"Shurororororo~"
"Did you two see that?!"
Caesar excitedly watched the live feed on the screen, saying, "This outstanding public experiment!"
"The Straw Hat Crew, Law, and the Marines from the G-5 Branch—none of them can escape!"
"Shurororororo~"
With this public experiment, everyone in the underworld would understand his capabilities!
In this way... his name would spread throughout the entire underworld!
Shurororororo~
However, Caesar's laughter soon faded as he realized there wasn't a single person outside who had been taken down by the poison gas.
"Huh?"
"Huh?!!"
"Why aren't there any G-5 Branch Marines at the main entrance?" Caesar stared at the screen, puzzled. "Where did they go?"
Why weren't those guys frozen stiff at the entrance?
This wouldn't count as a perfect public experiment!
"Not just the G-5 Branch Marines," Monet frowned and said. "We can't see the Straw Hat Crew or Law now either."
After speaking, Monet paused for a moment before turning to Vergo. "Vergo, what do you think?"
"It goes without saying," Vergo replied calmly. "Clearly, they've already escaped from the cage."
"What?"
Caesar was taken aback, then looked at Vergo with disbelief. "Why would you say that?"
The Straw Hat Crew and Law were all bound with Seastone Chains!
How could they possibly escape under such circumstances?
"Because of those Marines!"
Vergo explained, "The G-5 Branch under my command is full of violent idiots!"
"With their abilities, they definitely couldn't have escaped the poison gas on their own."
"So..."
"So?"
"So, it must have been them who guided the G-5 Branch group to escape," Vergo said.
After hearing Vergo's explanation, Monet and Caesar understood what he meant.
"But how did they escape?" Monet frowned. "Don't forget, those guys were all bound with Seastone Chains."
The most likely person to use an ability to help them escape would be Law, but that guy was bound with Seastone Chains too!
"Were all of them Ability Users?" Vergo said flatly.
With those words, Monet fell silent.
Right, were all of them Ability Users?
Thinking carefully, that Black Leg Sanji didn't seem to be an Ability User.
"So, you're saying this group relied on a non-Ability User to escape?" Caesar said, dumbfounded.
"That's a possibility," Vergo nodded, then continued, "Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that the Seastone Chains we used were faulty."
"You mean..."
Monet seemed to have thought of something, her pupils shrinking to the extreme.
"Yes."
Vergo said, "After all, Law has been here for a while, so it's possible he swapped out the Seastone Chains."
"That bastard Law..."
Caesar's expression darkened. The feeling of being outsmarted was truly terrible.
Now, he wished he could immediately kill that bastard Law!
At that moment, a man pushed open the door and rushed in, saying, "It's bad, Master!"
"What is it?"
"The pirate Straw Hat Boy has invaded the main hall of Research Building A with all the enemies!" the man said anxiously.
"They are now advancing toward the interior!"
"What did you say?"
Caesar looked at his subordinate in disbelief and said, "They've already gotten inside?"
"No, how did they open that steel door?"
That door was made of a special superalloy, one that even cannons couldn't blast open!
And yet, the Straw Hat Crew opened it?
"Perhaps it was Law," Monet said. "If he wasn't restrained by Sea Stone, he could use his ability to enter the interior."
With Law's ability, they could easily get inside the research facility.
That was likely also how they managed to open the door.
"Law..."
Caesar's expression darkened, his mood clearly at its worst.
This was a major experimental failure!
"Regardless, we cannot let Law leave this place," Vergo said calmly. "He must die."
That guy's goal from the start was the Young Master, so... he must be killed!
"Of course he must die!"
Caesar said coldly, "This guy ruined my experiment. I must kill him!"
Because of this bastard, he lost all face in the underworld!
So... Law must die!
After a cold snort, Caesar turned to the soldier and said, "Hey, what are my soldiers doing now?"
"Team One is currently engaging in battle in Building A, while the main force is gathering at the base deep in Building B, preparing to confront the enemy."
Upon hearing this, Caesar nodded, then turned to look at the live feed, his brow gradually furrowing.
"What do you think their purpose is for coming in?" Caesar said.
"It goes without saying," Monet replied. "Of course, it's to avoid the poison gas."
"It could also be to escape from inside the research facility," Vergo added.
Hearing this, Caesar's eyes immediately lit up.
Yes, that guy Law has been here for a long time. He must know about the secret passage that exists in the research facility!
So... this group is most likely trying to escape through R-66!
Once he realized this, a smile returned to Caesar's face.
Now that he knew their goal, it would be easy to handle.
"They are most likely trying to leave the research facility through Gate R-66," Caesar said with a grin. "Hmph, what a beautiful thought. I won't let you succeed!"
Then, Caesar waved his hand grandly and said, "Immediately close the passage between Building A and Building B, completely isolating Building A!"
"After that, use the cannons outside to destroy the outer walls of Building A and let the Death Realm in!"
"That way, they're doomed!"
"Shurorororo~"
At that moment, Caesar seemed to see those guys wailing in agony.
"Release the poison gas?"
The soldier was stunned for a moment, then looked at Caesar with shock and said, "But Master, if we do that, our Team One in Building A will also be wiped out!"
He had seen how terrifying that poison gas was. His comrades definitely wouldn't survive it!
"Stop wasting time and get to it!" Caesar roared, baring his shark mouth. "That's an order!"
"And don't forget to set up the Visual Den Den Mushi! I need to restart the public broadcast!"
The earlier footage hadn't fully showcased the power of the "Death Realm," so... he would use the people inside Building A to demonstrate the might of his weapon!
"But, Master..."
"Get moving now!" Caesar snapped angrily. "Don't make me say it a third time!"
Seeing Caesar's rage, the soldier dared not argue further and obediently scurried outside.
"Right away!"
"Hmph, what a useless fool," Caesar grumbled in annoyance.
The guy took forever just to handle a simple task.
If he hadn't been so short on usable personnel right now, he wouldn't even bother with these incompetents.
"You're quite harsh, aren't you~" Monet remarked with a light chuckle.
"No need to be polite with them," Caesar snorted coldly.
Under normal circumstances, he might have given these guys a bit of a friendly face, but this was a public experiment in progress!
So... he had no patience for idle chatter with them.
Just then, Vergo began walking steadily toward the exit.
"Hmm?"
"Vergo, where are you going?" Caesar asked, puzzled.
"Only ordinary foot soldiers would fall for a trap like yours," Vergo stated flatly. "Dealing with Law will be a bit more challenging."
"Don't forget what his ability is!"
"The Op-Op Fruit..."
Recalling Law's Devil Fruit ability, Caesar's expression gradually turned grave.
Right, ordinary steel doors wouldn't be enough to stop someone like Law.
"Exactly, the Op-Op Fruit," Vergo confirmed. "His Devil Fruit ability is troublesome, so I need to handle him personally."
"Of course, we can't let those G-5 Branch members escape either."
"Otherwise, I'd be exposed as well."
If he were exposed, all of Doflamingo's decades of effort would go to waste!
So... he absolutely could not allow that to happen!
As for the Straw Hat Crew?
They're just a bunch of small fry, not even worth worrying about.
Once he dealt with Law, he'd naturally take care of the Straw Hat Crew too.
"Good point," Caesar grinned. "Then I'll leave Law to you. Just make sure he doesn't get near me."
"Naturally."
Vergo nodded without hesitation. He certainly wouldn't let Law approach Caesar again.
Then, Vergo continued his steady stride toward the door, adding, "I'll cut everything down!"
After saying this, Vergo paused, looking confused. "Where's my sword?"
Why couldn't he find his sword at his waist?
Monet: ...
Staring at the man with a spoon still stuck to his face, Monet fell silent for a moment before twitching the corner of his mouth. "You're not a swordsman, are you."
Vergo blinked, then showed an expression of sudden realization. "Oh, right. I'm not a swordsman."
"No matter. Beating them with fists and feet works just the same."
With that, Vergo left without looking back.
Watching Vergo depart, Caesar twitched his mouth. "That guy's a total airhead, isn't he."
"Seems pretty obvious, doesn't it~" Monet chuckled.
Only a natural airhead would forget they had something stuck to their face.
"I have no idea how this guy managed to become a vice admiral."
Caesar shook his head and dismissed the thought.
Then, he turned his attention to the screen in front of him and said, "Alright, prepare for the second public broadcast!"
"Yes!"
"Get out of my way!" Luffy roared.
With that, he leaped up from the ground and launched an attack at the crowd ahead.
"Gomu-Gomu Gatling!"
"Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat~"
A flurry of fist shadows rained down on the crowd ahead, forcefully knocking all the enemies flying!
"Well done, Luffy!" Franky laughed heartily.
"Franky, let's go!"
"Right!"
Ignoring the blaring alarm of the gate, Franky quickly followed Luffy as they charged deep into the tunnel of Building B.
The next moment...
"Hum~"
"Whoosh~"
A translucent ring of light appeared, and then Meiser and Law teleported right in front of the gate.
"Your ability is really convenient," Meiser remarked with a sigh. "To cover such a distance in an instant."
Is this really the Op-Op Fruit?
This seems to involve spatial attributes.
"That's just how the Op-Op Fruit is."
Law replied indifferently, then turned his gaze to the blaring gate ahead.
Meiser didn't mind; after all, this guy had been acting aloof the entire way.
"What does this alarm mean?" Meiser looked up at the towering gate and asked, "Is this gate about to close?"
"Correct."
Law glanced at the gate and said, "And this is the only path to Building B."
After a pause, he continued, "Do you want to go inform your companions?"
"I can wait here for you."
Hearing this, Meiser didn't answer immediately. He thought it over carefully, then shook his head and said, "No need."
"A gate like this won't stop them."
With Zoro's strength, he could easily slice through the gate!
Besides, with Merry's speed, she could rush in before the gate closed, so there was nothing to worry about.
Seeing Meiser's confidence, Law didn't press further.
After all... they weren't his companions.
"Let's go, then," Law said calmly.
With that, Law began walking step by step into the depths of the tunnel.
However, after taking just two steps, he stopped and turned to look at Meiser. "Glasses, before we reach our destination, there's something I need to tell you."
"Something?"
Meiser shifted his gaze back to Law and asked, "Are you going to brief me on the battle plan this time?"
"Something like that."
Law hesitated, clearly unsure whether to share this with Meiser.
But considering their current situation, he made up his mind.
"My heart is in the enemy's hands," Law said.
"Your heart?"
Meiser looked at Law with confusion. What was this guy talking about?
What did he mean by his heart being in the enemy's hands?
Seeing that Meiser didn't understand, Law lifted his shirt, revealing the hollow cavity in his chest.
"Gasp..."
Looking at the hole in Law's chest, Meiser instinctively drew a sharp breath.
Could someone live without a heart?
Was this the power of the Op-Op Fruit?
Truly terrifying...
"See it now?" Law pulled his clothes back down, looking at Meiser with a serious expression. "This is my current condition."
With his heart in the enemy's hands, how much of his strength he could actually unleash was truly an unknown.
That was why he had to cooperate with Meiser to retrieve his heart—only then would he dare to unleash his full power and destroy this place!
"So this is the reason you agreed to let me come with you," Meiser said with a thoughtful expression. "You... want me to help you take back your heart?"
Now he finally understood what this guy Law was getting at—the other wanted his help to retrieve his heart!
Tsk, what a bold fellow!
"That's right, that's exactly what I mean," Law nodded without hesitation.
Hearing this, Meiser fell silent for a moment, then gave Law a half-smile. "Aren't you afraid I might take your heart for myself?"
Even though they were allies... he was a pirate, after all!
In the world of pirates, betrayal was a common companion.
Law should know that too, right?
Yet he was so willing to entrust this matter to him?
Was it that he had a big heart... or that he truly had no other options?
Meiser was rather curious~