Vegapunk's sudden broadcast spread across the battlefield, reaching every corner of Egghead Island. However, instead of calming the conflict, his words only stirred anger among those fighting.
Both the Gorosei and the Three Emperors Alliance were clearly displeased, but the ones most furious were the Gorosei themselves. To them, Vegapunk's words sounded like a blatant overstep.
What right did Vegapunk have to speak to them like that?
Kaido could not see where the transponder snail was located, but Vegapunk's voice echoed from every direction. That meant numerous hidden transponder snails had been placed across the island.
Kaido raised his head and roared loudly.
"You are Vegapunk? What the hell do you think you are?"
His voice thundered across the battlefield.
"How this war ends is not up to you. You are just a scientist. You have no right to make decisions for us."
Inside the laboratory, Vegapunk froze for a moment after hearing Kaido's blunt words. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
"I..."
For a moment, he did not know how to respond.
Big Mom also reacted angrily.
"That's right!"
She glared toward the direction of the laboratory while shouting.
"This war will not stop just because you say so. Since it has already begun, we must wipe out every Marine here."
Her tone became even colder.
"You are just a scientist, and now you think you can command us?"
Big Mom crossed her arms and snorted.
"This old lady only came here to support you out of respect for Marco. Do not overestimate yourself."
After speaking, she turned toward Marco with clear dissatisfaction.
"Marco, this guy is your subordinate, right? How exactly do you discipline him?"
Marco glanced toward the battlefield without much concern.
Instead of arguing, he replied calmly.
"If you have time to complain, you might as well defeat a few more enemies."
Big Mom clicked her tongue unhappily.
"Hmph."
Then she looked down at her severed arm. In her left hand, she tightly held the soul she had just taken from the Marines.
Her expression suddenly became fierce.
"Alright, be reborn. My arm."
As the soul energy flowed into her body, something remarkable happened. The missing arm that had been severed earlier began to regenerate rapidly.
The flesh and bones reformed at a visible speed.
Moments later, Big Mom clenched her newly restored right hand.
A cruel grin slowly spread across her face.
"Mamamama! My arm has finally recovered!"
However, the joy on her face soon faded.
Her cold gaze shifted toward Saint Peter, who was still confronting Marco in the distance.
Her eyes were filled with killing intent, though deep within that murderous look there was also a trace of caution.
"Before I kill you," she muttered with a sinister smile, "I'll collect some interest from the Marines first."
Without hesitation, Big Mom turned and charged back into the Marine forces.
She had already made her decision.
It would be better to wait until Marco defeated Saint Peter first. After that, she could take the Gorosei's lifespan herself.
Inside the laboratory, Vegapunk noticed that neither side was willing to accept his proposal.
Even so, he continued speaking through the transponder snail.
"But stopping now would benefit everyone."
He spoke urgently.
"Saint Saturn, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, Saint Peter. I have already joined the Phoenix Pirates and I am now under the protection of the Three Emperors Alliance."
Vegapunk adjusted his glasses while continuing.
"You cannot kill me anymore. Since that is the case, it would be better for everyone to stop fighting."
Those words instantly angered the Gorosei.
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro's furious voice echoed through the battlefield.
"Vegapunk!"
His tone was filled with rage.
"As the greatest scientist of the World Government, you betrayed us by secretly researching the forbidden Poneglyphs. That crime alone is enough to condemn you to death."
Vegapunk immediately responded.
"I only wished to understand history. I never publicly revealed anything."
He then pointed toward the monitors that displayed the battlefield.
"Look at the Marines outside. They have already been defeated. Continuing this battle will only increase casualties."
His voice grew more desperate.
"Stop this meaningless slaughter."
But Kaido had no patience left.
He roared angrily toward the laboratory.
"Hey, Vegapunk, shut up!"
His enormous dragon form loomed over the battlefield.
"I do not care if you are the world's greatest scientist. This war is between pirates, the Marines, and the World Government."
His eyes flashed with irritation.
"You are just a scientist. Do not interfere."
Vegapunk fell silent.
For a moment, the battlefield grew strangely quiet.
Then Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro spoke again.
"If you want us to spare you," he said coldly, "hand over the Mother Flame reactor and the authority to control the Seraphim."
His voice carried absolute authority.
"If you do that, it may offset the crime of researching the Poneglyphs. In that case, we will withdraw."
Vegapunk's eyes widened.
"Really?"
For a brief moment, hope appeared on his face.
But Stussy, who stood beside him in the laboratory, immediately shouted.
"Doctor, do not believe them!"
Her voice was firm and urgent.
Marco also heard the conversation and immediately frowned.
"Hey, Vegapunk."
His tone turned serious.
"Do not make decisions on your own."
Marco continued calmly.
"You are already a pirate. The World Government will never keep a promise with pirates."
His gaze swept across the battlefield.
"We are about to win this war. So stop talking and do not damage our morale."
Then he added coldly.
"Stussy, make Vegapunk stop talking."
Inside the laboratory, Stussy nodded immediately.
"Doctor, Marco is right."
She looked directly at Vegapunk.
"The World Government will never let us go. We are already pirates now."
Her voice softened slightly.
"Lord Marco has already defeated two Gorosei. Victory is close."
Vegapunk stood there silently for several seconds.
He understood something clearly.
He could not convince the Gorosei.
And he could not convince Marco or the others either.
In the end, he sighed helplessly and hung up the transponder snail.
The island wide broadcast finally ended.
On the battlefield, Kaido looked toward Marco with curiosity.
"Hey, Marco."
"What exactly are the furnace and the Seraphim they mentioned?"
Big Mom also glanced over with interest.
Marco did not hide the information.
"The Mother Flame is a super energy source," he explained calmly.
"It can free the world from energy shortages. It can also be used as fuel to activate the ancient weapon Pluton."
Hearing this, Kaido's eyes narrowed.
Marco continued.
"The Seraphim are artificial human weapons created using the bloodline of the Lunarian race and the genetic factors of the former Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"They possess incredible durability."
"Each Seraphim has strength comparable to King of the Beasts Pirates."
"They can also learn during battle and grow stronger."
Marco paused briefly before finishing his explanation.
"Once they fully mature, they might reach power close to the level of the Four Emperors."
Silence fell across the battlefield.
Then shock erupted.
"What?!"
Kaido and Big Mom both stared at Marco in disbelief.
Greed slowly appeared in their eyes.
Kaido began laughing loudly.
"Worororo! Truly worthy of being the world's greatest scientist!"
He licked his lips slightly.
"A fuel that can power the ancient weapon Pluton, and human weapons this powerful."
Originally, Kaido had been disappointed that he could not operate Pluton after obtaining it.
But now, things were different.
With Vegapunk present, he suddenly saw the possibility of controlling that ancient weapon.
If the Mother Flame could power Pluton, then Pluton itself could finally be activated.
That thought alone filled Kaido with excitement.
Big Mom, however, was far more interested in something else.
The Seraphim.
The Lunarian bloodline was one of the rare races missing from her Totto Land.
If she could obtain a Seraphim, it would perfectly fill that gap.
A strange thought even crossed her mind.
If those artificial humans could reproduce, she might even obtain a Lunarian child.
By now, both Kaido and Big Mom had come to the same conclusion.
After this war ended, they absolutely had to take Vegapunk for themselves.