The Treatment Plan for Blue Jade Scales

New World, Punk Hazard, Vegapunk Laboratory

"Whoosh--!"

Space suddenly distorted, and a vortex bloomed in the air. Roy, along with the Kuma and the sleeping Bonney, quietly appeared in the center of the Laboratory.

Because they were really worried about Bonney's health, at Kuma's request, the two used each other's Teleportation abilities to travel back to Punk Hazard in the New World as quickly as possible.

In the Laboratory, Vegapunk was intently adjusting a set of neural sensing devices when he suddenly noticed a violent fluctuation in the environmental data. He abruptly turned around and looked—

"Whoa!!"

The old doctor sprang up, almost jumping into the analysis table, his Glasses tilting diagonally.

"Roy! Can you stop popping up like a ghost every time, you brat?!" he roared, adjusting his lab Glasses.

However, the subordinates were extremely skilled and quickly entered commands into the control panel. The entire Laboratory monitoring system froze instantly, and all data records entered a "frozen" mode.

"Relax, Doctor," Roy shrugged and grinned lazily. "Look what good stuff I brought you."

He stepped aside, revealing the towering Kuma behind him. "A genuine Buccaneer Tribe, and a user of the Paw-Paw Fruit- Paw Fruit, too."

Upon hearing this, Vegapunk's pupils contracted, then his eyes lit up, like a child seeing the key to a toy store.

"It actually exists?!"

He burst forward with a speed far beyond what one would expect from an old man, circling the Kuma twice while muttering, "Giant Race bloodline, muscle density far exceeding that of ordinary people, bone volume, nerve tissue reaction values... this is simply the perfect experimental subject!"

He excitedly reached out to touch the Kuma's arm, but was stopped by a calm yet firm voice. "Doctor."

Kuma spoke, his tone gentle yet authoritative, "I'd like you to confirm something for me first."

He slowly squatted down, his large hands carefully lifting Bonney from his arms—the small figure was sleeping peacefully, a childlike smile on her face.

"My daughter... did she really get the Blue Jade Scales?"

Vegapunk stopped in his tracks, his gaze shifting instantly from a state of fervent research to one of seriousness, his expression becoming solemn.

He leaned closer to examine Bonney's face. "I need to draw a blood sample for genetic screening, is that alright?"

Without hesitation, Kuma nodded and gently placed Bonney on the examination table beside him. The girl was still fast asleep, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

Vegapunk took out a tiny, precise lancet and gently pricked Bonney's finger.

"Fleshball - Pain Transfer."

A soft light emanated from the Kuma's paw, and Bonney's brow didn't even furrow; the light precisely drew the impending pain away from Bonney's body.

"This ability..." Vegapunk glanced at Kuma with some surprise, but quickly focused on his work.

He quickly completed the sampling, dripping the blood into the analyzer. Moments later, a holographic projection rose from the table, and blue data flowed down like a waterfall, forming a virus map and blood structure analysis.

The atmosphere in the Laboratory was so heavy it was almost suffocating.

Kuma stood in front of the projector, his fists clenched, his body trembling slightly. Roy leaned against the wall, his gaze sharp as a blade, fixed on the screen.

Finally, Vegapunk sighed deeply, his expression grave. "It is indeed the Blue Jade Scales Virus. The genetic map matches Ginny's case from back then perfectly."

Upon hearing this, the Kuma was struck dumb, its body swaying as if all support had been removed from its powerful physique, and it almost staggered.

"This disease... is almost asymptomatic in its early stages," Vegapunk continued, "But the virus gradually erodes life energy, and during its active phase, life force withers away as quickly as a piece of paper that has been set on fire."

He paused. "Given Bonney's condition, she'll live to be ten at most."

The air suddenly turned cold.

Kuma looked down at Bonney, her sleeping face innocent and carefree, yet he felt a cold knife slowly slicing through his soul.

"Doctor," Roy suddenly spoke, his tone calm yet authoritative, "You can cure him, right?"

Vegapunk nodded and said seriously, "Treatment can be achieved through stem cell transplantation, special immune induction, and nanoscale recombination systems. But this approach... is extremely expensive."

"It starts at several hundred million Beli; even that's barely enough funding for the entire human cyborg program."

"It's alright." Roy walked to his side, smiling faintly. "The expenses are all on my tab, so you can go ahead with the treatment."

"Are you sure?"

Roy smiled meaningfully, "Don't worry about treating him, someone still owes me a huge favor."

Vegapunk shook his head helplessly, but finally smiled, "Alright, just wait and see the results."

Kuma stood still for a long time, gazing at that tall, straight figure, his eyes flashing with complex emotions.

He never imagined that someone would unconditionally invest such enormous resources in his daughter, just to obtain a blood sample and his assistance.

At that moment, he truly realized—

Roy didn't come for the experiment; he came for Bonney's future.

His voice was low, yet filled with respect. "... Thank you, Roy."

Roy turned his head, looked at the huge figure, and smiled calmly.

At that moment, the cold Laboratory seemed to be illuminated by a faint but steadfast lamp.

Vegapunk strode into a heavy alloy hatch, entered multiple passwords, and after a blue light scanned his entire body, the hatch slowly opened with a "click".

What comes into view is a huge culture area—cold light shines on several rows of culture chambers, each containing undeveloped embryonic tissues suspended in a pale green, highly concentrated nutrient solution, resembling a silent "life factory."

"This is the first-generation cloning unit of the 'PX Project'."

As Vegapunk walked, he spoke with a calm yet proud tone, "Originally designed for Clone Soldiers, these bio-vessels possess tolerance to extreme viruses, making them perfect 'carriers' for Blue Jade Scales treatment research."

He adjusted the parameters of the cabin in front of him while taking out a set of high-precision data acquisition devices from the metal box next to him.

I need your cell sample.

He turned to look at Kuma, his tone slightly apologetic, "It might hurt a little."

Without hesitation, Kuma rolled up his sleeves and stretched out his arm. "It's alright."

The collector was placed against the skin, and with a "snip," it pierced deep into the muscle tissue to begin extracting blood and cell samples. Kuma remained expressionless throughout, without even frowning.

Vegapunk quickly implanted the sample into the culture core, and the entire system immediately began to operate. Temperature, oxygen pressure, and nutrient solution ratio were rapidly calibrated, and a low-frequency operating sound filled the Laboratory.

"It takes at least two weeks for a clone to mature."

He adjusted his Glasses, his gaze serious. "During this time, I will use inhibitors to slow down Bonney's condition and prevent her from entering the active phase of the virus."

Kuma nodded silently, his gaze never leaving the sleeping little face, his eyes filled with complex paternal love and pain.

Roy approached quietly, his voice low. "Kuma, let Bonney stay here for a while. Vegapunk can monitor her vital signs more consistently."

Kuma's shoulders twitched slightly.

"Aren't you worried?" Roy asked.

Kuma was silent for a moment, then whispered, "No, I just... don't want her out of my sight again."

That voice held the fear and struggle of a father who had lost countless times.

Vegapunk then walked over and awkwardly patted his leg. "Don't worry, I'll take care of her like my own granddaughter. Even though I'm a scientist, I know my limits."

Roy didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze to the fading light outside the window and slowly said, "Kuma, I have another suggestion..."