"Is that so? So you never researched the Blood Factor. Looks like I got the wrong person. Zehahaha!"
Golden Lion laughed, and Judge laughed along at the side. After laughing for a while, Golden Lion's face suddenly darkened.
"Then you're useless. Die, all of you!"
"Wave Slash!"
A golden Sword Qi dozens of meters wide swept across them. Judge never expected Golden Lion to turn on him so abruptly and was completely unprepared. He and his four children were struck head-on by the Wave Slash, crashing into the giant snail behind them with a thunderous boom.
Strange screams rang out as pale blue blood gushed forth. Judge and the others were instantly drenched in blood. When he struggled back to his feet, he discovered that the Snail Ship behind him had been cleaved in two, its upper and lower halves separated and writhing in agony.
"Eh!? You actually survived my Wave Slash. Looks like you and your children have quite sturdy constitutions. Zehahaha!"
Golden Lion spoke with a grin, raising his foot again. "Then can you block the next one?"
Judge clutched his bleeding chest and looked at his severely wounded children struggling on the ground. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees.
"I'm sorry, Captain Golden Lion. I lied to you just now. Please don't kill me. I really do understand Blood Factor technology. I'm very useful!"
"Zehahaha! You should've said so earlier!" Golden Lion laughed loudly, lowering the attack he had been about to unleash.
The moment he had attacked, he had already noticed it. There was clearly something off about Judge and his children's defensive capabilities. They evidently possessed some kind of exoskeletal defense.
Golden Lion had always been relatively tolerant of capable people, which was why he had not immediately slaughtered Judge and the others.
Judge wore a smile, but his heart was full of helplessness. As a World Government member nation, Germa 66 did not fear the Marines, since the Marines still had to follow the rules. But before a Great Pirate like Golden Lion, his status as a member nation meant nothing.
If Golden Lion said he would cut him down, then unless he fled to Marineford or Mary Geoise, death was the only path left to him.
"Since that's the case, Germa 66 will be my subordinates from now on." Golden Lion blew out a ring of smoke, satisfaction appearing on his face.
At first, he had not held much hope for Germa 66's technology. But now that he had seen these modified children, while their talents could not compare to monsters like Kaido or Charlotte Linlin, they had already far surpassed the limits of ordinary humans.
If he could modify more fighting power for himself, ruling the world would likely become much easier.
Minos slowly walked over and looked at the members of Germa 66, his gaze lingering briefly on the fourteen-year-old Reiju.
Judge and his three sons were basically beyond saving. His sons looked normal, but most of their emotions had actually been stripped away. They could not defy Judge's orders at all.
Judge himself was also an ambitious man. Though he had knelt before Golden Lion so easily now, how could anyone possibly win his true loyalty?
Combat was one thing, but with private matters such as research, if he wanted to conceal something, it would not be effortless, but it certainly would not be too difficult. After all, Golden Lion only had Dr. Indigo, who understood a little about such matters, but his level was far inferior to Judge's.
Seeing Minos approach, Judge looked at him as well. Golden Lion said with a smile, "He's the navigator of our crew. You can call him Minos."
"Uh..." Judge blinked. "Minos... wasn't he a member of the Charlotte Pirates?"
Oh? Minos was slightly startled. Had he become famous already?
Seeing Minos's puzzled expression, Judge pulled out a thick stack of wanted posters, found Minos's, and handed it to him.
Minos glanced at it. It was actually his bounty poster, and the amount was not low—already fifty million Berries.
Although Minos's strength was definitely worth far more than fifty million Berries, he had only gone to sea once. His greatest feat had been taking the supposedly real Vegapunk hostage. That was probably why his bounty had been set so high.
Back then, Boa Hancock's first bounty after setting sail had only been eighty million Berries, and she had immediately become a Shichibukai afterward. By comparison, the Marines already regarded him quite seriously.
Golden Lion curled his lip. "What future is there in following that madwoman Charlotte Linlin? Minos is now a member of my Flying Pirates."
Golden Lion could say that, but Minos merely smiled and did not respond. Judge did not dare say anything either. He could not afford to offend Golden Lion, and he could afford to offend Big Mom even less.
Before long, Golden Lion remembered why he had summoned these people in the first place. He called over Dr. Indigo and had him begin research with Judge. Their target was the IQ Plant, with the most important goal being to try adapting it for human use.
This was not actually difficult. It was like a certain medicine that had already completed successful animal trials and was now being moved into human trials. Though the IQ Plant was toxic to humans, in the Pirate World, where Black Technology was everywhere, that was merely a minor problem.
Afterward, once Judge discovered the effects of the IQ Plant, he was overjoyed. However, he showed nothing on the surface. Instead, he came up with a whole host of excuses, claiming that turning the plant into something humans could use was simply too difficult.
Those words might fool Golden Lion, but they could not fool Minos. Minos said a few words to Golden Lion with a smile, and Golden Lion immediately set a three-month deadline.
If you succeed, you'll be a member of my Flying Pirates. If you fail? Then die! I don't need useless trash under me.
The moment those words came out, Judge's face went pale. Golden Lion's temperament was far more direct than the World Government's, and with Minos there to remind him of the details, it would not be easy for Judge to muddle through or use one opportunity to gain another.
Even three months was somewhat too little time for Judge. He had to work with all his strength if he wanted to truly turn the IQ Plant into medicine humans could use.
He wanted to say more, but when he saw the unquestionable expression on Golden Lion's face, the excuses on his lips finally turned into a plea.
"Then... Captain Shiki, please bring up our other ships as well. A great deal of experimental material and equipment is on the other ships."
"Very well. I'll bring those ships up. You'd better work hard, Zehahaha."
"Of course... of course," Judge replied with a strained expression.
Before you continue