[OP Marine Officer Luffy] Chapter 446- 450

Chapter 446: Relocation to Dressrosa?

Dressrosa was not a small kingdom. With a total population of around 100,000, plus the Tontatta living in Greenbit, Mansherry had once mentioned that their numbers exceeded 3,500. Despite the kingdom's past turmoil, it remained a vibrant place with rich culture and deep-rooted traditions.

After Violet finished speaking, the entire room fell into stunned silence.

Even Gion, an experienced and well-informed vice admiral candidate, couldn't help but lightly cover her lips in shock. Her usually composed demeanor wavered as she spoke in disbelief.

"Moving an entire country? Only the legendary giant, Oars, could achieve such a feat! This... this is too crazy!!"

Her gaze instinctively shifted toward Luffy, waiting to see how he would respond to such an outrageous proposal.

At that moment, a tiny head poked out from Luffy’s collar—Mansherry, the lively and cheerful princess of the Tontatta Tribe. Her large eyes sparkled with excitement, resembling that of an eager consultant suddenly inspired by a bold idea.

"Eh? You mean to bring Dressrosa here?!" Mansherry chirped, her tiny hands gripping Luffy’s shirt. "Then… does that mean I’ll be able to see my people more often?"

"Yes, and not just the people of Dressrosa," Luffy nodded before turning to the others.

Olivia, standing nearby, also chimed in, her expression calm yet thoughtful.

"That includes the Tontatta as well," she noted. "With a doctor who is both skilled in medicine and her people that is gifted in cultivating plant life, their contributions could prove invaluable. Besides…" She glanced at Mansherry and added with a knowing smile, "As the husband of their princess, you can support each other and bring benefits to both sides."

Gion, who had been listening intently, pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"I think this idea has merit," she analyzed. "Aren’t land and population exactly what we’re lacking right now? If we can integrate these two forces into our growing territory, it would significantly strengthen us."

As she spoke, everyone’s eyes turned to Luffy once again—especially Violet, whose expression betrayed a mix of hope and determination.

For her, this was a win-win situation, particularly for Dressrosa. If Luffy had the power to relocate their homeland and was willing to do so, then her people would not only receive his protection but could also benefit from the economic opportunities brought by the influx of tourists from Onigashima.

The country had yet to fully recover from the devastation left behind by Doflamingo’s rule. This relocation could provide the perfect opportunity to rebuild and flourish.

Similarly, as long as Dressrosa was integrated into Luffy’s expanding territory, Violet was confident she could persuade her father, King Riku, to support Luffy’s policies wholeheartedly.

Looking into Violet’s expectant eyes, Luffy did not hesitate. A confident smile curved his lips as he lightly tapped his chin.

"Moving Dressrosa isn’t difficult for me," he stated matter-of-factly. "If your father agrees, then that would make things much easier."

"Yes!" Violet’s face lit up with joy, her voice filled with resolve. "I’ll speak with him about this later. I’m sure the citizens will agree as well!"

Mansherry’s tiny hand shot up eagerly.

"And me! Sister Violet, please let me talk to my father too! I want to move Greenbit here as well!" she pleaded, her excitement palpable.

The two princesses were so eager that Alpha couldn’t help but shake her head in exasperation. Crossing her arms, she let out a dramatic sigh.

"Wow, you two really are good princesses, huh?" she teased with a smirk. "Selling out your own country just to please a man…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Luffy’s hand shot out, grabbing Alpha by the collar and pulling her toward him.

"Idiot! This is called mutual benefit. What do you know?!" he scolded, clearly displeased.

With a swift motion, he ruffled her hair before delivering a light but firm smack to the top of her head.

"Ow!" Alpha winced, immediately grabbing her head with both hands as her eyes welled up with exaggerated tears. "Why are you so mean?! I was just joking! Did you really have to hit me?!"

Luffy rolled his eyes. "Shut up. If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll send you flying straight to heaven."

To emphasize his point, he swatted her lightly on the butt.

At that, Alpha stiffened, her expression shifting as she looked around at the women standing nearby. Her gaze flickered to the imitation magic island, then back to Luffy. A nervous gulp escaped her lips before she hurriedly clamped a hand over her mouth as if silencing herself like a frightened little rabbit.

But after a brief moment of hesitation, she lowered the hand covering her mouth—only to use one arm to cover her chest and the other to shield her backside.

"No… don’t do it here," she mumbled, her face turning beet red. "It’s too embarrassing! If you really want something, just wait until we get back!"

The room burst into laughter.

Kujaku, Violet, and Olivia couldn’t contain their amusement, while Gion pressed her palm against her forehead, shaking her head helplessly.

"This girl…" Gion sighed. "She’s just like Kalifa—so naive. Did you really think he was being serious?"

"Eh?" Alpha’s mouth dropped open in shock.

But before she could backpedal, Luffy seized the opportunity. Wrapping an arm around her slim waist, he pulled her into his embrace. Lowering his head, he whispered against her ear, his voice carrying a mischievous lilt.

"That’s what you said," he reminded her smugly. "When we get back, I’ll call Kalifa, and we can have a good ‘time’ together."

Alpha’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, her embarrassment reaching its peak.

"N-No…!" she stammered, squirming in his grip. "Calling my sister to join is too embarrassing~!"

Luffy chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction.

Her reaction was undeniably cute, and for a brief moment, he found himself savoring the way her delicate body trembled in his arms—not with fear, but with a flustered kind of anticipation.

However, sensing that she was reaching her limit, he decided to let up. With a soft peck on her flushed cheek, he reassured her.

"Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore," he said, giving her waist a light squeeze before releasing her. "Now, let’s get serious. I’m going to speed things up, so be ready."

At his words, Mansherry immediately retracted her tiny head back into Luffy’s collar.

Kujaku, Violet, and Olivia all adjusted their cloaks in preparation, their expressions shifting from amusement to focus.

Chapter 447: Research Institute × Labyrinth√

In an instant, several figures shot into the sky like sharp blades, slicing through the air at incredible speeds. Within mere moments, they had crossed thousands of meters, rapidly closing in on the white clouds suspended at an altitude of 7,000 meters.

As they neared their destination, Luffy slightly eased his momentum, allowing the others to catch up.

"Olivia, are you coming up yourself, or are we using bubbles?" he asked without looking back.

"If there are bubbles, of course, we’ll use them," Olivia replied without hesitation.

As she spoke, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a peculiar short rod, no thicker than a finger. Bringing one end to her lips, she blew into it with practiced ease.

A large, transparent bubble quickly expanded from the tip, swelling until it was large enough to comfortably fit several people inside. The surface shimmered under the sunlight, reflecting a faint iridescence.

Luffy, without wasting any time, took control and guided himself and the others inside.

Once secured within the bubble, he propelled it forward with a burst of energy, sending them soaring into the White Sea.

Just like the ocean below, the White Sea possessed a peculiar trait—it sapped the strength of those with special abilities, making them feel powerless in its presence.

In the past, even Luffy had found it difficult to traverse the White Sea unaided. His best options were either to remain inside a protected cabin or to rely on Olivia’s barrier ability to separate them from the sea’s effects.

However, things had changed ever since Vegapunk got involved.

Upon learning about this unique property of the White Sea, the genius scientist had immediately devised a solution—an advanced bubble blower, engineered with technology similar to the coating bubbles used in Sabaody Archipelago.

Unlike standard bubbles that required specific environmental conditions, Vegapunk’s invention could function outside of Sabaody as well.

As a result, Luffy and his companions could now cross the White Sea without being affected, as if they were shielded within a protective film.

The same applied when they ascended another 3,000 meters into the White-White Sea, heading straight for Vegapunk’s experimental base—the artificial island known as Egghead Island.

Egghead Island – Vegapunk’s Research Base

Unlike natural islands, Egghead Island was entirely artificial—an isolated landmass that Luffy had transported from the Calm Belt using his abilities.

Though not as vast as Onigashima, the island was still sizable enough to accommodate 6,700 people at most.

Presently, its inhabitants consisted primarily of Marine personnel, Revolutionary Army members, and select citizens from Wano Country who had been assigned to assist with construction and infrastructure development.

While relatively small, the island was more than sufficient for Vegapunk, who had only recently established his operations here.

Upon landing, Luffy and his companions wasted no time and headed straight for the island’s central hub—Vegapunk’s research institute.

Standing guard at the facility’s entrance was Sentomaru, Vegapunk’s personal bodyguard. His muscular frame was hard to miss, and despite his duty, he seemed rather… relaxed.

At that moment, Sentomaru was seated outside the research institute, tending to a makeshift barbecue stall. The rich aroma of sizzling meat filled the air as he leisurely flipped skewers over a small charcoal grill, casually enjoying his meal.

From above, Luffy descended swiftly, landing directly in front of him without warning.

"Hey, Sentomaru! Looks like you’re living the good life," Luffy greeted, his tone lighthearted as he helped himself to a freshly grilled skewer without hesitation.

Biting into the juicy meat, he chewed happily, savoring the rich flavors.

The sudden appearance of Luffy and his crew startled Sentomaru for a brief moment. However, upon recognizing them, he quickly regained his composure and rolled his eyes in mild annoyance.

"Tch, you again… You here to see the doctor?" he grumbled, waving them off. "He’s inside. Just go in already."

Luffy, still chewing, gave a casual nod.

"Got it. Thanks," he said, tossing the bamboo skewer into the trash can. "By the way, I’ll have someone send over some of the best food from Onigashima in the future. Consider it a trade for your hospitality."

At the mention of Onigashima’s food, Sentomaru’s ears perked up. The man was known for his hearty appetite, and such an offer was certainly tempting.

"Yeah? Then don’t forget to send plenty of seasoning too!" he called out as Luffy walked past him. "I’ve been experimenting with some new dishes, but I need more ingredients!"

Luffy chuckled. "No problem! Leave it to me!"

As soon as they stepped into the research facility, Olivia turned to Luffy and spoke.

"I’ll be heading off first," she said. "I need to finish working on the new computer system you requested. Once it’s done, we’ll finally be able to extract more benefits from the Celestial Dragons."

Luffy simply nodded. "Alright. Let me know when it’s done."

With that, Olivia separated from the group, disappearing into the corridors.

As Luffy and the others ventured deeper into the facility, they quickly realized something—navigating Vegapunk’s research institute was no simple task.

It was almost as if they had stepped into a giant labyrinth.

"Man, this place is a real pain to get through…" Luffy muttered, glancing at the endless hallways stretching in every direction.

Perhaps due to the past attack on Punk Hazard, Vegapunk had significantly upgraded his security measures.

Now, the new research institute was designed in a maze-like structure, intentionally confusing to outsiders. Unless someone had seen the detailed layout map, getting lost was practically inevitable.

Even if an intruder somehow managed to bypass Sentomaru’s guard post, they would still be trapped by the sheer complexity of the institute’s endless corridors.

However, the labyrinthine design was merely one layer of security.

In addition to that, the facility was equipped with:

• Surveillance Den Den Mushi monitoring every corner, ensuring zero blind spots.

• Fully automated defense turrets capable of targeting and neutralizing intruders without any human intervention.

• Steel-reinforced security gates, each requiring fingerprint, voice, or retinal scans for access.

Such extreme precautions were unquestionably excessive—but considering Vegapunk’s genius, it was hardly surprising.

"Man, if this were anyone else’s lab, I would’ve punched them in the face already," Luffy grumbled as they continued down the maze-like corridors.

"Who the hell does he think he is? Even meeting the Celestial Dragons isn’t this much of a hassle!"

Of course, Vegapunk was an exception.

To Luffy, Vegapunk’s importance far outweighed that of all the Celestial Dragons combined.

After enduring a tedious series of identifications and security checks, Luffy and his companions finally reached the core area of the facility.

For Violet and the others, this was nothing new. They had visited several times before and had long since grown accustomed to the excessive security measures.

However, for Gion, this was her first visit to Egghead Island, and the experience left her utterly bewildered.

Pressing a hand to her forehead, she groaned in frustration.

"Ugh… what kind of nonsense is this?! Even if I wanted to meet the Five Elders, I wouldn’t have to go through this much trouble!" she complained.

Hearing her words, Luffy smirked.

"Yeah," he said, stretching his arms. "Now that’s the reaction I was looking for!"

Chapter 448: Vegapunk's Clone

Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, a familiar figure rushed out from one of the research rooms.

Dressed in his signature white lab coat and holding a clipboard, Vegapunk appeared with an unmistakable sense of urgency.

Without wasting a second, he shoved the clipboard into Gion’s hands and spoke in an insistent tone.

"Quick! Take a look—do you still remember the route you took to get in here?"

Gion blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Lowering her gaze, she saw that the clipboard contained a simplified map of the research institute.

Following Vegapunk’s instructions, she instinctively began tracing the path she had just walked.

However, she barely managed to draw two strokes before her hand froze in hesitation.

Frowning, she muttered under her breath, "Ugh… I can’t remember. My mind’s a mess. How the hell am I supposed to recall the exact path?"

At that, Vegapunk’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.

"Exactly!" he declared, beaming with pride. "That’s the result we were aiming for!"

He gleefully snatched back the clipboard, nodding with evident self-satisfaction.

"Think about it—if even someone who just walked through the institute can't recall the route, how could an enemy ever hope to infiltrate this place?"

His words carried a tone of triumph, as though he had just outwitted the entire world.

The maze-like passageways had been meticulously designed, and their effectiveness had already been tested on many individuals.

So far, only one person had managed to navigate the institute without using a map—and that was an exceptionally clueless, green-haired swordsman with a terrible sense of direction.

Even Luffy and Robin, both possessing sharp minds, had found themselves hopelessly lost within the labyrinthine corridors.

"Well, when you put it that way, I guess it does make sense," Luffy admitted, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I mean, idiots like that guy are pretty rare. Normal people would definitely get lost."

He mentally patted himself on the back for his ingenious design before turning his attention back to his visitors.

"Luffy, it’s been a while since our last meeting," Vegapunk greeted, his hands casually folded behind his back. His eyes then swept over the others. "And I see you’ve brought quite the company—Violet, Kujaku, Alpha, and Miss Mansherry."

He offered them a friendly nod before his gaze finally landed on Kujaku, and his expression shifted to one of mild surprise.

"And this young lady… if I’m not mistaken, isn’t she Admiral Candidate Gion from the Marine?" he mused. "I must say, Luffy, I never expected you to bring her here as well. This is quite the unexpected surprise."

His words carried a mix of amusement and curiosity.

Luffy, noticing the scientist’s good mood, couldn’t help but tease him.

"Long time no see, Doc," he grinned. "You seem awfully cheerful today. Don’t tell me—you finally came up with another insane invention, didn’t you?"

At that, Vegapunk’s entire face lit up, a wide grin spreading across his features. His perfectly white teeth practically sparkled.

"Haha! You’ve got a sharp eye, Luffy-kun!" he exclaimed proudly. "As a matter of fact… you’re absolutely right!"

His enthusiasm was unmistakable, and before Luffy could react, the scientist spun around and began dragging them forward.

"Come on! I’ll show you something incredible!"

Luffy exchanged a helpless look with the girls, his brows raised in mild exasperation.

"Wait… when did I say I wanted to see it?" he muttered under his breath.

But, of course, it was pointless to resist.

Vegapunk was too excited to listen, and Luffy knew from experience that humoring the scientist was the fastest way to get any answers out of him.

And so, with a resigned sigh, Luffy followed him toward the production area of the lab.

This sector of the research facility was where Vegapunk’s inventions were first brought to life.

Prototype models were built and tested here before being approved for mass production.

The first computers had been created in this very location, each one meticulously crafted before being handed off to Olivia for further refinement and large-scale manufacturing.

If Vegapunk was bringing them here, that could only mean one thing—he had developed something extraordinary.

Driven by curiosity, Gion decided to follow closely behind.

As they stepped inside, Luffy’s eyes immediately widened at the sight before him.

Standing in the center of the production area were two humanoid figures—two people who, at first glance, seemed alive.

But something was off.

Luffy quickened his pace, his steps instinctively drawing him closer to the figures.

"What… what the hell is this?" he murmured.

As he neared them, he realized they were encased within glass chambers, separated from the outside world.

The first figure was a man, his entire body concealed within a thick, dark-blue hoodie. A full-face helmet covered his head, marked with the number "01".

He was hunched over, his posture relaxed, yet there was something unnervingly rigid about him.

Not a single inch of his skin was visible.

On the other side stood a woman, her appearance a stark contrast to the man.

Her short orange-yellow hair framed a delicate face, her expression serene yet eerily blank. Her eyes remained closed, as if she were in some kind of deep sleep.

Unlike the heavily concealed male figure, the female openly displayed her features.

She was strikingly beautiful, her body accentuated by a form-fitting pink jumpsuit that highlighted her perfect curves.

However, one detail annoyed Luffy immensely—

A purple jacket had been draped over her shoulders, partially covering her slender frame.

And, much to Luffy’s displeasure, both she and the helmeted man were wearing multifunctional long boots.

His brows furrowed. "Tch… what’s with these boots? They totally ruin the aesthetic," he muttered.

But soon, a realization hit him, and his expression changed to one of utter disbelief.

"Wait a minute… if I’m not mistaken… these two…"

His eyes flickered with recognition as he pieced together the clues.

"Vegapunk’s clones?" he muttered in astonishment.

He turned his gaze toward the scientist. "That’s Shaka, who represents Logic, and Lilith, who embodies evil, right?"

Luffy’s astonishment deepened.

"Vegapunk… have you actually completed the cloning process?"

As if waiting for that exact moment, Vegapunk stepped forward, his chest puffed out with pride.

Standing beside Luffy, he admired his latest creations through the glass chambers.

With a smirk, he turned to Luffy and declared,

"Well? What do you think?"

He spread his arms dramatically.

"My latest masterpiece—isn’t it spectacular?"

He leaned in slightly, his tone almost challenging.

"Tell me, Luffy—don’t they look just like real human beings?"

Chapter 449: Vegapunk

"This..."

Since Shaka was wearing a helmet, his true appearance remained obscured, but Lilith, standing beside him, was clearly visible.

Even as Luffy scrutinized him closely, he had to admit—on the surface, there was no visible flaw. He looked indistinguishable from a real person.

As for what lay beneath? Luffy generally refrained from commenting on things he hadn’t tested himself.

Gion stepped forward in surprise, peering through the mask at the girl inside the glass cover. Given her familiarity with the World Government and Vegapunk’s research, a wave of suspicion rose within her. With a hint of resistance in her voice, she asked:

"Dr. Vegapunk, I’ve heard that you conducted research on human cloning. These two—are they clones created using your bloodline?"

"No, no, not at all! They're just robots," Vegapunk quickly denied, waving his hands in emphasis. However, as he spoke, a faint trace of disappointment flickered across his face.

"Although I did conduct experiments on human cloning… after successfully proving it possible, I abandoned the research.

Creating life out of thin air—it's immoral. The best I can do now is build robots that resemble humans rather than truly sentient beings with independent thoughts and wisdom."

Vegapunk’s words carried a deep sense of regret and self-reproach, as if he were recalling someone he once created.

However, he soon shook off those emotions, adjusting his mindset. A smile returned to his face as he continued:

"Do you remember the advice you gave me when we first met?

Yes, these two are the assistants I designed for myself—extensions of my own being."

"you?"

Violet frowned in confusion. "Doctor, aren't they a robot? How can they be you?"

The more she listened, the less she understood, struggling to keep up with Vegapunk’s train of thought.

Luffy, on the other hand, had already read the original events and knew exactly what Vegapunk was planning. Taking the opportunity to show off a little, he smirked and said:

"Doctor, if I’m not mistaken, you want them to be linked to Punk Records, sharing thoughts and memories with you, right?

After all, even you are currently connected to your brain through the signal receiver on your head.

And you’ve mentioned before—no matter how skilled an assistant may be, they can never understand you better than you understand yourself.

So, I’m guessing these two are assistant you developed, ones capable of linking to Punk Records and functioning as part of your mind."

The moment he finished speaking, the girls standing nearby stared at him in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Even Vegapunk was visibly surprised. He hadn’t expected Luffy to deduce his thoughts so precisely.

But instead of being upset, he became excited, stepping forward and gripping Luffy’s shoulders enthusiastically.

"Amazing! I knew it! Luffy, your way of thinking is truly beyond that of ordinary people.

Even Caesar and the others in the past struggled to keep up with my ideas.

It's such a waste for someone like you to be merely a Marine officer!

If you were to join me in research, I have no doubt you’d become a scientist as brilliant as I am!"

The girls’ jaws nearly hit the floor.

Was this a joke?

Dr. Vegapunk—the world’s most brilliant scientist—had just claimed that Luffy was as talented as he was?

Luffy—the same lazy guy who only cared about making money and collecting women, who always dumped his responsibilities onto his subordinates? That Luffy? A scientist?

Impossible!

Even Luffy himself felt embarrassed by the praise.

He knew he wasn’t a genius. At best, he was just someone who had a little bit of future knowledge thanks to reading the manga.

Most of the knowledge he had gained in both his past and present lives had been forgotten long ago.

Forget about being a scientist—if you gave him a simple linear equation with two variables, he'd probably spend half a day trying to solve it and still get it wrong.

Scratching his nose awkwardly, he tried to downplay it:

"Come on, Doctor, don’t exaggerate. I just think quickly and sometimes come up with random ideas.

Compared to a great scientist like you, I’m nowhere close."

He had hoped that his humble attitude would make Vegapunk drop the subject.

Unexpectedly, Vegapunk shook his head and refuted him with complete seriousness:

"No, I truly admire your flashes of inspiration.

There are plenty of intelligent people in this world—many with vast knowledge, some who may even surpass me in certain areas.

But what they lack is precisely that—those seemingly insignificant moments of inspiration that can change everything.

Some technologies take decades to develop, and even the most dedicated scientist may never find the right direction, no matter how much research they do.

Yet sometimes, a breakthrough idea comes to someone at the most unexpected moment—whether it’s while eating, bathing, or even sitting on the toilet.

That fleeting thought could solve a problem that had stumped others for a lifetime."

As he spoke, Vegapunk turned his gaze toward Shaka and Lilith, still inside the glass cover. He reached out and gently tapped on the transparent barrier twice.

"Just like them. If you hadn’t mentioned it casually, perhaps I would have thought of this idea someday in the future.

But what’s far more likely is that I never would have realized it at all—spending my entire life stubbornly researching on my own, unable to take that step forward.

So much time would have been wasted…

So many groundbreaking inventions would have been lost."

Chapter 450: Luffy: Yes, I Am a Genius!

Luffy was completely dumbfounded after listening to Vegapunk's explanation and analysis.

"So, I’m actually this amazing? How come I didn’t know that myself?

No, no, no—there must be something wrong here! Even if I hadn’t mentioned it, you would’ve figured it out sooner or later, Doctor!

So don’t flatter me too much, or I’ll start believing it!!”

Shaking his head, Luffy snapped himself out of the ridiculous daydream where he abandoned piracy to become a scientist.

He twitched the corner of his mouth, glanced at Vegapunk’s apparent attempt at brainwashing, and then looked toward his women, feeling a bit guilty. With a modest yet uneasy tone, he said:

"Well, Doctor, I really don’t think I’m as great as you say."

"No, you truly are," Vegapunk interrupted him with unwavering certainty.

"Let me give you a simple example.

Since records began, more than a dozen—perhaps even twenty—people have possessed the your devil fruit's power.

Among them were some truly formidable individuals who pushed the fruit’s abilities to their limits, leaving their mark on history.

But in all these centuries, you are the only one who developed it in an entirely different direction.

You applied the principles of electromagnetism, elevating the fruit’s upper limits to an unimaginable level.

Instead of merely following in the footsteps of your predecessors, you continuously experimented, adapted, and innovated.

That’s precisely what I admire the most about you."

"I..."

Luffy opened his mouth, but the words got stuck in his throat. He didn’t know how to respond.

Meanwhile, Gion, Violet, Kujaku, and the other girls listened silently to Vegapunk’s theories.

And now, the way they looked at Luffy had completely changed—their eyes practically sparkled like the night sky.

They weren’t fools who could be easily deceived.

But the person saying all this wasn’t just anyone—this was Vegapunk, the greatest scientific mind in the world, a man whose knowledge was said to be 500 years ahead of his time.

If he held Luffy in such high regard, what reason did they have to doubt him?

In an instant, a deep sense of pride swelled within them.

See? This was their man. Not only was he powerful, but he also possessed world-class intelligence.

Cough! Cough! Cough!

Luffy coughed repeatedly, feeling overwhelmed by the burning gazes of the women.

At this moment, he didn’t even dare to turn around—he was afraid that if he met their eyes, he’d be blinded by their admiration.

Helpless, he took a deep breath, straightened his back, and declared loudly:

"Well… since you said so, I won’t argue anymore.

Yes, I am a genius!!!"

With his hands on his hips, Luffy finally acknowledged it.

Vegapunk smiled with satisfaction.

The girls were also excited, clapping and cheering in encouragement.

Luffy enjoyed the moment for a little while before lowering his hands.

"Alright, alright, enough of that. Let’s not forget why we’re here.

Doctor, introduce us to your two new versions of yourself.

Why haven’t they woken up yet? Have they not linked to Punk Records yet?"

With Luffy shifting the topic, the lively atmosphere gradually calmed down.

However, his newfound reputation as a genius had been completely cemented in their hearts.

When they returned, the girls planned to share this experience with their other sisters—so they too could understand just how incredible the man they were with truly was.

Back to the main discussion, Vegapunk, seeing that Luffy was trying to be humble again, decided to drop the subject.

Shaking his head, he reached into his coat, pulled out a remote control, and pressed a button.

Hiss—

Immediately, the transparent glass covers began to open, allowing everyone to get a clearer view of the two clones in front of them.

"First, let me introduce you to No. 01—the first clone I created.

This is the Vegapunk that represents my Logical personality—Shaka."

Vegapunk spoke with great pride, but the enthusiasm wasn’t exactly mutual.

No one seemed particularly interested in the masked man standing before them.

Instead, all attention was drawn to the female Vegapunk.

Kujaku, the boldest of the group, reached out and lightly poked Lilith’s cheek, feeling the texture of her skin. It was exactly like that of a real person.

Turning around, she glanced at Vegapunk with a strange expression and asked:

"Doctor, I get why you’d create clones of yourself.

But why the hell did you make one of them a woman?

Don’t tell me… you have some kind of fetish?"

"Bakayaro! What nonsense!"

Vegapunk immediately exploded with anger.

"I am a scientist!

Do not use your dirty imagination to taint my noble pursuit of scientific discovery!"

His face was red with fury as he repeatedly stressed that creating a female version of himself was purely for research purposes—nothing more, nothing less.

Whether or not anyone actually believed him, everyone nodded with serious expressions and said,

"We believe you."

Of course, deep down, they weren’t so sure…

Vegapunk snorted in frustration, his mood visibly soured. But after taking a deep breath, he continued his explanation with a stern expression:

"This female version of Vegapunk is No. 02.

I gave her a personality that embodies my evil side, and I named her Lilith.

If possible, I plan to create a few more clones in the future.

Each one will represent a different aspect of my personality."

Upon hearing this, Luffy couldn’t help but smirk.

He had something to say.