New World, Egghead.
A special material was used to construct an elliptical dome that enveloped the entire island.
From the outside, it resembled a massive upright egg, which is how it got the name "Egghead."
Outside the island, storms, snow, rain, thunder, and lightning raged, while inside the dome, it was like a bright spring day, with a mild and pleasant climate.
Thanks to Vegapunk's technology, this island—originally a Winter Island—had become what it was now.
Everywhere on the island stood buildings of strange architectural styles, alongside countless laboratories with a metallic sheen.
There were also many types of robots, each moving with purpose, completing their respective tasks in an orderly fashion.
At that moment, a CP agent responsible for patrolling the island caught a glimpse of a strange light flashing through the sky.
However, it disappeared so quickly that he didn't think much of it. He assumed it was just another luminous experiment being conducted.
After all, on the island boasting the world's most advanced scientific technology, strange lights were nothing unusual.
In the coconut grove near the island's outskirts, Caelan, Stussy, and Kizaru were concealed.
"This is Egghead. It's fair to say it's five hundred years more advanced than the rest of the world," Caelan said, reflecting on everything he'd seen on the way in.
The ground was smooth and hard, polished like a mirror. Countless robots of various designs moved about, each fulfilling its own role.
Even the coconut grove they were hiding in wasn't ordinary. Some trees had been modified into automated self-defense systems.
Compared to the primitive pirate world outside, where plundering sailboats still roamed, Egghead was a world apart.
"This is Dr. Vegapunk. He's always been that much of a genius," Stussy said with distant eyes, her tone filled with mixed emotions.
After all, Vegapunk had created her through genetic cloning. He was, in a sense, her father.
"Commander Caelan, what should we do next?" Kizaru asked.
"Go straight for the kill," Caelan replied after a moment.
"Locate Vegapunk, rescue him immediately, and take out Figarland Garling."
"If that's the plan, we'll need to pinpoint Vegapunk's exact location," Kizaru said, looking slightly worried.
"There are a lot of labs on the island, and he could be in any of them. Plus, the surveillance is everywhere. One wrong move and we'll be exposed."
Caelan frowned. That was indeed troublesome.
If they alerted the enemy, Vegapunk's life didn't matter as much, since he could be resurrected later.
But most of the research data would be destroyed. Even the vital Punk Records might be lost. While Vegapunk could be revived, the data could not be restored.
And that outcome would be inevitable if a battle broke out on the island.
In that case, they'd just move the battlefield elsewhere.
Caelan's eyes lit up and he murmured,
"If the mountain won't come to me, then I'll bring the mountain over."
"Commander, what do you mean?"
Kizaru asked, confused.
"We won't go looking for Garling. Let him come to us," Caelan said with a slight smile, as powerful magical energy surged within him.
He had pulled over 100,000 prisoners from Impel Down into the Reality Marble before. Now, drawing in the entire population of Egghead was well within his capacity.
In an instant, the Reality Marble activated, and his mental world began to overwrite reality.
Heaven and earth shifted. Day turned into night. Moonlight replaced sunlight.
Back in the central lab, Vegapunk was leading his six clones, deliberately working in the wrong direction on the Mother Flame project. No matter how hard Lilith tried, she couldn't see through the trick.
As expected, a clone could not surpass the original.
Nearby, Garling sipped his coffee while casually observing Vegapunk.
The entire lab was heavily fortified, surrounded by alloy walls on all sides.
Even if Caelan tried to break in, Garling would detect it immediately, destroy the research data, and contact the other Five Elders at Mary Geoise to retreat.
Thinking about how flawlessly he had prepared everything, Garling couldn't help but feel proud.
Unlike the idiots who had already died, he prided himself on his superior intellect.
Still, he had to admit, he learned from those dead fools just how dangerous Caelan was.
But right when Garling was feeling smug, an accident occurred.
The metal lab around him began to fade, replaced by a vast battlefield of flying yellow sand.
Garling's hand froze mid-sip, his smug expression locked on his face.
Across from him stood Caelan, Stussy, and Kizaru, along with Vegapunk and the six clones.
There was no doubt. Caelan had come to rescue Vegapunk. He had altered the environment entirely.
And he had succeeded.
Everyone on Egghead Island had been brought in.
Bartholomew Kuma's modified body, seven white-haired Seraphim that looked about seven or eight years old, the CP agents guarding Egghead, and even the ancient robot lying dormant—all had been transported into the Reality Marble.
Garling scanned the area. With one sweep, he confirmed that every living being from Egghead was present.
His forehead began to sweat.
Back during the Marineford War, all five Elders and the Navy's top brass had been defeated by Caelan. What could he do alone now?
Even though he had been a Yonko-level fighter before receiving power from Imu, he didn't have the slightest intention of picking a fight.
Frantically, he tried to connect to Mary Geoise for backup.
Whether it was Imu or the other Five Elders, someone had to hear him.
Activate a teleportation array and bring me back now!
But despair set in as he realized the connection had been cut. No response at all.
…
Meanwhile, Caelan was already reaping the rewards.
The moment Vegapunk and his six clones appeared, Kizaru quickly brought them to Caelan in a flash.
Then came Bartholomew Kuma's modified body and the seven Seraphim children. Following Caelan's orders, Kizaru retrieved each one personally.
Even if he didn't understand how Caelan did it, he couldn't pass up such a perfect rescue opportunity.
"Commander Caelan is truly clever," Kizaru said, adjusting his glasses.
"I didn't think saving Vegapunk would be this easy."
He had expected a tough fight, Vegapunk gravely injured by Garling, and a struggle to escape.
"Simplicity is better than complication,"
Caelan replied, glancing at Vegapunk.
Just as he remembered, Vegapunk's head was longer than his body, with a tongue hanging out of his mouth, resembling Einstein.
At the moment, Vegapunk was still stunned by the sudden change.
One moment he was working in the lab, the next he was in a mysterious desert-like world, already rescued.
This space-altering ability left him at a loss.
"Dr. Vegapunk. Pleased to meet you,"
Caelan said, reaching out his hand.
"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you,"
Vegapunk returned the gesture seriously.
"You truly are extraordinary. This space-conversion ability is far beyond my understanding."
Caelan smiled. "It's not technology. It's magic."
"Huh?" Vegapunk blinked.
It was the first time he had heard someone speak of magic with a straight face.
"If you don't get it, take your time later," Caelan cut off his thoughts.
"Right now, there's something more important."
"More important?"
Vegapunk looked at him in confusion.
"Submit to me," Caelan said calmly.
For a moment, countless thoughts filled Vegapunk's mind.
He had already made up his mind to surrender to Caelan when he asked Stussy for help.
Scientific research couldn't thrive alone. He needed support, and Caelan was the ideal choice.
He had intended to bring up a few conditions: no excessive military use of his work, continued development of infinite energy and the Mother Flame, and a safe research environment...
But upon meeting Caelan's calm gaze, he swallowed all those demands.
"I submit to you, Commander Caelan,"
Vegapunk said solemnly.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)