"That guy knows nothing about Bloodline Factors!"
"He's a Devil Fruit user. That clone must have been created using his Devil Fruit powers!"
"He's a fraud!"
"Otherwise, why wouldn't he even take an assistant?"
After Reddy took over the Punk Hazard research institute, Caesar did everything he could to spread rumors.
These rumors found a receptive audience.
A week had passed since Reddy took control of the research institute, yet he had not given a single order. He had only assigned himself a laboratory.
As a former member of the MADS organization and a colleague of Vegapunk, Caesar easily swayed the opinions of most researchers.
"Since Vegapunk has gone to Egghead, Punk Hazard should be under my control!"
Seeing the rumors spread wider and gain more believers, with complaints in the institute increasing day by day, Caesar hid in his laboratory and snickered.
"Just wait, I'll defeat you with facts!"
As he spoke, Caesar flipped through the experiment records, his expression growing uglier the more he read.
The raw material SAD for creating artificial Devil Fruits, SMILE, had been improved to its limit, with no way to further increase the success rate of artificial Devil Fruits.
These artificial Devil Fruits had severe side effects.
Caesar muttered to himself, frantically thinking of solutions, even forgetting to eat or sleep.
When exhaustion finally hit him, his stomach growled furiously.
"Damn it!"
Caesar left the laboratory to find something to eat, planning to continue his work after filling his stomach.
"Caesar, Dr. Reddy is about to announce a new achievement!"
A few researchers hurried past Caesar, not forgetting to call out to him.
"Nani?!"
Caesar's eyes widened like copper bells.
A new achievement so soon?
Hadn't it only been a week?
"He must be lying!"
With a dark expression, Caesar flew after the researchers, arriving at the entrance of Reddy's laboratory.
By then, dozens of researchers had already gathered there.
Everyone was eagerly discussing what new achievement Reddy had developed.
The rumors Caesar had spread earlier were now completely forgotten.
"I refuse to believe you can produce any impressive new achievement."
Filled with envy and jealousy, Caesar decided to nitpick Reddy's work as soon as it was revealed, determined to suppress Reddy's "arrogance."
Before long, the laboratory door opened.
Everyone's eyes lit up, turning in unison to watch Reddy step out.
"Is everyone here?"
After the World Government designated Punk Hazard as the exclusive research institute for Bloodline Factor technology, most researchers had followed Vegapunk to Egghead.
Only a few dozen remained here.
From this perspective, Bloodline Factors truly were cutting-edge technology.
"Dr. Reddy, everyone is here."
A researcher named Beal spoke, his gaze eagerly peering past Reddy into the laboratory.
"Then come in."
Reddy turned and walked back inside.
The others followed closely.
Caesar lingered at the back of the crowd, carefully observing the laboratory's condition.
Good!
There was no sign of any large-scale experiments!
Caesar swore by his identity as a scientist—this laboratory was practically brand new.
Over 90% of the experimental equipment showed no signs of use.
This?
And he dares to talk about new achievements?
Caesar smugly flew to the front of the crowd, hoping to expose Reddy as a fraud immediately and take over the institute himself.
"All characteristics of life are contained within Bloodline Factors."
Instead of presenting his new achievement right away, Reddy began with a statement that resonated deeply with the researchers.
Everyone's faces lit up with fervor.
This was the domain of the gods.
Every researcher remaining at Punk Hazard was a passionate pursuer of Bloodline Factor technology.
"Hurry up and show us your results!"
Burning with envy, Caesar shouted sarcastically.
Reddy smiled and snapped his fingers.
Another Reddy stepped out from behind a machine.
"Shurorororo... You're not going to say he's your latest achievement, are you?" Caesar maliciously set a trap.
If Reddy admitted this clone was his latest achievement, Caesar had a hundred ways to criticize it.
"He's just the test subject for demonstrating my new achievement."
Hearing this, Caesar's heart skipped a beat.
Using his own clone as a test subject? How ruthless!
"Dr. Reddy, we still have some pirates imprisoned in the institute."
Beal tactfully reminded Reddy that there was no need to use his own clone as a test subject.
The institute might lack many things, but pirates were in ample supply.
"Thank you."
Reddy smiled appreciatively but shook his head. "I know none of you trust me, so I didn't want to use too many of the institute's resources before producing results."
Everyone looked embarrassed.
Over the past few days, they had all spread rumors to some extent.
"I believe in you, Dr. Reddy!"
Beal gazed at Reddy excitedly, then swept a disdainful glance over the others, proudly raising his chin.
"Would you like to be my assistant?"
Reddy was pleasantly surprised to have gained a fan—though he was older and male, such talent was worth nurturing.
Beal was overjoyed and nodded vigorously. "Yes, I'd love to!"
The others couldn't help feeling sour.
Regardless of whether he had achievements or not, his character alone made him a great superior.
"Then let's begin the demonstration."
Reddy got straight to the point, taking out a syringe.
"When a person is injured, they either rely on their cells' natural healing or use drugs to stimulate cell activity and accelerate recovery."
Everyone listened intently.
Caesar, however, was unimpressed.
That's it?
Reddy continued introducing the syringe in his hand.
"All medicine is toxic to some degree. Every drug is harmful to humans, but we ignore the damage for the sake of desired results."
"This is an active agent I extracted from the cells of a certain Sea King."
"It can greatly enhance cell activity while being completely harmless."
As he spoke, he took out a dagger and made a cut on the clone's wrist, then injected the syringe.
Everyone craned their necks to see the results.
"The wound healed!"
Soon, someone noticed the cut on the clone's wrist had already closed.
"Less than a minute!"
"No, to be precise, it only took forty-five seconds!"
"Such an exaggerated effect!"
"As expected of Dr. Reddy!"
The others immediately buzzed with discussion.
This active agent was indeed the best medicine they had ever seen, with an almost unbelievable effect on wound healing.
"Shurorororo... What does this have to do with Bloodline Factors?" Caesar seized the chance to nitpick.
The others paused, their confidence wavering again.
True.
Extracting an active agent from a Sea King's cells didn't seem directly related to Bloodline Factors.
Reddy wagged a finger and smiled mysteriously.
"This Sea King was created by fusing the Bloodline Factors of multiple organisms, all of which possessed powerful regenerative abilities."
"My next research direction is mass-producing this special Sea King."
Everyone gasped.
Mass production?
Did that mean they could mass-produce this incredibly effective healing agent?
This technology would shake the world if released.
Especially for the Marines.
With this active agent, casualty rates could be drastically reduced.
Caesar had nothing to say, his heart filled with bitterness.
But he couldn't find any way to downplay the significance of this remarkable active agent.
Once mass-produced, it would undoubtedly be a strategic-level invention.
Office.
Borsalino had his feet propped on the desk, trimming his nails with a nail clipper.
"Admiral Kizaru!"
The office door was pushed open as a Marine captain rushed in.
"Dr. Reddy has announced a new achievement."
Borsalino froze.
He wasn't completely ignorant of science.
Every invention required time, accumulated through countless failures before yielding results.
Yet Reddy had taken over Punk Hazard only a week ago and already produced something new?
When Borsalino arrived at the laboratory, Reddy was already surrounded by researchers, all clamoring to ask about the technical challenges.
Soon, Borsalino learned about the new achievement from the other researchers and fell silent for a long moment before stepping aside to take out a Den Den Mushi.
"I can't assess the value of Dr. Reddy's new achievement."
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