Chapter 90: Off To Punk Hazard To Pick Up Scraps
The Punk Hazard poison gas leak incident was transmitted back to Navy Headquarters and Marie Geoise at the fastest speed. The Five Elders and Fleet Admiral Sengoku were all alarmed and urged Borsalino through Den Den Mushi to ensure Doctor Vegapunk safely returned to Marineford.
To ensure Doctor Vegapunk’s safety, another admiral stationed at Marineford, Aokiji, set out even in the middle of this night to pick up Doctor Vegapunk.
Dispatching two Navy Headquarters admirals at once—this was treatment even Celestial Dragons did not have.
However,
No one felt such actions were overly exaggerated. Doctor Vegapunk had that value, worthy of such attention from the World Government and the Navy.
In this late night, those alarmed were not just big shots like the Five Elders and Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Marie Geoise and Navy Headquarters Marineford seemed to be the two safest places in the world, but in reality, they were full of loopholes like a sieve.
There were Revolutionary Army spies, ambitious pirates’ informants, and officials bought off by various kingdoms, all just to grasp the trends of the World Government and the Navy even a moment earlier, sparing no expense on large amounts of money and favors each year, and their costs yielded corresponding returns.
Den Den Mushi bio-waves were active in this deep night.
If there were technological means to monitor bio-waves, one would surely be surprised to discover the astonishing number of Den Den Mushi bio-waves over Marie Geoise and Navy Headquarters tonight. From the Four Seas, Paradise, New World, with Marie Geoise and Navy Headquarters as starting points, the shocking number of bio-waves wrapped the entire spherical planet like a spider web.
Not long after,
Those qualified and capable of knowing this matter had all learned the Punk Hazard secret.
Of course, this did not mean the World Government and the Navy were a bunch of incompetent wastes. The real reason for the news leak was that the incident happened too suddenly, and the attention of big shots like the Five Elders and Fleet Admiral Sengoku was basically focused on Doctor Vegapunk’s safety.
Moreover, after contacting Doctor Vegapunk and confirming that Punk Hazard no longer had any use and was destined to be discarded, there was no need to waste time and effort concealing Punk Hazard intelligence.
Otherwise,
This Punk Hazard research base had been built and in use for over two years, and during that time, not a shred of news about Doctor Vegapunk being at Punk Hazard had leaked out.
······
Dark velvet curtains were pulled open, and chilly sea wind poured into the room from the wide-open window. Outside, the night was deep, still a long time until dawn. The room’s lights were soft and bright. Sokachio sat behind the desk, drinking hot tea to dispel his sleepiness.
“······That’s roughly how things are.”
He held the microphone, relaying the received news to his grandson far away at Fish-Man Island.
As an official in the World Government, his position was not particularly important, but he had wide connections. With money and goods provided by Eckmond Kingdom, it was enough for the old man to befriend high officials within the World Government.
Sure enough, he had received word about the Punk Hazard matter.
Though strictly speaking, this was not a pressing matter and had nothing to do with Eckmond Kingdom, who could resist when it involved Doctor Vegapunk! He thought for a moment and still picked up the Den Den Mushi in the middle of the night to contact Prince Elus.
Since he had received the news, he should still inform his grandson.
This grandson of his had big ambitions! He had tried persuading him a few times, but was always brushed off. After several probes, he understood that persuading this grandson to live out his life content with the status quo was probably impossible. Thinking about it, with the title and strength of the Fifth Overlord of the New World······
It would be strange if someone with such strength was content with the status quo!
Seeing he could not quell his grandson’s ambition, whatever its size, Sokachio could only change his strategy and provide as much convenience as possible for Prince Elus.
“Punk Hazard······”
Prince Elus widened his eyes.
Sleepiness completely dissipated. He got out of bed, walked barefoot to the window side, and looked through the window at the dim scenery outside. Only sporadic lights were faintly visible. Fish-Man Island’s day-night cycle was the same as on land. Once the sun completed its daily journey, without a source of sunlight, Sun Tree Eve naturally plunged Fish-Man Island into night.
“Grandfather, you’re saying Doctor Vegapunk has already evacuated from Punk Hazard and is heading to Navy Headquarters?”
Prince Elus pressed for details.
“El, what are you going to do? Don’t do anything foolish! The World Government and the Navy absolutely will not allow any accidents to befall Doctor Vegapunk. Even if the Four Emperors dare to act against Doctor Vegapunk, the World Government has the resolve to rally Navy Headquarters admirals to hunt down those Pirate Emperors, even at the cost of destabilizing the situation.”
Hearing the urgency in his grandson’s voice, Sokachio was startled, thinking Prince Elus had his eyes on Doctor Vegapunk, and immediately warned him to prevent Prince Elus from making a grave mistake in a moment of rashness.
“Grandfather, I’m not that kind of fool who can’t distinguish priorities.”
Prince Elus explained helplessly.
Doctor Vegapunk, this scientist said to surpass human wisdom by 500 years, was naturally something he coveted, but no matter how much, he knew the World Government would never allow any country to lay hands on this doctor. Anyone daring to show even a hint of coveting this doctor’s wisdom would face the World Government’s most merciless strike.
So,
No matter how much he wanted to snatch this doctor, he could only think about it in his heart and absolutely could not act on it now.
“Really not planning to do anything?”
Sokachio was skeptical.
“Doctor Vegapunk attracts too much attention. I don’t want to be ganged up on by the three admirals of Navy Headquarters. The reason I’m inquiring about Doctor Vegapunk’s whereabouts is that I think maybe I can avoid the Navy Admirals, go to Punk Hazard to scavenge, and perhaps pick up something.” Like a certain mad scientist.
From Sokachio’s account, he discovered the Navy seemed to have all their attention on protecting Doctor Vegapunk’s safety, not mentioning a word about the culprit behind the Punk Hazard poison gas leak incident.
Perhaps,
This mad scientist Caesar had not yet been captured by the Navy.
Even if he was destined not to get a towering tree like Doctor Vegapunk, he at least had to try to get this crooked melon Caesar into his hands. If nothing else, this guy had considerable talent in weapon research. The poison gas bombs he developed helped Drought Jack capture Zou, which originally could not be taken at all.
Moreover, he was conveniently right now at Fish-Man Island. Departing from here to Punk Hazard would be very fast. Even if unlucky and not directly carried near Punk Hazard by ocean currents, it would not hinder his determination to land on Punk Hazard.
He originally had not even thought of the Punk Hazard poison gas leak happening at this time, nor ever considered profiting from this incident.
But it just happened to occur while he was still at Fish-Man Island.
This immediately made his heart race. That was Punk Hazard! Doctor Vegapunk’s research base—who knew how many world-shocking secrets were hidden inside. And this incident was so sudden; the Navy might not have had time to completely destroy the materials left on the island······
He wished he could fly to Punk Hazard right now.
But,
He still restrained his impatience. No matter how anxious, he would not set out in the middle of this night. This was Fish-Man Island after all; if he set sail at night, he would definitely alarm Ryugu Palace, and it would surely become known throughout Fish-Man Island.
That would not align with his hopes. He wanted to go to Punk Hazard to scavenge without alarming the World Government and the Navy, not deliberately put himself in their sights.
Even if he ultimately gained nothing from Punk Hazard, it did not matter, as this was not part of the original plan anyway.
If I get it, lucky; if not, so be it!
In this brief time, after intense internal struggle, Prince Elus steadied his mind and continued talking with his grandfather Sokachio.
“Go to Punk Hazard to scavenge? That place is said to be full of deadly poison gas now······ El, don’t take risks!” Sokachio was slightly relieved, but thinking of Punk Hazard now being a poison gas hell made his heart hang again.
No way around it,
That was poison gas. If accidentally inhaled, even Four Emperors or Navy Admirals might not survive.
“Don’t worry! Grandfather, I know what I’m doing. Help me keep an eye on the Navy’s movements, especially the Navy Admirals’ whereabouts.” Prince Elus asked the old man to help watch.
“Navy Admirals’ whereabouts aren’t that easy to investigate.”
Sokachio complained but still agreed, “I’ll try to inquire, though I might not get anything. El, be careful yourself and don’t get careless.”
Then the grandfather and grandson chatted for a while longer.
Before they knew it,
Time passed,
Seeing Sun Tree Eve already faintly glowing with morning light, they finally ended the call.
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Prince Elus immediately shouted loudly for Fran and sent someone to contact King Neptune, saying there was an urgent domestic matter and preparing to set sail today. Upon hearing the news, Neptune hurriedly arrived at the VIP guesthouse with his three sons and one daughter.
“Prince Elus, why leave today? I haven’t properly hosted you yet!” King Neptune politely tried to retain Prince Elus.
“Your Majesty Neptune, thank you very much for your kindness, but there really is an urgent domestic matter. Fire Fist Ace has appeared in Eckmond, so I really can’t stay longer. If I return late, who knows what major event might occur!” Prince Elus wore a bitter smile, looking quite troubled.
The Punk Hazard matter was impossible and unnecessary to leak to Ryugu Kingdom, so Prince Elus simply released the previous intelligence about Fire Fist to cover his tracks.
“Fire Fist? That······”
“Correct, the guy who burned Whitebeard’s flag.”
King Neptune’s mouth opened wide in surprise. “But that kid burned Whitebeard’s flag—didn’t he go to challenge Whitebeard? Why appear in Eckmond Kingdom?” He subconsciously voiced his confusion.
For this Fire Fist who dared burn the Whitebeard flag that protected Fish-Man Island, King Neptune had no goodwill. He had even sent the Sea King Army to capture Fire Fist, but unfortunately arrived a step late; the Spade Pirates had already left Fish-Man Island.
He thought this group of arrogant kids had gone to challenge Whitebeard, but now they appeared in Eckmond Kingdom—this was provoking the Black Prince, the New World’s overlord!
Truly a group of kids who could stir up trouble!
However, if such young people luckily did not die at Whitebeard’s or Black Prince’s hands, their future achievements might be immeasurable!
“The specifics are still under investigation, but Fire Fist did appear on Black Swan Island, fought my subordinates, and ultimately escaped. I must hurry back now to prevent domestic unrest. After all, for a pirate like Fire Fist, currently no one in the country except me can suppress him.”
“In that case, I hope Prince Elus’s journey goes smoothly.”
King Neptune no longer tried to retain him.
With such a major event, anyone would inevitably be restless. Even as the Fifth Overlord of the New World, Prince Elus was still just a young human. Wanting to rush back to his country seemed perfectly reasonable.
“I certainly won’t disappoint your hopes.”
Prince Elus said with a smile.
The royal exclusive Phoenix Tail Carriage took Prince Elus to the port. King Neptune rode his beloved whale mount to see Prince Elus off. On this short journey, the two roughly discussed alliance matters. Prince Elus promised that upon returning home, he would immediately dispatch a representative to Fish-Man Island to negotiate.
Princess Shirahoshi also reluctantly bid farewell to Fran, her first human friend. The eleven-year-old girl’s teary-eyed appearance was heartbreaking. They exchanged Den Den Mushi numbers (for which Shirahoshi specially got one, as she never had such a thing before), then she shed more tears before finally calming down.
At this,
Prince Elus watched with amusement in his heart.
Sure enough, everyone has their specialties.
Though he liked teasing kids, he really wasn’t good at dealing with children. In comparison, Fran was much more professional, often helping Prince Elus handle his young younger brother and younger sister, honing her skills as a close maid in coaxing kids.
Princess Shirahoshi looked like a very ‘large-sized’ princess, but she was only eleven years old after all. And if considering mental age, according to Fran, she was still just a seven- or eight-year-old child.
After soothing Shirahoshi, Prince Elus boarded the ship with Fran.
Standing at the ship’s side waving goodbye, the bald sea monster at the port—said to be a monster, but actually a giant tiger puffer Fish-Man—this Fish-Man named Watatsumi was now Prince Elus’s subordinate. He pulled the warship, speeding out of the port extremely fast toward the New World.
