Chapter 104: Storming Clockwork Island

While Karl and the others on Cake Island were busy feasting, Davis and his group had already reached the outskirts of Clockwork Island.

They stood in awe, taking in just how strange Clockwork Island looked.

“So this is Clockwork Island?”

Davis and his crew stared up at the towering spire that shot straight into the sky, completely stunned.

It was obvious at a glance this was no natural mountain—the whole tower was built from Steel.

“Come on, time to head up,” Davis said.

He didn’t bring many people along—just Fields and Halil were with him.

The rest of the pirates formed a ring around the island to keep anyone from escaping.

High above, inside a research lab about a thousand square meters wide.

“Looks like we’ve got company,” someone muttered.

“Where? Where?”

At thirteen, Caesar Clown was already a research scientist with MADS.

“Shurorororo!”

“Let’s see how they like my gas attack.”

On the surveillance feed, Davis and his two companions could be seen heading toward the center of Clockwork Island.

As soon as the monitoring Den Den Mushi locked onto them, Davis noticed right away.

He picked up the pace and urged Fields and Halil forward.

“Looks like we’ve been spotted. Move faster!”

Up above, Vegapunk watched the trio busting through the corridors of Clockwork Island and let out an angry roar.

“My lineage factor research is nearly finished—why do they have to interrupt me now?”

Davis had been keeping his Observation Haki active from the start. When he heard the angry voice above, he locked onto the source in an instant.

“Hmm, right here!”

“Boom!”

He stomped hard, launching himself like a rocket straight to his target—and smashed through wall after wall along the way.

At the top, the researchers watched Davis appear out of nowhere, eyes wide in shock. They weren’t ready for this.

“Who are you?”

“Do you know who’s funding this project? Lord Rufid backs us.”

Behind Davis, Fields and Halil stepped through the tunnel he’d just demolished.

“Step, step…”

Davis glanced back at the two men.

“Rufid?”

“You know the guy?”

Fields couldn’t care less about Rufid. They’d looked him up before coming—just another underworld boss.

Compared to them? Not even close. After all, they served as members of the infamous Rocks Pirates.

“Nobody here cares about some bit player like that.”

Judge Vinsmoke couldn’t tell if these three were clueless hotheads or just fearlessly arrogant.

“You—”

Davis lifted his right hand, abruptly interrupting Judge and pointed straight at the man in the crowd with the biggest head.

“You’re Vegapunk, aren’t you?”

Vegapunk, seeing Davis call him out like that, shrugged off the others and stepped forward.

“That’s me. What do you want?”

Davis, confirming his target, gave a curt nod.

“That makes things easier. Fields.”

“On it!”

Fields strode forward from the right, grabbing Vegapunk without hesitation.

When Judge Vinsmoke realized they meant to take Vegapunk, his face changed drastically.

“Stop!”

“Let him go!”

Quinn and the young Caesar Clown immediately launched an attack at the intruders.

“Poison Gas!”

“Brachiosaurus Headbutt!”

Seeing this, Davis drew his pistol and fired at Caesar Clown, giving him a sharp look as well.

“Bang!”

“Ah…”

“But I’ve got a Logia Devil Fruit! How did you hit me?” Caesar shouted.

“Oh, Logia type? My bullets are wrapped in Armament Haki,” Davis replied.

He exhaled a lazy plume of smoke.

“Huff!”

Davis eyed the Logia and Ancient Zoan users in front of him, then glanced at Judge Vinsmoke as well.

“Sorry, but you’re all coming with me. Doesn’t matter if it’s one or four of you.”

If he was going to take one, might as well take them all. After all, there were only four people left.

“Halil!”

“Fish-Man Karate—3000 Tile True Punch!”

“Thud!”

Halil’s punch crashed into Quinn’s skull, sending him staggering backwards.

Halil seized the moment. He dashed forward, hooked his arms around Quinn and lifted him in a crushing throw.

“Boom!”

Quinn was hurled straight into the shaft they’d just climbed, dropping like a stone from a height of over a thousand meters, smashing into the tower and leaving it on the verge of collapse.

“You’re still not strong enough,” Davis remarked.

Halil nodded to his comrades, then dove into the shaft after Quinn to make sure he stayed down.

Judge Vinsmoke, seeing this, leapt from his seat and pressed a button. Instantly, he was teleported by a transporter to the underground lab.

Davis scratched his head, surprised that with one slip in attention the gold-haired youth had managed to escape right under his nose.

“Eh, whatever. Not our main target. If he runs, he runs.”

Davis raised his gun, leveling it at Caesar Clown, who was trying to crawl away on all fours.

“Trying to run, are we?”

Noticing the pistol aimed at his head, Caesar Clown scrambled to his feet and threw his hands up.

“I’m not running! I’m not!”

Davis blew another smoke ring, perfectly at ease.

“Huff!”

He strode over, grabbed Caesar’s shoulder, his hand coated with Armament Haki.

“Don’t even think about it.”

He nodded to Fields, and together they prepared to go down the shaft.

Vegapunk still hadn’t figured out why they’d come for him, but he called out just before they left.

“Wait! I don’t know why you’re taking me, but it has to be about my research.”

“All my experimental work is kept in this lab. Please, take it with you.”

Davis saw the pain on Vegapunk’s face and walked over to Fields, then gripped Vegapunk’s arm.

“Fields, he’s yours.”

Then Davis jumped straight down the shaft.

Fields scratched his head. He hadn’t expected Davis to dump all the heavy lifting on him.

“Why do I always get the grunt work…”

While Fields was still causing havoc above, Halil had already dragged the unconscious Quinn to the edge of the shore.

“Guess it’s all up to Fields now!”

Davis had already reached the ship, handing Caesar Clown over to his men to be cuffed with seastone shackles, then stood on deck with Vegapunk, keeping a close watch.

After all, with Vegapunk’s importance, Karl had drilled into him not to let the scientist out of his sight for even a second unless absolutely necessary.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

Fields leaped up to the floor above, tearing apart the structural joints with brute force before shoving the entire upper section down.

“Swoosh…”

He leaned over the edge, watching the upper levels plummet, and bellowed down.

“Heads up! Falling debris!”

“Boom!”

No sooner had he called out than the falling floors slammed into the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

Fields, still rubbing his head, caught sight of Davis and the others waiting by the ship and gave them an awkward grin.

“Leaving so soon?”

He picked up the pace, smashed the last joint holding the lowest level, and carried that floor with him using Moonwalk as he dropped to ground level.

“Boom!”

He landed with a thud, stirring up a cloud of dust, then strode from the middle of the island back toward the ship.

“Man, this thing’s heavy,” he muttered, each step rattling the ground.

Meanwhile, Judge Vinsmoke had reached the underground lab and was already calling Rufid.

Somewhere in the New World, in a shadowy chamber on a nameless island.

“Brrring, brrring!”

“Clack!”

“Lord Rufid! Clockwork Island was attacked by strangers! Vegapunk’s been taken—our experiment’s been cut short!”

Rufid, picking up the call, heard Judge Vinsmoke’s terrified report.

“What did you say? Who would dare?”

“Alright, I understand.”

He hung up and summoned his attendants from outside.

“Send everyone near Clockwork Island—I want Vegapunk brought back to me!”

“Yes, Lord Rufid!”

“Bang!”

Rufid pounded the table in fury.

“Who dares touch my people? Even I’m not safe from these fools!”

……