Chapter 363: The Meaning of Technology

The reason he cared so much about Blackbeard was twofold: Saint Satan pressed him hard, and Vegapunk had his own plans.

Since debuting decades ago, Vegapunk has succeeded in every single thing he has done.

If he wants to do it, nothing is impossible; even cloning Purgatory Stussy, Vegapunk could achieve it.

However, regarding Sakazuki...

To be precise, regarding Saint Saint Saiwen, Vegapunk suffered setbacks twice in a row.

The first time, facing the unconscious Sakazuki, Vegapunk exhausted his lifetime of wisdom yet still could not wake Sakazuki.

In the end, it was Borsalino who obtained a green bean from Saint Saint Saiwen's hand, allowing Sakazuki to awaken from his coma.

The second time, the mechanical eyeballs prepared over two and a half years had not yet been installed on Sakazuki.

Borsalino obtained another green bean from Saint Saint Saiwen's hand, allowing Sakazuki to see light again.

These two incidents struck Vegapunk no less than Saint Saint Saiwen destroying the Navy Headquarters at Marineford.

It was even more severe.

Vegapunk was proud his whole life; his pride in his intelligence and the advanced technology he mastered was instantly turned to dust before the green bean in Saint Saint Saiwen's hand.

For a top scientist, this was truly unacceptable.

Precisely because of these two incidents.

Vegapunk became desperate to prove himself, which is why he focused all his mind on modifying Blackbeard.

Once the modification of Blackbeard is complete, he intends to take Blackbeard before Saint Saint Saiwen to show off, then trade control of Blackbeard for some green beans to study.

He witnessed the effects of the green bean with his own eyes.

Vegapunk could not figure it out no matter how he thought: why does such a tiny green bean possess such god-defying curative effects?

It not only allowed Sakazuki to awaken but also allowed Sakazuki's lost eyeball to regrow.

As the top scientist on the seas, Vegapunk understood that once the green bean was cracked, no one on the seas would ever be tormented by disease again.

No matter how severe the injury, eating a single green bean would instantly restore one to full vigor.

For Vegapunk, this ranked second only to researching the infinite energy Mother Flame, carrying more meaning than any other matter.

Trading control of Blackbeard to secure a painless, disaster-free healing elixir for this sea looked like a guaranteed profit with no loss, no matter how one viewed it.

As for the supreme control of Saint Satan?

It was not that Vegapunk looked down on Saint Satan.

Well, he simply looked down on Saint Satan as a half-baked scientist.

When he first cooperated with the World Government, Vegapunk was cautious and left no backdoors.

He did so to prevent Saint Satan from discovering any clues.

But after leaving countless backdoors while Saint Satan remained completely unaware, Vegapunk understood: Saint Satan, the Scientific Defense War God, did not live up to his name.

This time, when modifying Blackbeard into a Seraphim, Vegapunk similarly left layers of backdoors.

On the surface, the supreme control of Seraphim Blackbeard was in Saint Satan's hands, but in reality, Saint Satan could only rank third.

Second was Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, and first was him.

Vegapunk was not stupid.

First, he knew so many secrets of the World Government, had known Dr. Clover for many years, and had secretly investigated the history of the Void Century.

Any one of those matters was a capital crime.

The day the Mother Flame was successfully developed would likely be the day the World Government executed him.

Vegapunk was not afraid of death, but he did not want to die without meaning.

At least before dying, he must successfully develop the Mother Flame to leave this world with clean and inexhaustible energy, while simultaneously cracking the secret of the green bean to leave the world a healing elixir.

By then, he would die without regret.

And after his death, the supreme control of Seraphim Blackbeard would fall to Saint Saint Saint Saiwen in order.

Although it was currently unclear what Saint Saint Saint Saiwen's true intentions were, Vegapunk chose to trust Saint Saint Saint Saiwen.

A king who loved his people as his own children, a Raiden Shogun who could govern Inazuma with national prosperity and peace, certainly could not be a bad person.

Even if he were a bad person, he was still superior to Saint Satan.

In Vegapunk's eyes, Saint Saint Saiwen was countless times stronger than the Five Elders and the World Government, which is why he hoped Seraphim Blackbeard could help Saint Saint Saint Saiwen.

Of course, if he could continue living.

Vegapunk would definitely choose to live, continuing to research technology and benefit this world.

This was the meaning of technology, and also the responsibility and duty of a top scientist like him.

Thinking that Saint Satan was being played like a fool made Vegapunk unable to stop laughing.

Saint Satan, you are far behind.

However, Vegapunk absolutely could not imagine: the Senzu Bean could cure any injury, but it was ineffective against disease.

Rubbing the center of his brow, Vegapunk decided to inform Saint Saint Saint Saiwen of the whereabouts of the giant robot Emmet, lest the World Government discover more technology of the Ancient Kingdom from Emmet.

After pondering for a moment.

Vegapunk sent a message to Clone Number One Stussy, asking Stussy to find a way to join Saint Saint Saint Saiwen to serve as an intermediary for future information transmission.

At this moment, he was still in the Honeymoon Period with the World Government; if discovered, it would be quite troublesome.

With Stussy responsible for transmitting messages, there was absolutely no need to worry about exposure.

This was the alertness of a top scientist.

Inazuma, Blade Dance Port, Three-Color Dango Shop.

In the past, whenever coming to Inazuma for private matters or official duties, Kizaru would specially disguise himself to avoid anyone discovering his identity as a Navy Admiral.

Now? Kizaru didn't even bother to disguise; he simply draped his Navy Admiral cloak and appeared boldly at the Three-Color Dango Shop.

Disguising oneself was quite troublesome anyway.

Just as the order was placed, a voice sounded softly.

"Your little life is truly carefree."

Kizaru turned his head and saw Aokiji, hands in pockets, looking at him with an amused smile.

"Why are you still here?" Kizaru was very puzzled.

Only recently had Kizaru learned the news that Teacher Zephyr, Admiral Kuzan, and Vice Admiral Garp had gone as a group to investigate Inazuma; he hadn't even had time to report it to the Captain yet.

Yet this guy Kuzan was actually still here.

"I promised to treat you to a meal last time; I've been waiting for you to show up these past few days."

Upon hearing this, Kizaru's face was speechless.

"Kuzan... my friend, there's always time to eat; no need to wait for me specifically."

Kizaru pointed to the cherry pie beside him: "Bergamot and the others are still hungry; I must rush back to Punk Hazard after I finish."

Aokiji sat down on his own.

"I'm afraid I won't have the chance to treat you to a meal in the future."

Meeting Kizaru again in Inazuma made Aokiji utterly certain: Kizaru had probably already joined Saint Saint Saiwen.

As for when it started.

Perhaps, six years ago when Kizaru went to Saint Island to hunt down Saint Saint Saiwen, the two of them had already taken a liking to each other.

In any case, they were destined not to be on the same path in the future, which is why Aokiji was thinking of treating Kizaru to a meal.

Kizaru blinked; he had already understood the subtext in Aokiji's words, but when it came to playing dumb, three Aokijis were no match for Kizaru.

"What, are you preparing to resign?"