Chapter 821: The First Meeting Between Ian and Vegapunk
As a scientist who could be called five hundred years ahead of human wisdom, Vegapunk's importance was naturally self-evident.
For a genius like him, once he emerged into the world, he would be capable of influencing the course of world history. This was something not only the World Government and the Revolutionary Army understood clearly, but Vegapunk himself was also well aware of it.
The Wisdom Fruit that Vegapunk had eaten was actually quite similar to the Surgery Fruit that Trafalgar Law had consumed. If the Surgery Fruit were eaten by an ordinary person, its effects might be very limited. But if it were eaten by a doctor proficient in medicine, then the Surgery Fruit could unleash unimaginable functions—powerful healing abilities, the immortality surgery, and so on. The same was true for the Wisdom Fruit: it granted its user incredible mental energy. If this energy fell into the hands of a fool, it would at most make them a bit smarter. But for a scientist like Vegapunk, who was already exceptionally knowledgeable, the effect it produced was naturally incomparable.
Whether it was the fruit that made the person, or the person that made the fruit, was something difficult to say clearly.
However, although the Wisdom Fruit had made Vegapunk the greatest scientist in history, the drawback of this Demon Fruit was also very obvious: he himself had no combat ability whatsoever.
If it weren't for this, when Vegapunk's research institute was seized by the World Government and the Marines, he wouldn't have obediently surrendered and been taken away. Although he had been forced to leave his hometown and go to sea due to a lack of research funding, this didn't mean that only the World Government could provide him with resources. If he were willing, not to mention others, even the Germa Group could easily supply him with these funds and resources.
Ever since he was forcibly taken away by the World Government, Vegapunk had also come to realize that military force was the greatest asset ensuring his freedom to conduct research. Without the protection of force, no matter how intelligent or wise he was, he could only be at the mercy of others under their control.
Being controlled by the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, forced to research weapons for them—this was not what Vegapunk wanted to do. But he couldn't escape his situation. The reason the World Government and the Celestial Dragons treated him with such courtesy was simply because they knew he couldn't resist their power. Once Vegapunk showed any sign of non-cooperation or resistance, the World Government and the Celestial Dragons had enough strength to eliminate him.
A scientist of his level was so important that if they couldn't have him, they absolutely couldn't let anyone else have him...
Vegapunk himself was very aware of this, so after being controlled by the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, he also appeared very cooperative, helping them research various weapons. Even the initial research on human gigantification, he took over without hesitation, as well as the later artificial Uranus project and various live experiments. Knowing full well that these studies were extremely dangerous and could potentially plunge the entire world into disaster, Vegapunk could only comply.
This situation continued until he made contact with the Revolutionary Army!
The reason Bartholomew Kuma, an important officer of the Revolutionary Army, became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea was to find a way to get close to Vegapunk. To this end, Kuma was very obedient to the World Government's orders, even bearing the reputation of being the World Government's lackey.
But Kuma undoubtedly succeeded. He smoothly accessed the core of the World Government and met Dr. Vegapunk.
And when he discovered that Vegapunk could be won over, Kuma made a great and poignant decision: he voluntarily became the experimental subject for Vegapunk's Pacifista project.
Cherishing life was inherently human instinct, but Kuma, knowing full well that his consciousness would be erased, still went ahead without hesitation.
He knew that Vegapunk needed protection. One day, the World Government and the Celestial Dragons would discover Vegapunk's rebellious heart. He couldn't let this great scientist die at the hands of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons' persecution. For the ideals of the Revolutionary Army, and for the bright future of this world, Kuma chose to sacrifice himself.
He understood very well that only by becoming an unconscious artificial weapon would the World Government and the Celestial Dragons feel at ease letting him stay by Vegapunk's side. Only then could he become Vegapunk's final barrier!
Undoubtedly, Kuma's spirit of sacrifice also moved Vegapunk. It was precisely because he realized the difference between the Revolutionary Army and the World Government that Vegapunk unreservedly cooperated with the Revolutionary Army and became their ally.
And now, the decision Kuma had made back then finally had its use. The underlying command that Vegapunk had set in his program was finally activated. This command was to protect Vegapunk from the control of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons at all costs, even at the cost of his life! To protect him and escape from here!
When Vegapunk activated this final directive, all the CP intelligence personnel and World Government officials in the research institute, who had been marked as green allies, as well as the Marine Science Unit soldiers stationed there, instantly turned into red enemies. So Uncle Kuma struck without hesitation!
The powerful Kuma Shockwave swept through the entire lower level of the research institute. The violent shockwave after the explosion blasted these unsuspecting enemies, causing blood to flow from their seven orifices, rupturing their internal organs, killing them beyond death.
Then, Kuma protected Vegapunk as they moved toward the upper levels of the institute. Under the cover of Kuma's towering figure, Vegapunk struggled to drag a pitch-black, nail-like sharp cylindrical object behind him as he walked.
For the guards of this secret research institute, today was destined to be a miserable day. Externally, there was the invasion led by the powerful Four Emperor Ian, and internally, the Pacifista prototype made from the Seven Warlord Tyrant Kuma was causing trouble from within. It could be said that they were besieged from both sides. The only reinforcements were the seventy-two Marine Science Unit warships patrolling the sea surface, but these reinforcements had already been tied up by the Revolutionary Army's fleet and were unable to provide support.
For a moment, these guards didn't know what to do. They could only anxiously report the situation to Mary Geoise on the Red Line, then hastily grab their weapons to face the enemy.
However, this was, after all, just a research institute. The people who usually stayed there were only scientists affiliated with the Marines, not like Impel Down, which needed to hold dangerous and heinous criminals. So the guard force in this institute was naturally much weaker than that of Impel Down. It was only because Vegapunk had been transferred here that the number of Marine Science Unit patrol ships had increased.
What effect could such a guard force have against a Four Emperor?
"Get out of the way!!" After entering the research institute, Ian had already asked a timid guard where Vegapunk was. So he didn't need to think too much. He went straight down, cutting down all enemies in his path with a single slash. Under his lead, the Fish-Man Revolutionary Army members behind him also advanced with unstoppable momentum.
Bang bang bang, a group of guards raised Seastone net guns and fired at the charging Ian. But the next second, a massive bolt of lightning came rushing in, electrocuting the group of guards until they were charred black. The Seastone rope nets they shot were also cut apart by Ian's sword aura, having no effect on him at all.
But on this floor, Ian realized he had already wasted a lot of time and still hadn't found the entrance to the next level. So he gritted his teeth, and with a cross slash of his Thousand Cherry Blossoms and Black Wing Demon, he cut into the ground beneath his feet. Instantly, the hard floor beneath him was torn open into a large hole.
Ian led the Fish-Man Revolutionary Army members and jumped straight down.
But as soon as he landed, he was greeted by a dazzling laser beam. Ian was startled and turned his head to see several improved Pacifistas.
These Pacifistas were different from Uncle Kuma, the prototype. They faithfully executed the order to eliminate intruders, and Ian didn't regard them as Uncle Kuma himself, so he showed no mercy in his attacks.
By the time the Fish-Man Revolutionary Army members all came down, Ian had already taken care of seven or eight Pacifistas on this floor. These Pacifistas were almost all cut to pieces by Ian's sword, with damaged parts sparking with electricity.
Seeing this, the Fish-Man Revolutionary Army members exchanged glances, secretly clicking their tongues. They had to admit that Dragon's decision to have Ian lead the vanguard for this assault was the smartest choice. As the Revolutionary Army's Combat Chief, his combat strength was absolutely impeccable.
Realizing that this floor still wasn't where Vegapunk was staying, Ian repeated his tactic, directly breaking through the floor and charging downward.
Watching him break through two more floors in succession, the research institute's guards were going crazy!
By now, the guards had received a reply from the World Government, ordering them to kill Vegapunk before Ian found him. The World Government and the Celestial Dragons had realized the seriousness of the situation and were prepared to pay any price. Vegapunk absolutely could not fall into the hands of the Revolutionary Army.
Faced with orders from the top, the research institute's guards had no choice but to comply. But this took time. Vegapunk was protected by PX0, and they would need some effort to break through PX0's defenses. So they could only try to delay Ian's advance. They had no other way and could only rely on human lives to buy time.
But... unfortunately, Ian didn't give them the chance!
Ian also knew that the appearance of the Revolutionary Army might make the World Government think of killing Vegapunk. He couldn't let that happen, so he had to race against time.
Fortunately, Vegapunk was also trying to save himself. When Ian broke through the floor and entered the next level, he happened to encounter Vegapunk and Kuma!
The moment Ian saw Kuma's figure, he instinctively wanted to attack. But he was sharp-eyed enough to notice the book Kuma was holding, and he immediately realized it was the real Uncle Kuma. He quickly withdrew his attack.
And Uncle Kuma, thanks to his detector's function, had already determined that Ian was not an enemy the moment he landed in front of him.
But strangely, the moment Kuma saw Ian, he tilted his head slightly and even reached out a hand, as if wanting to touch the hat on Ian's head!
Although this movement quickly stopped, it was enough for Ian to notice, and it greatly surprised him.
Could it be that Uncle Kuma's consciousness hadn't completely disappeared!?
Just as this thought flashed through Ian's mind, a tall, thin old man appeared from behind Kuma. The old man wore a white lab coat over a striped sailor shirt, had round glasses on his face, messy white beard around his lips, and a thick leather hat on his head.
This old man was naturally Vegapunk. As soon as he stepped out from behind Kuma and saw Ian, his eyes lit up. He struggled to bend down, picked up the 'nail' behind him, wobbled over to Ian, and without a word, dropped it into Ian's arms.
What... what is this? Ian was still stunned when he heard Vegapunk wipe the sweat from his forehead and say, "You're a member of the Revolutionary Army, right? No time to explain! Take this and get out of here!"