Chapter 189: Want to Meet Star Lord? Then Right Now!
"Anyway, that's the situation—Sapphire Scale is not an ordinary disease, Lord Hitsujii."
Vegapunk wiped his eyes, sniffled, and looked at Hitsujii.
"The 'Fountain of Youth' you created can restore her vitality, but cannot reshape the collapsed lineage factor in her body... Sapphire Scale still exists, just temporarily alleviated."
What he said now was exactly what he told Kuma earlier.
In fact, without him saying, Hitsujii could guess—even without checking the 'Fruit Encyclopedia' prompt, he could sense Bonney's vitality essence was indeed still being consumed continuously, and the Sapphire Scale on her body hadn't disappeared.
"This old man checked some top-secret documents inside the Government. Coincidentally, some documents resemble Bonney's situation, recording various lineage factor diseases. Among them, file D5R-34X shows..."
"This old man considered stem cell transplantation, but first need to determine Bonney's lineage factor sequence..."
Vegapunk started talking about his views, using very professional terminology that Hitsujii couldn't understand at all.
However, Hitsujii knew one thing—Vegapunk naturally would find something in the World Government's internal documents. After all, Bonney's disease originated from Saturn's lineage factor experiment on an infant.
However, although this genius scientist Vegapunk had unique talents in scientific research.
In other areas, he clearly couldn't be omniscient—at least he knew nothing about Saturn's experiment on Bonney and her mother.
However, just as Hitsujii was pondering whether to tell them this matter...
"So, this old man and Kuma... want to request your organization's assistance!"
He heard Vegapunk say such words after a long string of professional terms.
Hitsujii: "?"
Assistance? Assist what?
But while he muttered internally, before he could speak.
He heard Vegapunk say deeply, "This old man knows your organization's research on lineage factors is transcendent, far above this old man."
Hitsujii was even more confused.
Lineage factor research? Far above Vegapunk?
He brainstormed frantically—where exactly did it go wrong? How could Vegapunk have such a ridiculous idea?
But moments later, he knew the answer.
Because he heard Vegapunk's voice filled with a scientist's fanaticism and excited curiosity: "If this old man's research is correct—your side has mastered 'Fruit Fusion' technology through lineage factors, right?"
Hearing this.
"..."
Under the mask, Roy froze first, then his eyes became unprecedentedly stern.
First time.
This was the first time someone said the term "Fruit Fusion" in front of him.
This was the first time someone spoke part of "The Zodiac's" ability.
But just then...
"Lord Hitsujii."
Kuma, who had been watching Bonney chasing and playing with other bobbleheads from afar, spoke softly.
His voice remained gentle and steady.
"We have no intention of probing your secrets."
"Vegapunk and I have agreed. After this conversation, I will 'Pat Out' and destroy today's memory. Vegapunk will also thoroughly destroy all information related to your side. He will even seal his 'Inspiration' so he won't conduct similar research again."
"After this matter, whether we reach cooperation or not, we won't remember the content of today's conversation—we will only know there was such a conversation."
"Please believe me, although Vegapunk and I are limited by identity, we are not on the side of the 'World Government'."
After the previous incident, his attitude toward Hitsujii became more sincere and close.
"Of course... if you are still worried, you can propose other solutions—as long as Vegapunk's safety isn't harmed, I will agree. And..."
Speaking of this, he saw Bonney fall, then picked up by Linlin.
The corners of his mouth were picked up too.
"Regardless of the result, I am grateful to you."
Hearing this.
The sternness in Hitsujii's eyes finally seemed to fade.
Leaving others aside.
He believed Kuma and Vegapunk's words.
"Dr. Vegapunk, can you tell me how you discovered it?"
He looked at Vegapunk, asking somewhat puzzledly.
"First, this old man read the 'Devil Fruit Encyclopedia'. It records the basic effects of most fruit abilities, but none match the abilities displayed by your members currently."
"Besides that, this old man found more than one lineage factor in the Fountain of Youth..."
Vegapunk didn't hesitate, mentioning his research on the Fountain of Youth slightly.
Then, he added, "Besides that, what confirmed this matter for this old man was that 'Big Event' your side did recently."
He didn't hide his discovery. "That 'Azure Dragon Fruit · Model: Crimson Dragon' is this old man's work. This old man knows its effects clearly—your 'Ryuji' (Dragon) displayed weather control ability far exceeding its threshold."
"So this old man guesses your side might have collected other weather-type Devil Fruits, extracted lineage factors, and merged them into that fruit, enhancing its effect?"
He guessed pretentiously.
"And researching lineage factors, this old man guesses it's that 'Star Lord'? His abilities are the most mixed, must be the master of lineage factor modification."
Hearing this, Hitsujii breathed a sigh of relief internally.
Clearly—even the genius scientist Vegapunk couldn't escape the limitations of the world and vision.
Just like although he found most of the world's secrets in the original story, he seemed unaware of "Imu's" existence.
His cognition of The Zodiac was still within the scope of fruit development via "Lineage Factors".
But in fact, The Zodiac was basically cheating.
Fruit Encyclopedia's fruit fusion wasn't extracting partial fruit abilities for enhancement, but perfectly stacking all fused fruit abilities and gaining extra effects.
So...
"Is this the reason Dr. Vegapunk said we need to assist?"
Hitsujii didn't admit, nor deny.
In Vegapunk's view, Hitsujii clearly defaulted.
"Correct."
"This old man might be able to cure Bonney, but it would take at least half a year or longer to slowly reshape her lineage factor. This cannot be hidden from Saturn."
"So Doctor is sure my organization can complete the treatment in a shorter time?"
Hitsujii asked back with a smile.
"No."
Vegapunk shook his head. "Since it's research, where is the concept of 'Certainty'?"
As a scientist, he clearly had a scientist's rigor.
Maintaining doubt of "Uncertainty" toward research results was the ladder of scientific progress.
"But this old man has a way to increase probability, making it close to 'Certainty'."
So now, Vegapunk took a deep breath.
"To be honest."
"This old man has a research material on hand. It's a precious item related to the 'Essence of Lineage Factor' discovered by this old man and colleagues years ago."
"This old man and colleagues' lineage factor research started because of them, but in recent years, research on it has stagnated."
Speaking of this, Vegapunk's face flushed with excitement first, then became somewhat downcast when mentioning stagnation.
"This is also the selfishness of asking Kuma to invite you this time—this old man hopes your side can research that material, perhaps achieving a breakthrough, cracking the essence of 'Lineage Factor'."
Speaking of this, he was almost dancing with excitement.
He knew the significance of cracking the "Essence of Lineage Factor".
That not only meant Bonney's Sapphire Scale disease was no longer a problem, but more critically... the terrible truth he discovered through research these years would have a possibility of reversal.
That was the hope he pursued these years but never saw.
He didn't even care if this "Breakthrough" was completed by himself.
Thinking of this, his expression returned to solemnity.
He put his legs together, bowing deeply to Hitsujii. "So, this old man boldly requests..."
That was his true purpose in meeting Hitsujii this time.
"Location, position, time don't matter."
"No matter what, this old man wants to meet 'Star Lord' once."
Hearing this.
Hitsujii fell silent.
Under the mask, Roy considered pros and cons.
He could feel Vegapunk's sincerity, even overly sincere.
But Roy was truly interested in this.
Because...
[Lineage Factor Development — Analysis Progress 19.92%]
[Collecting Devil Fruits can accelerate analysis speed.]
[When analysis progress reaches 100%, unlock Special Slot 'Fruit Creation Slot'.]
At this moment, Roy could see the prompt of the Fruit Encyclopedia in his eyes.
Since unlocking the "Fruit Fusion Slot", he hadn't paid attention to the next slot for a long time.
He only knew the progress bar inside the Fruit Encyclopedia grew slowly every day, currently approaching one-fifth.
Regarding this new fruit slot, Roy actually had no clear guess—he could only roughly guess from the name and unlock condition that this thing should be related to lineage factors.
So, he originally planned to collect information related to lineage factors, just hadn't had the chance—in the World Government's internal data, even with Admiral authority, he couldn't investigate.
But now, Vegapunk said the research material on hand directly related to the "Essence of Lineage Factor".
So...
"Just right, convenient now..."
Thinking of this, Roy made a decision.
So the next moment...
"No need to pick time and location."
Vegapunk and Kuma heard Hitsujii say with a chuckle.
"The Leader is willing to meet you—Right Now."
As this sentence was spoken, the two found Hitsujii's voice and posture changed instantly.
The Sheep Mask dissipated slowly before them.
Replacing it was the flickering, magnificent Starlight.
☆☆☆
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