Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, a familiar figure rushed out from one of the research rooms.
Dressed in his signature white lab coat and holding a clipboard, Vegapunk appeared with an unmistakable sense of urgency.
Without wasting a second, he shoved the clipboard into Gion's hands and spoke in an insistent tone.
"Quick! Take a look—do you still remember the route you took to get in here?"
Gion blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Lowering her gaze, she saw that the clipboard contained a simplified map of the research institute.
Following Vegapunk's instructions, she instinctively began tracing the path she had just walked.
However, she barely managed to draw two strokes before her hand froze in hesitation.
Frowning, she muttered under her breath, "Ugh… I can't remember. My mind's a mess. How the hell am I supposed to recall the exact path?"
At that, Vegapunk's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"Exactly!" he declared, beaming with pride. "That's the result we were aiming for!"
He gleefully snatched back the clipboard, nodding with evident self-satisfaction.
"Think about it—if even someone who just walked through the institute can't recall the route, how could an enemy ever hope to infiltrate this place?"
His words carried a tone of triumph, as though he had just outwitted the entire world.
The maze-like passageways had been meticulously designed, and their effectiveness had already been tested on many individuals.
So far, only one person had managed to navigate the institute without using a map—and that was an exceptionally clueless, green-haired swordsman with a terrible sense of direction.
Even Luffy and Robin, both possessing sharp minds, had found themselves hopelessly lost within the labyrinthine corridors.
"Well, when you put it that way, I guess it does make sense," Luffy admitted, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I mean, idiots like that guy are pretty rare. Normal people would definitely get lost."
He mentally patted himself on the back for his ingenious design before turning his attention back to his visitors.
"Luffy, it's been a while since our last meeting," Vegapunk greeted, his hands casually folded behind his back. His eyes then swept over the others. "And I see you've brought quite the company—Violet, Kujaku, Alpha, and Miss Mansherry."
He offered them a friendly nod before his gaze finally landed on Kujaku, and his expression shifted to one of mild surprise.
"And this young lady… if I'm not mistaken, isn't she Admiral Candidate Gion from the Marine?" he mused. "I must say, Luffy, I never expected you to bring her here as well. This is quite the unexpected surprise."
His words carried a mix of amusement and curiosity.
Luffy, noticing the scientist's good mood, couldn't help but tease him.
"Long time no see, Doc," he grinned. "You seem awfully cheerful today. Don't tell me—you finally came up with another insane invention, didn't you?"
At that, Vegapunk's entire face lit up, a wide grin spreading across his features. His perfectly white teeth practically sparkled.
"Haha! You've got a sharp eye, Luffy-kun!" he exclaimed proudly. "As a matter of fact… you're absolutely right!"
His enthusiasm was unmistakable, and before Luffy could react, the scientist spun around and began dragging them forward.
"Come on! I'll show you something incredible!"
Luffy exchanged a helpless look with the girls, his brows raised in mild exasperation.
"Wait… when did I say I wanted to see it?" he muttered under his breath.
But, of course, it was pointless to resist.
Vegapunk was too excited to listen, and Luffy knew from experience that humoring the scientist was the fastest way to get any answers out of him.
And so, with a resigned sigh, Luffy followed him toward the production area of the lab.
This sector of the research facility was where Vegapunk's inventions were first brought to life.
Prototype models were built and tested here before being approved for mass production.
The first computers had been created in this very location, each one meticulously crafted before being handed off to Olivia for further refinement and large-scale manufacturing.
If Vegapunk was bringing them here, that could only mean one thing—he had developed something extraordinary.
Driven by curiosity, Gion decided to follow closely behind.
As they stepped inside, Luffy's eyes immediately widened at the sight before him.
Standing in the center of the production area were two humanoid figures—two people who, at first glance, seemed alive.
But something was off.
Luffy quickened his pace, his steps instinctively drawing him closer to the figures.
"What… what the hell is this?" he murmured.
As he neared them, he realized they were encased within glass chambers, separated from the outside world.
The first figure was a man, his entire body concealed within a thick, dark-blue hoodie. A full-face helmet covered his head, marked with the number "01".
He was hunched over, his posture relaxed, yet there was something unnervingly rigid about him.
Not a single inch of his skin was visible.
On the other side stood a woman, her appearance a stark contrast to the man.
Her short orange-yellow hair framed a delicate face, her expression serene yet eerily blank. Her eyes remained closed, as if she were in some kind of deep sleep.
Unlike the heavily concealed male figure, the female openly displayed her features.
She was strikingly beautiful, her body accentuated by a form-fitting pink jumpsuit that highlighted her perfect curves.
However, one detail annoyed Luffy immensely—
A purple jacket had been draped over her shoulders, partially covering her slender frame.
And, much to Luffy's displeasure, both she and the helmeted man were wearing multifunctional long boots.
His brows furrowed. "Tch… what's with these boots? They totally ruin the aesthetic," he muttered.
But soon, a realization hit him, and his expression changed to one of utter disbelief.
"Wait a minute… if I'm not mistaken… these two…"
His eyes flickered with recognition as he pieced together the clues.
"Vegapunk's clones?" he muttered in astonishment.
He turned his gaze toward the scientist. "That's Shaka, who represents Logic, and Lilith, who embodies evil, right?"
Luffy's astonishment deepened.
"Vegapunk… have you actually completed the cloning process?"
As if waiting for that exact moment, Vegapunk stepped forward, his chest puffed out with pride.
Standing beside Luffy, he admired his latest creations through the glass chambers.
With a smirk, he turned to Luffy and declared,
"Well? What do you think?"
He spread his arms dramatically.
"My latest masterpiece—isn't it spectacular?"
He leaned in slightly, his tone almost challenging.
"Tell me, Luffy—don't they look just like real human beings?
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Marvel x Star Wars: Avengers in the Clone Wars
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