"What are you talking about?"
Vegapunk eyes were filled with confusion.
The newspaper introduction of Kaido Meow couldn't be very detailed, so they only mentioned that he shared the same name as Kaido and had eaten an Artificial Devil Fruit that Vegapunk had cloned from Kaido.
Therefore, Vegapunk, like most people, had no idea that aside from those two points, Kaido Meow weapons and fighting style were almost identical to Kaido as well.
However, the CP agents who had planted spies within both the Beasts Pirates and Fullalead Island couldn't possibly be unaware of this.
Consequently, the World Government had formed the same suspicion as Red-Haired Shanks—that Kaido Meow was a duplicate created or modified using Vegapunk technology.
As for why he was a feline...
It was probably due to Sherwin personal preferences?
The main reason that convinced the CP agents and even the high-ranking officials of the World Government of this theory was that the other felines calling themselves "Felynes" were only about a meter tall, like children, with the tallest being no more than 1.3 or 1.4 meters. Only Kaido Meow reached a height of over three meters.
This was highly consistent with Kaido stature, which was much larger than most humans, even maintaining a similar 1:3 scale.
So, when the CP0 agents came to hold him accountable and laid the "evidence" before Vegapunk, even he began to doubt himself, wondering if he had conveniently left behind a method for cloning Kaido while he was busy cloning the Azure Dragon Fruit.
Furthermore, Vegapunk truly did possess cloning technology... well, it was essentially the same cloning technology held by Germa.
"Perhaps they found research data on cloning technology at Punk Hazard," Vegapunk replied after a moment of thought.
"Caesar detonation of the poison gas bomb was too sudden, and many documents weren't destroyed in time. It not impossible."
Unaware that Sherwin and his group also had dealings with Germa, Vegapunk could only offer this conclusion.
However, after providing his guess, a look of doubt reappeared on Vegapunk face.
"But I can't figure out how he made that Felyne learn Kaido combat techniques. After all, cloning technology can only replicate the same physical fitness it cannot grant the subject the life experiences or combat expertise of the original."
This was actually a problem that Vegapunk had always wanted to solve. He could create clones with high physical strength, but things like combat experience could not be replicated.
The methods he had currently devised involved installing laser beams and implanting relevant combat data chips.
Of course, there was another method: just like Vegapunk six satellites, they could directly share a single brain. However, the prerequisite for this was that the original prototype had to cooperate and contribute their own brain...
Even if all these conditions were met, Vegapunk still did not believe that a clone could perfectly inherit everything from the original, because the world still possessed a power like Haki that he had yet to fully understand.
However, according to CP0, Kaido Meow was not only equal to Kaido in combat skills, but also mastered all three types of Haki, including Conqueror Haki...
This wasn't scientific at all!
Vegapunk, who already had a strong interest in the Felynes around Sherwin, became even more eager to meet with Sherwin and the others.
"That damn Caesar!"
Although Vegapunk was suspected of shifting the blame, this CP0 agent was also well aware of what had happened at Punk Hazard back then. So, after swearing fiercely, he did not continue to dwell on the matter.
After all, he had already obtained the answer he wanted.
Thus, he immediately demanded that Vegapunk clone Kaido, or replicate Kaido constitution into CP agents and Marines. Naturally, the replicas of the Azure Dragon Fruit were also indispensable.
"It can't be done."
Vegapunk spread his hands. "The Lineage Factor extracted from the blood samples of Kaido you left me has been completely used up on that Artificial Devil Fruit.
Therefore, whether you want me to create a clone of Kaido now or cultivate another artificial Azure Dragon Fruit, you will first have to deliver Kaido to me, or provide me with more of his blood or body tissue."
The face beneath the CP0 mask darkened instantly... Setting aside whether they could even capture Kaido now, even if they actually caught him, they wouldn't dare send such a dangerous individual to Egghead Island.
After all, Kaido had already escaped from their custody over a dozen times even Sea-Prism Stone and seawater specifically meant for Devil Fruit users couldn't hold him.
Consequently, the World Government truly lacked the confidence to keep Kaido imprisoned.
As for collecting blood from Kaido body...
Leaving aside whether the personnel sent by the CP organization could even pierce Kaido defense, even if they truly found an opportunity to collect his blood, Kaido—having once been held at Punk Hazard—would never just stand by and watch them leave with his blood.
Furthermore...
"If you really do manage to collect Kaido blood or body tissue, remember to freeze and preserve it immediately. Otherwise, once it loses its vitality, a complete Lineage Factor cannot be extracted."
Vegapunk seemed to think their task wasn't difficult enough and added another condition.
This condition successfully caused the CP0 agent to completely give up on the idea of cloning Kaido.
He then settled for the next best thing, requesting that Vegapunk clone the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"Actually, I was just about to discuss that with you..."
Vegapunk briefly explained the research on Green Blood and the Seraphim project to CP0.
Although in the original story the Seraphim were created to replace the abolished Seven Warlords, the technology regarding the Seraphim and Green Blood clearly couldn't have been developed by Vegapunk in just a few short years.
He had long since accumulated the relevant technology it was only because the World Government needed a replacement for the Warlords that he designed the Seraphim based on their composition.
Of course, this was also because the Warlords were the best "materials" the World Government could provide, and since the Navy Admirals were all Logia types, Vegapunk could not replicate their fruit powers.
The only difference from the original story was that due to the absence of Kuma, a member of the Buccaneer race, Vegapunk skipped the "Pacifista" transition product entirely.
Upon learning that Vegapunk already had a relevant plan in place, the CP0 agent, now able to report back to his superiors, stopped making things difficult for him...
Although he couldn't really do anything to Vegapunk anyway.
Once that CP0 member left Egghead, Vegapunk, who had originally intended to use these two research projects as a mere excuse to stall the World Government, quickly threw himself into the research regarding Green Blood and the Seraphim.
The reason he became so proactive was, of course, not because of the World Government orders, but because after learning about Kaido Meow situation, he felt a sense of competitiveness toward Purah Meow, whom he believed had modified Kaido Meow.
Additionally, that massive head, which had already been cut off and turned into "Punk Records," was bubbling with countless inspirations, sending Vegapunk into the research frenzy characteristic of all geniuses—or rather, mad scientists.
And while Vegapunk was fully immersed in the development and manufacturing of the Seraphim, Sherwin, who had already stayed on that small island near Wano for several days and had long since finished uncovering the map and experiencing the island local customs, finally saw the arrival of the Whitebeard Pirate fleet...