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

"If I join, what do you want me to do?"

Roy didn't mince words when it came to Vegapunk's directness:

"The first thing - Devil Fruit replication technology."

I need you to help me replicate some top-tier Devil Fruits.

"Devil Fruit Reissue..."

Vegapunk's voice carried a more complex meaning.

"I already have research results on this technology."

I successfully replicated one of Kaido's Azure Dragon Fruits—although the color is wrong.

"The pink one?"

Roy smiled.

"I've got it. In Punk Hazard."

Vegapunk's voice suddenly rose a few decibels:

"You went to Punk Hazard?"

Roy briefly recounted his actions in Punk Hazard, but made no mention of Momonosuke.

After listening, Vegapunk sighed, his tone carrying the regret unique to a scientist regarding their failed work:

"I considered that fruit a failure because the color was wrong."

Perhaps I was too fixated on perfect replication back then, always thinking that a difference in color was a flaw.

But after repeated testing, I found that its abilities are almost identical to Kaido's Blue Dragon Fruit—

Dragon's breath, cloud control, flight, fire immunity—all the functions are there.

"Color doesn't matter, ability does."

"I need you to replicate more of these fruits."

"Given enough genetic samples and resources, I can replicate any Devil Fruit—including Logia-type fruits."

Roy's eyes lit up: "Logia-type can be replicated too?"

"certainly."

Vegapunk's tone carried the confidence of a scientist discussing their field.

"The essence of Devil Fruits is a special form of lineage factors."

While the elementalization ability of the Nature type is more difficult to replicate than that of other types, it is not impossible.

The problem is that the World Government won't let me go in this direction—they're afraid that if Logia-type Devil Fruits become too abundant, they'll be difficult to control.

"A bunch of short-sighted idiots," Roy commented bluntly.

Vegapunk did not refute this.

After a moment of silence, he began to explain his situation:

"I am currently on Warhead Island."

A small island on the northwestern edge of the New World, which the World Government claims is an experimental base for the Science and Defense Department.

"What's the reality?"

"It's actually a prison."

Vegapunk's voice betrayed his undisguised exhaustion.

"More than a hundred elite CP members are stationed on the island, ostensibly to protect my safety, but in reality to monitor my every move."

All my research data must be reviewed by the CP agency, and any project that "does not comply with the regulations" will be immediately stopped.

"Is Admiral Kizaru personally overseeing the operation also for protection?"

"That Borsalino guy..."

Vegapunk paused, his tone becoming somewhat complicated.

"He's an old friend."

Although he has been keeping an eye on me all these years, at least he has never made things difficult for me.

However, if the Five Elders ordered him to kill me, I suspect he wouldn't hesitate.

"Then don't give him the chance to carry out orders."

After Roy found out the specific defenses on Warhead Island, he quickly made some calculations in his mind.

Kizaru plus a hundred elite CP members—this combination would be a dead end for any ordinary pirate crew.

But for the core combat force of Beehive Island, it's just an afternoon's work.

"Let me be frank with you, Doctor."

Roy straightened up.

"Your situation is worse than I expected. To put it bluntly, Warhead Island is a prison drawn up for you by the World Government, and Kizaru is your jailer."

All your research is being used to build weapons, and all the real science you want to do—energy, medicine, genetic optimization—is being suppressed and prevented from being done.

How much longer can you endure this?

One year? Two years?

Or a lifetime?

Vegapunk did not answer.

"If you continue to stay on Warhead Island, you will eventually be drained of your value and disposed of like garbage."

World governments don't need a tool that only makes weapons; they need an obedient tool.

You're becoming more and more disobedient, aren't you?

A barely audible sigh came from the other end of the phone.

So don't hesitate.

Roy's tone was resolute.

"Three days later, the people from Beehive Island will arrive at Bullet Head Island."

You only need to do one thing—pack up the research materials and equipment you want to take with you.

Turn on the lab's defense system, then sit inside and wait for us to come and get you.

Leave the rest to me.

Vegapunk remained silent for a while, then asked a very practical question:

"I have several large pieces of equipment in my lab that I can't move."

High-energy particle accelerators, lineage factor analyzers, and Devil Fruit energy extraction devices—these devices combined weigh over two thousand tons, making them impossible to transport by ordinary ships.

Roy almost burst out laughing.

"Doctor, you don't need to worry about any of that. Can't move it? I can move the entire island for you."

Vegapunk paused for a moment: "Move the entire island?"

"There are people with the ability of the Float-Float Fruit on Beehive Island."

The fruits of Shiki the Golden Lion's labor are now in our hands.

Moving an island as big as a warhead wouldn't be difficult for him.

Vegapunk took a deep breath.

Roy could hear a slight clinking of glassware on the other end of the phone; he must have knocked something over on the table because he was too excited.

"Three days."

Vegapunk's voice regained its composure.

"Three days is enough for me to finish organizing all the materials."

The laboratory's defense system is independently powered; once activated, it can withstand at least half a day's attack even if Kizaru attacks at full strength.

"See you in three days then."

After hanging up the phone, Roy walked to the window.

Beehive Island was brightly lit in the night. The explosions on the training ground had stopped, but the night market in the port area was just starting to get lively.

The sea breeze carries the aroma of grilled fish and rum.

Roy learned that the warhead was actually in a corner on the edge of the New World.

Roy chuckled, surprised that the World Government would dare to play this game of "blindly under the lamplight" with him.

To place such important experimental subjects in a new world controlled by Roy.

That would be better, at least the World Government wouldn't be able to provide support so quickly when it learned that Warhead Island had been attacked.

If Vegapunk were to come to Beehive Island, the Devil Fruit replication technology, combined with lunar technology and Gracia's genetic modifications, would give Beehive Island a qualitative leap in combat power.

Imagine each core member equipped with three carefully selected top-tier Devil Fruits, plus bloodline enhancement and multiple heart transplants—

That wasn't just a dozen or so top-tier fighters; it was a terrifying legion that could send the World Government tumbling out of Mary Geoise and all the way out of the Red Line.

The operation three days from now must succeed.

No matter how fast Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit speed is, he can't possibly make a fuss when surrounded by Kaido, Bullet, and Mihawk.

One hundred elite CP members are nothing more than one hundred moving targets in the face of Tesoro's lightning sweep.

What's more, he has himself as a backer.

With this lineup, let alone a single island, even if the entire Marine Headquarters were to come out, they might not be able to stop it.