Chapter 439: Sage Gave Too Much
Chapter 439: Sage Gave Too Much
The ice-covered island of Ice Island was under a blizzard, so cold that it was difficult to even stand. The pirate crew members who followed suit put on sturdy spiked leather armor.
It was the kind of metal leather windproof armor that exposed the chest and ribs, but not entirely, as they also wore pirate shirts underneath.
Since Sage gained the title of 'Cataclysm', the crew's attire had become somewhat standardized.
Uniformity was necessary; it didn't matter for a small pirate crew, but with a larger group, it became difficult to distinguish who was who.
In the end, Sage relented to Renetia's request and chose this post-apocalyptic style of spiked leather, reminiscent of the Beasts Pirates, but with colorful shirts and pants, also reminiscent of the Big Mom Pirates.
He didn't skimp on his crew, providing them with clothing and weapons at his own expense.
After all, he could acquire these items from other sources, and clothing could also contribute to economic development. He chose this style as it allowed for both.
Fabric, leather, and scrap metal could become new supply chains, further boosting the economies of the territories under his control.
Since it was all his, there was no question of profit or loss.
"Thriller Bark Law?"
Renetia extended her small hand, stroking her delicate chin. After a moment's thought, she blinked and said, "Ah, he's the one who owes Sage fifty-two billion bellies from two years ago. Is he here too?"
"Yes, he's one of the Seven Warlords, currently working with Caesar, but he's not easy to talk to. I met him before and was hit by his ability, which changed me into what I am now."
Monet smiled, "Many of our crew members have been modified, but as a result, they've gained rare animal abilities."
"Hmm? I don't think he was here last time."
Renetia shook her head, "Never mind, we'll collect the debt later. Monet, how are our people doing?"
"They're learning well, and some have already started helping Caesar. Please follow me."
Monet smiled and waved her wings, leading the group towards a massive building covered in snow and ice.
After opening the door, they entered a deep, dark corridor and soon arrived at a lounge.
Renetia unceremoniously sat down on the lounge sofa, while Wibul stood behind her obediently, like a bodyguard.
"Where's Caesar? Get him to see me!"
"Please wait a moment, Lady Renetia. I'll contact him right away."
Monet smiled and poured a glass of juice for Renetia, not daring to delay. She immediately pressed the emergency contact button.
"Pressing this will alert Caesar, and he'll be here soon," Monet explained.
Despite their familiarity from previous transactions and meetings, there was no hint of disrespect.
These two were no ordinary individuals.
The tall man, Wibul, was one of the Triphaze, known as the 'Wind Phase'. Renetia, on the other hand, was a core officer of Cataclysm since the East Blue era.
Even their young master, standing behind them, dared not slack off.
Soon, a gas-like humanoid figure emerged from the dark corridor.
The gas-like figure wore a gas-like overcoat, with a light yellow striped suit underneath, black pointed hair, and horn-like accessories on his head.
"Monet! What's the emergency that's interrupting my important experiment?" Caesar exclaimed.
Before he could finish, he noticed a young girl sitting on the sofa, her eyes momentarily brightening, but upon closer inspection, he broke into a cold sweat.
The gas-like overcoat disappeared, transforming into a light-colored fur coat, and the figure dropped to the ground, flitting his hands like a fly, "Oh ho ho ho ho, it's Lady Renetia and Lord Wibul. Long time no see."
"Cut the chatter, Caesar. Have you developed the antibiotic we requested? It's been a year, and we've given you so much money. What's the progress? We need results!" Renetia demanded, glaring at him through a straw.
Caesar Couran, known as the 'Genius Scientist', had a bounty of three hundred million bellies four years ago. He was a Logia-type user of the Gas Fruit, and his connection was established through Sage and Doffy's deepening cooperation.
The incident occurred a year ago when Sage's crew was conquering islands. Some of these islands were ancient, harboring parasites and viruses from primordial times. The Grand Line was a place where islands and their ecosystems were often isolated.
The crew had been infected with a virus, and even Hagubak, the crew's doctor, was helpless. As a surgeon, his knowledge of viruses was limited. While they could obtain treatments for most diseases from other sources, some ancient viruses were long lost, leaving them without a cure.
Sage himself could only treat internal illnesses, and while he had some effect on viruses, it wasn't enough, especially with so many crew members. He couldn't clone himself, and this wouldn't be the only time such an incident occurred.
So, he sought out a capable scientist who could develop the best antibiotics.
And that's how Caesar came into the picture.
Sage didn't have much of an impression of this man; if it weren't for Doffy mentioning him, he would have forgotten about Caesar's existence.
Upon careful reflection, this guy's research abilities seemed decent, so he decided to fund his work to create the best antibiotic and produce some necessary medicines and formulas.
For this purpose, Sage even sent a group of people to learn from Caesar.
He wasn't interested in that artificial Devil Fruit, but it was still useful to have someone learn from Caesar's scientific talent.
After all, he was a pirate, and no scientist would willingly follow him. Searching for things on his own was too inefficient, so it was more practical to cultivate his own team.
Renetia and Wibul came here for two reasons. First, to check on the status of the people Sage sent, and second, to obtain formulas for other drugs and the progress of the antibiotic research.
"Quick, it's almost done," Caesar said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He stuttered, "Please give me a little more time, it'll be ready soon."
Renetia finished her juice, threw away the straw, and stood up from the sofa. She stepped on the coffee table and shouted at Caesar, "Three months ago when I came, you said it was almost done. You're still saying it's almost done now. Give me an exact time today, or I'll smash you with a hammer!"
"Roar!!" Wibul, standing behind Caesar, drew his Cloud Slash from his back and roared at Caesar. The blast of air blew Caesar's hair back.
"Th-This is almost done. Experiments take time, and I need to ensure the production of SAD gas. I can't do it alone. I'm really working on it, I'm not lying about the funding. The students can vouch for me." Caesar took two steps back and pleaded, "Please, Cataclysm, give me more time. It's not that simple, it's a universal antibiotic. As for the corresponding medications, I've prepared the formulas."
"I didn't come here to listen to your excuses. I came for a timeline. The formulas are your obligation, and Sage said that all byproducts belong to him. The most important goal now is to get an accurate timeline!" Renetia stated.
Caesar thought for a moment and held up three fingers, "Three... three years?"
"What?" Renetia frowned.
"One year!" Caesar gritted his teeth. "One year is enough! I can definitely finish it!"
"At least one year, at most three. I've noted it down. If you don't complete it within this time, I'll take you back as an energy source!" Renetia said harshly.
As a part-time scientist herself, she understood that some things weren't easy to accomplish, including what Sage often said about tolerating it as long as there were enough formulas for the byproducts.
Time was something they could afford.
Seeing that Renetia had agreed and even extended the deadline, Caesar breathed a sigh of relief, feeling inexplicably aggrieved.
Despite being such a genius scientist, he was being so subservient.
At least he wasn't lying about the funding like he did with Big Mom. Although what Sage wanted was as challenging as the 'Human Gigantification' experiment that Big Mom had supported.
However, when it came to drugs and poison gas weapons, Caesar was indeed an expert. This direction was more within Caesar's expertise than human gigantification.
Universal antibiotic.
That was what Sage wanted.
A single medicine to cure all kinds of infections and viruses was too good to be true. In reality, specific symptoms required corresponding specialty medications, and a universal cure was too far-fetched.
But there was no choice; that Cataclysm had offered too much.
At the time, Caesar already had tasks from two of the Four Emperors, and adding another one would make things more secure, so he accepted.
Moreover, he dared not refuse; they were the Four Emperors! The same status as Big Mom and Kaido.
There was no harm in accepting, and after he did, Sage immediately sent people to Punk Hazard to learn from Caesar and also supervise him.
This slowed down Caesar's research progress. He originally needed a large number of people for the human gigantification experiments, including children.
But now, due to the need to research the antibiotic, Caesar could only seek out those with illnesses, even those with various difficult diseases. He conducted human gigantification experiments on them while also treating their illnesses to study the universal antibiotic.
That Cataclysm didn't like bullying the weak, and with those seemingly apprentices but actually ancestors watching over him, Caesar didn't dare to be too reckless.
Otherwise, he would have used addictive drugs to control the test subjects.
"Buru buru buru buru."
At that moment, the Talking Cricket beside them suddenly rang.
Monet slightly bowed, her tail feathers resembling fingers, and took the Talking Cricket, "This is Monet speaking."
"Monet, there are pirates approaching Flame Island, seemingly intending to invade!" the Talking Cricket quickly reported.
"Invasion?"
Caesar turned his head and smirked, "If it's just pirates, let's capture them and use them as test subjects! We don't have enough anyway!"
He couldn't afford to offend the great pirates, but no one cared about ordinary pirates. Unlike sick children, he didn't have to rack his brains to keep them.
He could dispose of these guys as he pleased.
Perfect for letting off some steam!
(End of Chapter)
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