User blog comment:Feroza/Vegapunk's research team: Possible members/@comment-24850639-20160928213042

This is very interesting. There's small things in each case that make me a little wary on fully believing them, but I can tell you've put a lot of thought and research into these.

Blackbeard - He's definitely an older character, and probably has some pretty deep pre-series history like Shanks and Rayleigh, but I'm not really seeing the scientist angle. If their work was interupted by the WG and they went on the run, I'm not sure how the WG didn't recognize him, and even gave him special privleges as Shichibukai for doing nothing but turning in a bounty. I also don't think he would have chosen the most notorious career the WG would chase him for, being a pirate.

Kureha - I'm inclined to believe this one a little more. Her expertise is medical science, and I'm sure she could definitely weigh in on quite a bit on things relating to human genetics. She taught Chopper after all, who knows his DF so well that he was able to create an edible means to change his form whenvever he likes. In the entire realm of devil fruit knowledge and aptitude, awakening included, what Chopper was able to accomplish is definitely the most impressive in my books, and I don't think it gets enough credit. Her age is also definitely a major unexplained phenomenon. However, Drum Island has long been affiliated with the WG, and with her role in the country, she isn't exactly doing much to hide. She's also coming to the Reverie at that. I suppose she was probably quite a bit younger if she did run with this research team back in the day, but I don't think it would have been long ago that they don't recognize her.

Crocodile - I'd just repeat the sentiment about his relationship with the WG. Though with the Ivankov situation, its possible he could have been a woman that went by a different name. In addition to this, its been foreshadowed that he will make some kind of appearance in the New World, so we know we'll see him again. I can't tie him to Lassoo, because I'm not sure how he recruited the BW officers if they don't know what he looked like, but I'll agree that is DF knowledge is pretty up there.