"I'm not interested in whether science requires sacrifice. I just want to know where that failed Devil Fruit is." Zavia ignored Caesar Clown's rambling about the supposed necessities of scientific advancement and instead inquired about the failed Devil Fruit created by Vegapunk.
"Wha… what failed Devil Fruit!? The Devil Fruits I create are all top-quality goods! Far superior to anything that Vegapunk geezer could concoct! Don't insult me!" Caesar Clown bristled at the word "failed," taking immediate offense.
His scientific pride was evident. He wouldn't tolerate anyone suggesting he produced anything less than perfect, even if he knew it to be true.
However, Caesar seemed to have misunderstood. He assumed Zavia was referring to a Devil Fruit of his own creation, forgetting the one made by Vegapunk.
"Are you sure you want to say that? Aren't you afraid I'll tell Big Mom about your deception? As it happens, she invited me to her Tea Party." Instead of showing anger, Zavia adopted a casual demeanor, mentioning something he knew Caesar dreaded.
"You… how did you… what are you talking about? I don't understand." Caesar's composure wavered. He quickly recovered, opting for feigned ignorance.
His scientific mind was sharp; his genius undeniable. But it was of little consequence to Zavia.
"Hmm, you don't understand? Fine. In that case, you can hold onto that Devil Fruit for me. After I tell Big Mom about your little scheme, it won't matter if you're dead when I come back for it." Zavia's lips curled into a cold smile, noticing Caesar's unease.
Fine, if he wouldn't talk, so be it. The Devil Fruit wasn't going anywhere. It could stay here until Caesar was dead. It made no difference to Zavia.
"You—!! Fine! I'll tell you! It's 500 meters northeast of here, in a room full of 'trash'! Go get it yourself!" Caesar Clown, seemingly resigned, relented.
"Yare yare, you haven't learned your lesson, have you, Caesar Clown? Since you're not willing to cooperate, I suppose this is where we part ways." Zavia simply shook his head and continued walking away.
"Wait—!! Damn it! Fine! Fine! I'll tell you! The Devil Fruit is on the second floor, at the very end of the hallway, in a research room. It's the one displayed in the center." Seeing that Zavia had seen through his bluff, Caesar broke out in a cold sweat. This man was terrifying.
The path he had initially given Zavia did indeed lead to a room containing several failed Devil Fruits of his own creation. However, those were guarded by a monstrous creature.
Judging by its aura, it wasn't particularly strong, but it gave Zavia a bad feeling, as if it were saturated with toxins.
The word "toxin" triggered Zavia's memory. He realized what the monstrous creature was – the slime Caesar had created in the original storyline.
He understood Caesar's plan. The scientist intended to use the slime to poison all three of them.
Ironically, Caesar's failed attempt to deceive Zavia had led him to realize that Zavia wasn't looking for one of his creations, but for Vegapunk's.
With that realization, Caesar quickly revealed the true location of the Devil Fruit, effectively saving his own life.
"That's more like it, Caesar Clown. As long as you cooperate, you can live for another three years." Zavia stopped and looked back at Caesar, his cold smile sent a shiver down the scientist's spine. He felt like he was staring into the eyes of a demon.
And in a way, he was. Zavia was a demon, though not one from the depths of hell.
"Three years? Do you mean to kill me after three years?" Caesar's heart sank.
"No. I mean that after three years, your life will be of no consequence to me. Whether I kill you or not won't matter. But for now, you need to stay alive. Of course, if you choose to be foolish, I won't hesitate to deliver your head to the Marines right now." Zavia shook his head, correcting Caesar's assumption. Whether Caesar lived or died was of little concern to him.
The only reason he needed Caesar alive was to ensure the events of the Punk Hazard arc unfolded as they should. Otherwise, Momonosuke might not board the ship carrying the test subjects meant for Caesar and could end up somewhere else entirely.
If that happened, finding Momonosuke would require the assistance of the underground black market's intelligence network.
While Zavia had the resources, he preferred to avoid unnecessary complications. With his knowledge of the future, there was no need to involve the black market, potentially creating unforeseen problems.
"Gulp—!!" Caesar swallowed hard, fear evident in his eyes. He vowed never to cross this man again.
"Let's go, Arthur." Ignoring Caesar, Zavia turned and led Arthur towards the small room where the Devil Fruit representing a distant Eastern kingdom awaited.
"Damn it!! That brat! And that damned Mihawk!! Especially that 'Sword Demon'! I won't forgive this!!" After Zavia and Arthur left, Caesar's rage erupted. He cursed and raved, showering both Zavia and Mihawk with colorful insults.
"Hmph! Just you wait! I have ways of dealing with you! I'd like to see how powerful Vegapunk's 'Guardian' really is!" After venting his frustration, Caesar regained his composure. A chilling aura surrounded him. He decided to unleash a creature called the "Guardian."
"Shurororororo! Just you wait! You'll all pay!"
…
Half an hour later, Zavia and Arthur were on their way back.
Within Zavia's spatial bag, a peach-colored Devil Fruit rested safely.
It was the Devil Fruit created by Vegapunk – the Mythical Zoan-type, Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Azure Dragon.
Because it had deviated so far from Vegapunk's intended creation, he had deemed it a failure, discarding it in an abandoned room.
"Hey, big brother, why did you want this Devil Fruit? Are you going to eat it?" Arthur asked, curious about Zavia's insistence on retrieving it.
"Eat it? Don't be silly. I just think this fruit should be in my possession. That's all."
"Oh, I see." Arthur nodded, accepting Zavia's explanation without further questioning.
Zavia simply smiled. Mihawk, uninterested in the matter, remained silent.
"Roar—!!" Suddenly, a dragon's roar echoed through Punk Hazard.
"Arthur, get behind me." Zavia's relaxed demeanor vanished. He drew the Yamato slightly, revealing a hint of cold light.
Mihawk had already drawn Yoru, his supreme grade black blade, ready for battle.
Whoosh—Whoosh—
The sound of flapping wings reached their ears. They looked up to see a massive, four-legged, two-winged dragon soaring through the sky. Its skin was a vibrant red, its body at least a hundred meters long, and its height at least sixty meters.
"Th-this is… a dragon!" Mihawk's face registered shock.
"A fire dragon? I was wondering why we hadn't encountered it. Was it asleep?" Zavia, however, remained calm.
The dragon's gaze fixed on the three figures below, drool dripped from its mouth. It seemed to be famished after its long slumber, mistaking them for a meal.
"Looks like it's taken a liking to us. What do you say, Mihawk? You or me?" Zavia's eyes returned to their usual cold indifference.
He had initially assumed the outsiders had brought the dragon from another world as a last resort, putting him on high alert.
However, recognizing it as Vegapunk's creation, he relaxed. Compared to him and Mihawk, this creature was weak.
"Shurororororo! Go, dragon! Rip them to shreds!!" Hidden behind a dilapidated building some distance away, Caesar Clown, in his gaseous form, watched the scene unfold.
He wanted to witness the deaths of Zavia and Mihawk firsthand.
…
"Allow me! A legendary dragon! I've been waiting for this opportunity!" Mihawk stepped forward, Yoru in hand, his gaze locked onto the fire dragon.
The dragon, in turn, stared at Mihawk, likely seeing him as a delectable morsel.
Unable to resist its hunger any longer, it swooped down towards Mihawk with flames erupting from its mouth.
FWOOSH!
"Hmph! Coming straight at me? Just as I'd hoped! Take this!" A smirk played on Mihawk's lips as the dragon charged. He raised Yoru and swung, unleashing a massive, fluorescent green slash.
The slash sliced through the dragon's enormous body. Mid-flight, the creature ceased flapping its wings, a bloody gash appeared across its torso. It split in two then plummeted to the ground.
Witnessing this, Mihawk's excitement vanished; he now had a look of profound shock.