After much deliberation, unable to make up his mind, Vegapunk finally turned around, seemingly intending to ask for others' opinions. Then, he saw Stussy and the others in a state of utter shock.
Among them, besides Stussy and Vegapunk, Caesar, Scien, and Judge, were not yet aware that the Five Elders had arrived at Egghead.
The three of them were purely shocked by the powerful Conqueror's Haki displayed by Kenji. They saw a dark red light, like a silk ribbon, twisting and extending, rushing out of the research institute.
Such a dazzling yet terrifying scene upon closer thought was something Scien and the others had never witnessed in their lives.
For a moment, the three were stunned, their faces aghast and lost in thought, not even noticing Vegapunk's greeting.
"To be attracted by something other than science… Hmm!" Vegapunk frowned, just starting to speak, when he suddenly froze.
Only then did he realize belatedly that this Admiral's strength was so formidable.
It seemed... did he really have a choice?
Especially after he used technological means to discover that the Five Elders outside the island were seemingly suppressed, and even the World Government's forces were completely paralyzed.
"Such a massive army, yet it was suppressed so silently… They hadn't even opened fire after arriving, had they?"
"And the Five Elders… so those five people possess great power."
"But it seems they were still suppressed…"
The more Vegapunk observed, the more startled he became, and at the same time, he realized what level of strong person the Admiral in front of him truly was.
To be frank, if Kenji was willing to negotiate with him, it was because he was polite and considerate.
If he wasn't polite or considerate, he could easily stun the research institute and take it away on the spot.
'Hmm, it looks like he probably doesn't want to use coercive methods… That's good news.' Vegapunk keenly sensed Kenji's thoughts.
After all, his big head wasn't just for show, and the wisdom of the world's greatest scientist wasn't for nothing. Soon, Vegapunk gradually formed a plan.
At this moment, although only a few steps away, Kenji did not perceive Vegapunk's change in thinking.
How could he have imagined that his casual use of Conqueror's Haki - God's Domain would lead to such wild thoughts from the MADS members?
If he knew what those people were thinking, he himself would be surprised.
One can only say that people's imaginations are too rich, especially since this group consists of scientists whose thinking is even more unconstrained.
In reality, Kenji's attention was not on the surrounding MADS team members, nor on Saturn of the Five Elders on the distant island coast.
He was currently concentrating, carefully pondering… what kind of reward he would likely receive this time?
'1 random trait upgrade opportunity, hmm, it's a basic reward, again a basic reward?!'
After the last choice mission, Kenji already knew that choice mission rewards were related to the choices made.
'If I abandon everything now and immediately flee Egghead Island… I'd probably get the guaranteed basic reward, right?'
'Hmm, to get richer rewards, I probably have to do something earth-shattering like last time.'
'But in that case… it might affect the so-called fate of the world again.'
Based on the historical changes after the last choice mission ended, Kenji could roughly infer that the system's so-called "world's fate" likely referred to the original world history timeline, or rather, the world line.
The "world's fate" changes when the world line changes, doesn't it?
Of course, for now, the changes to the world line are only in minor details. The most important things haven't changed much.
If the world line is compared to a surging river, those branching details are tributaries, and eventually all tributaries will converge into the main channel, achieving world line convergence, and this river is the long river of history.
Currently, Kenji suspected that if he continued to influence the world line, persisting in this way, one day he would cause this long river of the world line to change its course.
For example, if he defeated Imu, then what would Nika do later?
'Will they all come after me in the end? No way?'
Although being a behind-the-scenes big boss sounds quite exciting, that's not Kenji's personality. He wouldn't want to do such troublesome things.
Didn't Imu stay cooped up in their 'Flower Room' all day, barely even leaving?
If Kenji had to stay cooped up in one place all day like that, he wouldn't be able to stand it.
The world is so big. If he didn't travel around, see and play, what was the point of his longevity?
Although there's a possibility of being played by fate and becoming a behind-the-scenes boss… it shouldn't be something that can be changed by one or two choices.
Kenji deliberated again and again, finally deciding.
To hell with it, he'll get the highest reward this time first.
As for future matters, he'll meet trouble as it comes. There are always more solutions than problems.
Besides, as long as he continues to advance [Super Comprehension] and also becomes an "Ancient God-like Being," he will have plenty of solutions then.
'Then… let's do it this way.'
Kenji no longer hesitated, choosing the path that seemed the most difficult.
That is: I want it all!
I want the MADS research team! I want the future funding too!
Even the large force led by the Five Elders personally this time… Hmm, I don't want this, but I want all of you to scram.
'Hmm, I'll send some people to clean up the battlefield later… Most likely won't find anything good.'
This time, the World Government's large force had come to wage war. Those CP spies might die on the battlefield, and Kenji didn't think these people would carry anything precious with them.
But a battlefield, after all, needs to be cleaned up. Might as well take a look, like buying a lottery ticket.
At this moment, on the battlefield at sea outside the island, the only one left with combat power was Saturn.
Seemingly still able to fight, it was actually intentional on Kenji's part, just waiting for the system to issue a mission. Now, Kenji was getting serious.
'Then, in one go…?'
Kenji had just increased the intensity of his Conqueror's Haki a little. But then he found that the system reward was suddenly issued.