One Piece: Fist of the World.

Chapter 249 Punk Hassad

Green Bit
A grand banquet was being held in the manor at the center of the island. The lively atmosphere of toasting each other could be heard clearly even by the guards outside.

"It's Hawkeye!"

"I saw it too. He's the world's greatest swordsman!"

"As expected of Boss Rhodes!"

"I heard that they have been fighting fiercely recently, and several officers have fought Hawkeye!"

"···"

The younger brothers on the periphery were talking excitedly.

He was the world's greatest swordsman who had been famous for a long time! Alive! Really!
Most people who make a living on the sea will choose the more common swords as their weapons. Hawkeye, who is the ceiling in the use of swords, enjoys a high reputation all over the world. Although there are people who want to kill him and replace his position, there are even more people who imitate and admire him!
"Hawkeye is nothing, Boss Rhodes may be the one who killed the Four Emperors!"

"That's right! Can Hawkeye defeat the Four Emperors?"

"Even the youngest red-haired Hawkeye is only 50-50 with him. He is far inferior to our boss Rhodes!"

"That's right!"

All the younger brothers suddenly understood.

It turns out they are so powerful now!
Sure enough, following Boss Rhodes has a future!
In the banquet hall, Hawkeye was holding up his glass and clinking it with Bonis.

"I lost again!"

Bonis said this as he picked up the wine glass in his hand and drank it down.

I had already decided that I would never lose again, but I didn't expect that when facing this great swordsman, the power I possessed was so insignificant.

The technique of [Iron Cutting] that he had mastered with great difficulty was full of loopholes under the opponent's eyes; the domineering power that he had honed until now was no match for the opponent at all, and was vulnerable under the blade of the black knife.

There is absolutely no way to fight back!
"I lost too!"

Hawkeye also raised his glass and took a big sip.

He lost the battle with Rhodes!
The loss was no surprise.

That overwhelming force made all his skills meaningless. Even in the battle with Shanks, he did not feel that level of oppression.

“You didn’t lose.”

Rhodes raised his glass to signal.

Although he suppressed Hawkeye in the battle with his powerful strength, that was a victory of his physical fitness. In terms of swordsmanship alone, he was not as good as Hawkeye.

"If I lose, I lose. I'm not someone who can't afford to lose."

Hawkeye put down his wine glass and glanced at Rhodes with sharp eyes.

“But I also see the direction I’m heading in!”

After defeating all his opponents and becoming the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye hasn't met an opponent he could have a good fight with for a long time.

Even Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors, could only win a fifty-fifty fight with him.

Without an opponent, there is no room for improvement.

So over the years, although Hawkeye has been honing his skills, his strength has not increased much.

However, the battle with Rhodes made him realize his own weakness, discover his own shortcomings, and also see the scenery at a higher level.

And he will hold the sword in his hand, cut off the obstacles, forge ahead, and climb up step by step until he stands on a higher mountain.

“I wish you can reach greater heights!”

Rhodes clinked glasses with Hawkeye, but he knew in his heart how difficult it would be for Hawkeye to continue to improve.

After all, the opponent had almost reached the limit of what he could achieve.

Now, he should have touched the ceiling of this world, just like he did in the past.

That is an insurmountable gap, which can only be improved little by little over a long period of time and through day-to-day training.

Except for cheating players like myself, it would be difficult for others to easily break through the ceiling and gain more powerful power.

"I'm leaving tomorrow."

Hawkeye clinked glasses with Rhodes, then suddenly spoke.

After the meeting of the Seven Warlords of the Sea ended, he followed Rod to Green Bit, where he had friendly exchanges with many members of Rod's Pirate Group. It has been more than ten days since then.

It's time to leave too.

For him, friends and partners are a luxury.

It is a rare experience to be able to have a couple of drinks with people you get along with occasionally.

"Are you leaving now? There's something interesting going on and I wanted to ask you to go with me."

"Interesting things?"

Hawkeye looked up.

"Before you entered Mary Geoise, there were people wearing white protective suits underneath the Red Earth Continent who asked for a temporary inspection, right?"

"Yes."

Hawkeye nodded.

Before boarding the elevator to Marijoa, he did encounter some people in white protective suits, who asked him to do a quick physical examination due to "epidemic diseases."

Hawkeye had no doubt about this, because when he was wandering in the South China Sea some time ago, he did hear news about the "Hormone Flu", and many people died quickly after being infected with the virus.

However, judging from what Rhodes said, could there be some hidden story behind this matter?
"I did something to the blood that was taken from me."

Rhodes stretched out his finger and made a gesture.

"The blood that was taken from me was used for testing and verified to be virus-free. It was not destroyed but was inexplicably transported to a place."

"Not only mine, but Nia's and Minina's as well."

"Soon after we boarded the elevator, the blood sample was expedited and sent to a location."

Hawkeye's already sharp eyes became even sharper, as if they were about to pierce through everything in front of them.

Although he was a swordsman and not a scientific researcher, he had heard of the name of Germa 66.

Even Hawkeye had heard of the enemy's fearless clone soldiers.

It just so happens that within the World Government, there exists a scientist who claims to be 500 years ahead of the world—Vegapunk!
If Germa 66 can do it, there's no reason why Vegapunk can't do it!
"You mean..."

"How about it, are you interested in going to investigate together?"

Rhodes extended an invitation to Hawkeye.

"Extremely happy!"

Hawkeye put down his glass and stood up.

···
Punk Hassad

This is the world government’s secret scientific research base!

Decades ago, there was a very powerful organization called MADS, also known as the Peace Research Institute. It was an illegal scientific research team headed by Vegapunk and funded by Du Field. The organization gathered a large group of powerful scientists to study various high-end technologies. However, because their research violated the bottom line of the World Government and was considered too dangerous by the World Government, the World Government arrested Vegapunk and incorporated their team.

Except for a few people who escaped successfully, the rest all joined the Navy Science Class, including the organization's leader Vegapunk and an important figure among them, Caesar Kulang. Since then, they have been conducting scientific research for the World Government in Punk Hazard.

"Great, we got the blood samples of all the Shichibukai."

Vegapunk rubbed his hands with satisfaction and looked at the blood samples in front of him.

This is important research material transported by the Navy through emergency channels.

During the initial research, the team led by Vegapunk discovered a power called "bloodline factor", which is a power that is enough to completely change the world.

However, the World Government arrested Vegapunk and his companions, claiming that such power was too dangerous.

After that, Vegapunk cooperated with the World Government's requirements and completed a number of scientific research tasks for them, including the upgrade of weapons, which greatly improved the quality of the Navy's armaments; including the transformation of warships, allowing them to travel freely in the doldrums.

Until now, the World Government has taken the initiative to request the lifting of the previous ban, allowing him to resume researching the power of the "bloodline factor" and use this power to create biological weapons that can replace the Seven Warlords of the Sea!

"Then let's start new research!"

···
"Damn Bega Punk!"

In another area of ​​Punk Hazard, a researcher in a white coat and goat horns shouted angrily.

Punk Hazard is large, and the island is divided into several areas suitable for different types of research.

However, all research activities on the entire island are handled by Vegapunk.

The research funds, venues, equipment, and even the most important experimental materials are all in Vegapunk's hands.

Even for a genius scientist like him, he had to get Vegapunk's permission before taking any action.

However, Vegapunk has always refused to approve his experimental requests, saying that his research is too dangerous and may cause unpredictable harm.

"That guy is obviously jealous of my talent!"

Thinking of his own research, Caesar Courant's face couldn't help but reveal a blush of excitement.

Yes, he is a true genius scientist!

"Boohoo!"

Thinking of this, Caesar Courant couldn't help but let out a happy laugh.

"Mr. Caesar!"

A researcher looked at Caesar strangely.

"Go, take out the weapon I researched earlier. I want to test its power!"

"What!?"

The researcher was horrified when he heard Caesar's request. As a researcher who had been here for many years, he knew too well what Caesar's research was about. If he were allowed to test his weapons, the entire island would probably be destroyed.

"Didn't you hear me?"

Caesar turned his head and looked at the researcher, a dangerous look in his eyes.

"But Dr. Vegapunk has requested that the weapons you are researching must not be tested."

"Um!?"

Caesar's expression changed, and the smoke on his body floated up and wrapped around the researcher's body.

As the user of the Nature-Type Gas Fruit, although he did not spend too much time training his abilities, his strength was not comparable to that of a mere scientific researcher.

"That bastard Vegapunk has shut down all contacts and communications and locked himself in the laboratory."

"In his absence, I am No. 1 here!"

"Hurry up and do it! Or do you want to try out the power of gas?"

Looking at the researchers who obeyed orders obediently, a hint of satisfaction flashed across Caesar Courant's face.

It would be great if that guy Vegapunk could lock himself in the laboratory forever!
In this way, I will always be No. 1 in this research base!
···
Punk Hazard, the sky above the island.

A cloud was floating in the air. Rhodes, Hawkeye, Violet, Nia, and Luo stood above the cloud, looking at the island below.

The island is covered with green plants and looks beautiful. Tall buildings are hidden among the green plants. Many researchers in white coats can be seen shuttling back and forth between the buildings.

"As expected!"

Rhodes held a permanent pointer in his hand.

This is the permanent pointer to Punk Hazard that Tesoro had spent quite some time to obtain from someone else.

At this time, the pointer was pointing straight at the island below.

It was exactly the same place where Rhodes felt the blood containing fragments of his soul was.

"This is the World Government's research institute, the legendary Navy Science Class."

Hawkeye looked at the building below and made his own judgment, causing Rhodes to look at him in surprise.

"Are the defenses here so lax?"

Luo looked at the island below. On the outskirts of the island, he could see some people patrolling diligently.

However, they were just some ordinary naval soldiers. Even the strongest one among them was only equivalent to a rear admiral.

“Maybe it’s because we are in a special period now.”

Rhodes looked down thoughtfully.

The quadrennial World Conference was officially held yesterday.

In recent years, the revolutionary army has been making more and more noise, and we can hear some big news about the revolutionary army almost every now and then.

With the convening of the World Conference, the whole world focused on Marijoa. The kings and important ministers of 50 countries all gathered in Marijoa. In order to prevent the Revolutionary Army from causing trouble, the World Government withdrew most of its forces and gathered them in Marijoa and Marinford. Even if there were any emergencies, they could respond immediately.

Even Admiral Kizaru, who used to stay in Punk Hazard most of the time, has recently gone to Marijoa.

However, this place is not far from Marijoa, and with the ability of Kizaru's [Pika-Pika Nomi], it won't take too long for him to get here from Marinford.

"What are you going to do?"

Hawkeye looked at Rhodes.

Rhodes looked at Luo.

The next moment, a force covered several people. Hawkeye hesitated and did not take any action. Instead, he let Luo use his ability to move several people directly from mid-air into a laboratory.

Swah——

A flash of light passed by, and several people appeared in Vegapunk's laboratory, which made Vegapunk, who was originally preparing to do a big job, a little stunned.

But he was only stunned for a moment, and Vegapunk recognized their identities.

"Baquan Rod, Hawkeye Mihawk!"

"Why did you suddenly appear in my laboratory?"

(End of this chapter)