*Boom!! Boom!!*
"Run! The pirates are here!!"
"What's going on?! Where are the Marines and the Science Defense Units stationed on the island?!"
"Hurry! Get to the shelter!!"
The roar of artillery fire echoed continuously from the coast, flames rising alongside plumes of black smoke. Within the futuristic town, crowds of residents and researchers scrambled in panic, screaming as they fled in all directions.
Above the town, an eggshell-shaped building sat atop a cloud of cotton-white.
That was Dr. Vegapunk's exclusive research laboratory, which also served as the database storing the countless volumes of knowledge from his brain.
Inside the laboratory, a large number of black-suited CP agents sprinted frantically down the corridors.
Arriving before a sealed, high-tech door, the lead agent pressed his hand against the panel, passing the fingerprint scan.
*Hiss—!!*
The sealed doors slowly slid open under electric power, and several black-suited agents immediately rushed inside.
Behind a workbench, Vegapunk, clad in a white lab coat, looked up.
With his long tongue hanging out, his round eyes calmly watched the men rush in, as if scrutinizing them.
"Dr. Vegapunk!"
"Doctor! Hurry, pirates have invaded the island! Please come with us and evacuate immediately!"
The agents shouted nervously the moment they entered.
Hearing this, Vegapunk breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, but feigned confusion on his face as he asked, "Pirates? Aren't you CP agents still on the island? With the Seraphim and the large number of Pacifistas, you should just be able to repel them, right?"
"No! This time is different, Doctor! The pirate crew invading outside is...!"
"It's the Demon Lion Pirates, an Emperor's crew!!"
"Please pack your things quickly and come with us!"
The CP agents yelled in a panic.
However, upon hearing this, Vegapunk's eyes lit up, and his expression actually grew excited.
"The Demon Lion Pirates are finally here?! That's wonderful, haha!"
"Eh?!"
The agents' eyes widened in shock. "Doctor... did you just say that's wonderful?"
"Ah, because I'm planning to leave with them."
Vegapunk dropped the act entirely, nodding as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He then turned to look at a stout figure wearing a red dudou in the corner.
Under the agents' incredulous gazes, Vegapunk stated bluntly, "Please knock them all out, Sentomaru."
"Man~ seriously, it looks like your plan was a success. Those guys actually came to pick you up," Sentomaru, who had been lounging comfortably on a sofa in the corner, spoke up. He casually grabbed his massive double-bladed broadaxe leaning nearby and stood up.
"C-Captain Sentomaru...!"
"Wait a minute... what do you mean, knock us out...?!"
The agents backed away trembling. Watching Sentomaru approach them, their faces instantly lost all composure.
The next second.
*Swish!*
"Shave!"
Sentomaru executed the Six Powers technique, his figure instantly vanishing from his spot.
"Thanks for worrying about the Doctor's safety, but sorry, guys—have a good sleep right here!"
Sentomaru flashed right in front of the agents. With a deep shout, his massive broadaxe swept out with a howling gust!
*Crash!!!*
The room trembled. Following a loud bang, all the agents were swatted into the wall, their eyes rolling back as they fell unconscious.
Sentomaru swung his broadaxe up to rest on his shoulder and turned to look at Vegapunk. "This should do it, Doctor. I've already ordered the Pacifistas not to attack any pirates. Is there anything else you need to take with you?"
"Beautifully done, Sentomaru. Now we just have to wait for the Demon Lion Pirates to arrive." Vegapunk gave a thumbs-up in praise, then clasped his hands behind his back and spoke slowly, "I'll have my satellites dismantle Punk Records, Kuma's memory drive, and the fusion reactor first. From here on out, every second counts."
"I don't get it. Why didn't you pack all this stuff up in advance?" Sentomaru couldn't help but ask.
At the mention of this, Vegapunk shook his head. "A week ago, Shaka and Pythagoras discovered anomalies in the lab data. There is a traitor among my satellites."
"Huh?!" Sentomaru was shocked.
Vegapunk continued, "After a week of investigation, we cleared the 'Evil' satellite Lilith of suspicion and confirmed that the traitor is the 'Desire' satellite, York. Stussy was already on her way here with the Demon Lion Pirates. To avoid alerting the enemy, we chose to feign ignorance. After all, if York had been arrested or if she discovered I was packing up to leave, the Marine forces would have likely already amassed here by now. I might not have even lived to see today."
Vegapunk explained, then turned his gaze to Sentomaru, his expression serious. "You are the only person I can trust right now. For the sake of me being your savior, please put your life on the line to protect me, Sentomaru."
"Hey! That's a guilt trip, old man!" Sentomaru glared at him angrily.
Vegapunk was completely unfazed and nodded. "Yes, it is."
Hearing this, Sentomaru bared his teeth and yelled, "You didn't have to say it out loud, you bastard!"
"Ahem. Anyway, now that the Demon Lion Pirates are here, the World Government will definitely receive the news immediately. We need to coordinate with them and act quickly." As Vegapunk spoke, he walked over to the workbench and initiated a transmission to contact his satellites. "Commence the operation, Shaka. Apprehend York first, then lock up the Seraphim so the Five Elders can't use them."
"Understood, Doctor," a steady voice replied from the other end of the line.
After hanging up, Vegapunk immediately contacted Pythagoras. He ordered him to take Edison, Lilith, and Atlas to dismantle the crucial items they needed to take with them.
Meanwhile.
In Mary Geoise, within a spacious hall, the Five Elders sat on sofas around a coffee table.
Saturn hung up the Transponder Snail on the table with a gloomy expression.
"The Demon Lion Pirates have indeed invaded Egghead. To think Lucci's hypothesis was actually spot on. That damn Stussy!"
"Lucci is an outstanding agent. Our pleas to that Lord on his behalf were not in vain."
"If it weren't for the fact that killing them would be a waste, we wouldn't have allowed the few of them to receive the blessing together."
"After all, this is the first time the Holy Knights have inducted so many personnel from the lower realm. Now it seems our efforts were not in vain."
The Five Elders spoke up one after another.
As early as two days ago, when Lucci and the others—who had been sent to monitor Wano Country—reported back to them, they mentioned Stussy's abnormal behavior. Combining Stussy's intelligence, Lucci faintly deduced that her actions might be connected to their other mission: the secret execution of Vegapunk.
They hadn't expected to suddenly receive news of the Demon Lion Pirates invading Egghead today.
Even looking back on it now, the Five Elders had to acknowledge Lucci's outstanding espionage capabilities and strength.
"Let's send them this time as well, using Egghead's teleportation array."
"Agreed. After all, they were originally scheduled to execute Vegapunk anyway."
"However, the opponents are the Demon Lion Pirates. Even with their mastery of assassination techniques, they might not necessarily be able to take Vegapunk's life..."
The Five Elders exchanged glances, each seeing the same thought reflected in the others' eyes.
"Vegapunk already knows too much. Researching the forbidden history behind our backs only further proves his treasonous intentions."
"We can no longer allow him to live, and we absolutely cannot let him fall into the hands of the Demon Lion Pirates!"
"Let Lucci and his team go first. We will go seek Lord Imu's permission, and then personally descend upon Egghead!"