novelraw Chapter 489: Research Restricted Zone - Enel and Buggy Become Test Subjects!
Chapter 489: Research Restricted Zone - Enel and Buggy Become Test Subjects!
Half a month had passed since the Red Hair Pirates collectively surrendered and Whitebeard Edward Newgate's finale on Sphinx.
These fifteen days, the entire world resembled a boiling iron cauldron, experiencing turbulence never seen before.
Countless pirates who regarded the Four Emperors as their faith and held the 'Great Pirate Era' as their absolute principle completely descended into madness.
Like gamblers who had lost all their chips, they launched desperate final retaliations.
On a certain New World island once under Whitebeard's protection, a pirate crew flying the Jolly Roger stormed the port, attempting to relive past glories through burning, killing, and plundering.
However, instead of civilians' screams, what greeted them upon commencing their actions was intensive artillery fire raining from the sky.
The naval fleet's response speed exceeded everyone's expectations.
No warnings, no hails—only cold, merciless suppression.
The former procedures requiring multiple levels of reporting and awaiting headquarters' orders were completely abolished.
Orion had granted all base commanders authority for on-the-spot decisions—they could open fire directly upon judging targets as threatening civilian safety.
After the artillery baptism, naval soldiers wearing new-style combat uniforms swarmed onto the island like tides, precisely and swiftly cleaning up remaining pirates.
In less than half an hour, the battle concluded.
The pirate captain at the forefront was pinned down by a young marine lieutenant's boot on his face.
Until his dying breath, he couldn't comprehend when the marines had become so terrifying.
Similar scenes played out relentlessly across every corner of the Grand Line and the Four Seas.
The flip side of this madness was an unprecedented "surrender wave.
When their last illusions were shattered by merciless artillery fire, and when they witnessed the collapse of the two towering figures—Red-Haired Shanks and Whitebeard—countless pirates who had been watching finally recognized the reality.
Rather than being swept away like trash by the new era's marines, it was better to lay down their weapons voluntarily in exchange for a chance to survive.
Long queues formed outside various marine bases as pirates lined up to turn themselves in, their discarded weapons piling up like mountains.
Amid this wave, the appearance of two figures still caused quite a stir.
Gold Emperor Tesoro and his executive, the Goddess of Fortune, Bacarrat.
After Golden City was destroyed by Orion and sank into the sea, the two had vanished without a trace.
Everyone assumed they had perished in that catastrophe.
Yet, unexpectedly, on the very night of Whitebeard's fall, they stumbled into the gates of the New World's G-5 branch, ragged and worn.
"We surrender," Tesoro's voice was hoarse and brittle.
The golden armor that once symbolized limitless wealth was gone, replaced by tattered clothes caked with dust.
The young marine handling registrations stared blankly for a long moment before rummaging through a drawer to pull out two weathered wanted posters, scrutinizing the disheveled pair before him.
Though they'd witnessed many legendary figures over the past fortnight, the weight of the Gold Emperor remained distinct.
"Quite the surprise, Tesoro. Last time you used the Fleet Admiral's name to deceive our soldiers on duty. Why come surrender now?!" A marine officer who'd rushed over upon hearing the news couldn't help but ask.
Tesoro didn't answer, instead gazing through the base window at the prosperous, peaceful town outside.
After losing everything, he and Bacarrat had wandered the New World like ghosts.
They witnessed islands once repeatedly plundered by pirates, where civilians struggled to survive, now revitalizing at an astonishing pace under the marines' iron-fisted governance.
Trade routes flowed freely, prices stabilized, and children's faces bore smiles they'd never seen before.
That tranquility and harmony was something all the gold in the world couldn't buy.
Bacarrat adjusted her ragged garments and murmured, "Our luck seems to have run out."
She glanced at Tesoro before adding, "Perhaps it's time to try a different approach, test new fortune."
"Is that so?" The marine officer chuckled. "I will be watching with interest."
Pausing briefly, the officer decisively waved and called out, "Guards! Take them into custody!"
As the last remnants of frenzied pirates were eradicated, the turbulent surrender wave gradually subsided, bringing an end to half a month of upheaval.
...
A new day dawned, bathed in brilliant sunshine.
A specialized marine warship, flying naval colors, pierced through the clouds and slowly descended over an island encased within a giant white eggshell.
Egghead Island, Egghead.
Orion stood on the deck, overlooking the futuristic, technologically advanced island.
Behind him stood three figures.
Gion stood draped in her Justice Cloak, hand resting on the hilt of her renowned sword Konpira, her expression as cool and efficient as ever.
As the acting Fleet Admiral in Orion's absence, she handled all Marine affairs with remarkable skill and determination.
Many Marine officers firmly believed she would undoubtedly become the first female Fleet Admiral in Marine history.
Sentomaru leaned on his massive axe with a toothpick dangling from his mouth, looking thoroughly bored.
As Vegapunk's chief bodyguard, he served as their guide for this visit.
The most striking presence was Boa Hancock, who stood beside Orion, nearly pressing against him.
Hancock wore a white dress that starkly contrasted with her usual style, trading her imposing aura for a gentler elegance.
Yet her gaze toward Gion remained filled with undisguised hostility.
"Hmph, some clueless woman thinks wearing that Justice Cloak makes her the embodiment of justice? Standing there like a block of wood, what an eyesore," Hancock muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Gion to hear.
Gion tilted her head to meet Hancock's challenging stare, responding calmly.
"This is a Marine research facility, not your Amazon Lily palace. Mind your manners. And don't forget—I'm your superior now!"
"You!" Hancock's eyebrows shot up in anger.
"Let's go!" Orion interjected, diverting the women's attention.
Sentomaru quickly caught up with Orion as they disembarked. "Fleet Admiral, Dr. Vegapunk is in the lab, but his recent research has gotten... crazy. You should prepare yourself."
"Oh?" Orion's interest was piqued. "How crazy?"
"About as crazy as trying to install an engine on the moon," Sentomaru scratched his head. "That's all I'll say. After all, I'm the most tight-lipped man in the world!"
Orion nodded seriously. "Indeed, very tight-lipped."
The group passed through the futuristic city where automated robots and hover vehicles moved around them in perfect order.
Soon, the four arrived before a massive, eggshell-shaped white building.
This was Vegapunk's laboratory.
The heavy alloy doors slid silently open after Sentomaru's verification.
Beyond the doors wasn't the clean, orderly laboratory they had imagined.
Instead, it was a gigantic junkyard.
Countless design blueprints formed mountainous piles, various half-finished mechanical parts lay scattered everywhere, and several massive mechanical arms waved through the air, assembling some bizarre contraption of unknown purpose.
The air reeked of engine oil and the pungent smell of metal welding.
"Ahem, ahem," Sentomaru coughed awkwardly. "The old man's been too busy to clean up lately."
Orion paid no mind to the mess.
His gaze swept past the clutter, focusing directly on the laboratory's deepest section.
There stood two enormous cylindrical incubation tanks.
Floating silently at their centers were two familiar figures—Enel the lightning-wielder and Buggy, possessor of the Chop-Chop Fruit ability, both whom Orion had handed over to Vegapunk for experimentation.