Leno glanced at the pouting "little" figure over there.
"Just say she was captured by me, Leno."
"Yes, Master!"
The other Seraphim responded in unison.
They would absolutely obey all of Leno's commands!
As for why they were doing this—
They didn't care at all.
If Master didn't explain, it meant it wasn't something they were meant to know.
However, before leaving, they couldn't help but feel a bit envious of S-Snake.
After awakening, the most important thing in their hearts was Leno.
Being able to stay by their master's side—
Was something they could only dream of.
They could only resent that Vegapunk hadn't made them female.
Especially S-Crocodile—the Seraphim modeled after Crocodile.
Thoughts aside—
They could not disobey their master's orders.
Rising to their feet, they left the laboratory in an orderly manner, heading toward Marine Headquarters as instructed.
"Alright, stop fooling around." Leno lightly patted S-Snake's little head.
Then he turned to the women.
"Besides the Seraphim, let's go take a look at the other unexpected gain from this trip."
"Unexpected gain? There's more?"
"Captain, what else did you find?"
The women were all curious.
On the way in, they had been focused on fighting and staying alert—
They hadn't had time to carefully observe the rest of the base.
Leno didn't answer.
He simply led the way.
Under his guidance, they passed through several corridors—
And arrived at another, more concealed laboratory.
When they saw the figure inside the central cultivation pod—
Everyone showed expressions of shock.
"This is… Garp?!" Domino exclaimed.
"The Marine Hero… a clone?" Robin frowned slightly.
They hadn't expected that Vegapunk had even cloned Garp!
If Kujaku and Hibari had been here—
They would have been even more shocked than anyone else.
Leno looked at the figure inside the pod—
A face identical to Garp's, yet far younger and less aged—
And let out a cold smile.
Of course, he knew why.
Not only because he understood the effects of his own Devil Fruit ability—
But also because, during his earlier "under-the-table deal" with Vegapunk—
He had revealed some information.
"Vegapunk told me earlier… the reason for cloning Garp…" Leno explained.
"I see!"
"So it's to save Vice Admiral Garp…"
The women suddenly understood, though they were also deeply shocked.
You could do something like this?
Did this clone have no rights at all?
More accurately—
Did it have no will of its own?
They didn't understand, but they were thoroughly shaken.
"Leno, what do you plan to do with this… clone?" Hancock asked.
The others also looked at him curiously.
Destroy it—
And cut off the Navy's hope of reviving their hero?
Or something else?
A cold, mischievous smile appeared on Leno's lips.
"What to do?"
"Of course… I'll give my 'beloved' teacher a gift."
His gaze swept over the body in the pod.
"I'll let him… properly appreciate this new body that was meant to be his."
The women looked at Leno's familiar "scheming" smile.
They immediately knew—
He had come up with another nasty idea.
They didn't know the details—
But it would definitely make the Navy and Garp miserable.
Silently, they offered a moment of sympathy for Garp.
…
Meanwhile—
On a remote, desolate island far from Moden Island.
A flash of golden light—
Kizaru, after fleeing for a long time, landed on the beach with Sentomaru.
"Phew…" Kizaru exhaled, returning to his normal form.
A lingering trace of fear remained on his face.
Sentomaru was also shaken, collapsing onto the ground and gasping for air.
Both of their expressions gradually recovered from earlier terror.
It wasn't that they were cowards—
But thinking back to Leno's final move, "Return All Things to Void"—
Sent chills down their spines.
"That was terrifying… Uncle Kizaru…" Sentomaru said miserably.
"That K-Kaido… was a clone of that monster Kaido! And yet… it just disappeared! Not even ashes left!"
That death was way too clean.
He had thought it could defeat Leno—
Or at least drive him away.
Drive him away, sure—
But the roles were reversed.
Leno had taken over and driven them out instead.
Kizaru spoke with unprecedented seriousness, completely lacking his usual laid-back tone.
"We know how powerful Vegapunk's creations are."
"That K-Kaido clone—while not equal to the real Kaido—still had at least seventy percent of his combat power…"
"And yet, in front of that move… it had no resistance at all…"
Even if he had been slacking—
It shouldn't have been killed in one move.
He paused, a trace of lingering fear on his face.
"I don't even want to imagine… what would happen if that attack hit us."
Sentomaru lowered his head in frustration.
He completely agreed.
Before, he had thought Leno was exaggerated.
Now—
It was clear Leno had been underestimated.
And he himself had been blind.
"So what do we do now…? Garp's clone body is still in that base… it's all over…"
Kizaru sighed helplessly and spread his hands.
"There's nothing we can do."
"Who told Leno—that monster—to grow this fast… this ridiculously fast… Even I'm in a tough spot."
He felt like his head was about to split in two.
The mission had completely failed.
Vegapunk's research base was exposed and captured by Leno.
Even the key to Garp's revival—the clone body—
Had fallen into enemy hands.
The bonus was definitely gone…
He might even get his pay docked and be scolded to hell by Fleet Admiral Sengoku…
"Life is too hard…" Kizaru lamented internally.
As for why he didn't immediately report back to headquarters via Den Den Mushi?
He simply didn't want to hear Sengoku's roaring just yet.
If he could delay it, he would.
And he didn't want to be ordered back immediately either.
"Let's go," Kizaru sighed.
"Back to Marine Headquarters."
"This can't be hidden."
Sentomaru hesitated.
He actually knew more than Kizaru.
Aside from Garp's clone—
The Seraphim were also extremely important…
If those had been destroyed too…
He sucked in a cold breath.
…
After resting for a while on the island and recovering some strength—
The two set off again toward Marine Headquarters.
They didn't know—
That behind them, the Seraphim sent out by Leno—
Were also heading toward the same destination.
Carrying out their master's first command.
Meanwhile—
On board the Fallen One.
Leno's gaze fell upon Stussy.
Even without killing intent—
That calm gaze still brought an invisible pressure.
It swept across her body—
Making her tremble uncontrollably.
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