago by the shipwrights of Water Seven. It was precisely because this ship still existed that Crocodile, far away in Alabasta, was searching for its location. He wanted to seize Alabasta because he believed the Poneglyph there recorded Pluton's whereabouts.
"Interestingly, back when we were at the research institute, we obtained some fragmentary data on Pluton!" Waldo continued. "Even though it was just scraps of information, it was clear that it was a weapon beyond human imagination. When we got that data, we were utterly shocked. Think about it—this was a weapon from hundreds of years ago, yet it already surpassed modern technology!"
"As scientists, while we were worried, we were actually more unwilling to accept it!" Waldo sighed. "So someone proposed that we might pool the institute's resources to create a weapon that could rival or even surpass the Ancient Weapons. But at the time, opinions within the institute were divided. Some opposed it, some supported it. Those in favor thought that if Pluton still existed, we might need a power to counter it. Those against it believed we shouldn't develop a new weapon just out of fear of Pluton's reappearance—that would be an endless cycle."
"So, I take it you were in favor?" Ian asked him.
"Of course!" Waldo nodded proudly. "I've always believed we're no worse than the ancients. If they could create such devastating weapons so long ago, why should we fall behind them?"
Upon hearing this, Fujitora shook his head and said, "That kind of thinking is dangerous! If, because of a single misguided thought, another weapon capable of destroying the world is born, you might become the world's greatest sinner!"
Waldo retorted stubbornly, "But having such a weapon as a deterrent might actually prevent a war that could truly destroy the world!"
"No, the situation is different!" Ian shook his head. These so-called Ancient Weapons, powerful enough to destroy the world, reminded Ian of nuclear warheads from his own world. Indeed, nuclear warheads were terrifying, but precisely because they were so terrifying, nations hesitated to use them in war. Waldo's thinking might be similar.
But the problem was that this only worked when both sides maintained rationality and checks and balances. This world was never short of people with ulterior motives. If Waldo actually created a weapon rivaling Pluton while the real Pluton remained hidden, and it fell into the hands of an ambitious person, it would be a true disaster.
This world was different from Ian's original one. Here, the World Government held absolute power. Such concentrated authority lacked checks and balances, which was extremely dangerous. No matter how good the rhetoric sounded, who knew if the World Government, upon obtaining such a weapon, would use it to end the Pirate Era?
Ian felt that talking about checks and balances before the real Ancient Weapons emerged was unreliable!
So his thoughts aligned with Fujitora's. Waldo's thinking was dangerous, even if he didn't realize it himself.
Ian then asked, "What about Vegapunk? Was he for or against this idea back then?"
"Huh? How do you know Vegapunk and I were in the same institute?" Waldo asked Ian curiously.
Ian smiled but didn't answer. Instead, Konenai spoke up: "The only research institute that the World Government forcibly disbanded and blew up back then was yours, right? Vegapunk was arrested afterward, so he must have been in the same institute as you!"
Waldo nodded and didn't press further. Indeed, since he had already said this much, it was only natural for them to guess about Vegapunk. So he said, "Vegapunk was against it back then! He's a true genius, so his opinion had the support of most people in the institute."
Upon hearing this, Ian frowned. Strange—from Waldo's account, it seemed Vegapunk wasn't very enthusiastic about weapons research. But then why, after joining the Marine Science Unit, did he conceive the Pacifista project and create weapons? Was it simply because the World Government forced him, or did he do it willingly?
After thinking it over carefully, Ian leaned toward the former. First, Vegapunk was arrested at the time—that was crucial. The World Government arrested him, and then he joined the Marine Science Unit. Would any normal person sincerely cooperate with the people who arrested them?
Second, there was Kuma's attitude. Kuma's modification plan had lasted for years. While Ian didn't know the exact duration, it showed that Kuma and Vegapunk had spent considerable time together. During the modifications, Kuma and Vegapunk must have exchanged ideas, so Kuma likely understood Vegapunk to some extent. When Ian once discussed Kuma's modification plan with him, Kuma had referred to Vegapunk as "Doctor."
That was a respectful title. Though mentioned only once, Ian recalled that Kuma seemed to hold Vegapunk in high regard. Kuma was a Revolutionary Army officer, but his public identity was a Warlord of the Sea—a notorious pirate with the epithet "Tyrant." If he didn't genuinely respect Vegapunk, given his personality, he wouldn't have cooperated so willingly and voluntarily allowed Vegapunk to modify him.
So Ian felt there must be more to Kuma's modification plan. He might be cooperating with Vegapunk on some grand scheme!
Thinking this, Ian breathed a sigh of relief. Kuma was very important to Ian. He had selflessly helped Ian many times, so Ian had always found it hard to accept that Kuma was being turned into a weapon. He had even considered using his own abilities to restore Kuma or stop the modifications. But now, with this indirect insight into Vegapunk's situation, Ian could only respect Kuma's own wishes. He didn't know what Kuma was planning, but he knew he shouldn't disrupt it.
With that, Ian had learned what he needed. He looked up at the dormant Thunder Roar Cannon and couldn't help but complain, "Seriously, why did you design it to look like this?"
"What's wrong?" Waldo asked, puzzled. He didn't seem to realize how much trouble his Thunder Roar Cannon had caused.
Ian glanced at him and noticed that although the guy looked fierce and ugly, his mind wasn't all that complicated. This was probably a common trait among scientists.
Before this, Ian had always thought of him as some kind of evil scientist, but now he wasn't so sure.
"Is this cannon still usable?" Ian asked him.