Vegapunk Alivaren was just an ordinary man living in the bustling capital. He earned his daily wages working in a local tavern, pouring drinks for customers, wiping tables, and listening to sailors boast of their adventures. Though he had no great ambition, he harbored a modest dream—to one day own a tavern of his own.
That night, after a long day on his feet, Alivaren returned home and collapsed onto his bed, succumbing to exhaustion. The moment his head hit the pillow, he drifted into a half-conscious slumber.
But peace was short-lived.
A strange sound from upstairs stirred him. Still groggy, he recognized the noise immediately—the newlywed couple above him, once again engaging in their nightly activities.
"It's here again," he muttered under his breath, his voice filled with annoyance. "At least they're always done in three or four minutes. I hope it's the same tonight. This is seriously disturbing my sleep."
Grumbling to himself, Alivaren turned over, trying to shut out the sounds and return to sleep.
But tonight was different.
Though the rhythmic creaking continued above, the ground suddenly shook.
And then—
Boom!
The wall exploded.
Alivaren jolted upright, wide-eyed, staring in disbelief at the gaping hole in his room. His confusion quickly morphed into terror.
From the shattered wall poured a dense tide of terrifying ants—countless black, writhing bodies flooding the room. Everything they touched—the walls, furniture, even the floor—was consumed and reduced to nothingness.
Within moments, the entire building was swallowed.
Alivaren sat frozen on his bed, sweat dripping down his face, paralyzed by fear. All he could do was watch the relentless swarm pass by, leaving behind only empty space where his home once stood.
Then—
"Ahhh!"
A scream pierced the night.
Alivaren looked up just in time to see two naked figures plummeting from above.
One of them landed directly in his arms with a thud, the other crashed to the ground beside the bed, groaning in pain.
Staring down in shock, Alivaren realized who the person in his arms was—it was the husband of the newlywed couple upstairs, completely naked and equally astonished. The ants had devoured the ceiling, and in the midst of their... activities, the couple had been sent crashing down.
Alivaren's mouth hung open, eyes darting between the man in his arms and the chaos around them. "Of all the things..."
...
Screams echoed through the capital.
"Ants! So many ants!"
"Run!"
"Help!"
Panic spread like wildfire. Civilians fled, buildings crumbled, and the streets became a scene of horror.
Not far from the commotion, the national defense soldiers originally stationed outside Alivaren's area had become restless. Before long, many were called away to assist in controlling the chaos, leaving behind only ten to guard the residence nearby.
"It's about time," Mio murmured, standing in the shadows nearby.
He turned to the two figures beside him—Warwick and Erica.
"Warwick, take care of those remaining soldiers. After that, wait for me outside. If anyone tries to enter, kill them."
"Warwick got it," the werewolf growled with a nod before vanishing into the night.
In mere seconds, Warwick reappeared before the ten guards. Before they could react, his claws gleamed under the moonlight—and blood sprayed into the air. The soldiers fell one by one, slain without a sound.
With the path clear, Mio and Erica strode toward the grand residence.
Though referred to as a residence, it was more accurately a sprawling castle—clearly built to house important figures and facilitate large-scale research.
Most of the National Defense Army had withdrawn, leaving only a few trembling servants behind. Their terrified eyes watched the approaching duo, convinced the chaos outside had been caused by these strangers.
Mio spoke in a calm but firm voice. "Where is Vegapunk?"
The maids didn't respond, their heads bowed and bodies shaking.
With a flick of his wrist, Mio drew the blade at his side and slashed. A wave of sword energy exploded forth, cutting a clean gash into the nearby wall.
"I asked—where is Vegapunk?"
One maid, barely able to stand, shakily raised a finger and pointed toward a distant corridor. "T-The basement..."
Without another word, Mio turned and moved in that direction. Erica followed silently at his heels.
They soon arrived at a heavy iron door—closed, but not locked. Mio pushed it open, revealing a descending staircase lit only by scattered candles. Shadows danced across the walls as they made their way downward.
At the bottom, an expansive underground laboratory came into view. Strange instruments and machines lined the walls, humming softly. And in the center stood two figures.
One of them was tall and broad-shouldered, with long golden hair.
The other was more unassuming—short black hair, slim build, glasses perched on his nose, giving him an air of scholarly elegance.
Mio narrowed his eyes.
"Vinsmoke Judge?" he muttered, frowning. He hadn't expected to find the infamous Germa king—the father of Sanji—here. But his gaze soon shifted to the second figure.
Mio's eyes studied the man closely.
Ordinary in appearance, yes. But that only made it more likely.
This has to be Vegapunk.
The two scientists turned, noticing the unexpected visitors.
Judge's expression twisted into irritation. "Who are you? How dare you barge in here uninvited? Get out!"
Boom!
A silver slash erupted through the air, slicing the wall behind Judge with explosive force.
Erica's cold voice followed. "You are not allowed to be rude to the master."
Judge froze, swallowing hard. His eyes flicked to the destroyed wall behind him, and his lips trembled with restrained fury—and fear.
The second man, Vegapunk, stepped forward.
"Two guests," he said calmly. "It seems you're looking for me?"
Mio nodded. "That's right."
Vegapunk adjusted his glasses and smiled faintly. "Then you must have something important to discuss. Otherwise, you wouldn't come at a time like this."
He turned toward Judge, his face regaining its composure.
"You should leave, Judge. As for your earlier proposal—my answer is no. I'm not interested. It's simply... boring. There's no thrill in studying such things."
Judge's face turned red with frustration.
"Vegapunk, you fool! Don't you see? The bloodline factor is a breakthrough. Even you, with your genius, will need at least a dozen years to unlock its full potential. And you don't have that time. Think it over. If you cooperate, Germa will give you all the funding you need."
With that, Judge turned and stormed off.
As he ascended the stairs, he cast one last glare at Mio and Erica—his eyes lingering curiously on Erica's cloaked figure—before disappearing from sight.
The basement fell into silence once more.
Mio stepped forward, eyes locked on Vegapunk.
Now, it was time to talk.