Chapter 492: Vegapunk's Whereabouts And The Hidden Plan
Sabo had still been holding onto a bit of resentment.
But after hearing Ryuunosuke's explanation, the doubt in his eyes finally cleared.
"Brother, I get it now."
"By the way… something's been off with the World Government lately."
"They seem nervous."
"Some Celestial Dragons even left Mary Geoise and returned to their home countries."
Sabo added quickly.
It was something too unusual to ignore.
Those pampered nobles always viewed anywhere outside Mary Geoise as filthy.
So why would they voluntarily leave their sacred palace?
"They've started relocating?"
Ryuunosuke frowned.
"Looks like Roy and I haven't told anyone in the World Government about our cooperation."
"Meaning you don't need to worry. The Revolutionary Army won't clash with me."
"The World Government and Roy are two separate forces."
Ryuunosuke then explained everything Roy had shared, along with their next steps.
"I see…"
"Brother, let's just act according to our previous plans for now."
"If we find any information on Vegapunk, I'll contact you immediately."
Sabo hung up.
He needed to pass everything to Dragon at once.
Lately, Dragon had been on edge because of all the strange developments.
This new piece of news was going to complicate everything even further.
…
At the same time, in a hidden sea of the New World…
Inside a gloomy laboratory built among iron towers and steel walkways, a man knelt respectfully.
"Sir, everything has been prepared."
"Even though Roy took the Mother Stone, I still kept enough Infinity Stones in reserve."
"It'll be enough to support this round of the plan."
"Also, the people from Shimotsuki Village have been contacted."
"Someone agreed to steal the Infinite White Stone for us."
"And the Infinite Orange Stone will be delivered soon. Once we have three or more, the activation conditions will be met."
Carmel reported, his expression twisted with an unhealthy excitement.
Just looking at him made it clear his mind was filled with unspeakable obsessions.
"Carmel, the World Government has already begun evacuation."
"Retrieve that item from them."
"Also… did Imu leave with Roy?"
The tall man standing before him spoke with unsettling calm.
"Yes. Imu was taken by Roy."
"He is Uranus's key after all."
"And Roy needs Uranus, Pluton, and Poseidon working together for his plan."
"He chased the Dragon Hunter Pirates because Pluton is in their possession now."
"But without Poseidon, they won't reach their destination quickly."
"So this gap in time is our chance to act."
Carmel grinned.
"Good. Go carry it out."
"Yes, Lord Vegapunk."
Carmel bowed and withdrew.
The man he left behind, the one he respectfully called "Lord,"
was none other than the Vegapunk Ryuunosuke had been looking for.
Many would be confused.
Wasn't Vegapunk captured by the World Government?
How could he be here?
The truth was simple:
Vegapunk had never been imprisoned.
The one who took him away from Impel Down that day wasn't the World Government—it was Carmel.
They smuggled Vegapunk out during the chaos and brought him to this hidden research base.
Vegapunk had always used the World Government simply because it was convenient.
They provided unlimited resources, manpower, facilities—even Devil Fruits—on demand.
Why would a scientist abandon such perfect support?
He had merely played along until the moment was right.
When the Revolutionary Army attempted to "rescue" him, Vegapunk pretended to comply.
But Carmel was already on the move.
Had Ryuunosuke not randomly brought up Vegapunk earlier,
no one would have realized the world's greatest scientist had vanished.
"What were you thinking?"
"We should have taken the Mother Stone when we left the World Government."
"Now it's probably in the hands of the Dragon Hunter Pirates."
"Getting it back will not be easy."
A man stepped out from the shadows, scowling.
"Kaluze, this isn't something Vegapunk can control."
"Enough. What's done is done."
"Arguing now won't change anything."
An elderly man stepped forward with a gentle smile, a complete contrast to Kaluze's harsh tone.
"Zandu… you always say that."
"But without the Mother Stone, we don't even have the right to enter that place."
"That old bastard Roy has already begun his plan."
"If he reaches the entrance first, all the years we've spent preparing will be wasted."
Kaluze growled, clearly fed up with Zandu's calmness.
Zandu could smooth over any internal argument,
but once real danger showed up, he turned into a suspicious coward.
Kaluze had endured centuries with this man.
Just thinking about it irritated him.
"Whether I like it or not, this isn't something I can decide."
"Back then, I did not dare reveal myself before Roy."
"If he learned I was still alive, do you think your existence would be allowed to continue?"
"Since he has begun the final operation, our best choice is to follow from the shadows."
"When the time comes, I will secure the pass you need to enter."
Vegapunk's words silenced them both.
As long as Vegapunk solved the entrance requirement, everything else would fall into place.
"Vegapunk, who exactly is that Carmel?"
"He feels… off."
"Is he trustworthy?"
Zandu asked, worried again.
He provoked tension, smoothed it over, then worried.
His personality was a full cycle of contradiction.
"He is my son."
Vegapunk replied calmly.
Upon hearing that, Zandu instantly dropped his suspicion.
If Vegapunk trusted him enough to call him family, then there was nothing to question.
"The Dragon Hunter Pirates, at their current pace…"
"In less than a month, they'll reach the first checkpoint."
"Where should we wait for them?"
"Or do we follow our original plan?"
Kaluze asked.
Their next move was crucial.
If they could strike now, this would be the perfect time.
If they defeated the Dragon Hunter Pirates early, they could seize Pluton and the Mother Stone for themselves.
Joining them later was the last resort—only if no other option remained.
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