Chapter 44: MR.4's Unexpected Report, Vegapunk's Laboratory?
One month later.
Grand Line, Cactus Island, Whiskey Peak.
Inside the **Baroque Works** branch hidden here, the atmosphere was a bit solemn.
"Simply put, that's how things are."
**Chen Long** stood in front of the crowd, speaking unhurriedly.
"You're saying that you are **MR.0**, and *I am one of your "0-boys"*, and that you let us assassinate you before just to test *my* strength and that of these guys?"
"And now, because you took out one of the **Seven Warlords of the Sea**, **Crocodile**, the **Alabasta Kingdom** is pursuing us, so we have to lie low for a while, right?"
In front of **Chen Long**, **MR.2**, who still had bandages wrapped around him, was stroking his chin with one hand.
Then.
"So that's how it is!"
He suddenly realized, hitting his fist down: "I knew it! How could someone as amazing as you remain an unknown? — And you clearly defeated us yet didn't kill us."
Tears streamed down his face; he looked quite emotional.
"First, although I am **MR.0**, I'm not a '0-boy' — I am '**Chen Long**'."
"Secondly, I'm not telling you to lie low; I'm just telling you to change your mode of operation. The old approach is now abolished."
"Lastly... step away from me, your snot is getting on me."
**Chen Long** silently pushed **MR.2** away.
Afterwards, he looked at the others present: "And you all—any questions?"
Naturally, it went without saying.
The others present were all **Baroque Works** assassins who had been previously defeated and captured by **Chen Long**.
Without exception, they had all been brought out of the **Alabasta Kingdom** by **Chen Long**.
"...You just said that our **Baroque Works** is now a subordinate organization of an organization called 'Twelve Zodiacs'?"
"And next, the company's business content will also be adjusted."
After a long silence, **MR.1** asked in a deep voice.
"Wrong."
**Chen Long** gestured dismissively: "To be precise, we have always been a subordinate organization of the 'Twelve Zodiacs' — as for the recent adjustments to our work, they are also carried out under higher-level directives. You don't need to ask more questions."
"**Robin** will arrange the specific details for you all... No problem, right?"
A big problem!
**MR.1** thought secretly.
Aside from simple-minded fellows like **MR.2**, even the most oblivious person could clearly tell something was wrong, right?
**Baroque Works** was a subordinate organization under the recently famous 'Twelve Zodiacs'?
They had never heard of such a thing before.
And what about this nonsense regarding the **Alabasta Kingdom** pursuing them? — They had clearly just been directly taken out of prison by **Chen Long** in front of the jailers.
What's more, not long ago, one night, he had personally seen **Alabasta Kingdom**'s guard captain, **Igaram**, quietly arrive on this island with a large sum of money.
Although there was no evidence and he didn't know where that treasure went, he could be certain that the person in front of him had taken it.
"Was the original **MR.0** taken out?"
In fact, the assassins present could more or less guess some things.
But...
"..."
Looking at **Robin**, who was standing right next to **Chen Long**, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning such matters.
**Robin** had already betrayed them; anyone could see the big picture was set.
Besides, changing bosses had no fundamental impact on them anyway—wasn't working for anyone still just work?
So...
"Oh my! So it really is an amazing Boss like you!"
**MR.3 Galdino** stretched his voice, speaking obsequiously: "Last time we fought, I already guessed it—where else in the entire sea could one find a second powerful individual with such incredible strength as you?"
His hands were still wrapped in bandages, but he still firmly raised his hand in a salute: "Please issue the mission; I am absolutely loyal to you... right, **Miss Goldenweek**!"
As he spoke, he also looked at his partner—a young girl standing beside him, who was also the only numbered assassin who hadn't participated in the encirclement of **Chen Long** earlier.
"Mhm."
**Miss Goldenweek** looked at **Chen Long** with some curiosity but didn't say anything.
"There isn't any mission, per se, just that I need you all to keep a low profile lately. Also, I'll arrange for each of you to be responsible for a sea area to collect intelligence for the organization."
**Chen Long** said calmly.
"Intelligence?"
"Yes—regarding special items, such as gold, **Devil Fruits**, and the like."
**Chen Long** said, then unfurled a sea chart, which marked the scope of sea areas **Baroque Works** could operate in.
It had to be said that **Crocodile**'s business was indeed quite extensive.
Throughout the first half of the **Grand Line**, there were more or less "Millions" and "Billions" under **Baroque Works**.
And with such a complete intelligence system, plus the fact that **MR.1** to **MR.5** truly possessed some strength, he naturally intended to make use of them.
"You can each choose the sea area you'll be responsible for... Hmm, **MR.4**, you go first."
**Chen Long** pointed at one person—mainly because this person's movements were the slowest and would take the most time.
So, **MR.4** and his dog Lassoo slowly shuffled forward.
But to **Chen Long**'s surprise, before **MR.4** could even speak, Lassoo barked "Woof woof" at a certain spot on the sea chart.
"Oh, is that your hometown?"
**MR.4** said slowly and hesitantly: "Then it's decided, Boss, we've chosen."
"...Huh?"
Hearing this, **Chen Long** let out a sound of confusion.
Afterwards, **Loy**'s face beneath the mask showed a hint of surprise.
Because at this moment, he suddenly realized a problem he had always overlooked.
That was **MR.4**'s gun named 'Lassoo'.
Just as mentioned before, its essence was a gun, but it had eaten the 'Dog Dog **Devil Fruit**' and transformed into its current appearance.
But the problem was—**Loy** had truly never thought about where this gun came from before.
"The technology to make weapons eat **Devil Fruits**... thinking about it carefully, isn't this an effect that only **Vegapunk**'s scientific methods could achieve?"
"How would **MR.4** have such a weapon?"
With this thought, **Chen Long** also looked at **MR.4** and asked directly: "Hometown? You're saying the place where you got this gun?"
"...Mhm."
**MR.4** slowly nodded.
Afterwards, he didn't hide anything and immediately began to recount the story of him and Lassoo.
And just as **Chen Long** had guessed.
Lassoo wasn't originally **MR.4**'s gun.
On the contrary, he had obtained this gun during an accidental sea peril before he even joined **Baroque Works**.
"I had just set sail then, working as a deckhand on a ship... I'm not too clear on the specific circumstances, I only know that a very big sea peril seemed to occur, causing our ship to sink."
He said sluggishly: "But my body was naturally stronger than others, so even though I drifted on the sea for a long time, I still miraculously survived."
"It wasn't until a few days later that I discovered a small island nearby. I managed to land there, and then found a huge research facility."
"That research facility had many strange robots inside; it was very dangerous. After they injured me, I fled into one of the rooms."
Speaking of this, he pointed to the sausage-like gun beside him.
"There, I met Lassoo."
"Afterwards, with its help, I managed to escape that island."
And as he spoke to this point, **Chen Long**'s heart had almost certainly confirmed his suspicions.
A research facility, robots, and a weapon that ate a **Devil Fruit**.
"Is that one of **Vegapunk**'s early research facilities? Like the one on Baldimore?"
Such a conjecture had already formed in **Chen Long**'s mind.
Naturally, he then became interested.
**Vegapunk**—this genius scientist was an extraordinary individual, and his research on **Devil Fruits** was unparalleled.
**Chen Long** was naturally very interested in the things **Vegapunk** had left behind.
"What else is in that research facility? And where is that island?"
So he asked directly.
"...I don't know, I didn't stay long in that research facility."
**MR.4** still said slowly and hesitantly.
"As for that island..."
Speaking of this, he and Lassoo exchanged glances, both showing some hesitation.
"You might not believe it, but after joining the company, Lassoo and I went back to look for it, but we couldn't find that island at its original location anymore."
"Couldn't find it?"
**Chen Long**'s words paused.
"Mhm, Lassoo and I are sure the coordinates weren't wrong, but there was no trace of any island nearby."
**MR.4** said, pointing at the sea chart.
**Chen Long**'s gaze followed, and he saw that the area **MR.4** was pointing to was actually an empty expanse of sea on the map.
And nearby that sea area was...
"Water 7?"
After seeing the city near those coordinates, **Loy**'s eyes narrowed slightly beneath the mask.
"This really is... quite a coincidence."
He murmured softly in his heart.
No mistake—this was indeed quite a coincidence.
Because he knew very well.
The **Devil Fruit** he urgently needed, the one that would allow him and his clones to meet freely, was also precisely in **Water 7**.
(end of chapter)
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