"What bad luck! This deal was a huge loss—we just blew over a billion Berries." Qingcheng grumbled as he walked out, turning back to warn the others that if they broke anything else, he'd kick them out.
"Looks like I'll have to find food myself." Outside, Qingcheng looked toward the golden sunset in the west, muttered to himself, and vanished instantly with a shunpo (flash step).
"Garp, that's unlike you. In the past, you'd have punched someone by now. But this time, you stopped at the last second," Sengoku said with a smile.
"No matter what, we owe him a favor," Garp replied between bites.
"Are you stupid!" Sengoku couldn't help but scold, remembering Garp's painful expression earlier. "This was just a deal between you two. But that guy's medical skills really are impressive. My injuries were completely healed—those kinds of wounds would've taken over a month to recover from even at Marineford."
"Even if it was a deal, whether it was saving you or experimenting on me, we both gained from it," Garp said.
"Oh right," Sengoku asked, "what kind of experiment did he conduct on you? Judging from your pain, it didn't seem ordinary."
"A gene enhancement experiment," Garp revealed without hesitation. "You could say I've become a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user. He injected regenerative genes from a gecko into my DNA—and it worked. I'm now a user of the Regeneration Fruit, and I'm immune to seawater and seastone."
"What!?" Sengoku's pupils shrank. "Are you serious?"
"Watch this." Garp sliced his hand with a knife, and within seconds it fully healed.
"Just what kind of person is he to possess such medical skills?" Sengoku was even more stunned than Garp. With this level of technology, if used for evil, he could be a world-class demon king. No, we must recruit him into the Navy.
Thinking about it, Sengoku began wandering through the house and eventually found a study filled with books. He picked one up and flipped through it—then another, and another… By the time he walked out, his face was full of shock. Every book was a medical text, collected from all corners of the world, and each book clearly stated its place of origin.
"This guy definitely has an extraordinary background. Otherwise, how could he collect medical books from so many places? No, I have to investigate." Sengoku took out his newly bought Den Den Mushi and made a call.
Buru buru… Buru buru…
At Marineford, in the Admiral's office, a man with a Mohawk and an M-shaped mustache picked up the call. "This is Kong."
"Brother Kong, it's me—Sengoku," came Sengoku's voice.
"Sengoku! You're okay? I heard the ship under your command lost contact—I was worried. Where are you now? I'll send someone to pick you up."
"Let's not talk about that yet. I need you to investigate someone important. His name is Qingcheng. He's a doctor, but that's probably not his full name. I'll send you a photo now."
"Alright," Kong responded. "For someone to get your attention, he must not be an ordinary doctor. Tell me more."
Sengoku explained everything that happened before ending the call, leaving Kong in shock in his office.
This kind of technology exists? If it can really enhance genes, then theoretically it could mass-produce Zoan-type users.
"No—we must recruit him to the Navy. Who knows, this could be my chance to become Fleet Admiral!" Kong thought excitedly. He had long coveted the position.
"Hello, this is Kong. Intelligence Division? I need a full profile on someone named Qingcheng. I'll send over a photo—get me everything you can as fast as possible…"
That night, after finishing his large meal, Qingcheng returned to his room—only to find Sengoku waiting inside with a dazzling smile.
"Dr. Qingcheng, welcome back. Can we talk about something?" Sengoku smiled.
Qingcheng: "I don't swing that way. Just get to the point."
"Swing what way?" Sengoku asked in confusion, then said seriously, "Right, could you perform an experiment on me?"
"So that's what this is about." Qingcheng realized and immediately refused. "No."
"Why not?" Sengoku asked urgently. If he could regenerate like Garp, his power would soar.
"Because your physical constitution is far worse than Garp's." Qingcheng explained, "If Garp's cell vitality is 10, yours is 2. Even on Garp, the experiment's success rate was less than 50%. If I did it on you, your body would instantly explode."
Sengoku was dumbfounded. "Seriously?"
"Yes," Qingcheng nodded solemnly.
Sengoku's face dropped. "So my body's that weak? No wonder Garp always recovers faster than me…"
"That experiment was a failure anyway. Garp's success was pure luck. Now don't bother me. Also, there's only one bed in this house—you guys can sleep on the sofa."
"Wait!" Sengoku called out.
"What now?"
"You have such incredible medical skills—why stay in a place like this? Join the Navy. We can provide more medical resources, better equipment, and even… test subjects."
"Human experimentation?" Qingcheng's face darkened. "So the Navy really is corrupt—using humans as guinea pigs. I only performed the experiment on Garp because he volunteered."
"You've got it wrong," Sengoku explained. "Those test subjects are death row inmates. We're giving them a chance to atone. These experiments are for the future of humanity!"
"Wow, what a noble excuse—I almost believed it," Qingcheng laughed. "Let me make this clear. I'm not like that idiot Garp. As a member of the D. Clan, I'd never work for the Celestial Dragons. Even if we're scattered, even as a normal doctor, I'll never serve them."
Sengoku's face changed. "You're also one of the D. Clan?"
"Bingo." Qingcheng yawned as he approached his bedroom. "Harvis D. Biliya Qingcheng."
"You've heard of him, Garp?" Sengoku asked.
"Of course," Garp replied while eating. "His family's on our clan's genealogy chart—related to the Monkey clan."
"Still eating? Even after he insulted you?" Sengoku scolded.
"But he's not wrong," Garp replied.
Sengoku was speechless. Honestly, the Navy still wasn't sure if Garp had any ulterior motives when he joined. They had investigated him thoroughly back in the day.
Buru buru… Buru buru…
Sengoku's Den Den Mushi rang again.
He didn't pick it up immediately but walked far from the house before answering.
"Hello, Brother Kong?"
"It's me. I found your guy. Full name: Harvis Qingcheng, age: 41. Born on Sakrona Island in the North Blue. Profession: Doctor. But he was reported lost at sea in a shipwreck 18 years ago—didn't expect he survived."
"Brother Kong, looks like the Navy's intel department still needs improvement," Sengoku sighed.
"What? Something wrong?" Kong asked, surprised.
"Harvis Qingcheng isn't his full name. I just learned it—he's actually Harvis D. Biliya Qingcheng. Like Garp, he's also of the D. Clan. But unlike Garp, he'll never join the Navy because of the Celestial Dragons. Oh, and about the gene enhancement—his tech isn't fully developed. Garp only survived because of his unique body. If it were me, I would've exploded instantly."
"That's unfortunate… but fine. Just to make sure he doesn't cause trouble—or get recruited by pirates—you and Garp will stay stationed on Starfish Island for now. I'll send a unit over."
"What!?" Sengoku yelled. "How long do we have to stay? I don't want to waste time here!"
"What do you mean 'waste'? You can use the time to train Armament Haki with Garp. Look at Zephyr—his Haki's already stronger than both of yours."
"Tch. I can harden my whole body—can he?"
"Have you gone stupid hanging around Garp too long?" Kong snapped. "You think Zephyr can't do full-body hardening? He's just focusing all his Haki into his fists—that's why his attacks hit harder."
"…How long do we have to stay?"
"Until your Haki matches his. Oh, and I just got a Mythical Zoan Fruit—rarer than a Logia. I'll send it to you."
"Really!?" Sengoku lit up. He had been searching for a Logia—now he'd get something even better.
"Really." Kong hung up.
La la la la la…
Sengoku hummed a cheerful tune as he walked back.