Chapter 197: Breakthroughs and Rivalries in the New World

Henry walked out of Rufid’s manor with the news he’d just received.

“Brr-loo, brr-loo!”

“Hello? Angus, is that you?”

At that moment, Angus was waiting on Machinery Island for updates from his subordinates when the Den Den Mushi suddenly rang. He grabbed the receiver in a hurry.

He assumed it was news from his men but was surprised to hear Henry’s voice instead. “Hmph. What do you want to say?”

Both of them were fresh recruits in CP0. The next vice-captain would be chosen between the two.

Which made them rivals.

“Got a piece of good news for you.”

“You? Good news for me?” Angus scoffed. He didn’t buy for one second that Henry had such a kind heart.

No one could guess what Henry was actually thinking. “Just got word—a Fishman helped kidnap Vegapunk. You know who the target is now, don’t you?”

Angus’s pupils shrank. Karl of the New World came to mind instantly.

These days, Karl was the undisputed king of the New World. He and Newgate were brothers, and Golden Lion had once been a Rocks Pirates officer—while Karl himself was vice-captain.

On the surface, the three ruled the sea as equals. But they never fought one another. Anyone could tell there was more to their relationship. Now someone was about to poke the tiger by going after Karl.

“Figures. You never do anything out of kindness.”

Without another word, Angus hung up the phone.

“When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman wins. Let’s see who’s the snipe and who’s the fisherman this time.” A sly smile crept onto Angus’s lips.

Seeing the Den Den Mushi abruptly cut off, Henry cursed under his breath. “Some people just can’t recognize good intentions.”

But standing nearby, his subordinate Mailon saw things differently. “Lord Henry probably wants Angus to make the first move, right?”

He’d better watch his back from now on. Who knew—one day, Henry might sell him out and he’d be none the wiser.

“Knowing too much doesn’t mean you’ll live long. You get what I mean?”

Scared stiff, he bowed low. “Understood, sir.” Then he made a zipping motion over his lips.

“Hoist the sails. Set course for the New World!”

The moment they learned Karl might have abducted Vegapunk, two rival crews set sail for the New World.

Meanwhile, far off in the New World, Vegapunk leaped for joy at the fresh new blueprint before him. “Lineage Factor—I’ve finally done it!”

Quinn and Caesar rushed over from their workstations.

“So this is the Lineage Factor?” Quinn and Caesar stared at the pulsing equations on the display, hardly able to contain their excitement.

This discovery had the power to reshape the very balance of the New World.

With it, you could copy a person’s genes perfectly onto someone else—even replicate a Devil Fruit.

It was the kind of power reserved for the gods.

“Come help out. Let’s finish the job.”

To prove the Lineage Factor really worked, they’d have to implant Karl’s stored gene sample directly into Vegapunk’s own body.

Of course, everyone had their ambitions. Learning that Karl owed his power to Titan blood, Vegapunk couldn’t help feeling a little greedy himself.

Most of his abilities lay in his mind, but if strengthening his body was possible, he had no reason not to try—especially with Karl’s blessing.

Three days and nights of frenzied work later, the gene serum was ready.

The golden liquid in the test tube held promise of a new world.

Soon, Vegapunk lay strapped tightly to a bed. He glanced at Quinn. “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”

Vegapunk put on his mask and gave a serious nod. He took the golden serum and injected it into Vegapunk’s arm.

“Ugh!”

Vegapunk’s whole body convulsed, veins bulging beneath his skin. He could feel his genes changing deep inside.

After a stretch of intense pain, he was overwhelmed with a rush of newfound strength.

Ten minutes blurred by. Then Vegapunk bolted upright on the bed.

“Boom!”

The restraints couldn’t hold him for a second. He snapped them like thread, breaking free with ease.

Quinn’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

“No way!”

“Those things are made of pure steel!”

That’s right. The bonds were a new invention—their high-grade alloy was three times tougher than seastone.

But even a bookworm like Vegapunk broke them moments after the injection. That said enough about the power of Karl’s genes.

What Quinn and Caesar didn’t realize—Vegapunk had injected Karl’s concentrated blood, not a standard sample. The effects were on another level.

Even so, their shock would last a whole year.

“I feel better than I ever have,” Vegapunk said as he stepped down from the bed and gave his body a test swing, the air whooshing with every move.

As Caesar entered, his jaw dropped at the sight of Vegapunk. “Vegapunk, your—your head!”

“I didn’t even notice, Vegapunk—your head…” Quinn finally realized what was different now.

“What about my head?” Vegapunk rushed to the mirror.

When he saw his reflection, he burst out in delighted laughter. “It’s a blessing—a massive one!”

Until now, every time the Brain-Brain Fruit absorbed knowledge, his head would swell beyond normal size—because his body couldn’t handle it.

But since injecting Karl’s Titan genes, his body grew stronger and his brain returned to its normal shape.

“Wait here, both of you. I’ve got to share this news with Lady Linlin.” Vegapunk dashed to the lab bench, snatching up the second serum and hurrying off.

Since Karl’s bloodstock was limited, they could only make two doses. As for the standard blood, Vegapunk hadn’t even begun the process yet—there was no more serum for now.

“Dr. Vegapunk, where are you headed?” The guard at the door eyed Vegapunk—smaller head and all—with curiosity. But he knew better than to ask questions out of turn.

“Take me to Lady Linlin, now.” The Fishman thought something urgent had happened and dashed ahead, leading the way to Linlin’s room.

They arrived at Cake Castle and, after getting clearance, hurried up to the fifth-floor nursery.

“Stop—who goes there?”

The castle guards inside were homies created by Linlin’s Soul-Soul Fruit, so they didn’t recognize either of them.

“I’m Vegapunk. I have urgent research to report to Lady Linlin.” The chess soldier heard this and realized he was looking at Cake Island’s own Dr. Vegapunk.

“Please wait. I’ll inform Mama right away.” The chess soldier slipped through a side door.

Vegapunk stood silently at the entrance, waiting.