New Developments

"MOM, MOM, that guy Bakin actually accomplished something I couldn't."

Big Mom Pirates, seated on her throne, savored the desserts on the table before her, listening to the news from below. A glint of admiration flashed in her eyes, and she sighed with emotion.

Thanks to the Big Mom Pirates' intelligence network, they quickly uncovered the whereabouts of Bakin and Weevil over the years, and finally pieced together the information to let her know about Bakin's experiences over the years.

After all, wherever there is sea, there will always be clues left behind, and besides, Bakin did not go into seclusion.

Bakin was once a member of the Rocks Pirates. He was an ordinary member of the Rocks Pirates, specializing in intelligence and logistics. Due to his special relationship with Whitebeard, Big Mom still had some impression of Bakin.

The unfinished task, of course, was to obtain Whitebeard's life essence. Although Big Mom was very beautiful when she was young, most of the core members of the ship refused to have relations with her.

"With Whitebeard's bloodline, getting him shouldn't be a problem, right?" Big Mom was getting restless. If she couldn't get Whitebeard's bloodline, then she'd get Whitebeard's son, Weevil, Weevil had already shown his monstrous strength.

The combination of my bloodline and Whitebeard's could definitely give birth to a monster.

As for Weevil's low IQ, Big Mom doesn't care; in fact, a low IQ makes him easier to manipulate.

"Mom, of course, that's no problem." Mondo wiped away imaginary sweat. "Given Bakin's greed, a deal is quite possible."

"However, if we are too cautious, we might just run away. After all, she is nothing without Weevil, and she will definitely be very wary of losing Weevil."

"We also need to consider Whitebeard's attitude, otherwise we might very well clash with the Whitebeard Pirates."

The implication is that the idea is feasible, but there are some considerations that prevent it from being implemented hastily.

"I don't care, I only care about the result. I'll bring him here even if I have to tie him up. Dealing with that cowardly woman, Bakin, is still easy." Big Mom said calmly, savoring her dessert. Her words carried an undeniable authority, putting immense pressure on the members present.

"Yes, Mom!"

Bakin had no idea that he and Weevil had been targeted by the Big Mom Pirates.

If she had known, she would definitely have regretted coming to the New World. But there's nothing she can do about it; in the New World, she has a much better chance of survival.

Then we need to plan this carefully, Mondo thought. He didn't want to disappoint his mother. Just as Big Mom said, once Bakin was dealt with, everything would be easy.

Weevil was a fool; almost everything he did was on Bakin's orders.

Whether through transactions or threats, they always manage to achieve their goals.

A wise person knows when to yield. Bakin is a smart woman, but she doesn't have much power. If she wants to survive in the New World without offending the Big Mom Pirates, she should make a rational decision.

After all, while Weevil was difficult to deal with, dealing with Bakin was a piece of cake, and such a greedy woman with immense desires was also easy to manipulate.

To be honest, the most important thing is the attitude of the Whitebeard Pirates.

In the Night Sea Domain, on Pagila Island, the Sun Pirates stayed for some time and clearly felt the prosperity of Pagila Island. They even went to see where their fellow pirates lived and experienced their lives.

Fisher Tiger has now largely recovered from his injuries, and his severed arm has been reattached and fitted with a custom-made mechanical hand by the Night Pirates.

Today, robotic arms have undergone a comprehensive upgrade and are divided into two types: one is a purely biological machine, and the other is a flesh-and-blood machine.

Either option is fine to choose from; there's no inherent superiority or inferiority, it simply comes down to personal preference.

A small number of the more seriously injured Fish-Man, who also had physical deformities, were fitted with mechanical arms. Unlike Fisher Tiger, however, they had a layer of blood-red leather covering their bodies or arms.

This is a product invented by the Night Pirates using flesh-and-blood mechanical technology; it is armor, or plant armor, possessing defense comparable to steel and providing a small-scale boost to strength.

This kind of thing is useless against the strong, though it might have a slightly higher level of Haki. However, for some weaker individuals, the plant armor has a considerable effect, giving them an extra layer of steel skin that undoubtedly enhances their combat power.

Therefore, as soon as it was born, orders flew in from all over the world. This world is ultimately dominated by ordinary people. Even in this era, people with some strength still only account for a small fraction of the world's vast population.

Although there were steel armors, they were not very practical and not many people would wear them.

The plant-based suit offers the protection of steel, but is lighter, making it more comfortable to wear and allowing for greater freedom of movement.

This alone makes it possible to expand production, as there is a high demand.

However, widespread adoption is impossible; it will take at least several years. It would take ordinary residents one or two years to save up enough money to buy plant-based equipment.

Moreover, the plant armor is just a piece of flesh and skin armor. Although it is precious to ordinary residents, it is also somewhat useless. When facing vicious pirates, slitting their necks is just a matter of one cut, so it is difficult to popularize it.

Unless you buy a full-body transplant suit, which is much more expensive, costing at least ten million Beli, it's unaffordable for most people.

Anyone with some money who cares about their safety would buy one; it can completely withstand bullet attacks.

Although the price of implants is high, for some people it is well worth the money. In this chaotic era, nothing is more important than the safety of life.

As ordinary members of the Night Pirates, almost everyone was equipped with a set of plant-based suits after their creation, while other members didn't need them at all.

Even when wearing them, they are treated as ordinary clothes.

Those who can afford to wear plant costumes must have a certain amount of wealth. Even if they buy in bulk, buying dozens or hundreds of pieces at most is not worthwhile.

Plants are not very effective in offense; they are more useful in defense.

Even for the Navy, buying 10,000 sets would bankrupt them; 20 billion Beli is not something they can easily afford.

Of course, as a plant-based suit, it also utilizes biomechanical technology, allowing it to bind to a person, so even if it is plundered, it will not have any effect.

The plant-based suit itself is also alive and has the ability to transform. It can be worn normally or not, and can be kept in a bag. When encountering danger, it can transform into armor and be put on by thought.

This is the most attractive aspect of plant-based clothing, because it does have a certain weight, and wearing it for extended periods can be quite a burden for ordinary people.

Transformation is a very rare and incredibly attractive ability, and the only well-known form of it on the high seas is the Vinsmoke Family's battle suit.

Wearing the plant suits, whether it's part of their body or just an arm, significantly enhances their strength. With their robust physiques, the weight of the plant suits is negligible for these Fish-Man.

As pirates, they had also plundered a lot of treasure during this time, treated Fisher Tiger, installed a mechanical arm on him, purchased plant armor, and enjoyed a period of carefree living on Pagila Island. The Sun Pirates had almost spent all their funds.

They had to find a way to make money, because without money, life on Pagila Island was utterly boring, especially for pirates who were used to spending lavishly.

"Where are we going next, Fisher Tiger?" His words betrayed a lingering attachment to Pagila Island.

Although they can live relatively easily and comfortably on Pagila Island, it is ultimately not the life they want.

They'd rather follow Fisher Tiger on adventures around the world.

"Then let's explore the New World. There are many places in the New World that I haven't been to." After being pursued by the Navy and the World Government, Fisher Tiger no longer had the idea of targeting slave traders. The price he would pay for another attack was beyond his ability to bear.

It's fine to lend a hand occasionally if we encounter such a situation, but if we continue to target them, they're the ones who will suffer.

Fisher Tiger didn't want to exhaust himself, because he felt too powerless.

He doesn't yet have that much power or influence, and now that he's older, he doesn't have that much energy left.

Given their strength, virtually no one would provoke them.

"Alright, get ready, let's go!" With Fisher Tiger's agreement, all the Fish-Man around him became excited.

While fighting slave traders and rescuing their fellow countrymen alongside Fisher Tiger is very rewarding, they yearn even more to embark on adventures together.

The departure of the Sun Pirates caused a stir, but it quickly dissipated. Not many people cared, and those who said goodbye were mostly Fish-Man from the Night Sea Domain.

Life in the Night Sea Domain is not boring. Two years have passed since the Night Pirates reached the top, and the Night Pirates are still expanding rapidly in all aspects.

The results of Artificial Devil Fruit have not yet been seen. Perfectly envisioned Artificial Devil Fruit are quite difficult to achieve, and most are failures, but success is not far off.

The Night Pirates were the first to research the IQ plant factor, resulting in a superpower mutation potion.

After numerous experiments, many failed attempts were made, including a person with four arms and an eye growing out of the side of their face.

Monsters born from various mutations.

Numerous cases have led to continuous improvements in pharmaceuticals containing the mutant factors found in IQ plants.

Finally, they developed a potion that could mutate humans and grant them the ability to control lightning and fire.

It's impossible to create abilities out of thin air; this is what's called a mutation agent, which undergoes benign mutations based on the environment.

Therefore, during the mutation process, it needs to be constantly shocked with electricity, and also subjected to high temperatures and burning with flames.

The most crucial part is that the Lineage Factor of the Mink Tribe and the Lunarian Tribe are respectively incorporated into the mutation potion.

This is the main factor that enables the Awakening of corresponding abilities.

During the mutation process, the human body will change and possess certain genes from the Mink Tribe and the Lunarian Tribe.

Humans cannot be born with abilities out of thin air; the human body's systems are increasingly complex and intricate.

Such mutated animals possess strong vitality, enormous physiques, and can survive even with extra organs.

For the average person, it would be difficult to survive; their body would break down.

The entire research process resulted in over 8,000 failed attempts, more than half of whom died due to physical breakdown. The rest were killed by the Night Pirates, and their bodies were destroyed.

The process of creating a product is that brutal; the outside world doesn't need to know about the process, only the result.

If one of them gets out, who knows what kind of monsters will be born? Some of them are disgusting to look at.

As for the potion's effects, it's not very useful for strong individuals, but it can be used to create warriors in large quantities.

After taking the medication, the individual must undergo a week of "torture" in a suitable environment, along with an energy supply, before the mutation is complete.

Of course, there are some side effects. Pirates who take the lightning potion will have particularly thick body hair in certain areas because they have a bit of the Mink Tribe gene.

You just need to shave it off occasionally.

In terms of strength, it can acquire static electricity ability that is weaker than that of the Mink Tribe.

The flame potion, on the other hand, can cause the body to ignite and increase its temperature.

The strength of an ability is related to one's own strength to a certain extent, but of course there is a limit.

This potion is quite good for the lower Night Pirates, but it's beneath the notice of the upper echelons; it's simply not worth mentioning. Flames? Anyone can make them, let alone make them everywhere.

Teach didn't care about improving his strength at all; he was more concerned about whether the IQ plant could help upgrade the Super Gene Potion.

This medicine is still in the testing phase, and the Night Pirates don't plan to show it yet. How much it enhances the body, what side effects it might have, and how it might affect potential are all things that need to be considered.

Ultimately, this is something for ordinary people, those with limited potential. It can enhance combat power to some extent, since it can generate more lightning or fire power.

Overall, the effects of this drug were somewhat disappointing for Teach and his team. It was far from what they had imagined superhumans to be like, where they could become stronger through development, but that was impossible.

An ideal is always an ideal; that makes sense. How could a single drug cause genetic mutation or grant control over lightning?

Compared to the immense power of nature, such as Devil Fruit, whose unique abilities are beyond human comprehension, mutation potions are far inferior.

But this is an absolute treasure for ordinary people, capable of turning them into formidable powerhouses, provided they possess a sufficiently strong physique to withstand the tempering of lightning or flames.

There aren't many machines capable of generating lightning that can be produced on the open sea.

Flames are alright; they can be created.

Therefore, mutation is extremely difficult for ordinary people as well. Unless the Night Pirates can develop a more "gentle" method, lightning and fire are simply beyond the tolerance of ordinary people.

Teach wasn't worried about this technology leaking out, since the most crucial raw material, the IQ plant, was controlled by the Night Pirates.

In contrast, Artificial Devil Fruit are what Teach actually hopes for.

Like a real Devil Fruit, it can freely change its form.

The boost it provides to people will definitely be much greater than that from mutation potions.

Of course, even so-called Ancient Species Artificial Devil Fruit have a much smaller potential than ordinary Zoan Devil Fruit and cannot Awakening.

However, there is one advantage that Devil Fruit cannot match: Artificial Devil Fruit do not require much development; with just some time to familiarize oneself with them, one can obtain the power of all Artificial Devil Fruit.

Based on estimates, this will take only six months.

This would be an incredible leap for ordinary people, especially if this Devil Fruit were created from a giant beast.

After eating the Artificial Devil Fruit, one can transform into that beast, exactly the same, possessing all of it—physique, vitality, and regenerative abilities.

If one possesses Haki, then consuming Artificial Devil Fruit would grant them Haki within a short period.

Of course, this is also extremely dangerous, as the will of the animal within an artificial Zoan Devil Fruit is many times more terrifying than that of a real Devil Fruit.

Devil Fruit only have a subtle influence; Artificial Devil Fruit truly contain the will of animals, and ordinary people who eat them would be completely defeated in a fight with animals.

They could become an idiot, or a monster similar to one who failed to Devil Fruit Awakening in Impel Down, turning into a ferocious beast.

Even Artificial Devil Fruit are not something ordinary people can eat. Reaching the top in one step requires strength as a foundation, although this does not exclude people with extremely strong willpower.