Kojin had just stepped out of the experimental base when he encountered the Vice Admiral at the harbour once again. As he nodded politely in farewell, the other party raised a hand and pointed at the blueprint in his hands.
"That blueprint is far more vital to this mission than the crate you arrived with, Rear Admiral Kojin," The officer remarked, his voice steady. "See to it that your own negligence doesn't damage the cargo."
Kojin was momentarily stunned and lowered his head to look at the blueprint.
The pages were a chaotic map of geometric abstractions, twisting lines, dense formulas, and strings of notation that would make a lesser mind reel. Even a cursory look revealed the skeletal frame of a revolutionary battleship.
"I appreciate the reminder, sir," Kojin replied with a thin smile before he turned on his heel and ascended the gangplank of his own vessel.
The Vice Admiral watched him leave, then withdrew his gaze.
Throughout the encounter, Kojin never learned how to address the Vice Admiral, but he felt that the benefits of this trip were substantial.
"Making friends with Vegapunk?"
The thought brought a smirk to his lips. To call Vegapunk a genius was an understatement; with the power of the Nomi Nomi no Mi, the man's intellect had ascended to a plane beyond human comprehension.
If Kojin himself were not strong enough, a scientist with such extraordinary wisdom would make anyone feel an involuntary tremor from the depths of their soul when facing him.
Just imagine it: everything about you could be seen through with a single thought by his terrifying intellect. In a sense, such a person already stood shoulder to shoulder with the gods, existing on a completely different plane from ordinary people.
Moreover, Kojin knew just how terrifying this man's future research projects would be.
Artificial Devil Fruits, Pacifistas, and Seraphim Angels! All of these were unimaginable technological creations with immense destructive power.
After that, he took out the device from his chest that could roughly determine the location of nearby Devil Fruits and fell into thought.
A range of just two to three thousand meters was extremely limited given the vastness of the pirate world. It was no wonder that Vegapunk had considered it useless and tossed it into a cluttered corner.
But Kojin believed it was sufficient. Based on the information he had, he could deduce the possible location of the Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder-Thunder Fruit) fairly accurately. If he spent enough time on it, he should be able to find this Logia-type Devil Fruit.
As for the blueprint in his hand, Kojin judged after careful observation that it represented a brand-new technology recently researched by Vegapunk.
"A Seastone plating Battleship!"
That's right, this was precisely the technology that allowed Marine battleships to safely and easily pass through the Calm Belt.
This advanced technology formed the basis of the Marines' ability to move and operate rapidly across the Grand Line and even the entire world. Without a doubt, it would greatly reduce the cost and time of Marine voyages, enhancing their mobility in many respects.
"The benefits of controlling a scientist are simply too great!"
Kojin couldn't help but sigh.
Vegapunk's importance was self-evident, and an initial friendship had already been established in their brief exchange.
He turned around and looked at Crocodile, Rosinante, Evans and the others, and his expression once again became complicated.
"The power in my hands is still not enough!"
If he had sufficient financial resources and territory, he could kidnap Vegapunk from the World Government. Once successful, his forces would rapidly expand.
Using his Marine identity as a cover, he would become a hidden yet powerful force, waiting for the day he could spread his wings and trigger a massive storm across the world.
...
On that same day, T. Penn received a call from Headquarters ordering them to return to Marineford immediately.
"It seems that Headquarters is extremely eager for the Seastone Battleship technology!"
Kojin smiled.
He handed the blueprint to Crocodile. Crocodile seemed to understand something, turned around, and left.
The battleship turned its bow and headed for Marineford at maximum speed.
Along the way, Kojin spent the journey carefully planning his next steps.
"I need to do everything possible to raise my Busoshoku (Armament) Haki to the maximum level," He siletly thought to himself.
"My Rokushiki Techniques also needs further improvement."
"When I reach a certain limit, I'll search for the Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder-Thunder Fruit)."
He also had a faint premonition about the future. Not long after Roger became the Pirate King, he would reappear to turn himself in, followed by the world-shocking execution at Loguetown, which would ignite the Great Pirate Era.
It could be said that the current Kojin stood right at the turning point of history, a moment when everything was surging forward with tremendous momentum.
Half a month later, the battleship arrived at Dressrosa to resupply.
Standing at the bow, Kojin gazed at the kingdom ahead, recalling the events that would unfold there in the future.
"Rosinante, I heard this place originally belonged to your family?"
Rosinante was startled. "Where did you hear that?"
Kojin smiled.
"As a descendant of one of the Twenty Kings, I'm very curious. What kind of potential do you actually possess?"
After a brief pause, he continued.
"From what I know, your elder brother has already begun to make a name for himself and has established his own family."
"It seems to be called the Donquixote Family, right?"
Rosinante fell silent upon hearing that.
He had no idea where this senior officer had obtained such information, but it was clear that he knew him very well.
"Do you ever wonder," Kojin continued, "if ten years from now, the two of you will be facing each other across a battlefield?"
Rosinante's face twitched slightly before he let out a sigh. "Senior officer, we're brothers by blood!"
Kojin merely smiled in response. Rosinante said nothing more, but a trace of gloom appeared in his eyes.
Crocodile and the others soon returned to the battleship, carrying large bags. They had bought daily necessities, as well as large quantities of meat and vegetables.
At the same time, they brought back news that surprised Kojin.
"We just heard something interesting." Crocodile lit the cigar in his mouth and grinned as he spoke.
"A powerful guy you've fought before has just left this place."
Kojin asked in confusion, "Who?"
At the same time, he increasingly felt that Crocodile was regaining his former pirate-like demeanour, perhaps many old memories had resurfaced.
But for Kojin, such a Crocodile was undoubtedly even more advantageous.
"Douglas Bullet!"
Exhaling a smoke ring, Crocodile's eyes sharpened.
"That guy?"
Kojin was momentarily stunned.
Then he laughed.
"Do you know which direction he's sailing?"
Crocodile raised his head, revealing a knowing expression. "Of course. We've already checked, he should be heading towards Punk Hazard."
After a brief pause, he added, smiling,
"That guy would make a powerful ally. If you can subdue him."
Hearing this, Kojin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Two years ago, he had fought that man once.
In that battle, Douglas Bullet had been knocked out by a single punch. This didn't mean that Bullet was weak, though, there were only a handful of people in the world who could withstand frontal clashes with Haoshoku Haki-infused attacks.
Even when fighting Rayleigh, Bullet frequently relied on Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) to evade attacks.
At the same time, Kojin knew very well that Bullet was someone who worshiped strength above all else and who would acknowledge and follow the truly powerful.
"He really is a pretty good guy."
Murmuring to himself, Kojin looked out over the sea ahead.
(End of Chapter)
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