Chapter 23

Wearing a pair of sunglasses and a checkered shirt, the man standing before Orlan was none other than Vegapunk, the head of MADS, who would be renowned in the future as a genius scientist, said to be 500 years ahead of his time.

Recently, while Judge and Quinn had wandered off on their own, Vegapunk had arrived at the newly constructed smelting plant in the Sorbet Kingdom.

Vegapunk could sense a certain dissonance; the entire plant's style didn't match the rest of the Sorbet Kingdom.

This applied to both the technology and architectural style.

While the ordinary MADS researchers discussed the payment terms with the local workers, Vegapunk, after inquiring around, found Orlan, who was providing technical guidance at the plant.

"Hello, I'm Vegapunk, the head of MADS. I heard this place was built under your guidance. It's quite an impressive setup."

Orlan remembered Vegapunk well, as many of his own projects were associated with him.

While many of his technologies were derived from ancient documents, this in itself was a skill. Research wasn't simply about glancing at historical texts and immediately implementing practical applications.

For instance, Vegapunk's artificial Devil Fruits were leagues above Caesar's inferior creations, truly a case of night and day.

At this point, Vegapunk hadn't yet earned his numerous accolades and achievements. Additionally, his unusually large head drew Orlan's attention.

"Does it look strange? I'm a Brain-Brain Fruit user, so my head is somewhat larger."

The Brain-Brain Fruit, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, grants its user unlimited brain capacity, which is quite beneficial for a researcher.

Orlan himself had no aversion to Devil Fruits, the most mysterious objects in the sea, as they could provide significant assistance. Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit had already been quite helpful.

Orlan was also interested in a few specific Devil Fruits, such as the Swallow-Swallow Fruit, which was on his list of potential acquisitions. With this fruit, material limitations would essentially be eliminated.

There were also a few other fruits with powerful or highly conceptual abilities that had caught Orlan's attention. However, he hadn't had the opportunity to encounter them in the Sorbet Kingdom.

"It's nothing. I've seen people stranger than you. I'm Sidereal Orlan, the technical advisor here."

After a brief self-introduction, the two started casually discussing technical topics, blending research ideas from different worlds. During this conversation, Kate's call came through.

"Did you just say you're the head of MADS?"

"MADS isn't a particularly formal organization. Its members have a lot of freedom. I can go with you to check on them. If they've caused any trouble, I'll handle it."

MADS was more akin to a salon for science enthusiasts, where members worked on common projects and shared experiences without strict hierarchical relationships.

Vegapunk had some authority over others primarily due to funding. Trust issues meant Du Feld had put Vegapunk in charge of managing the finances. If anyone caused trouble, Vegapunk could cut off their research funds.

Science was inherently expensive, and without the organization, most members couldn't sustain themselves financially. This financial control helped maintain relative stability within MADS.

"No major trouble, but let me be clear—I'm not covering their medical bills."

Kate had made it clear that the other party had instigated the conflict. Under such circumstances, Orlan felt it reasonable even if Blitzcrank had activated its extermination mode.

Vegapunk merely nodded silently, acknowledging this as one of MADS's unwritten rules. Members had significant freedom and could act independently, but if they caused any major incidents, they had to bear the consequences themselves.

The location where Blitzcrank was fishing was not close, so even after Orlan received the message and set off immediately, it took some time to get there.

By the time Orlan arrived, it was already dusk, and under the glow of the setting sun, three figures were running along the beach.

This was Blitzcrank's first long run since its creation, an event that some might look back on as the worst part of their youth.

"When will this thing's energy run out?"

"How should I know? This mess is your fault!"

Blitzcrank maintained a tantalizingly close distance behind Judge and Quinn, never quite catching them but also not letting them escape. If they slowed down, they'd quickly experience the wrath of its electric fists.

Based on the steam emitted from Blitzcrank's back, they had judged it to be a steam-powered robot and thought they could win by exhausting its fuel. However, Blitzcrank's endurance far exceeded their expectations.

After all, the Hextech crystal was Blitzcrank's true power source. Draining it was an unrealistic expectation.

"Blitzcrank can chase you all day!"

This was the result of its learning module. Orlan had only programmed basic operational functions for Blitzcrank. In essence, it didn't understand emotions; terms like anger and frustration were merely for intimidation.

Blitzcrank's behavior was due to its program code, which determined that their actions warranted a lesson. Blitzcrank had spent a lot of time with Kate, thus inheriting some feline habits, such as how to toy with prey.

"Blitzcrank, that's enough. You can stop now."

Though Orlan's voice wasn't loud, Blitzcrank's sensors picked it up and immediately stopped, walking back towards Orlan and Kate. Quinn and Judge, now free, collapsed on the beach, gasping for breath.

"Master, Blitzcrank is awaiting further instructions."

"Move freely nearby and stay on standby."

"Understood."

Blitzcrank moved aside, assisting Kate with processing the day's catch before it could spoil.

"It's hard to imagine such vague commands can be carried out so well."

This was the first time Vegapunk had seen a robot with such advanced intelligence. While he had made some progress with robots, they required extremely detailed commands to avoid misunderstandings.

Sending one to buy a bamboo stick might result in it bringing back something entirely different.

But Blitzcrank was different. If it were asked to buy bamboo now, it would return with the most suitable one for the situation.

"Since it calls you master, I assume it's your creation. Could you share the thought process behind its development?"

Vegapunk's curiosity was piqued. For someone like him, the allure of unknown technology was immense.

"I'm just standing on the shoulders of giants, making some slight improvements on existing technology. It's nothing special."

"Standing on the shoulders of giants is a good metaphor. Science has always been a legacy passed down through generations. Sidereal-san, would you be interested in joining MADS?"

(End of Chapter)