Future Island, Egghead.
"Sister Ulu! Sister Tia! Please don't attack—he's my father!"
As the 'Papa Bear Army' emerged from the city, Bonney's eyes welled with tears, streaming down her cheeks.
Ulu and Urutia froze, shocked by her words.
"These… bears are—"
"Bonney… your… father?" A voice of astonishment rang out.
Bonney sobbed and nodded.
"Uh-huh," she said, sniffing.
"Bonney… so the reason you've been so insistent on coming to find Vegapunk… it's because you want to see your father?" Ulu asked softly.
"Wait… Bonney, but there are so many bears. Which one is your father? It can't be all of them!" Urutia's wide, astonished eyes scanned the assembled soldiers.
"No… it's not!" Bonney shook her head frantically.
Truth be told, seeing so many 'fathers' emerge together in Seven Eight Zero had left her momentarily dumbfounded. But deep down, she hoped the real father was among them. Only then could she stop herself from attacking Ulu and Urutia in panic.
"It has to be that one—the bastard Vegapunk! He's been experimenting on my dad excessively! Vegapunk, get out here!" Bonney's furious cry echoed across the sky.
In the next instant, the sound of clattering metal erupted from behind Yuuto and the group.
Without warning, a gigantic robot burst from the sea, lifting Fairy Tail's unique magic-powered boat in its massive hands.
A hatch opened on the robot, revealing a young woman in tights.
"Wow… as expected, the ship's power plant is unusual. What drives this thing? Fascinating… I really found a treasure this time!" Her eyes sparkled, taking in the magical power boat before her. The number 02 was printed on her tights.
"Who… are you?" Urutia asked coquettishly.
"This is Dr. Vegapunk, a genius scientist employed solely by the World Government," Punk02 Lilith answered plainly.
"Old man?" Ulu blinked.
"Are you Vegapunk?" Urutia echoed, stunned.
From Bonney's description, they had an idea of the chief scientist's identity. She had imagined him as an elderly man. How could he—or she—look like this young, beautiful girl?
"Don't lie! I've seen Vegapunk! He's obviously an old man with a big head. How could you be him?" Bonney retorted angrily.
"You must be his granddaughter or something!" Ulu guessed.
"Stop rambling. The old man said it's Vegapunk. It's Vegapunk—no one else!" Punk02 Lilith insisted.
"No matter who you are, this is our ship! Put it down!" Urutia said in a low, firm voice.
"Heh… this ship now belongs to the old man. Naturally, there's a price to pay for trespassing on his island," Lilith replied.
She glanced at the Big Bear troops and barked, "Pacifists! Take them down!"
At her command, all the Pacifists raised their hands, light crackling across their palms as deadly lasers charged, ready to fire.
"Stop! Pacifists, all stand down!" A voice filled with panic and anxiety called out.
Clattering footsteps approached. A short, stout man with a crimson sash and a double-sided giant axe came charging forward.
"Zhan Taowan! What are you doing? As the bodyguard for this scientist, your job is to handle intruders, right?" Punk02 Lilith snapped.
"Almost there, Punk02. Do you know who they are?" Zhan Taowan, captain of the Marine Science Corps, scolded, alarm evident on his face.
"Who?" Lilith asked, clearly unconcerned.
"This man is the president of Fairy Tail—the Four Emperors, Sugisawa Yuuto!" Zhan Taowan exclaimed, shocked.
Zhan Taowan had been aware of Admiral Akainu's recent interception of Fairy Tail. He had assumed they would not return—but he never expected the Guild Leader himself to arrive personally. They nearly launched an attack… and now, the feared Four Emperors had come.
He could only imagine the chaos that might follow on Egghead Island.
"Punk02, hurry! Put that ship down!" Zhan Taowan urged.
Lilith reluctantly lowered the magic-powered boat. She was Vegapunk's rogue creation, yes—but not an idiot. While she did not know Yuuto's identity, she knew the title of Four Emperors. That was a being of unimaginable power. To provoke him recklessly could destroy all of Egghead Island.
"President Sugisawa Yuuto, I already know your reason for coming. Don't worry. The children harmed by Guy are being treated, and the situation has stabilized. I will take you to them!" Zhan Taowan hurried forward, speaking with genuine relief.
"Ulu, Tia, follow this little man to see the children," Yuuto instructed.
"Yes, President!" Ulu and Urutia responded in unison.
"President Sugisawa Yuuto, may I ask—" Zhan Taowan's eyes widened, panic flashing across his face. He hesitated—Yuuto had only asked Ulu and Urutia to go see the children. What about himself?
The only answer he could imagine…
"Punk02! Over here! Take us to the main body!" Yuuto commanded, looking at Lilith.
"Yes, but one condition," she replied immediately.
"I can take you to the main body, but you must allow me to study your ship afterward."
"No problem," Yuuto agreed readily. The magic-powered boat ran on magic, and he was curious to see how the world's greatest scientist would analyze it.
"Let's go quickly. He should be there now!" Lilith led the way, eager for the research opportunity. For once, she was willing to bend herself to the task.
Zhan Taowan watched Yuuto's group move forward, opening his mouth to speak—but dared not. The situation had clearly exceeded his control.
Meanwhile…
Naval Headquarters, Marineford.
"This is the New World G-14 branch. Vice Admiral Dole here. I need to speak with Marshal Sengoku—please respond if you hear me!" The base chief's voice trembled with urgency.
The signal quickly reached the marshal's office.
"Dole, what's going on?" Sengoku's voice came through the comms.
"Marshal Sengoku! I just received a report from Egghead Island—Fairy Tail's president, the Four Emperors Sugisawa Yuuto, has landed on Egghead Island!" Vice Admiral Dole reported, anxiety sharp in his tone.
"Nani!!!"