Chapter 464: The Beginning of Turmoil
Navy Science Division research base.
"What exactly is that Caesar guy up to? Is he treating us like prisoners?"
A certain man was furious.
No, strictly speaking he wasn't a man. He was a Fish-Man.
But not a complete Fish-Man. He was transformed from human.
His name was Doberman, Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral, who had become what he was now due to participating in the Fish-Man Plan.
Vice Admiral Doberman was in a very bad mood.
Being transferred by the Government to cooperate with Science Division research was originally nothing. Following orders was a soldier's duty.
But after arriving at this new Science Division base, all of them were ordered to stay only in their rooms. Unless needed for experiments, they weren't allowed out at all.
The new Science Division Chief Scientist Caesar's explanation was: last time Brett found Punk Hazard without any obstacles. To find the Government's secret base so easily, someone must have leaked information.
Most likely Vegapunk.
So the Science Division might still have moles left by Vegapunk and Brett. Secrecy was necessary.
Doberman could barely accept this reasoning.
But being stuck in a cramped room every day, with meals delivered through a window in the door, was somewhat too stifling.
It was just like being imprisoned.
But Doberman was helpless.
Cooperating with experiments was a direct order from the Five Elders. As a professional soldier, he couldn't refute or disobey.
"I wonder how Momousagi and the others are doing?"
Doberman sighed, thinking of his captured comrades.
He himself was safe and sound here, but they'd fallen into Brett's hands. Their fate probably wouldn't be good.
"Damn Brett!!"
When would the experiments finish? When would they have the opportunity to formally attack Fish-Man Island?
Doberman couldn't wait to see the experimental results.
He still didn't know that in the surrounding rooms, many subordinates who'd been taken for experiments never returned.
His wish would soon be realized.
After all, there weren't many left.
Fish-Man Island.
Brett left Vegapunk's laboratory. The two Doctors promised to spare some time to try extracting Pure Gold while analyzing its composition.
They were also curious about how Pure Gold achieved slowing the passage of time on living beings.
With the extraction method already known, extraction was simple. Nature analysis wouldn't be too difficult either. The two Doctors were extremely familiar with microscopic research.
Brett returned to his office. He'd just processed a few documents when Tesoro came knocking.
"Olga's already been injected with the specific medicine. She should be fine after resting a bit."
Tesoro said. "I've arranged for people to care for them at the hospital. Once Olga's out of danger, they'll guide them around Fish-Man Island."
"Thank you for the trouble."
Brett smiled. "I left the Pure Gold with the Doctor. Once they finish researching, I'll give you your share."
"No rush."
Tesoro didn't care. "I'm not old enough yet to need to preserve my youth."
He was only thirty-six or thirty-seven this year, in his prime. Far from old.
Brett thought the same.
Still too early.
No need for Pure Gold yet.
He'd already decided. When he got married, he'd give Shyarly a Pure Gold ring.
But not too early.
Pure Gold could slow bodily growth, and female merfolk didn't truly mature until age thirty, when they could split their tails into legs.
Too early wouldn't be good.
"I came to ask you, Brett."
Tesoro said seriously. "What do you plan to do with Ashier?"
Brett fell silent briefly.
"You should know what the knowledge Ashier possesses means for this sea."
Tesoro's attitude was very serious. "Don't take that friends game too seriously. That guy absolutely cannot fall into the Government's hands."
Though cruel, Tesoro spoke realistically and correctly.
"I'll go talk to him later."
Brett said. "Have him stay at Fish-Man Island temporarily until after the war."
"And after that?"
Tesoro continued asking. "If we ultimately seize the world, Pure Gold's trouble will be even greater."
"Don't worry."
Brett shook his head. "Katakuri has a sister who's a Memory Fruit user. She can erase others' memories. We can ask her to help when the time comes."
"That's better then."
Tesoro breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I'll go find Ashier. I'll properly explain to him the necessity of staying at Fish-Man Island now."
Brett chuckled lightly. "Thanks for the trouble."
"Hmph."
Tesoro just snorted lightly. "Rather than thanks, think carefully about how to ensure our final victory."
"Well."
Brett smiled. "We absolutely won't lose."
What's the value of Shyarly's predictions?
Time thus flowed slowly. Life at Fish-Man Island was like a deep winter lake, calm without a ripple.
After Tesoro spoke with Ashier once, Ashier agreed to temporarily stay at Fish-Man Island.
He could also catch up on two hundred years of world knowledge.
At the same time, Olga could attend school at Fish-Man Island.
However, what he truly thought, Brett didn't visit, so he wasn't clear.
Sea Circle Calendar year 1517 thus reached its end in such tranquility.
The current time was Sea Circle Calendar year 1518, two years before Straw Hat junior set sail.
This year would be called the Year of Change by future generations.
And the curtain on this magnificent year was raised at NEO Navy's underwater prison.
The time had reached late night.
Because the prisoners here were all Navy, most even disciples of NEO Navy Commander-in-Chief Zephyr, they all received considerable preferential treatment.
Though during the day lights illuminated all cells brightly, at night the lights were extinguished to let the prisoners rest properly.
And since this prison was located underwater, after the lights went out it was pitch black.
So, naturally, someone seized this opportunity.
This was beneath a bed in a certain cell.
A floor tile was silently pushed open. A certain man quietly emerged from beneath it.
The instant he surfaced, gazes from several opposite cells turned toward him.
Even in the pitch-black environment, with Observation Haki they could still sense each other's attention.
The man lightly tapped the floor tile.
In the opposite cell, Vice Admiral Momousagi, still in child form, slowly exhaled.
The time had come.