Bab 48: Chapter 48: Loguetown - The So-Called Experiments
At the Loguetown Marine Base, Smoker had his men lock up the group of mysterious attackers who had attempted to wreak havoc in the town. After stripping them of their armor, they were shocked to discover that, despite varying in height and build, all of them had identical faces.
"What the hell is this?" Smoker exclaimed in disbelief. "Why do they all look exactly the same?"
Aokiji, rubbing his chin in thought, mused, "Clones, perhaps... This reminds me of a certain organization from the North Blue."
"The North Blue?" Smoker glanced at Aokiji, surprised. "But we're in the East Blue. What would people from the North Blue be doing here?"
Aokiji shook his head. "I'm not sure. But these are just pawns, controlled by someone else. The mastermind is definitely still in Loguetown."
"Damn it!" Smoker cursed, furrowing his brow. "They dare to cause trouble in Loguetown? I don't care if I have to tear the town apart, I'll find the one pulling the strings!"
Meanwhile, at the port, Takumi was in high spirits as he walked back.
He hadn't expected that simply seeing off Rayleigh would trigger a progress task, nor that he would earn a favor from Rayleigh for free. It seemed today was his lucky day.
Though it was still puzzling why he'd gained Smoker's favor.
Who knows, maybe he could complete the final 10% of progress today.
As Takumi walked through the triangular gate at the port and entered the main street, he noticed a tall man with golden curly hair and a golden mask covering the upper half of his face, holding an umbrella. The man was accompanied by four children, each with differently colored hair—red, blue, green, and pink—heading toward the port.
Isn't that the Vinsmoke family of Germa 66?
What are they doing in Loguetown?
Takumi stared at them curiously.
Germa 66 is a powerful military force from the North Blue, a scientific combat unit led by the Vinsmoke family, representing the Germa 66 Kingdom.
The man leading the group of four children was none other than Vinsmoke Judge, the head of the Vinsmoke family. The four differently colored-haired children following him were all his children, born through genetic modifications.
The girl with pink hair was Vinsmoke Reiju.
The boy with red hair was Vinsmoke Ichiji.
The boy with blue hair was Vinsmoke Niji.
And the boy with green hair was Vinsmoke Yonji.
These four children, in addition to being genetically modified humans, shared another identity—they were the siblings of Sanji.
Yes, Sanji was also a child of the Vinsmoke family.
However, due to a failed genetic modification, Sanji couldn't keep up with the rigorous training of his siblings and was often beaten by them. As a result, their father, Vinsmoke Judge, locked him away.
Later, when Germa 66 came to the East Blue to subjugate a country, Sanji managed to escape with the help of his sister, Reiju. But when his father discovered him, he banished Sanji.
That's how Sanji eventually met Zeff and, after nearly starving to death, helped open the Baratie, the sea restaurant.
But Germa 66 should have come to the East Blue years ago. Their appearance in Loguetown now—was it a coincidence, or was there a plan?
Takumi didn't dwell on it for long.
Judge and the four children walked past him.
"Such failures," Yonji sneered.
Ichiji added, "Haha, they actually got caught by the Marines. Well, this will test the loyalty of those experiments."
"These experiments have a detonator connected to their hearts. If they all explode, the Marine base will be destroyed. No, more like half the town will be blown away! Hahaha, these people are unlucky to have become the testing grounds for Germa's experiments," Niji said, laughing.
Reiju smiled but said nothing as she walked alongside them.
Judge chuckled, "Those experiments are programmed to self-detonate once captured. Even if a few Marines survive, without evidence linking it to us, they won't be able to touch Germa 66. Hahaha."
The group continued to walk arrogantly ahead.
Ichiji suddenly noticed Takumi looking their way and scoffed, "What are you staring at?"
"Father, it seems this kid overheard our conversation. Should we take care of him?" Niji asked with a smirk.
Judge glanced at Takumi dismissively. "What harm can a kid do? Let's go."
Judge led Reiju and the others out of Loguetown without a second thought.
Takumi, unfazed, continued on his way.
Now he understood what was behind the group of identical-looking attackers that had appeared in the central plaza earlier.
But even if Judge was right and those experiments self-destructed after waking up, with Aokiji and Smoker around, the damage should be contained.
Just as Takumi finished his thoughts, suddenly, a loud explosion came from the direction of the Marine base.
But there was only one explosion, and it quickly stopped.
If what Judge said was true, and all the experiments had detonated, half of Loguetown should have been reduced to rubble.
But from where Takumi stood, everything seemed intact.
It was clear that Aokiji and Smoker had managed to contain the remaining explosions.
At the Marine base, when the first clone woke up, it bit down on the detonator in its mouth, self-destructing.
As the rest of the clones began to explode simultaneously, Aokiji immediately activated his Ice Age ability, encasing the entire Marine base in a protective layer of ice, containing the chain reaction of explosions.
"Damn it!" Smoker cursed, looking at the Marine base, now a wreck from the explosion. "They self-destructed!"
Aokiji released the surrounding ice, revealing the debris and remains, sighing. "Now there's no evidence to trace these clones back to their origin."
"Damn it!" Smoker looked around at the wounded Marines and ordered, "Aokiji, we need to help the injured."
Takumi, walking through town, could more or less guess what had happened at the Marine base.
Either way, it didn't concern him.
Not thinking too much about it, Takumi turned down a familiar alley leading to the tavern.
As he rounded a corner, Bartolomeo appeared.
"Takumi, there's trouble! Remember that cursed sword that controlled me to attack you? After you knocked it out of my hands the other day, I left it. But now someone else has picked it up, and they're going around attacking people with it," Bartolomeo said urgently. "I tried to stop him, but I couldn't."
"Oh," Takumi responded indifferently, continuing to walk.
Bartolomeo blinked in surprise, then quickly caught up, walking backward to face Takumi as he pleaded, "A lot of people have been hurt! You're the only one who can stop him. Please, come with me!"
This guy...
Takumi glanced at him, exasperated.
Bartolomeo was usually someone who enjoyed causing chaos. When did he become so concerned?
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