One Piece: Scientist Simulator

"Ten thousand kilometers?"

Enel couldn't help but glance at the moon.

The bright orb hanging in the night sky appeared enormous, almost within reach.

Only 10,000 kilometers? The number felt strange to him. At his speed, transformed into lightning, he could likely reach the moon by morning if he started flying now.

"Yes, ten thousand kilometers," Edie confirmed with a nod. "Over the past few months, I built a radar system in Mariejois specifically for measuring distances. The moon's distance fluctuates—its farthest point is 15,000 kilometers, and its nearest is around 9,300 kilometers. Today, as we approach perigee, it's about 10,000 kilometers away."

He explained further, detailing the radar's simple principle: measuring the time taken for a radio pulse signal to return from the lunar surface, then calculating the distance using speed and time. The accuracy, Edie noted, could reach the meter or even centimeter level.

While there were other methods to measure the moon's distance, their margin of error was larger.

Edie himself had been surprised when he first discovered the moon's proximity.

"Just 10,000 kilometers? On a cosmic scale, that's like having it on our doorstep," he remarked. "It's as if you step outside your house and walk straight to the moon."

He paused before adding something even more astonishing: "Not only is it close, but the moon is also moving toward us."

This contradicted everything Edie knew from his past life, where the moon moved away from Earth annually. Yet, in the One Piece world, the opposite was true.

Enel frowned. "Will it fall on us?"

"Not for another 200 million years," Edie replied matter-of-factly. "When it reaches the Roche limit, gravity will tear it apart, turning it into meteorites that will eventually fall to the planet."

"Stop lying!" Enel scoffed, his disbelief palpable. "Do you think you're a god, predicting events 200 million years in the future?"

Edie chuckled softly. "I'm no god. I'm a scientist. What I shared is simply the current scientific judgment. But remember—science isn't truth. It's merely a tool to explore truth. And when our tools are primitive, errors are inevitable. People 200 million years from now can worry about it."

Enel narrowed his eyes. "What's your point in telling me this?"

Edie shrugged. "I just wanted to chat. You don't like talking about the moon?"

Enel couldn't deny his curiosity. He dreamed of building a golden ship to fly to the moon and rule the infinite land there.

"Fine, let's talk. But first, untie these shackles."

Without hesitation, Edie tossed him the key.

Enel stared in disbelief before unlocking the seastone shackles, instantly regaining his Thunder Fruit abilities. Yet, to Edie's surprise, he didn't flee.

"You could've done this earlier. Why the fuss during the day?" Enel muttered, flexing his stiff neck.

"Dr. Edie," the scientist introduced himself with a calm smile.

Enel rubbed his temples. "How long was I out?"

"About six hours," Edie replied.

The events before his unconsciousness flashed in Enel's mind. Conqueror's Haki. Observation Haki. Armament Haki. All three!

He couldn't ignore the revelation—his so-called "Heart Network" was merely a primitive form of Observation Haki. The realization ignited a spark of curiosity about the Blue Sea.

Like a frog glimpsing the vast sky beyond its well, he now felt an irresistible urge to explore.

"You said all the gold here is gone?"

"Disappeared," Edie corrected. He had no idea where the system took the gold as payment. Theories ranged from parallel worlds to void creation, but nothing concrete.

Enel scowled. "Without gold, there's no point staying here. I need it for my golden spaceship."

Edie raised an eyebrow. "Gold for a spaceship? What a waste."

"Gold transmits energy without loss. Only a golden ship can match my abilities perfectly!"

"Who told you that?"

"My schoolteacher."

Edie gave him a look of pure disdain, as if Enel were a complete fool.

"If gold could transmit energy without loss, do you think the civilizations here would remain stuck on this planet? It generates heat during conduction, proving energy loss. You've been duped, Enel."

Enel's face flushed with rage. "That b*d teacher! Luckily, I already destroyed the school and killed him!"

Edie blinked, momentarily speechless.

"I'll send you to the moon," he offered finally.

"Huh? How?"

"A rocket. With your Logia abilities, safety isn't a concern. It's like launching a missile 10,000 kilometers away."

Enel hesitated, skepticism etched on his face.

Edie grinned. "When the time comes, I'll broadcast your moon landing to the world. You'll be the first astronaut to make history. You can say something like, 'One small step for me, one giant leap for mankind.'"

"Astronaut?"

"People who seize territory on other planets."

Enel's eyes gleamed. "So space pirates?. I like it."

Despite his interest, Enel declared, "I'll explore the Blue Sea first. Then I'll decide."

Edie wasn't worried. He had time to build his rocket, using Enel's Thunder Fruit as its power source. After all, in this world, the moon was just a stone's throw away.

The next morning, Edie returned to the Hive Research Institute. Without delay, he used Enel's blood to create a new ability ring.

[Ability Ring: Thunder]

Standing on the rooftop of the institute, he slipped the ring onto his finger.

"Thunder, activate!"

He extended his right hand, palm facing the sky.

Rumble!

A powerful bolt of lightning shot upward, tearing through the heavens. Moments later, dark clouds gathered above Beehive Island, and a light rain began to fall.

"Mr. Edie."

Monet appeared, holding an umbrella. She hurried across the rooftop, shielding Edie from the rain.

"You'll catch a cold standing here like this," she said with genuine concern.

Since being sent to Beehive Island as a gift from Doflamingo, Monet had adapted to her role under Edie's command.

"Monet? Are you overseeing the maids now?"

"Hancock has been busy lately, so she entrusted me with managing them," Monet replied nervously. "Is there something I've done wrong, Mr. Edie?"

"Not at all," Edie said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "How are things otherwise?"

Monet hesitated briefly but then replied, "Everything is running smoothly."

As she turned to leave, Edie stopped her. "Wait. Contact Vegapunk and ask him to meet me in the Holy Land."

"Yes, Mr. Edie," Monet said, ready to comply.

"And…" Edie thought for a moment before listing additional names. "Reach out to Caesar Clown and Queen. Notify the Germa Kingdom as well and invite the Vinsmoke family as guests. Lastly, track down Tom's studio. Where are they now?"

Monet tilted her head, recalling the details. "Tom's disciple, Mr. Iceburg, was recently appointed mayor of Water 7. They've returned to the Seven Waters Capital. Tom has resumed work on the Sea Train, and the island has flourished once again."

"Excellent. Summon Tom and have him bring the Pluton blueprints to Mariejois."

Edie gave the order with casual finality, as if the matter was already decided.

Monet, unfazed, simply nodded. "Understood, I'll make the arrangements immediately."

Without further questions, she departed to carry out her tasks.

Edie remained on the rooftop, the umbrella shielding him from the drizzle as he gazed at the horizon. His mind churned with plans.

The Four MADS Scientists, assembled once more.

Adding himself to the equation, the possibilities were endless. Designing a missile capable of reaching over 10,000 kilometers? Child's play. Launching a rocket to send someone beyond the atmosphere? Even easier.

He smirked. "If everything proceeds smoothly…"

His gaze pierced through the clouds and into the starry abyss beyond. The moon called to him—not just as a destination, but as a means to confirm a hypothesis.

Does this world's universe truly have an atmosphere?

Edie's lips curled into a sly grin. "We'll find out soon enough."

One month later, the Vinsmoke family arrived in the Holy Land of Mariejois. Their meeting with Edie took place near the Void Throne, a location that radiated both power and history.

"Dear Dr. Edie, it is an honor to meet you," said Vinsmoke Judge, King of the Germa Kingdom, his face unusually adorned with a smile.

For a man who rarely laughed, Judge's expression betrayed the excitement of meeting someone he admired deeply.

Edie, seated comfortably with a cup of tea in hand, regarded him with a mixture of casual indifference and sharp scrutiny. "I've heard some... interesting things about your activities in North Blue," he said, his tone cutting through Judge's enthusiasm like a blade.

Judge's heart skipped a beat. He knew exactly what Edie meant.

"Several kings from the coalition government have complained," Edie continued, his voice steady. "They allege that you've been extorting research funds from them for years."

Judge straightened, trying to mask his unease. "Dr. Edie," he began hurriedly, "your achievements have inspired me for so long. I've merely sought to emulate your brilliance."

Edie sipped his tea, unimpressed.

Judge, realizing there was no escaping scrutiny, explained his methods. In North Blue, where petty wars among nations were common, Germa had found a lucrative niche. Initially, Judge rented his army to various factions for a fee. Over time, he abandoned this inefficiency in favor of outright blackmail.

"If a nation refused to pay, I'd simply offer my army to their rivals," Judge admitted, his voice tinged with forced confidence. "After collecting payment, I'd turn to the rival nation and demand their cooperation under similar terms. The cycle repeated, and the funds grew exponentially."

Edie set down his cup. "A clever strategy, but not without consequences. Over twenty kings have lodged complaints with the coalition government. Do you think they'll ignore this forever?"

Judge broke into a cold sweat. "I understand, Dr. Edie. I'll cease this behavior immediately!"

Edie's expression softened, though his tone remained firm. "I overlooked your actions before because you're an excellent scientist. But now, it's time to clean up your act."

"Dr. Edie, what can I do to mitigate the fallout from this?" Judge asked, his desperation apparent.

Edie regarded him thoughtfully. "Join the coalition government as a member state. The Germa Kingdom shouldn't drift aimlessly on the sea. As a technological power, it needs a stable territory."

Judge's eyes lit up. "Dr. Edie, the Vinsmoke family is willing to serve you and the coalition government!"

Edie smirked. "Don't get ahead of yourself. To join, you'll need to implement significant reforms. The coalition government has its own 'World Law,' and Germa must align with it."

Judge nodded vigorously. "Anything you require, Dr. Edie. I'll reform the laws, the military, even myself if necessary!"

Nearby, a maid chuckled softly at Judge's overly eager response. Judge glanced at her, an idea sparking in his mind. "Dr. Edie, as a token of our commitment, the Germa Kingdom wishes to offer our advanced human modification technology to the coalition government."

Edie raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

Judge continued eagerly. "This technology is highly developed. It involves altering the bloodline factors during the embryonic stage, granting enhanced physical abilities such as exoskeletons, resilience, and extraordinary strength—though it does come at the cost of emotions."

He paused, gauging Edie's reaction, but the scientist's expression remained unreadable.

"My children have all undergone these modifications," Judge added quickly. "My eldest daughter, Reiju, is the most successful. I'd be honored if you allowed her to stay in your laboratory to assist your research."

Edie took a measured sip of his coffee, his mind turning. Over the years, Kaido, Doflamingo, and even Big Mom had all attempted to curry favor by offering gifts, often involving women.

This trend was becoming tiresome.

Edie set down his cup and stood. "No need for additional gestures," he said, placing a hand on Judge's shoulder. "Let's focus on real technological advancements. Follow me."

Relief washed over Judge as he quickly rose to his feet. "Of course, Dr. Edie!"

With that, the two departed the chamber, leaving the Void Throne behind. Judge, now under Edie's guidance, couldn't help but feel that his dream of restoring Germa's glory was finally within reach.

Judge followed Edie into a sleek, high-tech laboratory where he immediately recognized familiar faces.

"Vegapunk, Caesar, Queen... it's been a long time," Judge said, his tone betraying a mix of nostalgia and irritation.

"Judge! North Blue's big shot now, huh? The King of Germa," Caesar quipped, his trademark sly grin plastered across his face.

Judge kept his composure. "After MADS disbanded, you all scattered. Vegapunk joined the government, Queen became a pirate, and I pursued my ambitions."

Queen snorted in protest. "Pirate? Please, show some respect. I was Wanokuni's chief scientist."

"Piracy's irrelevant now, Queen. We're all here for science," Edie interrupted. "Now, let's get down to business."

As they settled in, Edie nodded to Stussy, the poised clone of Miss Bakkin, who quickly exited to retrieve another guest. Within moments, Tom, the legendary shipwright, entered carrying a stack of intricate blueprints.

"Mr. Edie," Tom began, handing over the papers, "this is the Pluton design you requested. But tell me, why would you need it when you already have a Pluton battleship?"

Edie gestured for everyone to gather around as he unveiled a drawing on the clipboard. The concept art depicted an elegant, futuristic rocket.

"I'm building a rocket to send people to the moon," Edie announced with an air of finality.

The room fell silent for a moment before Queen broke it. "The moon? What could you possibly want up there?"

"There was once a civilization on the moon," Vegapunk revealed, catching everyone off guard. "The lunar people left behind advanced technology on my home island, Karakuri, centuries ago."

"You've been holding out on us, Vegapunk!" Caesar snapped, his pride stung.

Vegapunk sighed. "Much of it was lost to time, and I've spent my life piecing together what I could."

Edie brought the discussion back on track. "The moon is more than a historical curiosity; it's a gateway to untapped knowledge. That's why this rocket must succeed."

The scientists examined Edie's design. Vegapunk raised an eyebrow. "Electric propulsion, no chemical fuel? You're using the energy of the Thunder-Thunder Fruit?"

"Precisely," Edie replied. "A sustainable, powerful energy source beats conventional methods."

Queen interjected, skeptical. "Why bother with a rocket when you could just float there using the Float-Float Fruit?"

Edie's glare silenced him. "This isn't just about reaching the moon. It's about advancing our understanding of science."

"There is no need to consider the safety of the specific astronaut I selected, no need for chemical fuel, or even return from the moon..."

After everyone discussed for a while, Vegapunk judged: "It can be done in half a year."

Although we have never built a moon landing rocket, judging from the difficulty of research and development, it should not be troublesome.

Half a year is a conservative estimate.

"Why use this long cylindrical shape? There is no need for chemical fuel, and there is no need to consider fuel storage and propulsion. It can be just a cube, right?" Queen Spat.

There was no airplane in this world, and the development of aerodynamics was approximately zero.

But out of a scientist's intuition, Queen could still guess that the reason why this kind of rocket looks like this is to save fuel. 

"I like it the look of it, okay?" 

Edie is very willful.

Why use cylindrical rockets? Of course it's nostalgia from his past life.

"The codename of the rocket is [Tsukuyomi]..." 

Next to him, Tom asked: "Mr. Edie, although I am a shipbuilder, I can't build rockets."

The concept of rockets still exists in this world.

Straw Hat Luffy has a move called "Rubber Rocket".

Tom had heard of rockets, but how to build them was a problem for him.

"I'm not asking you to build the rocket. After the Tsukuyomi rocket is completed, if everything goes well..." 

Over the next several months, the laboratory buzzed with activity. The first rocket, a modest 15 meters tall, launched successfully into the atmosphere but failed to reach the moon.

Adjustments were made, and four more experimental rockets followed. Each one brought incremental improvements, though none achieved the ultimate goal.

Finally, on the fifth attempt, after four grueling months, the electric rocket named Tsukuyomi broke through. It soared past Earth's atmosphere, crossed 10,000 kilometers of space, and was captured by the moon's gravity.

The room erupted in applause as the rocket crash-landed on the lunar surface, bursting into a dazzling display of sparks.

"It exploded, but it made it!" Queen cheered.

Edie smirked, unbothered by the rocket's fiery demise. "Enel won't care about a crash. He's a Logia after all. Now, the real work begins."

As the team celebrated their milestone, Edie turned his attention back to Pluton's designs.

"With this success, the next step is combining Pluton and Uranus technologies to construct a spaceship," he declared.

The lab fell silent again, but this time it was a silence of awe. They weren't just chasing history—they were making it.