"Alright, it seems you're already prepared, Boss... Based on the timeline, Marine and World Government agents should arrive at Future Island in two days. Don't go and fail in such an easy task!"
Glancing at Boa Hancock and Nico Robin, Stella spoke a few more words before preparing to disconnect. Seeing that Vegapunk was already prepared, she didn't think the World Government or the Marines could do anything to this cunning technological genius.
"Wait..." Vegapunk, still rubbing his bruised arm, suddenly spoke: "Wait a moment, I'll send over a list. This time, after I escape by faking my death, you'll take over as the head of Umbrella's personnel for me!"
Umbrella was an organization Vegapunk had secretly established, covering various aspects such as intelligence, espionage, and scientific research. Previously, Vegapunk had managed it personally, communicating through a type of projection ring.
Stella was slightly stunned for a moment but didn't refuse. As a Clone created by Vegapunk, her loyalty was definitely at its maximum, and her status wasn't low either; she was indeed the best candidate to entrust this to.
Within Umbrella, besides some Clones who were deathly loyal to Vegapunk, there were also a large number of non-core members. Having developed over many years with the support of Vegapunk's black technology, it had long since become a colossus.
Among the people Vegapunk trusted, only Stella had the high IQ and EQ to handle it. Other Clones, while loyal, lacked a bit of EQ, and ordinary people with the necessary intelligence and methods didn't have much loyalty.
After finishing the transmission of the list and the planned goals for the upcoming period to Stella, Vegapunk disconnected, and his expression gradually became serious.
He stood up, looked at the almost sci-fi town outside and the large number of robots walking in the steel city, and sighed: "It seems Future Island cannot be saved!"
Nico Robin, standing behind Vegapunk, also frowned slightly: "Do I need to notify everyone to evacuate?"
Vegapunk shook his head and said:
"No need. All the data on Future Island has been uploaded by me to the Dream Star. What's being destroyed are only the external mechanical bodies. As long as the data souls still exist, it can be rebuilt at any time."
"Even those few Clones are actually controlled by the Dream Star's manipulation chips; they aren't truly living beings and can be remanufactured just the same."
Furthermore, if they made preparations in advance, wouldn't that be clearly telling the Marines and the World Government that he had spies among them?
"By the way, Robin, how were you discovered?" Vegapunk suddenly asked, as if thinking of something.
Nico Robin had always stayed on Future Island; even when trading with other forces, she wouldn't personally show her face. Logically, it should have been impossible for her to be discovered.
"I don't know," Nico Robin shook her head, "But, Boss, much of your research is derived from ancient texts. Perhaps the World Government found some clues from them."
"I've already been very careful in that regard, having modified the various technological materials given to the World Government several times. I didn't expect they'd still see something?"
Vegapunk spoke with some distress, though he wasn't particularly surprised. To be precise, the ancient technology of the One Piece World was all-encompassing. If he wanted to completely erase the inspiration and knowledge gained from ancient technology, he basically wouldn't be able to do anything at all.
(Perhaps the World Government has long had the idea of 'killing the donkey once the grinding is done'. After all, the World Government is certainly the one that understands ancient history best. They probably also know very well that once technology develops to a certain level, scientists will inevitably pay more attention to ancient history.)
A thought flashed through Vegapunk's mind, but he wasn't too surprised. In fact, he had long been prepared to fall out with the World Government, and this timing could be said to be just right.
(I just wonder... if the hidden cards I left on Future Island will satisfy the World Government!)
...Everyone on the sea knew that Future Island was the lair of Vegapunk, the world's strongest scientist. The island was full of various black technology weapons; even the strongest Pirate Crew on the sea couldn't guarantee they could conquer this island.
Compared to the original Vegapunk, who didn't much care for researching weapons, this enhanced version of Vegapunk had turned the entire island into a steel fortress, with a large number of robots and Clone soldiers patrolling.
Many people even believed that Vegapunk's Future Island was second only to Mary Geoise and Marine Headquarters in terms of danger and defensive power.
However, that was only Vegapunk's lair on the surface. Vegapunk's true lair was not on this sea.
Following a flash of light, Vegapunk appeared in a metal room with Nico Robin and Boa Hancock. On the walls of the room were transparent windows, and outside the windows was the pitch-black void of space.
Dream Star—its true name was the Brain Satellite Space Station, and it was also Vegapunk's true lair. It was an autonomous, ultra-large artificial satellite space station the size of an island, built directly in satellite orbit.
At the same time, this was where Vegapunk's severed large head was located. The modified quantum brain possessed terrifying computing power far exceeding that of a supercomputer.
With incredibly powerful computing capabilities, combined with the Dream Star itself—which was full of black technology and incorporated Devil Fruit ability components—its technological level could be said to be far beyond ordinary imagination.
The reason it was named Dream Star was that the brain of this space station possessed components of the Dream-Dream Fruit, which could directly manifest a dream world, allowing the entire space station to freely enter and exit between dream and reality.
In fact, the Dream Star didn't just possess this one Devil Fruit component. Through the manipulation and conversion of different Devil Fruit components, this space station possessed a variety of special abilities. If one truly had to choose the most dangerous place in this world, those in the know would definitely choose the Dream Star.
Returning to his true lair, Vegapunk sensed the powerful mental field echoing throughout the interstellar space station and suddenly felt a sense of security.
The Brain-Brain Fruit wasn't actually completely devoid of offensive power. The development direction of a Devil Fruit's ability mainly depends on the user's own intentions and imagination. Vegapunk had developed some abilities like telekinesis.
However, after he cut off his large brain casing, the vast majority of the telekinesis remained on the Dream Star, with only a small portion remaining in himself.
Only upon returning to the Dream Star could Vegapunk feel more complete.
"The time is almost right. Dream Star, prepare to initiate Plan A35!"