Hearing Diarmuid's words, Sengoku sounded surprised. "What big plan do you have now?"
"It's a plan about making money, of course. The Gold-Gold Fruit is surely related to gold," Diarmuid said with a chuckle.
"Are you planning to make fake gold? Have some decency!" Sengoku suddenly exclaimed.
Diarmuid: ???
The Gold-Gold Fruit could indeed create gold, but that gold was, in fact, fake; it would quickly revert to its original form if the Devil Fruit user died.
But Diarmuid had genuinely not considered creating fake gold, as it would cause endless chaos, much like counterfeit currency.
But why are your thoughts so scandalous, Admiral Sengoku?
Have you already contemplated these things?
"What fake gold? Familiarity is one thing, but if you speak nonsense like that, I'll sue you for defamation just the same. I am an Admiral of Justice!" Diarmuid declared with righteous indignation.
Sengoku breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever Diarmuid did, the Marines would ultimately have to endorse it. If any problems arose in the future, the Marines' credibility would be shattered.
"I found a talented individual. Maybe in the future, I'll let him open a casino or something. We'll be raking in money daily then," Diarmuid said, chuckling.
The breath Sengoku had just released was sucked back in. He couldn't help but say, "Diarmuid, you sell tobacco, engage in smuggling, use hundreds of thousands of pirate slaves for mining in the Calm Belt, sell arms with Doflamingo, and you've got a hand in the Pleasure District's shady business. And now you want to open a casino? You just said you were a Marine Admiral! I, Sengoku, have surveyed the eight hundred years of Marine history, and I cannot find an Admiral like you!"
"Hey, Admiral, isn't that a bit like burning the bridge after crossing? How could the Marine's development and military budget these years manage without the things you just mentioned? Even though I sell tobacco, engage in smuggling, use slaves, sell arms, run the Pleasure District project, and want to open a casino, I still believe I am an upright and kind Marine Admiral," Diarmuid retorted without reservation.
Sengoku was speaking the truth—in the hundreds of years of Marine history, there was no Admiral like this.
Diarmuid was also speaking the truth. Of all the shady businesses he ran for profit, had he kept a single Berry for himself? Hadn't it all been contributed to the Marines? Wasn't that the definition of a good Admiral?
"I just feel a bit uneasy about it all..." Sengoku muttered softly.
It was evident his heart was deeply conflicted. Otherwise, he wouldn't have instantly handed over the Marine's economic and development authority to Diarmuid, and both he and the Fleet Admiral would have been completely hands-off about whatever Diarmuid did in that area. Why?
Out of sight, out of mind.
It wasn't that Sengoku was inflexible, otherwise Diarmuid wouldn't have been able to grow so powerful. It was just that occasionally, when he thought of these things, he felt conflicted. This was normal. The old man had upheld Justice and fought for the Marines his entire life. Now, he was dealing with an eccentric Admiral like Diarmuid, who engaged in all these flamboyant activities. Even if Sengoku knew it was for the good of the Marines and Diarmuid had no personal gain, it still caused him some internal struggle.
However, Diarmuid had no intention of indulging Sengoku. He pushed the conversation further: "To be honest, I've always felt uneasy too, Admiral. I am such an upright and kind person, and now I've become this. Every day when I sleep, I worry whether the mine in the Calm Belt has collapsed, whether more people have been crushed to death. My conscience is troubled. How about we just stop, Admiral?"
"Stop what?" Sengoku asked, surprised.
"Let's halt all these projects. That way, we'll feel better," Diarmuid said, pretending to be serious.
Sengoku's tone suddenly tightened, and he quickly said, "Diarmuid, you have to be strong! I've ruined half my moral integrity for you, and now you're talking about cleaning up your act and going legit?"
"But didn't you say your conscience was troubled?" Diarmuid said faintly.
"What conscience? What trouble? What conscience do I, Sengoku, even have? It's just opening a casino, right? Go ahead and do it! If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility for you," Sengoku immediately declared.
Are you kidding me? The current situation of the Marines was excellent. Outside, Sakazuki was acting as the crew's hard-hitting enforcer, and inside, Diarmuid was making money like crazy. Both military power and the economy were rapidly growing.
Sengoku, as the internal choice for the next Fleet Admiral, overseeing the big picture, could clearly see that since Diarmuid's Calm Belt project began and up until his current tenure as Admiral, the Marine's condition had improved year after year.
For such enormous benefits, conscience? Why would I need such a thing?
Can a conscience kill pirates? Can a conscience bring peace to the Great Pirate Era?
Of course, Sengoku knew this scoundrel Diarmuid was joking. He felt slightly exasperated, thinking, This kid, he doesn't consider the feelings of an old man like me.
But what could he do? Who could blame him when the boy was reliable in crucial moments?
"Hahahaha, with you, the future Fleet Admiral, vouching for me, I feel much more secure! I promise I won't disappoint you," Diarmuid laughed heartily.
"You brat," Sengoku chuckled, scolding him again.
Only then did he speak seriously again: "Speaking of which, I spoke with Rosinante half a month ago. I was already planning to have him pull out of the Donquixote Family. After all, Doflamingo hasn't posed much of a threat these past few years for some reason. Keeping him there is not only useless but also very dangerous. He's had enough field experience. When he returns, let him work under Tsuru for two more years. Even if his strength is lacking, if I promote him to Rear Admiral, no one will object."
"Exactly. I also think we don't need eyes on Doflamingo anymore. It's too dangerous near that guy. Doflamingo is crazy enough to kill his own father. If Rosinante is exposed, his life will truly be in danger... Let him 'pocket' the Gold-Gold Fruit this time, and then he can come back," Diarmuid said earnestly.
"Mm. I'll give you his Den Den Mushi number. You can talk to him yourself," Sengoku said with a smile.
....
The first half of the Grand Line, Drum Kingdom.
The Drum Kingdom was a winter island, covered in snow year-round with a bitterly cold climate.
However, the Drum Kingdom held an excellent international status because it was a major medical power. The country's medical standard was superb, and it exported a large number of outstanding doctors every year, cooperating with many countries on medical projects.
The people of this country took pride in becoming doctors.
It was said that five out of ten internationally famous doctors originated from the Drum Kingdom, and at least three of the remaining five had studied there.
It was that impressive.
But later, after Wapol ascended to the throne, the country's doctors were systematically persecuted, nearly destroying the Drum Kingdom.
However, Wapol was currently still a spoiled prince, not yet King.
The medical research atmosphere in the country was still very strong.
In a medical center, Rosinante was sitting with the child, Trafalgar D. Water Law, in a consultation room, listening to an old specialist speak.
"We have figured out the mechanism of the Amber Lead Disease. It is a trace metallic toxin, which isn't unusual. In fact, we occasionally encounter these in our lives, like mercury... But what sets Amber Lead apart is that it is hereditary, which baffles us. Furthermore, other trace metallic toxins are typically expelled by the body's metabolism. Some mild conditions can be resolved just by drinking more water... But Amber Lead, once it enters the body, can never be removed. With current medical technology, it is simply incurable. I am very sorry, Rosinante-san." The old specialist shook his head.
He looked at the unfortunate child, Trafalgar Law, with pity and sadness.
Law was expressionless, even slightly amused. He never believed his disease could be cured from the start. Lately, Corazon (Rosinante) had been acting strangely, dragging him to see doctors everywhere, as if he wouldn't give up until Law was cured.
But reality was cruel. After visiting so many famous doctors, the answer was always the same: "It can't be cured. Prepare for death, and say your goodbyes."
"Is there really no way at all? He's just a child. Are we just going to watch this young life..." Rosinante said with a sorrowful expression.
The old specialist was also helpless. As a doctor, he was accustomed to seeing life and death, but as a person, he still couldn't bear it.
Whenever he witnessed such things, he always felt a pang of sadness.
After a short silence, the old specialist said, "There are possibilities, yes. Two methods."
Rosinante, who had been on the verge of despair, instantly perked up. He said, "Please tell me."
"Legend has it that two hundred years ago, alchemists researched a very peculiar metal called 'Pure Gold.' If this metal is worn on the body, it can greatly slow down a person's metabolism. In other words, it fixes a person's physical state in one phase. You could also see it as eternal life... If we can just keep this child alive, perhaps in a few decades, we might have the technology to cure the Amber Lead Disease," the old specialist said.
Rosinante was taken aback. He thought about it carefully and realized he had heard of this. He was small back then, and still a noble Celestial Dragon.
Pure Gold did exist two hundred years ago; even the Celestial Dragons were attracted to it. However, the attempt to acquire it failed, no one got the Pure Gold, and now no one knew where it was.
The technology to create Pure Gold had, of course, been lost...
What's the use of telling me this?
So, Rosinante immediately asked, "I know about Pure Gold. What is the second method?"
The old specialist didn't mind Rosinante's impatience; he had seen this often enough.
He smiled and said, "The second method would be a medical-type Devil Fruit ability. I can't guarantee anything else, but the top medical ability, rumored to break through all incurable diseases... the Op-Op Fruit. If we could acquire the power of this fruit, treating the Amber Lead Disease would be no problem at all. However..."
"However, the Op-Op Fruit has been missing for decades," Rosinante said heavily.
He knew this, too.
In fact, he knew even more. For example, the old specialist didn't know that the Op-Op Fruit could also grant eternal life!
Rosinante was very much aware of this secret.
"The Op-Op Fruit...?" Rosinante murmured, a flicker of determination crossing his eyes.
No matter what, the Op-Op Fruit was much more reliable than Pure Gold.
Law's time was running out. It seemed he had to accelerate his search for the Op-Op Fruit!
"Thank you very much, Doctor Nightingale," Rosinante said thankfully.
"Hehehe, it's nothing. It's just a shame I couldn't solve your problem. My title as 'Soul Hunter of the Underworld' is truly getting old," Doctor Nightingale said, waving his hand with a smile.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Rosinante led Trafalgar Law out of the consultation room.
As they walked, a Den Den Mushi on his person suddenly rang. Rosinante's expression changed. He looked left and right, pulled out the Den Den Mushi, and then his expression shifted to one of surprise and delight.
Diarmuid-nii?
"Diarmuid-nii?" Rosinante answered the Den Den Mushi.
"It's been a long time since I've heard your voice, Rosinante. Where are you?" Diarmuid asked, chuckling.
Rosinante didn't hide anything and replied directly, "I'm in the Drum Kingdom."
"Drum Kingdom? What did you go there for?" Diarmuid asked in surprise.
At this moment, Trafalgar Law, standing beside Rosinante, looked at him in surprise... Diarmuid?
Isn't Diarmuid the name of that Marine Admiral?