A vast underground chamber, composed entirely of rock, spanned an area equivalent to several football fields.
Apart from scattered lighting fixtures, the chamber was otherwise empty.
It was clearly newly constructed, with no furnishings yet in place.
Nevertheless, its existence was astonishing, as no one would have expected such a place to be built under government surveillance.
Vegapunk sat on the ground, playfully teasing a mechanically modified tanuki.
This tanuki was a failed product of a previous biological experiment. Despite its physical defects, it possessed exceptional intelligence and loyalty.
Vegapunk, being rather solitary, had personally undertaken the task of augmenting its impaired body.
He named it 'Gak'.
While its limbs, heart, and head had all been replaced with mechanical components, its consciousness remained intact.
However, due to its inherent genetic defects, it was destined to live only a few more years.
But the miraculous ability of Devil Fruits to alter bloodline factors was truly remarkable.
Vegapunk had been undecided about which fruit to give it, until the batch of materials delivered earlier that day...
Drip!
A drop of magma fell from the ceiling onto the floor.
Hiss—
It instantly expanded and solidified into a humanoid form…
Sakazuki surveyed the massive underground chamber.
He then looked at Vegapunk and the little tanuki:
"Looking good."
"To carve out such a large space in a single night."
"Ate the Stone-Stone Fruit, did you?"
He walked over and sat down, giving the tanuki a pat.
Sakazuki had been on the island for several days, and the tanuki had seen him many times.
Therefore, the tanuki did not resist but rather enjoyed the petting.
Vegapunk said with a smile:
"Yes."
"I had been unsure what fruit to give him before."
"But the materials sent this time were excellent."
"The user of the Stone-Stone Fruit was 'injured too severely' by you."
"They 'accidentally' died."
"The fruit couldn't be wasted."
"It was perfect for him."
"Not only is he loyal, but it also resolved his genetic defect."
"Half of his body is mechanically augmented."
"There's no need to worry about stamina exhaustion."
"As long as there's sufficient energy, he can use his abilities continuously."
Sakazuki smiled, taking the blame once more…
But he didn't seem to mind:
"Normally, those who have just eaten a Devil Fruit can't carve out such a large underground chamber."
"You're using the ability very well."
"Has the technology for controlling biological organisms matured?"
Vegapunk shook his head:
"Not really."
"Living organisms are called living organisms because they possess their own instincts and thoughts."
"Most animals inherently have low intelligence and cannot be fully controlled."
"After partial mechanical modification."
"Weaker beings who eat Devil Fruits cannot exert much power, nor can their loyalty be guaranteed."
"Stronger ones, due to their ferocious instincts, are impossible to control. If they were to eat a Devil Fruit, it would be even more problematic."
"Gak's high intelligence and loyalty are purely due to a random genetic mutation."
"It would be possible to clone and create him using bloodline factor technology."
"However, that would be… too wicked."
"Mass-producing genetically flawed creatures is excessively cruel."
Vegapunk then sighed:
"Complete mechanical modification also won't work."
"That would turn a living being into a machine, devoid of life."
"Lifeless objects can only consume Zoan-type Devil Fruits."
"Because within Zoan-type Devil Fruits resides the consciousness of the original creature."
"It can allow lifeless things to become vibrant through latent consciousness."
"For example, the Elephant-Sword before, the elephant was quite gentle."
"But in reality, it was completely unnecessary… creating a mechanical tiger and giving it a tiger fruit."
"It was useless, a complete waste."
"The killing power of becoming an animal is not as great as equipping it with two missiles."
"As for Logia and Paramecia types, there has been no discovery of any inherent consciousness."
Vegapunk took out a few nuts and fed them to the semi-mechanically modified tanuki:
"Therefore, I had never decided on a fruit for Gak."
"Because he is the only successful semi-mechanically modified living being."
"Only by eating a Logia or Paramecia type would be the optimal choice."
"The experimental materials delivered this time were truly timely."
Sakazuki's eyes narrowed:
"The consciousness of the fruit…"
"Then for Mythical Zoans, is the will residing within them from myths as well?"
Vegapunk gave a wry smile:
"I really don't know about that."
"Mainly, current technological levels are insufficient."
"We cannot capture and analyze the consciousness within Zoan-type Devil Fruits."
"We'll have to wait a few more years."
"Moreover, Mythical Zoans are too rare."
"The only materials we have so far are cells extracted from Kaido several years ago."
"Progress has been slow these past few years, but it's likely that within a few more years, we'll be able to create a new Azure Dragon fruit."
"After all, the researchers in the science division are not idiots."
"They possess capabilities."
"We can study it then."
Sakazuki nodded:
"I see, then that's fine."
"Let's discuss some serious matters."
"Have the replacement parts for the Fleet Admiral been prepared?"
Vegapunk took out a small box and handed it to Sakazuki.
Inside the box, fifteen metal screws were neatly arranged.
Simultaneously, he handed Sakazuki a device the size of a suitcase, which had several ports and a slot corresponding to the screws.
"They are all here."
"From the year 1495 until now."
"A total of fifteen."
"Insert the screws into the slot, connect a display screen and control buttons, and you can browse and view them. It's very simple."
"I've made markings on each screw."
"You can access all daily actions of the Fleet Admiral, recorded through surveillance."
"You'll be able to understand the daily operations and secrets of the government's higher-ups."
"It's a shame that it's only an internal organ issue, so it can only record sound, making it rather troublesome to understand through listening."
Sakazuki let out a slight scoff:
"It doesn't matter, fifteen years of audio."
"By the time we finish listening and understanding, it will be nearly over."
He smiled with an inscrutable expression:
"The World Conference is imminent, and after it concludes, that old man will have to abdicate."
Vegapunk chuckled:
"He can abdicate anytime he wants, but the old man is reluctant to give up power."
"He's so close to death, yet if he could ruthlessly abandon that wealth and status, he might live a few more years."
"But people… are always greedy."
"After the World Conference, let's give him some strong medicine."
"He doesn't have many years left anyway, so he won't be able to tell."
"However, Kong is your former superior."
"You'll be confronting him then."
"What are your plans?"