One Piece:Becoming the King of the World from the Rocks Era

"Lazuli, you shouldn't spend all day cooped up in the lab. Sometimes you need to go out and enjoy yourself. It's been ages since you've spent time with me!" Li Yuan sighed helplessly when he saw Lazuli in her lab coat.

Since becoming a researcher, Lazuli had become a shut-in—not just any shut-in, but an extreme one. Li Yuan wished she would learn from Caesar, who occasionally took breaks from the lab, rather than becoming an experiment fanatic like Yumaz.

"I understand, my husband. After this experiment, I'll take a good few months off. How does that sound?" Lazuli conceded, acknowledging she hadn't taken a break in a long time.

"Soros, although I've spoken to you about this before, at this critical moment, I must discuss it with you again."

"Shortly, I will facilitate a mind exchange between you and Vegapunk. You will inhabit Vegapunk's body."

"Your original body will be occupied by Vegapunk's mind. We will ensure Vegapunk remains in a dormant state, preserving your body. In the future, if you wish to switch back, it can be arranged."

"After the procedure, you will live as Vegapunk for a long time."

"Now, I ask you, are you willing?" Li Yuan asked Soros seriously.

"Captain, my answer remains unchanged. I am willing!"

"For you, Captain, and for science, what is a mere body?"

"Besides, by switching bodies, I gain the world's most powerful brain. It's a win-win!" Soros declared earnestly.

Orphaned from a young age, Soros had been taken in and nurtured by Li Yuan, who helped him become the scientist he always dreamed of being.

Thus, Soros had vowed long ago to repay the Infinite Pirates and Li Yuan for their kindness once he achieved his goals.

Now that Li Yuan had a request, Soros would not refuse. With no other family ties, switching bodies held no emotional burden for him.

"Very well, I wasn't wrong about you. With Vegapunk's body, you will become the world's greatest scientist!" Li Yuan said, patting Soros on the shoulder with satisfaction.

Li Yuan's Observation Haki was constantly active, affirming Soros's loyalty, which was the main reason Li Yuan chose him.

Loyalty was paramount to Li Yuan. He would never trust or employ someone disloyal.

Vegapunk, who had shown disdain for Li Yuan, was a prime example. Since Vegapunk couldn't be swayed, Li Yuan wouldn't allow him to live and pose a threat.

Soros willingly lay down in a new nutrient chamber, closing his eyes, ready for the mind exchange.

"Yadina, you may begin," Li Yuan nodded to Yadina.

"Mind Exchange!" Yadina extended her hands, made a grasping motion over Soros and Vegapunk, and swiftly completed the exchange.

"It's done!" Yadina announced with a smile.

"Yadina, is it really that simple?" Lazuli asked curiously.

"Yes, it doesn't require much complexity. Neither resisted, so the exchange was straightforward," Yadina explained.

"Soros, you can open your eyes now," Li Yuan addressed Vegapunk's body.

"Captain, is it over already?" Vegapunk's body, now housing Soros, asked with curiosity.

"Yes, it's done," Li Yuan confirmed through his Observation Haki, ensuring that Soros now resided in Vegapunk's body.

(Note: For clarity, the Soros now inhabiting Vegapunk's body will still be referred to as Soros.)

"Soros, your new body hasn't exercised in years and is quite weak. We'll help you recuperate, and you should be back to full strength in about seven days," Lazuli assured.

She was well aware of the nutrient chamber's limitations.

"Understood!" Soros replied.

"Soros, how do you feel now? I mean, with Vegapunk's body compared to your previous one?" Li Yuan asked, curious if Soros had inherited the Brain-Brain Fruit's power.

"Captain, I feel much smarter than before. Experiments that once puzzled me now seem clear and straightforward!" Soros responded.

"Excellent. Once you recover, I'll provide you with a vast personal laboratory," Li Yuan promised, relieved by Soros's response. With the Brain-Brain Fruit's power, Soros's future achievements could rival, if not surpass, Vegapunk's.

With Li Yuan's support, Soros might even excel beyond the original Vegapunk.

"Rest assured, Captain. I'll recover quickly and get to work in the lab as soon as possible!" Soros was thrilled at the prospect of having his own lab, a dream for many scientists within the Infinite Pirates.

"My husband, I'm so happy for you. You've finally accomplished what you set out to do!" Lazuli cheered after Soros left.

She knew how much Li Yuan valued Vegapunk, or more accurately, the Brain-Brain Fruit. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths and meticulous planning for this Devil Fruit.

"Now, come back with me. No more staying in the lab all the time!" Li Yuan said, taking Lazuli's hand.

"But didn't I say I'd return after finishing my experiments?" Lazuli pleaded, sensing Li Yuan's intent to take her away immediately.

"No, we're leaving today—right now!" Despite Lazuli's playful protests, Li Yuan remained firm.

Without giving her a chance to argue, he swept her into his arms in a princess carry.

"Shakky, open a portal to the Mirror World. Let's head home!" Li Yuan used the Mirror World for a quick return.

"Lazuli, your husband has missed you dearly. That's why he's in such a hurry," Shakky teased.

Blushing at Shakky's words, Lazuli shyly buried her face in Li Yuan's chest.

Batlier Island in the South Sea:

"Roger, why didn't you tell me you were leaving?"

"How could you abandon us like this, leaving me and our child behind?" Portgas D. Rouge cried, clutching a newspaper.

She had been so in love with Roger, only for him to suddenly vanish from her life. If not for the newspaper, she might never have known of Roger's death.

"Husband, this is the island. You asked me to track Roger, and I found he stayed here for a long time," Shakky informed Li Yuan as they arrived on the remote island.

The Luo Network had not monitored or interacted with Roger or his companions, only noting his prolonged stay here.

Li Yuan came to see if Roger, as in the original story, had left his wife and child on this island without securing their future.

In the original tale, Roger entrusted his family to Garp, a Marine, resulting in Rouge hiding her pregnancy for 20 months to avoid capture by the Marines and World Government, ultimately sacrificing her life.

Li Yuan found Roger's carefree yet irresponsible nature distasteful.

With Roger's power, status, and connections, he could have ensured his wife's safety.

Even asking his crew to protect her would have been better than leaving her alone, relying on Garp.

Li Yuan sought to verify if Rouge was on the island. If she was, he planned to bring her to the Infinite Sea for a better life.

"Let's ask around for a woman named Rouge," Li Yuan suggested.

The island was small, and they quickly located Rouge's residence.

"Who are you?" Rouge asked warily, seeing Li Yuan and Shakky at her door.

"I'm Li Yuan, captain of the Infinite Pirates, and a friend of Roger's. You're carrying his child, aren't you?" Li Yuan said, noticing Rouge's slightly swollen belly.

"The captain of the Infinite Pirates, Li Yuan?" Rouge had heard of him—a renowned pirate like Roger. She hadn't recognized him initially, but his face matched the one in the newspaper.

"I don't know any Roger," Rouge denied, cautious about revealing her connection to Roger, unsure of Li Yuan's true relationship with him.