Chapter 88 The Joining Of Vegapunk

The storm subsided, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Pythagoras and Atlas quickly rushed to check on Kuma.

Kuma lay motionless in the rubble. A gaping wound, as large as a bowl, was visible on his chest, with mechanical parts strewn across the ground, crackling with electric sparks. A faint red light flickered in his eyes, giving the impression he might die at any moment.

After a brief inspection, both Pythagoras and Atlas turned pale with shock.

Kuma, being selected as the blueprint for a biological weapon, was already a testament to his capabilities.

Initially, the ideal candidate for their experiments was Charlotte Linlin (Big Mom), but her defenses were too formidable, making her too difficult to modify. After multiple failed attempts, they had no choice but to abandon the project and send her to Mariejois.

Although Kuma wasn't as strong as Big Mom, his combat abilities were impressive. Besides his Paw-Paw Fruit powers, his physical stats far surpassed that of ordinary humans.

Who would have thought he'd be nearly beaten to death with a single punch?

The two scientists couldn't help but glance at Carlos in secret, nervously clicking their tongues.

As much as they wanted to record data on his strength, they knew there were more pressing matters at hand. They quickly carried Kuma to the medical room for emergency treatment.

"What a disaster! Kuma is an essential research blueprint, and you almost destroyed him," Vegapunk grumbled.

Hearing this, Ain was furious. She pointed at Vegapunk and snapped, "Hey! What nonsense are you spewing, old man? If Marshal Carlos hadn't stepped in, you'd be dead by now!"

Vegapunk didn't argue back. He scanned the destruction around him and sighed deeply.

Though Carlos and Dragon had only exchanged a single blow, the aftermath had left the entire research institute in ruins. The damage to the equipment alone was worth at least six billion beli, and their ongoing research was now on hold.

Depressed, Vegapunk sighed again.

Seeing the scientist's despondent expression, Carlos shrugged and said with an indifferent tone, "Okay, so it's just some experimental equipment. I'll compensate you."

"Compensate? How? Do you even know what you're talking about? The total value of all this is at least six billion beli!"

"Six billion?" Carlos raised an eyebrow. "I thought it was sixty billion. By the way, why don't you come work with me?"

"Join the Marines? Stop joking," Vegapunk responded, stunned by the offer.

Whether it was biological research, engineering, or material sciences, every branch of study required enormous funding. The Marines weren't exactly a production entity, nor did they run profitable industries—they were purely a military force.

With over 300,000 to 400,000 personnel stationed across various bases worldwide, the Marines relied entirely on the World Government to maintain their operations. How could they possibly fund scientific research?

This was one of the key reasons Vegapunk had refused the Revolutionary Army's invitation ten years ago.

"You underestimate me…" Carlos sighed lightly and looked at Ain. "How much funding does the Marine have available now?"

Ain calculated briefly and answered, "After excluding this month's military pay, benefits, and pensions for fallen soldiers, we have about 150 billion beli left."

Carlos scoffed. "That little? No way that's enough to support any research…"

"Wait!" Vegapunk interrupted, his voice rising in disbelief. "Did I hear you correctly? One hundred and fifty billion?"

Ain nodded, counting on her fingers. "I haven't even factored in the spoils from our recent operation. Adding that, our total assets might reach 200 billion beli."

As Carlos's personal secretary, Ain was responsible for managing the Marines' internal affairs, and she knew their financial situation inside out.

But Vegapunk was dumbfounded by what he'd just heard.

He wasn't the only one—Lilith, Edison, and the other scientists behind him looked equally shocked, as if they had seen a ghost.

Punk Hazard might be the most authoritative and powerful research institute in the world, but despite support from the World Government, they were always strapped for cash. Research funding arrived only every few months, and even then, it was usually just a few billion beli at most. If there weren't any major breakthroughs, they'd be lucky to receive even a few hundred million.

It was no wonder Lilith had turned to pirates for extra funds.

Vegapunk gasped and quickly asked, "If we join the Marines, how much funding would you invest in our research and development?"

Carlos crossed his arms and replied, "That depends on what you can bring to the table."

Vegapunk pondered for a moment. "Artificial Devil Fruits?"

Carlos nodded slightly, intrigued. The thought of producing dozens, maybe even hundreds, of replicated fruits meant that the Marines could potentially dominate the entire sea.

But Vegapunk shook his head and smiled wryly. "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

He began to explain, "To fully replicate the power of an original Devil Fruit, we need rare materials, ones that money alone can't buy. Mass production would mean a drop in quality, like the method Caesar uses."

Carlos remained unfazed. "I see..."

He understood. Even if top-tier Marines like Akainu and Aokiji didn't rely on Devil Fruits, their strength would still be overwhelming. The truth was, no matter how powerful a Devil Fruit was, if the user lacked strength, physical stamina, or willpower, it wouldn't make them stronger. In fact, it could be a waste of resources.

Carlos mused silently. He already had one artificial Fish-Fish Fruit, two ancient Zoans, and eighteen standard Zoans in his possession. With the recent spoils from their "Cleansing" operation, he was ready to use them. Soon, when his soldiers returned, he planned to select a group of loyal, powerful fighters to form the Marine Inspectorate.

"Vegapunk, aside from Devil Fruits, what other methods do you have to quickly boost strength?"

"The only viable method is working with lineage factors, but research in that area can't be rushed," Vegapunk explained. "By the way, I used to work with a colleague named Judge, who specialized in human body modifications. I heard he made some breakthroughs, but I'm not certain how true that is."

Carlos nodded in thought, his mind drifting to Sanji. As the third son of the Vinsmoke family, Sanji was the most successful genetically modified soldier. He had fully awakened his latent power during the battle against Queen, and his abilities were incredible.

That technology was indeed impressive. Carlos made a mental note to investigate further when he had the chance.

As Carlos was lost in thought, Edison suddenly had a burst of inspiration. "What about a training room that can freely control gravity? That would definitely boost the efficiency of our soldiers' physical training!"

Vegapunk cut in, "No, that alone won't be enough. We need to add actual combat scenarios."

Edison's eyes lit up. "Yes! Holographic projections paired with tactile feedback gloves! We could simulate real opponents! We'll also need medical equipment on standby to deal with any injuries during training."

The small scientist, representing "Thought," was becoming more and more animated as he spoke. He hastily pulled out a notebook, scribbling down formulas and muttering to himself. "Ah! I can't stop! The ideas keep pouring in!"

He turned to York, still scribbling away. "York, you can eat for me..."

Carlos exchanged amused glances with Ain, while Vegapunk shook his head with a smile. "Ahem, he gets like this sometimes. You'll get used to it."

Vegapunk then shifted his tone. "I'm willing to work with you, but there's one problem... How do I explain this to the World Government?"

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