Chapter 92: Infiltration
Yumesaki raised his hand and pushed against the empty air, manifesting a dimensional rift with the power of the Door-Door Fruit. With a calm demeanor, he led the group as they stepped through the atmospheric portal directly into Golden Lion Shiki's private quarters.
Inside the lounge, the legendary pirate Shiki was deep in slumber.
However, despite his age, the "Golden Lion" was no ordinary old man. His survival instincts had not dulled since the era of Roger. The moment the faint sound of footsteps vibrated through the floor, his eyes snapped open. Even the slightest disturbance was enough to trigger a reflexive reaction from a veteran of his caliber.
Shiki's gaze immediately locked onto the uninvited guests who had dared to invade his sanctuary.
Yumesaki met that gaze head-on.
For a brief heartbeat, their eyes clashed in a silent battle of wills.
Shiki's face contorted with fury. "Who do you think you are? How dare you—"
Before he could finish his sentence, his expression suddenly went blank. He stood there, frozen like a statue, his mouth hanging slightly open as if his soul had been plucked from his body.
Tsunade, who had been bracing herself for a world-shaking battle between titans, blinked in confusion at the anticlimactic sight.
"Wait, what just happened?" she asked, her voice laced with bewilderment.
"Mind manipulation magic," Serie replied tonelessly. "It is a spell I bestowed upon Yumesaki. It allows the caster to invade a target's mind through direct eye contact, granting them total control over the victim."
She paused, looking at the paralyzed pirate. "For those lacking sufficient mental fortitude, it is an exceptionally practical technique."
Yumesaki nodded in agreement. "Ever since that ship's steering wheel got lodged in Shiki's head, his mental state hasn't been the same. He can't even tap into his Conqueror's Haki properly anymore. Combine that with the fact that he has zero resistance to Magic, and he stood no chance against this spell."
Tsunade felt a chill run down her spine. "That... that magic is far too dangerous."
It wasn't an exaggeration to say such a power was a woman's natural enemy. If a spell like that fell into the wrong hands, even someone of her standing might find herself helpless. She didn't harbor any delusions about her own mental strength being invincible, especially against a system as alien as magic.
"It is dangerous, yes, but incredibly efficient," Yumesaki remarked. "Especially in a world where magic doesn't exist."
Since mastering this spell, Yumesaki had used it on two individuals: the current Golden Lion, and the now-deceased Gecko Moria. Neither were small fry. One was a living legend of the past, and the other was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
In the eyes of the world, these were warriors who stood above millions. Yet, before the art of mental manipulation, they were nothing more than puppets. It was clear that in this magic-less world, supernatural forces like magic acted as a high-dimensional attack that these fighters simply weren't equipped to handle.
Haki could bypass the conceptual defenses of a Devil Fruit, but it offered no protection against magic. They simply weren't part of the same system.
"Let's get one thing straight," Tsunade said, her tone serious as she tried to establish some ground rules. "You are never, and I mean never, to use that creepy magic on me. Do you hear me?"
She was genuinely worried. What if he decided to play a prank and made her dance in the middle of the street? Knowing Yumesaki, that was a very real possibility.
Yumesaki rolled his eyes. "Relax. Why would I use it on you for no reason?"
"Even with a reason, the answer is no!"
"Fine, fine. I get it. I swear on my life I'll never use this magic on you, okay?"
Tsunade exhaled, her shoulders relaxing. "Good. See that you don't."
"In that case," Yumesaki said with a hint of annoyance, "can we actually get going now?"
Tsunade nodded.
Yumesaki opened another Air Door, leading the group—with a dazed Golden Lion trailing behind them like a loyal shadow—out of the room. They arrived like ghosts and vanished like mist. Not a single soul on the entire floating island realized that their leader had been abducted. In the art of infiltration, the Door-Door Fruit was truly peerless.
After clearing the Golden Lion's territory, Yumesaki navigated them toward Egghead Island, slipping directly into the private quarters of Dr. Vegapunk.
At that moment, the world's greatest scientist was still engrossed in his experiments within the lab, completely unaware that a group of intruders had bypassed his world-class security.
"Do it," Yumesaki commanded softly.
Obeying the silent command, Golden Lion pressed both palms against the floor, activating the Float-Float Fruit.
A few seconds later, Egghead Island began to vibrate. It started as a tremor so faint it was almost imperceptible, but as the seconds ticked by, the shaking intensified.
Vegapunk was the first to notice. He felt the subtle ripples in the chemicals within his test tubes. At first, he suspected a bizarre underwater seismic event. But as the island's vibration grew into a violent shudder, a sense of dread settled in his chest.
He rushed to the laboratory window and stared out at the horizon.
The sea level was dropping.
No—it wasn't the sea dropping. Egghead Island was rising.
His mind immediately jumped to the Knock Up Stream, but he dismissed it. If they had been hit by a giant geyser, the impact would have been far more destructive. If it wasn't a natural phenomenon, then it had to be an external power lifting the island.
The Float-Float Fruit?
The answer materialized in his brilliant mind instantly.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a massive wave of Conqueror's Haki swept across the entire island. Vegapunk watched as the Marine guards and even the Transponder Snails throughout the lab collapsed, foaming at the mouth from the sheer pressure of the willpower.
However, strangely enough, the Haki seemed to have a will of its own. While he felt the oppressive weight of the aura, it didn't knock him unconscious or cause him any physical pain. It was targeted with surgical precision.
"Fascinating..."
Vegapunk stood his ground, making no move to flee. He knew whoever was behind this was looking for him.
Sure enough, as the pressure of the Haki dissipated, the air in front of him tore open like a zipper. A group of men and women stepped out from the void.
Among them, two faces caught his attention. One was the Golden Lion, though he looked strangely vacant. The other was someone he had only seen on a bounty poster—the lone survivor of Ohara, Nico Robin.
Despite the years that had passed, her features were unmistakable.
"It's an honor to finally meet you, Dr. Vegapunk," Nico Robin said, stepping into the lab with a look of genuine emotion.
Vegapunk adjusted his glasses. "Are you looking for me, Nico Robin?"
Robin nodded. "I've come to save you, Doctor."
"And who are they?" Vegapunk asked, his curiosity piqued. He noticed that despite Shiki's legendary status, he wasn't the one in charge. In fact, Shiki looked like he was under some sort of trance.
Robin gestured toward Yumesaki. "This is Kazuma Yumesaki. He is my boss, the leader of our group, and a genuine human from another world."
"Another world?" Vegapunk's eyes widened. To a man of science, the existence of an alternate dimension was far more intriguing than any Devil Fruit.
"Would you like to see it for yourself, Dr. Vegapunk?" Yumesaki asked with a faint smile.
"Is that... actually possible?" Vegapunk felt a surge of excitement. He knew he was effectively a prisoner now, and if they wanted to kill him, they wouldn't bother with such an elaborate lie.
"Of course."
To prove his point, Yumesaki first brought Vegapunk to the world of Naruto, then eventually to his own world. He even went as far as to show the doctor the Naruto and One Piece manga.
Vegapunk poured over the One Piece manga with terrifying intensity. When he reached the Egghead Arc and saw himself being killed by Kizaru, he didn't react with anger. Instead, he expressed a deep understanding of Kizaru's position.
After all, to the World Government, the history of the Void Century was the ultimate taboo. He knew that the moment he delved too deep, his elimination was inevitable. Kizaru, as a Marine Admiral, would have no choice but to follow orders, regardless of his personal feelings.
What he hadn't expected, however, was the betrayal of York, one of his own satellites.
Fortunately, he thought, York has only just been created. There is still time to correct her programming. And if she can't be fixed... she will have to be dismantled.
After finishing the manga, Vegapunk looked up. "Not long ago, Morgans leaked the news about Crocodile searching for Pluton in Alabasta, which drew the World Government's gaze away. That was your doing as well, I presume?"
Nico Robin nodded. "Yes. Without that distraction, it would have been nearly impossible to infiltrate this island and take both you and your research away so cleanly."
Vegapunk was stunned. They didn't just want him—they wanted the entire island. These people were ambitious, to say the least. But he didn't hate the idea. Egghead held his life's work; leaving it behind would have been a heartbreaking loss. If they could relocate the entire facility, it was the best-case scenario.
"You certainly have luck on your side," Vegapunk noted. "Kizaru was suddenly reassigned recently, leaving the defenses here thin. That was your window."
"It wasn't just luck," Robin replied with a smile. "Kizaru was moved because Kaido began making moves toward Alabasta. Why do you think Kaido chose to act at that exact moment?"
Vegapunk wasn't just a scientist; he was the smartest man alive. He connected the dots instantly.
"Kaido... is working with you?"
Robin nodded. "We defeated Kaido not long ago and officially invited him into our alliance. Moving forward, we intend to recruit even more allies to overthrow the World Government and save this world."
She looked the doctor in the eye. "So, join us, Dr. Vegapunk. You don't want to see this world crumble at the hands of the Celestial Dragons, do you?"
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