The three Admirals were just about to move, but they saw the red light in the eyes of several PX-1s slowly dim, and a voice sounded.
"Come in."
The three Admirals looked at each other and recognized it as Vegapunk's voice.
As three Admirals, of course they had met this genius scientist before. Many Marine weapons were developed and upgraded by him.
Following several PX-1s into the research facility. After turning around, they finally arrived at where Vegapunk and the Gorosei were.
As soon as they entered, they were slightly shocked.
Inside the glass dome, a figure lay on an operating table. The body was currently convulsing violently. The data on the screen beside it was beating wildly. A pipe connected to the figure's brain, and semi-transparent matter was continuously channeled into it.
What made the three Admirals' hair stand on end was that this semi-transparent matter was actually in the form of very small humans. Even vaguely their roars and screams could be heard. Some semi-transparent matter even displayed distorted faces on the pipe walls, but the next moment they were sucked into the figure's brain.
"Is this... Lord Imu?" Akainu asked.
No one answered him, but the answer was already clear.
Moria's expression didn't look good. He kept providing energy sources to Vegapunk. Black shadows were sacrificed, then separated and purified through special instruments, and finally channeled into Imu's soul.
Slowly, Imu's condition inside the glass dome gradually stabilized.
Vegapunk's expression also slowly relaxed. He sighed: "There should be no problem. Imu's soul strength is beyond expectation. Although most of it has been stripped by the Gold List, the remaining part cannot be shaken by these ordinary souls. Although the number is quite large, it's not enough to cause qualitative change. However, there may still be some minor problems later, such as mental disturbance, loss of emotional control, etc. But the problem isn't big."
Hearing Vegapunk say this, the Gorosei also felt relieved.
Nusjuro asked: "Then when can Lord Imu recover her strength?"
"Recover strength?"
Vegapunk glanced at them and sneered: "You think that mysterious Gold List above our heads is just decoration? Imu was knocked down for forcibly trying to seize someone else's reward. She's lucky not to have died. To recover strength in a short time, unless there's a natural treasure, I'm a scientist, not a divine doctor. It's good enough that I could find a way to help her recover her soul."
After being scolded again by Vegapunk, Nusjuro was slightly annoyed, but he held it in, snorting coldly.
Scientists were indeed all crazy!
Vegapunk didn't care what the Gorosei thought. Even if he offended these five old men, they wouldn't dare kill him.
A genius who leads current technology by five hundred years, who would bear to touch him?
Who would dare touch him?
Vegapunk turned to the three Admirals, his eyes cold: "Mission failed?"
Facing Vegapunk's gaze, although the three Admirals were Admirals, they still couldn't quite bear it. This madman's gaze was indeed somewhat sharp, and because the three of them failed their mission again, they indeed felt somewhat guilty.
As the Marine's highest combat power, repeated failures were a disgrace.
There was disappointment in Vegapunk's eyes, after all, he really wanted to meet Orochimaru from the Naruto World.
The collision of intelligence from two worlds would surely spark different fires.
"Trash!"
Vegapunk couldn't help but curse, then turned around and no longer paid attention to the three.
Instead, the Gorosei swept with cold gazes, staring at the three with slight dissatisfaction.
They were three Admirals. How could even a simple mission not be completed when they went out together?
Just one Orochimaru, was he that difficult to capture?
At that moment, Vegapunk pointed to the ice coffin in another laboratory and said: "This time I've helped you a lot, you can't give no reward at all, right? How about this, I don't want anything else, give me Rocks' body."
"Can't!"
Saturn refused firmly.
They couldn't decide this. This belonged to Imu.
Vegapunk sneered: "Imu has already failed to seize Rocks' body, and the Gold List has also warned her not to try to obtain Gold List rewards with special methods. Rocks' body is already useless to Imu. Better to give it to me, perhaps I can research something useful for the World Government. This also benefits you."
The Gorosei looked at each other and saw the helplessness in each other's eyes.
What Vegapunk said was true. Rocks' body had indeed lost its value to Imu.
"Alright, we'll decide. Just take the body."
The Gorosei finally compromised.
Only then did Vegapunk show a satisfied smile.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
One day later.
Nine people boarded the warship anchored at Karakuri Island's beach and set sail. Imu had awakened, although there were still occasional mental disturbances, it was indeed as Vegapunk said, the problem wasn't big. Her consciousness gradually recovered, only her strength weakened again.
They now had to return immediately.
The situation was getting more urgent. The Gorosei had received information that the Four Emperors' forces had gathered in the Grand Line and would soon move toward Mary Geoise. They needed to make preparations first.
"A great war will soon begin. Don't delay what we need, send it as soon as possible!"
The Gorosei stood at the ship's bow, looking at a PX-1 standing upright on the beach.
"Already know, no need to see off!"
Vegapunk's voice sounded, without even showing his face.
The Gorosei were helpless. They used their abilities to propel the warship like an arrow away from Karakuri Island toward Mary Geoise.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Inside Karakuri Island's laboratory.
Vegapunk stood outside the glass dome, looking at Rocks' body lying in the ice coffin. There was a strange expression in his eyes.
"This body, after being stimulated by Imu, vaguely shows signs of awakening. However, his soul has long been gone. His body wants to rise... truly an interesting thing!"
Vegapunk murmured, the corner of his mouth slowly curving into a smile: "This is the mastermind behind God Valley in the past. Even Imu was injured by him. If not for the Gorosei's combined attack, they might not have been able to contain him. This transaction isn't a loss!"
Vegapunk stared at the figure in the ice coffin. There was a bold plan in his mind.
As a top scientist, his own strength wasn't strong, and he needed others' protection. His genius name was known throughout the world, but his own sense of security wasn't high.
"Perhaps this is an opportunity. The World Government's existence doesn't affect me too much. Even if the pirates succeed this time, it's impossible they would touch me..."
Both of Vegapunk's hands operated on the instruments like shadows.
Suddenly, the fingers of the figure in the ice coffin trembled slightly...