Mary Geoise, the conference chamber of the Five Elders.
A projection Den Den Mushi was broadcasting a live feed from Egghead.
At the same time, York's voice came through another Den Den Mushi beside it.
"See that? Vegapunk's heading somewhere else now—with that person."
The Five Elders frowned as they stared at the blurry figure on the screen.
Although York had activated the projection Den Den Mushi as soon as possible, she was still a little late.
However… the voice had reached them in real time.
"They just mentioned the 'Mother Flame'? What exactly is that?" asked Jaygarcia Saturn, his brows furrowed. "If you won't tell us what we can gain from you… then why should we cooperate with you?"
"Tch, you old geezers are as sly as ever!" York's voice was low, but with the amplification of the Den Den Mushi on the Five Elders' side, it came through loud and clear.
"Fine, fine, I'll give it to you straight. You remember sending a Lunarian to Vegapunk for research, don't you?"
"Lunarian?"
Just hearing that name made all five of them sit up straight.
They knew all too well—out in the world, anyone who provided even a scrap of information about a Lunarian could earn a 100 million Belly reward.
And that bounty had been active on the seas for over a hundred years.
Because of their extraordinary trait… the eternal flame on their backs.
"What are you trying to say?"
"You won't act without seeing first, huh… Fine. Vegapunk conducted a series of experiments on that Lunarian man and discovered that the flame on his back could actually be used as an energy source." York's speech quickened slightly. "After a detailed analysis of its properties, he managed to reproduce it through Egghead's fusion reactor—creating what's now called the Mother Flame. It's an energy source that could provide free, shared power to the entire world."
Energy.
Derived from the Lunarians' flame… an energy that could power the whole world!?
The Five Elders exchanged glances.
Others might not understand, but they, as the Five Elders—Imu-sama's five most loyal hounds—knew exactly what that meant.
It meant that if they could obtain the Mother Flame and the fusion reactor that created it…
They could once again control the world's most powerful weapon—
Uranus.
The Lunarians had dwindled and nearly vanished from the seas precisely because of the flame on their backs…
It was the very key needed to activate and power Uranus.
In other words—
The Lunarian race were living, moving ammunition for Uranus.
That was why they were worth so much.
And now York was telling them—
They no longer needed to waste immense effort searching for them. With Vegapunk's energy fusion reactor, it could be replicated!
"What do you want? As long as you hand the Mother Flame over to us, we can grant you any wish." Saturn's brows knitted, his tone calm yet serious. "You heard me right—anything."
"My, my, how fast you change your tune! But I figured as much—you've been drooling for this thing, chasing Lunarians across the seas like madmen…"
York's voice sounded lazy, yet carried a hint of smugness.
She might have to bear the cravings, indulgences, and whims of her five other clones—but she was still Vegapunk.
Selfish and greedy, yes—but still Vegapunk.
And she was brilliant.
"Name your terms."
"Make me a Celestial Dragon," York said after a short pause, without hesitation. "And erase all my other bodies—including Vegapunk himself. I want to be the only Vegapunk."
"The first condition is acceptable. Once we verify the Mother Flame's functionality, you shall become a Celestial Dragon—one of the most noble among them." After exchanging glances, Saturn nodded and continued, "But your second request—to become the only Vegapunk—that we cannot accept. Vegapunk is too valuable. We must keep all of them in Mary Geoise."
"Oh? Is that so?" York's tone sank lower. "You should know, the current Mother Flame is a single-use energy source. And since the research stalled, Vegapunk started studying ancient civilizations' power systems to supplement his work. Which means… he's been researching the Poneglyphs and the Void Century."
Her words echoed sharply in the Five Elders' ears.
They hesitated.
The Void Century—an absolute taboo for the Celestial Dragons and the World Government.
And someone as intelligent as Vegapunk… could easily uncover the truth.
"By the way," York continued casually, "the man who visited Vegapunk today—he seems to have caused some sort of change in the Lunarian flame. If I'm not mistaken, the fire on his body can also serve as an energy source. Vegapunk took him to study the Mother Flame likely because he saw it as a major breakthrough."
"…Deal!"
That final line tipped the scales completely.
York had struck every nerve perfectly.
Each condition hit the Five Elders' greatest fears.
Especially the last one—
Another possible equivalent to the Lunarians' energy…
In other words, a third potential power source to drive Uranus.
"York, do you know who that man is?" Saturn asked one last, crucial question. "This is extremely important."
"No idea~ Vegapunk's clever, but not omniscient. Anyway, I have to hang up now. If I stay on too long, they'll start to suspect something."
"Very well. Stall Vegapunk and the visitor as long as you can. We'll send someone to Egghead immediately—to take full control."
The line disconnected.
The Five Elders let out a long breath.
"This must be reported to Imu-sama."
"Send people right away… Imu-sama will surely want the Mother Flame and that peculiar man as soon as possible."
"Who should we send? The Navy?"
"No. The Navy won't do this kind of job… Contact Shiki the Golden Lion." Nasjuro made the final call. "He owes us a debt—it's time he repaid it."
...
"Hmph. Do they really think I'm that stupid?" York sneered coldly as she hung up the Den Den Mushi. "If they knew that so-called man was Michael, they'd be scared out of their wits."
"York? What did you just say?" Atlas blinked her big, curious eyes. "I didn't catch that."
"Oh, nothing~ I was just talking in my sleep."
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