If news of the incident spread, the World Government would be forced to respond— otherwise, their authority would collapse, and more ambitio
If news of the incident spread, the World Government would be forced to respond— otherwise, their authority would collapse, and more ambitious individuals would be emboldened to act.
The fact that the Five Elders chose to suppress the incident meant only one thing:
besides raising Sanders' bounty, they had no means of retaliation.
Has Sanders really grown this powerful already?
Just a few years ago, Vegapunk still remembered him as a kid with a few strange ideas, who'd gotten lucky with the Goro Goro no Mi and had exceptional talent.
But now...
He had become one of the most important figures in the entire world.
A figure so powerful that even the World Government couldn't touch him.
Kuma was equally stunned.
Someone had attacked Mariejois by force, killed Celestial Dragons, and yet the World Government did nothing?
That completely shattered his perception of the world.
Since childhood, he had been a slave to the Celestial Dragons.
In his eyes, they were beings lofty and untouchable.
Even after breaking free and traveling the seas, the Celestial Dragons still held absolute power over life and death.
And yet now— someone had dared to strike the Holy Land and kill them, without facing immediate retribution?
Was raw power really enough to do as one pleased?
Then what had Dragon been hiding for all these years for?
A trace of doubt rose in Kuma's heart.
All this time, Dragon and his allies had remained in the shadows, building up strength.
Even when their comrades were captured, they had no choice but to endure it.
But now—Sanders had shown him another path:
Use overwhelming strength to deter your enemies— Make them too afraid to act.
Could Dragon do the same?
Kuma wondered to himself.
He knew Dragon was strong—he didn't believe Dragon was weaker than an Emperor.
If Dragon stopped hiding and showed his true strength, could he deter the World Government as well?
But after some thought, Kuma shook his head.
Dragon wasn't Sanders.
Sanders had the Float-Float Fruit.
His base of operations was in the sky, and the World Government couldn't even find him to retaliate.
But the Revolutionary Army was on land.
Once found, they would be vulnerable to swift counterattacks.
The two situations couldn't be compared.
Still, Kuma felt it might be necessary for the Revolutionary Army to reveal some of their strength.
With that, Kuma made up his mind— he needed to speak with Dragon.
"So? Have you decided?"
Sanders asked expectantly.
Vegapunk tilted his head, thought for a moment— and ultimately shook it.
"I'm old now. I don't have many years left," he said.
"All I want is to research in peace. I don't want to stir things up again."
"Besides… working under the World Government isn't too bad."
He paused, then added dryly:
"Aside from those two phone den-den mushi."
Vegapunk was still furious about the World Government spying on him.
But he also knew—it was partially his own fault.
If he had been more thorough and found the Den Den Mushi earlier, the Government wouldn't have had to secretly monitor him.
This was the kind of confidence that came with being the world's smartest man.
"What if I could give you more life to do the research you love?"
Sanders once again dropped a bombshell.
Vegapunk's eyes widened in shock. "You…"
Then he chuckled.
"You really do keep surprising me."
He instantly understood what Sanders meant—immortality.
With Vegapunk's intelligence, he had long since realized that this was a taboo subject, one even he dared not touch.
Even the Five Elders had never asked him to research it.
But that wasn't because they didn't want immortality.
It was because—they likely already had ways of achieving it.
For instance—the Ope Ope no Mi, the Operation Fruit.
The same fruit the World Government had offered a fortune for years ago.
And now…
The current user of that fruit—was the doctor of the Thunder God Pirates.
"Would you really give that chance to me?"
Vegapunk asked.
Sanders froze for a second, then caught on to his meaning.
"Haha, not that one."
"I would never harm my crewmates."
"He'll be my comrade forever—unless the day comes when he's tired of living."
Vegapunk's pupils constricted.
That meant—
Sanders had other means of granting extended life, and even more shockingly—it was something that could be replicated.
Unbelievable.
Sanders had brought out yet another project he wanted Vegapunk to study.
Kuma, standing nearby, was completely lost in the conversation.
He had no idea what they were talking about.
"So? What do you say, Vegapunk?"
Sanders continued to persuade him.
"There's far more to research on my side than here. Just think about it."
Then he added:
"You don't have to give me an answer right now."
"I'm saying—if one day you change your mind, or you get kicked out by the World Government, come find me."
He wasn't in a rush.
If Vegapunk was ever exposed for studying ancient history, he could defect then.
Vegapunk thought for a moment, then said:
"Alright. Your offer is too good to refuse."
"But for now, I still want to conduct my research under the World Government."
He had to leave himself a way out.
"Alright, we have a deal then!"
Sanders was overjoyed.
Although he could have taken Vegapunk by force, he still wanted to show a bit of respect to someone with such talent.
Besides, once Vegapunk used the World Government's resources to develop research results, Sanders could reap the benefits for free.
The strength of the Pacifistas and Seraphim was no joke.
"But as for my blood, you'll have to wait until the time is right."
Sanders added.
There was no way he would easily hand over his own blood.
Who knew what kinds of strange tricks the World Government might have?
For example, what if they had a method to track someone using blood?
Even in the Sky City, he wouldn't be safe.
Sanders himself wasn't afraid—very few methods in the world could actually kill him.
But he had to consider the safety of his crew.
"Fair enough," Vegapunk nodded.
He already had too many research projects on his hands.
Just by himself, he couldn't handle them all.
In fact, he had already been considering creating clones of himself— he just hadn't started yet.
Kuma, standing off to the side, was utterly shocked.
He never expected that Vegapunk would actually agree to Sanders' recruitment.
Even though it was for the future, not immediate allegiance, it was still astonishing!
If this news ever got out, the World Government and Marines would go absolutely crazy.
Just then, Sanders' gaze shifted toward Kuma...
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