Chapter 784: Escort and Protection
Ian had noticed earlier that when Old Man Garp listened to Robin recounting the truth of history, there wasn't much surprise or shock on his face.
Looking at it this way, Garp had probably come into contact with these secrets more or less during his time serving in the Marines.
Ian understood this legendary Marine hero well, knowing that what he truly served was not the World Government, but the Marines themselves and his own sense of justice. Perhaps it was because he knew these secrets about the Celestial Dragons and the World Government that Garp refused to be promoted to Marine Admiral back then—he didn't want to take on the responsibility of protecting the Celestial Dragons...
Now, Garp, who had barely spoken, suddenly interjected and uttered the name Vegapunk. This proved that in his heart, he still leaned more toward his family, telling Ian, Ace, Luffy, and the others all the information he knew.
It was precisely because Garp mentioned Vegapunk that Ian suddenly remembered something. He turned and found Gaji among the crowd, asking him: "Does Germa's clone soldier technology require the Lineage Factor of the original body?"
"Of course it does!" Gaji nodded and said, "I know what you want to ask. Even Vegapunk couldn't create a Lineage Factor out of thin air!"
So it seemed that the dragons Vegapunk created on Punk Hazard Island were indeed based on the ancient weapon Uranus!
Thinking this over, Ian pondered for a moment and asked Caesar: "Caesar, when you were working as Vegapunk's assistant, did you see him researching and creating dragons?"
Caesar had been flirting with Charlotte Brûlée beside him all along, verbally saying he didn't like it, but his body was honest. This guy had actually become the first person in the Dragon Hunter Pirates to find a partner, constantly spreading dog food on the ship—truly a winner in life!
Hearing Ian call him, he first instinctively retorted: "I am the Marine's chief scientist! Not some assistant!"
Then he answered: "I wasn't interested in his research, and that old man was always mysterious... But I do know that several of his research projects seemed to come at the behest of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, not because he wanted to study them himself!"
Ian nodded thoughtfully and said: "Alright, since Vegapunk has come into contact with Uranus and obtained its Lineage Factor to create dragons, it seems he probably really does know what Uranus's Devil Fruit ability is. However, I have a guess I want to share with everyone: the Celestial Dragons might be using Vegapunk's intelligence to try and create a second Uranus!!"
"What!?" Whitebeard and Shanks were all stunned.
"This is based on evidence!" Ian spread his hands and said: "Looking at various intelligence, several of Vegapunk's research projects are quite important: one is cloning dragons using Lineage Factors, another is Artificial Devil Fruits, and then there's the research on eternal life, whose main product is Kaido of the Beasts. Besides that, there's the Pacifista project. Let's imagine this: since Vegapunk knows what Uranus's Devil Fruit is, perhaps he could use artificial means to create the same Devil Fruit again. Then, have a cloned dragon eat it, creating a super-lifeform with an immortal body like Kaido. Using the technology from creating Pacifistas, erase the super-lifeform's consciousness, turning it into an obedient artificial human weapon to control and command the replicated Uranus. Is this technical approach feasible?"
Among those present, three could be called scientists: Gaji, Caesar, and Waldo. But when they heard Ian mention this possibility, they all fell silent at once.
Waldo thought for a long time, then smiled bitterly and said with difficulty: "Captain, I have to say, this idea of yours really scared me, but without a doubt, this method is completely feasible!"
"Yeah!" Gaji also broke out in a cold sweat and said: "Perhaps it's just as you said—Vegapunk might be trying to create a second Uranus under the orders of the Celestial Dragons and the World Government!"
Reiju sneered and said: "How ridiculous. The World Government forbids people from pursuing the Poneglyphs, claiming it's to prevent the revival of the Ancient Weapons, but behind the scenes, they're quietly creating a second Uranus. Do they want the Celestial Dragons to ride on the necks of people all over the world forever?"
Crocodile laughed and said: "See? When it comes to ambition, people like me and Doflamingo back then are far inferior to them!"
Just then, Iron Man Franky suddenly shouted: "No, I don't believe it! Vegapunk shouldn't be the kind of person who aids the wicked!"
Franky was also a technical guy, so deep down, he actually admired Vegapunk quite a bit.
"Don't worry!" Ian waved at Franky and said: "Vegapunk really isn't that kind of person. In fact, the Revolutionary Army has already made contact with him. Before long, the Revolutionary Army's operation to rescue Vegapunk will begin!"
Konenai, hearing Ian reveal this matter, couldn't help but look worriedly at Garp.
But Old Man Garp crossed his arms, acting as if he hadn't heard anything.
What can I do? I'm desperate too! Revolutionary Dragon is my son, Ace and Luffy are my grandsons—they're all digging at the roots of the World Government and the Marines. I can't take either side now, so I'll just pretend I didn't hear anything. After all, this old man is already retired. You youngsters can cause whatever trouble you want!
But... Garp suddenly reached out and punched Ian on the head, glaring at him and saying: "You little brat, Bartholomew Kuma is a Revolutionary Army member, isn't he? You've been in contact with Dragon and the others for a long time, haven't you!? You've been fooling this old man all this time!"
Ian took the punch without getting angry, smiling as he said: "As long as you understand, old man, that's fine! Ignorance is bliss!"
Shanks spoke up at this point: "Since Vegapunk is on the Revolutionary Army's side, that's for the best! Otherwise, we would have to take action and find a way to kill Vegapunk. After all, letting him create another Uranus would be a disaster for the entire world!"
"It's hard to say!" Nami interjected: "What if he's trying to create a similar Uranus to counter the original one?"
Everyone was startled, feeling that Nami's idea had some merit, but... such a dangerous Ancient Weapon would be better off not having a second one...
"If the Revolutionary Army's operation to rescue Vegapunk needs help, let them speak up!" Shanks exchanged a glance with Whitebeard, reaching an understanding, and said: "Our two pirate crews will also find ways to assist!"
They all knew now that Ian was definitely in contact with Dragon and the Revolutionary Army.
"Count us in too!" Luffy quickly raised his hand and said: "I haven't seen Sabo in a long time. If he needs help, I'll definitely go!"
Konenai, Yard, and Walnut looked at Ian in surprise. They never expected that Ian's decision to reveal the Revolutionary Army's action plan at this moment would unexpectedly gain the commitment of help from the other two Emperor pirate crews. After all, in the world's perception, the Revolutionary Army and pirates were like two parallel lines, with a kind of mutual non-interference. But now, both the Whitebeard and Red Hair Pirates had agreed to help. This meant Ian had suddenly brought two huge allies to the Revolutionary Army.
Dragon would definitely be very happy if he knew...
"To summarize, the intelligence about Uranus now includes these points!" Ian said: "Uranus is a massive ancient dragon; it's a Devil Fruit user; its ability carries a strange lethal force that can kill people; controlling it requires a special 'guide' device to achieve 'resonance' of soul and mind with it, as well as immense vitality to resist the lethal force of its Devil Fruit ability; it has tremendous combat power, requiring at least the combined strength of Pluton and Poseidon to defeat it; but it has a weakness—it seems to need to land on the ground to rest periodically, and since it's a Devil Fruit user, it can't fall into seawater..."
Konenai suddenly spoke up: "Regarding the last point, it might be connected to the labor country of Tequila Wolf!"
"Is that the country that has been building a bridge for hundreds of years?" Robin asked.
"Yes!" Konenai nodded and said: "The Revolutionary Army has infiltrated that country. It's filled with a large number of slaves and 'criminals' from non-World Government allied nations. Under the orders of the Celestial Dragons, they've been building bridges connecting various islands. I'm thinking, perhaps these bridges are built by the Celestial Dragons to facilitate Uranus's landing!"
"This is very important information! It seems the Celestial Dragons also know Uranus's weakness and are trying to compensate for it..." Ian said: "Perhaps we should notify Uncle Dragon and the others..."
"Leave this to me!" Konenai nodded and said: "If it really comes to that, the Revolutionary Army will find a way to blow up these bridges..."
This wasn't an exaggeration. By now, whether it was Ian and his group, the Whitebeard Pirates, or the Red Hair Pirates, they all realized that Uranus was truly about to reappear in the world!
Ian, Blackbeard Teach, Doflamingo, and Kaido—these people were directly or indirectly constantly provoking the fragile and sensitive nerves of the Celestial Dragons and the World Government. This time, it might really reach the breaking point...
"Everyone, be prepared!" Shanks stood up and said: "This time, Kaido and the others' attempt to seize the Celestial Dragons' national treasure is also a good opportunity to test the waters. Let them go ahead. If the Celestial Dragons really deploy Uranus to deal with Kaido and the others, then we can learn about Uranus's power and respond accordingly."
"Exactly!" Whitebeard Old Man nodded and said: "If Kaido and the others are repelled, it's hard to say whether the Celestial Dragons will target you, Ian. Now that the three Emperor pirate crews are gathered here, we'll help you fight against Uranus when the time comes!"
This last sentence was probably the true intention in Shanks and Whitebeard Old Man's hearts. They all knew that after Ian killed Akainu, he might face a great danger. Now, they had come to help Ian resolve this crisis...
This might be the last thing they, as the older generation, could do for the new generation like Ian... This would also be a transition of inheritance between generations...