One Piece: Under the Throne

When he unfolded the note, there was only a set of coordinates on it. Leo understood the message that Teacher Vegapunk wanted to convey to him.

Two months later, the base had been renovated according to Leo's wishes. With his own dedicated laboratory, he could also carry out research. However, before that, Leo planned to visit Caesar Courant.

As far as I can remember, this bastard once detonated the Punk Hazard base. Now that this place has become his territory, he must eliminate this hidden danger first.

Caesar's laboratory was different from Leo's, the room was very large and filled with huge metal cans.

Leo walked to the lab table and picked up a few reports without waiting for Caesar's permission. He said, "Hey! Where did you come from? It's really disrespectful of you to peek at my research openly."

As he spoke, Caesar turned into smoke and was about to attack Leo, but before he could move he was trapped in the water prison: "Damn it, this kind of ability again, your ability is too unfair." Caesar pounded the water prison in frustration and anger.

After reading the two materials, Leo said to Caesar: "Your research is too boring. Using poison gas as a weapon of mass destruction hurts the enemy and yourself. I think this research can be stopped."

Hearing that his research was denied, Caesar became even more furious: "Why do you look down on my research? Let me go now, I will definitely complain to the Five Elders."

"Okay, how about a bet to see whose research can be recognized by the higher-ups? If you win, I will no longer interfere with you and will double your research funding. If you lose, you will just listen to my orders."

"Okay, you said it, I will make you admit defeat sincerely."

After leaving Caesar's laboratory, Leo thought that it seemed that this guy had not yet started research on artificial devil fruits. Among Caesar's many scientific research projects in the original work, only artificial devil fruits were Leo's most concerned. Although he borrowed from Vegapunk's achievements, it must be said that he also successfully turned this research into mass production.

Thinking of this, Ao said to his assistant, "Notify everyone that from now on, all research projects in the institute must submit reports before implementation, and they can only be implemented after the application is approved. The funds approved by the government are limited, and they are not for everyone to waste."

"Yes, sir, but will the other doctors complain if you do this?"

"Any complaints? I want to manage the base more systematically. Who dares to complain? I will communicate with the Five Elders. You just need to be responsible for notifying them."

Soon Leo's suggestion was approved by the Five Elders. Which superior would not like a proposal that could save money and control the research direction of these scientists?

Leo used this right to legitimately collect the ideas of researchers and broaden the horizons for his own ideas.

After completely mastering the base, Leo also devoted himself to his own research. How could he impress those five old guys? Leo thought for a long time and suddenly his eyes lit up. The technology that was supposed to be invented by Vegapunk had blown away his little butterfly.

I'm sorry, teacher. Please let your students submit this technology for you.

One month later, Satan Saint looked at the data in front of him and said, "Technology for crossing the Calm Belt? That's a good idea! This will make it easier for us to mobilize the army. What do you think?"

"Leo was able to achieve results so quickly. Was it a sudden idea or did he have this idea in mind for a long time?"

"It doesn't matter as long as he is willing to hand over the technology to us. I value his attitude more."

"Humph! I hope he can stay so obedient. This kid asked for an increase in research funding. It can be approved, but he has to produce more results to prove himself."

Saint Satan smiled slightly and flicked the documents in his hand: "Leo is a smart man, he knows what to do."

A technology that changed the navigation rules in the pirate world made Leo gain the trust of the Five Elders. Not only did they approve a large amount of funding, but it also further consolidated his position. Caesar was very depressed. He lost this gamble and the poison gas research was completely terminated. The most hateful thing was that Leo asked him to study the technology of that bastard Vegapunk, which sowed the seeds for Caesar's rebellion.

However, Leo has no time to care about Caesar's feelings. With the increase in research funds, more projects can be advanced. First of all, he has to strengthen the Poseidon.

Tom initially designed three forms for the Poseidon. Sailing and diving were perfect, but for flying, he listened to Leo's ideas and made it into a flying mode similar to Luffy's Thousand Sunny.

That is just gliding in the air and cannot be considered flying. In the original work, the only ones who can fly in the air and form combat power are Enel's Ark Maxim and Golden Lion's Float-Float Fruit. It is unknown where the Golden Lion is floating in the East China Sea, and he cannot be used by Leo, so Leo can only develop a spaceship similar to the Ark.

Compared to Enel's use of the Thunder Fruit to drive the spaceship, Gloria's Den-Den Fruit has more advantages in this regard. The energy provided by the Den-Den Fruit is not as violent as the Thunder Fruit, and the equipment for converting energy is eliminated. Combined with the energy rune, Gloria can provide the energy needed for the long-term flight of the Poseidon without spending much physical strength.

Soon, Leo, Will and Gloria started working. Strangers could not be allowed to interfere in the work of transforming the ship.

In order to allow the Poseidon to take off at will, Leo chose to use propellers to provide the upward power. When the Poseidon turned into a flying form, eight small propellers appeared on the top of the ship, which were used for steering, and four giant engines were used to maintain the flight. Four metal brackets extended from both sides of the hull, equipped with turbine power devices wrapped in metal shells.

The power unit can rotate at an angle of 40 degrees downward during takeoff and degrees during flight. The maximum flight speed can reach knots, which is slightly slower than sailing on the water, but several times faster than the most advanced warships.

The wind-blowing shells originally installed on the bottom of the ship became emergency shelters, ensuring a safe landing even if the Poseidon was shot down.

Thinking of the unreasonable attack methods in the pirate world, Leo also developed a defense system for the Poseidon. With the support of Gloria, a large battery, a spherical energy shield appeared around the Poseidon.

When the energy shield is activated, a spherical blue light flashes, and then turns into a translucent protective shield. If you look closely, you can find that this is not a sphere with a smooth surface, but a honeycomb structure composed of countless hexagons. This design makes the energy shield not only strong but also can disperse attacks.

Unless the single penetration attack exceeds the critical point, the protective shield cannot be broken. After the defense system was built, Leo also conducted a special strength test.

"Just start when Will is ready."

"Okay, here I come [Fishman Karate: Shocking Hand]."

The turbulent water flow wrapped around Will's arm and hit the protective shield. The place where the protective shield was hit flashed blue light, and after a stalemate, the attack was completely offset.

"How is Gloria?"

"The shield's energy has been reduced by one percent. The charging mode has been activated and Will can't break the shield no matter how many times he hits it."

"Very good, try a stronger attack."

He tried armament domineering, biological energy attacks, and all the physical techniques that Will knew. Even the most powerful move could only knock out 10% of the shield's energy at one time. Leo also tried laser attacks, missile attacks, and even the domineering entanglement attack he used when fighting Kizaru.

The result is that no matter physical attack or energy attack, it is impossible to break the protective shield. Except for the mental attack of the Conqueror's Haki, this defense system is perfect. Leo can't help but imagine the scene of driving the Poseidon across the sea in the future.

So handsome!

Leo's operations yielded satisfactory results, but his research funds were running out, so Leo took the information and new weapon samples he had prepared in advance and planned to meet the Five Elders again.

Between the powers, Satan listened to the report from Den Den Mushi: "Is that so, you can come over, I look forward to your plan."

Soon Leo came before the Five Elders with his new weapon.

Satan Saint fiddled with the gun in front of him and said with some disappointment: "Is this the weapon you said can reduce the harm of pirates? Can a few guns have such a great effect?"

Leo responded calmly to the question: "Of course, sir, please look at this set of data. There are currently 50 active-duty soldiers in the navy, of which less than 2000 are officers, and there are even fewer elite officers who can skillfully use the Navy's Six Styles or Haki. I think it is better to arm ordinary soldiers than to strengthen a small number of elites."

"That's a good idea, but can this kind of gun do what you said?"

"Sir, the conventional weapons of the navy are artillery and muskets. In the past two years, the navy's success rate in sinking pirate ships directly at sea is less than 30%, and the success rate in boarding battles relying on long-range firepower is less than 25%. If they encounter strong pirates, the shells and bullets will be intercepted, which directly leads to the soldiers having to fight the pirates in close combat. As a result, the casualties rate of the soldiers is very high, and the success rate of defeating the pirates barely reaches 50%."

"But if every unit in the navy can be equipped with the laser gun I developed, the chance of winning will definitely be greatly improved. The power of the laser gun is simply beyond the ability of ordinary pirates to deal with, let alone intercept attacks. Using this gun to attack wooden pirate ships is much more powerful than a cannon. Even if the enemy has a domineering master, he can't withstand a few hits."

"The laser gun costs about 100 million Baileys each. Even if we can't equip the entire army, it shouldn't be a problem to equip each base with 100."

"Oh, you are really generous. You just opened your mouth and mentioned tens of billions of military expenditures."

"Wouldn't it be better if we equipped them with laser weapons to reduce combat losses rather than training new soldiers?"

"What is the energy cost of the laser gun?"

"The cost of the charging equipment is currently 2000 million Baileys. If we can find more suitable materials, the cost will be reduced."

Saint Satan was quite interested in Leo's plan, so he looked at the God of Finance, Saint Nasujuro, who rubbed his bald head with a headache and said, "Okay, the World Government can still afford this military expenditure. When do you plan to ask for it?"

Saint Satan looked at Leo again and said, "Leo, how about you be in charge of supervising the manufacture of these weapons? The factories are ready and it will only take a month to purchase the materials."

Leo refused. "Sir, I will let my deputy supervise me. I have several projects in progress and cannot leave. Besides, the funds in the laboratory are a little insufficient. I hope you can approve another sum of money."

Nasu Juro: ...

Damn, do you think the government's money comes from the wind? Everyone only knows how to ask for money. Nasushiro Sei rubbed his scalp even faster. He was thinking of making some member country bleed.

Saint Satan looked at Leo with satisfaction. He really didn't expect that just a sudden decision to transfer Leo to the laboratory would bring them such a big surprise.

Leo got the funds and left with satisfaction. After the door to the power room was closed, Satan Saint couldn't help but praise: "This water angel is really a talent. It's a bit of a waste for him to be a Shichibukai."

Nasujuro Sei, who had just been fleeced, said dissatisfiedly: "He is just a scientific researcher. No matter how outstanding Leo is, can he be better than Vegapunk?"

Saint Satan narrowed his eyes slightly: "You don't understand. In my opinion, Leo is a different kind of talent. It is possible to have him join the reproduction of the ancient weapon Pluto."

The other four found it incredible when they heard this. After discussing for a long time, they finally reached a consensus and decided to continue testing Leo's loyalty.