Vegapunk could only hope that the Hell Pirates were just passing through or interested in snatching some high-tech items—anything but harming people. He never expected that they came specifically to rob wealth. Golden Island was just too extravagant!
He also had to gamble—with his life, his family's, and the island residents'. As they say, the smarter the mind, the wilder the thoughts. A brain like his would infer countless scenarios and try to find the best way out.
But the Hell Pirates weren't the kind to play by logic. The alarm he had triggered might've just pissed them off further. Still, if he hadn't sounded it, how else could the residents have evacuated in time?
He could only pray these pirates wouldn't go nuclear with their Devil Fruit abilities—if they did, hiding would be pointless.
Young as he was, emotion overrode reason. Vegapunk chose to run back home to find his parents and escape with them.
Up in the sky, Golden Island also picked up the alarm from Karakuri Island. They hadn't expected to be discovered so soon. Realizing there was no point in hiding anymore, Brook and his crew moved fast.
They mobilized the entire force to locate Vegapunk, even if it meant threatening locals. They needed to find him ASAP so they could negotiate from a position of power.
The pirate cadres jumped down from the floating island one by one, questioning every fleeing civilian about Vegapunk's whereabouts. Though the townsfolk respected Vegapunk's contributions, when their lives were at stake, they couldn't hold out—they pointed out the locations of his lab and home.
The Hell Pirates quickly split up and rushed in that direction. Meanwhile, Vegapunk had reached his home and begged his parents to flee with him.
Upon hearing the pirates were attacking, Vegapunk's mother immediately started packing up her valuables—she knew pirates wouldn't leave behind a single coin.
"Mom, don't worry about the money! These guys won't care about a few ba—berries. Just come with us!"
Vegapunk was distressed. His mom choosing valuables over survival clashed with his cold, rational mind—life was far more precious than material wealth!
"You'll understand when you have your own household! You've been using all your salary and bonuses for your experiments. Without this money, we won't even have bread to eat!" she retorted.
She kept talking. She was proud of her son's brilliance—already the top scientist on the island—but real life had its weight. She didn't care about the debt he owed them. He was still young, and his future was bright. Both she and her husband supported him however they could.
After packing, the family of three sprinted toward Vegapunk's personal submarine—but along the way, they saw pirates holding up photos, comparing them against the crowd.
When they were spotted, one pirate shouted, and they were instantly surrounded. Vegapunk's brilliant mind immediately put the pieces together—they were after him!
Seeing the pirates holding his photo confirmed it. The Hell Pirates had come to find him specifically!
Was it because he'd eaten the Brain-Brain Fruit? Or had word of his scientific genius spread too far?
These pirates didn't seem hostile—they weren't here for revenge. Most likely, they wanted him to build things for them, or maybe even force him into their crew.
"You must be Vegapunk!!!" said Redfield as he locked eyes with the boy. The moment he read Vegapunk's mind, he was shocked.
A chaotic stream of ideas bombarded him—so fast, so complex—that his mind-reading couldn't keep up. It was like watching thousands of code strings flash by in an instant. He immediately stopped using Observation Haki.
Until now, only Brother Brook had given him this kind of mental overload. But now, there was a second.
This kid's brain was terrifying—constantly analyzing, speculating, evolving. He really was the genius Brook had spoken of.
Vegapunk noticed Redfield's pleased expression and became even more certain—these pirates weren't here to kill. They wanted him. Most likely for a long-term deal.
"I'm guessing you'd like me to upgrade your Golden Island?" Vegapunk asked calmly. Denying it was pointless—they already had his photo. Lie, and he might get stabbed.
"You're sharp. Brother Brook came here personally to see you. I hope you won't turn him down... the consequences could be bad," Redfield said, smiling as he glanced at Vegapunk's parents. With them here, escape was even less likely.
"I'm just a teenager, not some world-renowned scientist. Why would a tyrant like Brook come for me personally?" Vegapunk asked, still puzzled. His reputation wasn't global—at most, he was well-known locally.
"Haha! Brother Brook doesn't misjudge people. You've got a future ahead of you. Maybe even the future world's number one scientist."
Redfield smiled. He believed Brook could see the future. Maybe he'd already foreseen Vegapunk's greatness.
"Thank you very much, Lord Brook..." Vegapunk replied softly. He didn't know what exactly Brook had seen, but he did believe in his own potential. His current intellect could already outclass the brightest on the island—it felt like his mind operated in a different dimension.
Brook and the rest of the crew soon arrived. They had already checked Vegapunk's lab. After receiving Redfield's Den Den Mushi update, they'd come straight here.
When Brook saw the thin young man, his eyes lit up with eerie calmness. It was the way a person looks at an insect—an acknowledgment that their minds just didn't operate on the same level.
"Yohoho~, Vegapunk. I'm sure you've already guessed why I'm here. I'm curious what choice you'll make."
Brook's tone was relaxed, but everyone understood—he wasn't here to play around. Vegapunk wouldn't escape, whether he said yes or no.
"I'm still curious," Vegapunk replied. "Why does someone like you think so highly of me? And how did you find me so precisely?"
Brook smiled again. "Simple. I've seen the future, Vegapunk—the future world's number one scientist. From today on, you and your family can live on Golden Island. You may make a few requests for Karakuri Island as advance payment."
Brook's voice grew more persuasive.
"You've heard of Shiki the Golden Lion, haven't you? You know his power. If you want, we can move this winter island elsewhere. Ask for a few things. Consider it a thank-you for the help you'll give me."
Vegapunk listened quietly. Brook was right—talking to smart people was easier. There was no need for threats or fake promises.
Vegapunk knew deep down—whether he wanted to or not—he and his family were already part of the Hell Pirates' plans.
-------------------
"Can you really see the future?"
Vegapunk was a little shocked. Could there really be such a Devil Fruit power in the world? But after thinking it over, it wasn't impossible.
After all, he himself only became a genius after eating a Devil Fruit. Many pirates and Marine officers had used the power of Devil Fruits to transform into mythical beings—even gods or demons.
If this "Overlord Brook" could really glimpse the future, then he would surely become a major figure one day. And based on Brook's current attitude, not only did he respect Vegapunk, but he was also willing to bring his family to the Golden Island. It was clear he was dead serious.
If Vegapunk refused, he might not end up with a happy ending—and worse, his hometown could get dragged into the mess. After all, with the kind of ambition and strength Brook had, he wouldn't allow someone like Vegapunk—someone bound to be famous—to fall into the hands of other forces.
Plus, judging by the power of the Hell Pirates, a dominant force in the New World, they could absolutely fund any of his research. Just one look at the Golden Island was enough to show that money wasn't an issue. That meant he could finally carry out his experiments without worrying about funding!
"Respected Lord Brook, thank you for your kindness. My family is willing to join you," Vegapunk said seriously. "But if you wish to relocate Karakuri Island, we'll need to get the lord's approval first."
At this time, Vegapunk was still just a young scientist. He didn't have the authority to make decisions for everyone on the island. If the lord refused, all he could do was ask Brook to provide funding for restarting the large-scale heating project.
His parents, meanwhile, were shaking in fear. Brook was now the most talked-about Overlord in the recent news—he had even killed Celestial Dragons. How could they not be terrified?
And now this Overlord actually wanted to take their genius son away and even bring them to the Golden Island. Were they going to be treated as hostages?
"You don't need to ask your lord," Brook said flatly. "I only care what you think. Since the Hell Pirates have shown up here, shouldn't you draw a line between yourself and the rest of the residents? If you become world-famous later, those people might just get dragged into it."
Brook wasn't about to take chances with the World Government using innocent people as hostages. If that ever happened, he wouldn't have time to play the hero.
Vegapunk quickly realized that staying on Karakuri and building a heating system would be too slow—and too risky. Maybe moving the entire island was the best way to truly solve the issue.
"Then, please ask Lord Brook to have Golden Lion Shiki help move Karakuri Island to a warmer sea with a spring-like climate!"
Vegapunk understood this was likely the last thing he could do for his hometown. He pulled out a nautical chart and found a sea area with ideal conditions, then handed it to Shiki.
Redfield brought Vegapunk's family onto the golden ship and flew them straight to the Golden Island. Following Brook's instructions, Golden Lion Shiki then began moving the entire island.
Shiki took a deep breath. Thankfully, it wasn't a permanent float—just a temporary lift to change locations. But even so, floating an entire island took a lot out of him.
Karakuri Island was just one of the small-to-mid-sized islands in the Grand Line's Future Kingdom. It had become known as a mechanical island in recent years due to the rise of the young genius Vegapunk.
In the original timeline, Wapol—the Munch-Munch Fruit user defeated by Luffy—got rich later thanks to some special alloy, founded the Drum Kingdom, and even qualified for the World Government Conference.
For reference, the World Government Conference is only attended by the kings of the top 50 countries out of over 200 member nations. They gather at the Holy Land Mariejois to discuss global affairs.
Even the king of the Vodka Kingdom had to sell off his best fighter—Kaido—in addition to paying a massive heavenly tribute, just to qualify for the meeting!
That's why any island or kingdom can quickly rise to fame due to one individual. Vegapunk's inventions, with their outstanding performance and variety, had already boosted the island's trade and fame across the Grand Line.
··
Vegapunk and his family were settled into one of the luxurious towers on the Golden Island. Redfield led him to Brook's massive research complex, including a room sealed with seastone.
There was a gun lab belonging to sniper Hiruba, an invention workshop run by shipwright Tom, and a medical lab by ship doctor Crocus. When Vegapunk saw the sea train prototype floating in the pool, his eyes lit up and he instantly began studying it.
Later, when he saw the replica of the ancient weapon Pluto and the various technical blueprints, it felt like the gates of a whole new world had opened. Even he was in awe of the complexity of the weapons and couldn't wait to dive into the research. There were even modified Dials—things he'd never seen before!
Meanwhile, back on Karakuri Island, panic had broken out. The island started shaking and then lifted into the sky! Most residents locked themselves inside, too afraid to come out.
A few tried to flee and nearly fell into the sea. The lord of the island didn't even dare show his face.
The island floated for nearly two hours before finally settling down. Some of the weaker houses collapsed in the process, and there were some injuries.
Brook and the others didn't bother to meet the locals or offer any explanation. They just took Vegapunk and left. His lab and home were also moved to Golden Island by Golden Lion Shiki.
Most of his books, notes, and experimental animals were relocated, while some semi-mechanized animals were left behind as protection for the island.
To their shock, the residents of Karakuri realized the snow had started melting—and the air was getting warmer!
"This is a miracle! The gods must be blessing us! From now on, there'll be no more harsh winters!"
Cheering broke out across the island. Even the lord was stunned—but he quickly ordered a rescue team to handle the collapsed homes and check on the injured.
"My lord, Vegapunk's lab and house have been completely destroyed. They... might all be dead," a guard reported grimly.
The lord stood there, silent. He sighed deeply. "The heavens must envy true genius… Our island's hopes are gone."
Still, he was grateful their island had been moved to a better location by the "gods." It was a fresh start. A chance to thrive and prosper.
That day was officially named "God's Descent Day"—a holiday to be celebrated every year. It would honor the miracle, and the genius Vegapunk and his family, who were thought to be lost.
In truth, Vegapunk was alive and well on Golden Island, getting acquainted with the Hell Pirates as he stepped into his new lab—with eyes full of excitement.
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