"So cute..."
Lilith murmured absentmindedly.
Actually, it wasn't just her… this was almost everyone's feeling upon seeing Adam.
After being 'born', Adam seemed a bit tired. He fell asleep in his mother's arms after a short while.
Watching Adam breathe evenly, his small hand still gripping her finger, Stussy felt her heart melting.
Both Stussy and Naruto were quite advantaged in appearance.
So, Adam, inheriting their genes, naturally wouldn't be lacking in looks either.
But Stussy didn't feel this too deeply… all her attention now was drawn by that gentle, warm little body.
Despite being a strong fighter capable of matching Vice Admirals in hand-to-hand combat, she now walked with utmost care, afraid of falling or bumping.
She could almost feel Adam's heartbeat.
"Stussy... you really don't need to be so careful... mmph!"
Shaka wanted to say something.
Judging from the machine's feedback parameters, Adam's physical constitution could be described as 'terrifying'.
Forget accidentally falling on the floor… even if a Pacifista blasted him with a laser cannon, it would be fine.
However, his blunt, straightforward comment was quickly interrupted by the two female Vegapunk clones.
Atlas and Lilith, one restraining his attempt to walk over with both hands, the other covering his mouth to prevent him from ruining the mood again.
Everyone now surrounded Stussy. The three Seraphim didn't try to stop them this time.
Because Stussy allowed it.
When Adam gripped Stussy's finger earlier, an inexplicable power seeped into her body.
It was a type of information.
In the eyes of the three modified clones, Stussy now possessed the authority to give them orders.
Basically similar to the first priority in the original Authority Chip.
"Let's go upstairs. The temperature here is too low."
Dr. Vegapunk suggested.
To make things easier for Stussy, he even assembled a stroller on the spot using various mechanical parts.
A stroller with automatic movement capabilities and military-grade anti-shock technology.
But when Stussy tried to put Adam inside, she saw Adam's little hand still gripping her finger, showing no intention of letting go.
"Forget it, let me hold him instead."
Before being tortured by a baby's midnight wails, almost no mother could resist this scene.
Especially considering Stussy's special origins and identity, she had even less resistance to this.
Seeing this, everyone understood. They surrounded Stussy, moving back upstairs at a very slow pace together.
Once upstairs, Dr. Vegapunk immediately started preparing new baby facilities for Adam.
If you thought about it, he was sort of his 'grandfather'.
This stirred a ripple of emotion in the heart of Vegapunk, an old man who had never married.
Different from Stussy, the Vegapunk clones, or even the Seraphim, Adam wasn't a clone in the strict sense, but an 'in vitro fertilization baby'.
It was just that because Stussy couldn't carry a pregnancy to term, he was cultivated in a container.
Unlike clones born with knowledge and skills, Adam was just a child with a special way of being born.
"By the way, which of us knows how to take care of a baby?"
When everyone returned to the original dining room, Lilith suddenly slapped her forehead and asked.
Hearing this, Vegapunk and the five clones looked at each other.
"Our knowledge and memories are shared..."
Edison muttered quietly.
Vegapunk had no experience in this area, so naturally, neither did they.
"Then what should a baby eat? Can they have nutrient fluid?"
"Of course not! And clothes for the baby... does he need them? Or not?"
"And changing diapers! We don't have any diapers here!"
"What's the big deal? Lilith, just cut up your spare clothes."
"Why don't you use your own clothes!"
Seeing everyone arguing over how to raise Adam, with Lilith almost coming to blows with Shaka-
It was the mother, Stussy, who spoke up.
"It's fine. I have all those things on my ship."
This statement made everyone look at her.
Even Vegapunk seemed to be seeing Stussy for the first time.
Under such gazes, Stussy seemed a bit embarrassed. Holding Adam with one arm, she gently poked the soft cheek of the little one with her other hand, smiling lightly.
"Originally, I just prepared them just in case. I didn't expect to actually use them."
That was a lie.
Actually, watching Hancock's belly grow day by day, Stussy was envious, jealous, and resentful but helpless, so she could only prepare some baby supplies to comfort herself.
Of course, she couldn't say that.
Just as the atmosphere was harmonious, alarms suddenly sounded in the research institute.
The three Seraphim also seemed to sense something, their gazes collectively turning toward a certain direction, instantly forming a triangle formation to protect Stussy.
Stussy first instinctively covered Adam's ears to prevent the child from being frightened, then looked up puzzledly at Vegapunk.
"What's happening?"
After glancing at the content on the display, Vegapunk's tone suddenly became grave.
"It's the Marines. They're approaching Egghead Island."
"It seems the sudden large-scale power outage on Egghead Island just now has been noticed."
Hearing this, Stussy's expression also turned serious.
"Is it Kizaru?"
Kizaru was originally the Marine Admiral assigned by the World Government to ensure Egghead Island's safety. During his time stationed on Egghead Island, he even became friends with Dr. Vegapunk.
The two also met a child named Sentomaru on a place called [Mt. Kintoki] in the Grand Line and adopted him under the guise of employment.
Sentomaru should still be with Kizaru now.
But Vegapunk, when asked, shook his head and explained.
"Sakazuki is severely injured. The Marines are short-handed. Borsalino and Sentomaru have been assigned missions elsewhere."
"The one currently responsible for security in this area is..."
"Zephyr."
A name Stussy wasn't too happy to hear came from Vegapunk's mouth.
[Black Arm] Zephyr. Not just within the Marines, but among many older-generation pirates, that was a renowned name.
Marines like the three Admirals and countless Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals had almost all received his guidance.
In terms of strength, the old guy was undoubtedly powerful, especially after being equipped with the latest prosthetic limb developed by Vegapunk, making him even more troublesome.
And most crucially, he and she, a 'former World Government's agent', were likely in a hostile relationship.
Unlike Aokiji or Garp, Zephyr didn't have much connection with Naruto.
This was also evident during the previous Whole Cake Island battle… Stussy remembered it clearly.
"If it's him..."
Stussy said softly.
Meanwhile, Vegapunk had already started arranging tasks for the others.
"They're coming very fast. Trying to leave quietly from the dock now is unrealistic."
"Neither Adam nor you are known to the Marines."
"Lilith, take Stussy and the others to hide first."
While directing everyone to restore the research institute to its original state, Dr. Vegapunk also had Lilith take Stussy to another, more concealed hiding spot.
He also knew Zephyr must have Observation Haki, so Stussy needed to hide somewhere sufficiently concealed.
But after taking just a couple of steps, Stussy, as if remembering something, looked at the three Seraphim closely following.
"You stay here."
"Yes."
The Seraphim affirmed without any questions.
Instead, Vegapunk looked over with some confusion.
"Stussy, this is..."
"Like you said, the existence of these three is 'known'."
"Tonight's incident must have a reason. Otherwise, what awaits Egghead Island is a larger-scale search by the Marines."
Hearing this, Vegapunk's gaze also fell on the three Seraphim, understanding Stussy's meaning.
"Alright, I understand."
"You three, in the absence of me and Adam, follow Vegapunk's orders."
"Yes."