One Piece: The user of the Nen-Nen Fruit, who overturned the sea.

It was noon the next day when I returned from Punk Hazard.

Roy stood by the office window, toying with the pink dragon fruit he had snatched from Momo no Assistant.

The scales on the fruit's peel shimmered with a pale pink luster in the sunlight, and at first glance, it certainly didn't seem as imposing as the blue one that Kaido had eaten.

But for Roy, the ability itself is the key; color doesn't matter.

In the direction of the training ground, Barrett was testing his new ability again. The combination of the Fusion Fruit and the Momo-Momo Fruit made him as excited as a child who had just received a new toy. He couldn't stand it if he didn't do it seven or eight times a day.

Tesoro's golden lightning would occasionally join in, with two bolts of lightning of different colors colliding in mid-air, the resulting shockwaves creating ripples on the harbor's surface.

Roy looked away and pulled an encrypted Den Den Mushi from the drawer.

Vegapunk.

This name had been on his mind for more than just a day or two.

The world's top scientist, the founder of the bloodline factor theory, and the only monster capable of replicating Devil Fruits.

If we can bring him to Beehive Island, and combine him with Dr. Gracia's genetic modification technology and ancient lunar technology, Beehive Island's technological strength will be at least ten years ahead of the World Government.

But direct contact with Vegapunk is impossible.

That guy is watched more closely by the World Government than anything else; all his external communications are monitored by the CP organization.

To bypass this blockade, the only option is to find an intermediary who is an enemy of the World Government but also has a connection with Vegapunk.

Revolutionary Army. Monkey D. Dragon.

The Den Den Mushi rang five times before being answered.

First came the sound of howling sea wind, then a deep, husky voice:

"Roy? It's rare for you to contact me first."

"Dragon, enough with the nonsense."

Roy got straight to the point.

"I want to invite Vegapunk to join Beehive Island, and I need your help in making the connection."

Ryu didn't answer immediately; his steady breathing came through the Den Den Mushi. After about ten seconds, he spoke again:

Why do you think Vegapunk will join Beehive Island?

"Three things."

Roy held up three fingers; although the dragon couldn't see them, he was used to this gesture.

"First, an absolutely safe research environment."

On Beehive Island, no Five Elders bossed him around, and no one forced him to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Second, sufficient funds and resources.

The tax revenue from 90% of the New World's oceans now falls under the jurisdiction of Beehive Island. I'll build him a laboratory of whatever size he wants.

third--"

Roy paused deliberately.

"Ancient lunar technology data".

The dragon's breathing visibly paused for a beat.

"Lunar technology? Where did you get that from?"

"I took some people up there once."

The advanced weapons we're providing you now, as well as the mechanized soldiers in the weapons factory, are also included.

A deep sigh came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi:

"No wonder your weapons factory can produce that kind of thing."

"Dragon, I know that the Revolutionary Army has always cooperated with Vegapunk."

Roy leaned against the windowsill, his tone casual but his words cutting.

"But what can the Revolutionary Army offer Vegapunk?"

Secret outpost?

An underground laboratory?

You even have to hide your own supply lines, how can you support his research?

"A scientist of Vegapunk's caliber, making him hide in an air-raid shelter to do research is a waste of his talent."

Long didn't speak, but he didn't hang up either.

Roy continues to increase his bets:

"And I won't let you help me for nothing."

The Revolutionary Army and Beehive Island can establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism. Your intelligence network across the world, combined with our stronghold in the New World, will allow for mutual information exchange.

In addition, food, weapons, and medicine—

The warehouses on Beehive Island are practically moldy from all the stuff. I'll ship you as much as you need.

"You're quite generous," Long said with a hint of amusement.

"The World Government is our common enemy; helping you is helping myself."

Roy spoke very frankly, without any beating around the bush.

"I can be even more generous—if the revolutionary army's cadres are willing, they can come to Beehive Island in batches to receive bloodline enhancement."

You've probably heard that the core members of Beehive Island have all undergone bloodline transplants from multiple races.

After a transplant, an ordinary person's physical condition can improve by at least ten times.

This kind of treatment can only be offered by Beehive Island in the whole world.

The dragon remained silent for a long time.

The only sound coming from the Den Den Mushi was the sea breeze, whistling through the air.

Roy didn't urge him; he knew that Dragon was weighing the pros and cons.

The leader of the Revolutionary Army was not the kind of person who would be swayed by a few words, but he also knew that Vegapunk could not play a real role in the hands of the Revolutionary Army.

"OK."

The dragon finally spoke.

"I will help you contact Vegapunk through secret channels."

Whether you can persuade him depends on your own abilities.

"Let me be clear from the start: Vegapunk has a very strange temper; he won't necessarily agree to something just because you offer good terms."

"He will." Roy's confident tone surprised even Long Du.

"Why are you so sure?"

"Because he's the same kind of person as me."

"I am unwilling to be bound by rules and do not want to do things based on other people's opinions."

The world government has suppressed him for decades; he's reached his limit by now.

Long snorted softly, said nothing more, and hung up the phone.

Late that night, Roy's private Den Den Mushi rang.

It was a completely unfamiliar frequency, and the signal was so encrypted that even Tezzolo, an electronic warfare expert, might not be able to crack it.

After Roy answered the call, a slightly tired but wise voice came from the other end:

"I am Vegapunk."

Roy leaned back in his chair, a slight smile playing on his lips.

coming.

He repeated what he had said to the dragon, but this time his tone was more direct.

Vegapunk is not a dragon; he doesn't need those strategic pleasantries.

For scientists of this caliber, the most effective way to communicate is to lay the conditions on the table and let them decide for themselves whether it's worth the risk.

Vegapunk remained silent for a long time after hearing this.

The sound of his fingers tapping on the table came through the Den Den Mushi, a rhythm that was neither too fast nor too slow.

"Do you know my current situation?" Vegapunk suddenly asked.

"have no idea."

Roy told the truth,

"But you're definitely not happy right now."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, then Vegapunk actually chuckled.

The laughter carried a hint of surprise, and also a touch of self-deprecation:

"Unhappy"—that's a good word to use.

I haven't been 'happy' for many years.

"Now is not the time to talk about these things."

Roy didn't give him time for reflection, and went straight to the core question.

"Haven't you always wanted to use technology to change the world?"

The World Government only lets you build weapons, but Beehive Island allows you to do the research you really want to do.

Lunar technology, lineage factors, Devil Fruit replication—do whatever you want, nobody's stopping you.

Vegapunk's breathing became noticeably heavier.

Roy's words struck a nerve—he had spent decades in the World Government, creating countless weapons, and every single one of his inventions had been used as a tool of war by the Five Elders.

Seraphs, artificial Devil Fruits, weapons of mass destruction...

He initially joined the World Government with the intention of using technology to benefit humanity, but ended up becoming an arms dealer for the Celestial Dragons.

Roy could guess at this frustration even without meeting him.