Science Unit Instruments Arrive

Marine Headquarters, Marineford, is a rare island on the Grand Line that follows the seasons. In winter, soldiers don their thick, long-sleeved uniforms. The patrol team saw two imposing figures approaching and instinctively snapped to attention, saluting with admiration on their faces.

"Instructor General Zephyr! Mr. Ron!"

Ron was merely a new recruit, not even having left the New Recruit Camp, and held no official rank. However, his strength had been recognized by all the soldiers two months prior. He was a legendary figure who continued the legacy of the "monster" reputation of the Three Marine Admirals! In this world that reveres strength, their salute was born from admiration and fear of a powerful individual.

With Zephyr present, Ron dared not be careless and stopped, raising his hand in return.

In the past, he would merely wave when encountering a patrol team, but now Zephyr certainly wouldn't allow him to disregard discipline... Ron was very self-aware until he could defeat Zephyr.

As the two groups passed each other, the patrol captain watched them walk away and sighed wistfully, "Sometimes, you have to admit, the gap between people is truly vast. I've been a Marine for over twenty years and I'm just a Sergeant Major now. Instructor General Zephyr doesn't even remember my name, and Ron... even though he's still a recruit... sigh!"

"Who can you blame for that?"

An old soldier familiar with him in the patrol team chimed in teasingly, "Who told you that you wet your pants the first time you fought pirates? I heard you only didn't get thrown out for being a disgrace because of your family connections! You're really bringing honor to the Marine Academy graduates..."

"N-Nonsense!"

The captain's face instantly flushed red. "That was seawater, do you understand? Seawater!"

Following this were incomprehensible boasts like "Pirates are nothing!" and "I assisted the captain in killing three!", filling the air with a cheerful atmosphere.

In this world belonging to the strong, the happiness of ordinary people was limited to this. They didn't harbor grand ambitions; their only concerns were survival and living a better life.

But this was not the happiness Ron desired, and it was the fundamental reason he constantly challenged his limits.

A life of mediocrity was no different from poison to him!

Either die a glorious death, or live a magnificent life!

There was no third option!

Following Zephyr, Ron walked all the way to the rear of the fortress and stopped before a tall building. Looking at the sign erected in front of the gate, he scratched the back of his head and asked curiously, "Teacher Zephyr, why did you bring me to the Science Unit?"

The white building before them was none other than the Marine Science Unit's base in Headquarters... The Science Unit had several bases, meaning several research facilities, scattered across the vast ocean, and were extremely secretive. Apart from Sengoku and the World Government's higher-ups, no one knew their exact locations. However, the one located in Marine Headquarters, Marineford, was undoubtedly the largest.

It was well known that Kizaru, one of the Three Marine Admirals, had always resided here, unlike Aokiji and Akainu, who had separate residences within Headquarters.

That matter had been kept from Ron for nearly three months, and the finished product had arrived a week ago. Zephyr considered it time for Ron to see it. Hearing Ron's question, he explained, "I submitted your Lightning Stimulation Method-related documentation. Vegapunk created a batch of instruments based on it for stimulation and training. However, the specific effects are still debatable. Before it's deployed on a large scale within the troops, the Fleet Admiral wants you to test it and give your recommendation."

"Huh???"

Ron's eyes widened, and only one thought remained in his mind.

"Holy crap!"

It was understandable that his Lightning Stimulation Method would be coveted. After all, anyone could see that Ron's rapid growth was entirely due to this method. Since he dared to expose it publicly on Garp's ship, he had anticipated the Marines would take notice and tried to leverage it for benefits.

But he hadn't expected this! It happened three months ago!

Zephyr had submitted the documents three months ago, which coincided with when he took Ron as his disciple.

Could it be...

Sigh

Seeing Ron's increasingly speechless and resentful gaze, Zephyr coughed dryly, blushing for the first time in a while. He didn't want Ron to see him as a scoundrel who profited from his disciple's work. He immediately explained, "Don't worry, you won't be shortchanged! Compared to you negotiating with those two old foxes, Sengoku and Tsuru, in the future, they won't dare to mistreat you if I handle it."

That made sense.

A commoner is innocent!

Even if they considered Ron one of their own, Sengoku and Tsuru would be more willing to grant Ron some military merit to appease him for the sake of the Marines.

Although he was reported in advance without Ron's knowledge, with Zephyr's words, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage!

Thinking of this, Ron couldn't help but feel touched. His master was truly amazing, considering every angle. He even spoke of "old foxes," disregarding years of friendship.

However...

His Lightning Stimulation Method was no trivial matter!

Although its effects were powerful and could rapidly improve physical strength, the process was by no means pleasant!

This was evident to all. Garp still had lingering fear from the first month when Ron would emerge from every training session covered in blood, his expression ferocious, and he had repeatedly warned about it in meetings.

Even if it was successfully developed, this was definitely not something that could be mass-produced!

The pain and torment could easily crush a person's will and spirit!

Only elite Marines whose potential had been developed to its limit, who were stuck in a rut, and possessed incredible resilience could attempt to use it.

So, when Ron regained his senses, he didn't expose Zephyr's little scheme. Instead, he frowned and asked, "Are you sure this is feasible? If something goes wrong, it would be outright murder!"

He knew his own body best. The Lightning Stimulation Method was derived from a self-harming training regimen that had nearly killed him, merely replacing the means of inflicting pain from tools to lightning.

If not for his body's superhuman healing abilities, his tenacious life force, and the nutrient-rich food in the One Piece World that was comparable to immortal elixirs, he himself wouldn't dare to use it. And yet, they had created instruments based solely on the documentation, attempting to replicate that process?

No wonder people say scientists are crazy!

Because they completely disregard the consequences!

"Murder... that's a stretch..."

Just then, a slow, lazy voice sounded from his side. Golden light flickered in the air, condensing into form. Kizaru, wearing brown sunglasses, appeared beside the two.

Seeing him, Ron respectfully saluted, "Admiral Kizaru!"

"Yo, long time no see... Lightning kid!"

Kizaru greeted him as carelessly as ever, his tone lewd and slow. He then looked leisurely at Zephyr and said, "I thought Teacher Zephyr had forgotten about this, after all, we agreed on it a week ago..."

Zephyr snorted in response, not giving Kizaru a good look.

"Hmph! As the Chief Instructor of the New Recruit Camp, I'm busy with my duties, so it's normal for me to not have time!"

"Eh?! Is that so? But I heard Teacher Zephyr has been drinking tea in his office every day recently, you seem quite relaxed?"

"You only saw the time I was drinking tea, Kizaru!"

"Oh, is that right? Then let it be this way..."

Sensing the faint Armament Haki fluctuations emanating from Zephyr, Kizaru knew when to stop. He then turned his gaze back to Ron, who was standing by the side, with his eyes focused on his nose and his nose on his heart, observing the situation. "Ordinary soldiers definitely don't need these to activate their potential. These are prepared for elite officers whose potential development has hit a bottleneck... Don't underestimate everyone's resilience, Ron. To become stronger, they can endure any pain."

"I hope so..."

As the developer of the Lightning Stimulation Method, and the genius who extended it to the Overload Form, Ron wasn't optimistic about the instrument. However, it did pique his interest. He was sure he hadn't contacted Vegapunk, and as a new recruit, he didn't have that qualification!

So, completely disregarding him as the developer, and relying solely on data, how far could that legendary genius scientist, Vegapunk, who was 500 years ahead of the world, go?

The Science Unit's encampment was different from ordinary military camps. Here, one couldn't see soldiers sweating profusely, only busy researchers in white coats.

The Science Unit wasn't established because of Vegapunk; rather, Vegapunk appeared centuries after its establishment. Before Vegapunk's appearance, the Science Unit was responsible for updating Marine firearms, shipbuilding, and other matters, thereby maintaining the Marines' leading position and suppressing the seas... just as these researchers were doing.

"What is that?"

"Repeating machine gun, it can fire bullets continuously."

"And this?"

"Hmm... Inflatable sleeping bag, to help soldiers carry out long-term missions on islands."

Kizaru, as the commander, was quite competent. As they walked, Ron couldn't help but fiddle with the strange items he saw, new type flintlock guns, self-propelled grenades, and black technologies that could emit heat melt rays and freezing rays. He was having a blast. But no matter how bizarre the item, he could explain one or two things about it.

"Then... what about that one?"

Seeing where Ron was pointing, a glint flashed in Kizaru's eyes, his hands in his pockets. "A new type of cannon..."

On the open ground over there, a silver-white creation was mounted, looking more like a flintlock gun than a cannon. It was over three meters long, and its front end was not a muzzle, but two irregular metal strips. This was something Vegapunk was developing, a weapon to be installed on the Pacifista's design.

A new type of weapon, said to be more powerful than his own lasers!

However, the electricity required for each shot was terrifying!

Even the formidable body of the Pacifista, replicated from the flesh of "Tyrant" Bear, couldn't withstand two shots.

Reluctantly, Vegapunk replaced the weapons on the Pacifista with laser emitters developed through Lineage Factor research.

From the gadgets in the Science Unit, it could be seen that Vegapunk had researched the Devil Fruit abilities of the Three Marine Admirals. The reason he ultimately chose Kizaru was that laser weapons were more suitable than heat melt rays and freezing rays, both in terms of manufacturing difficulty and practical significance.

It was also because of the need to cooperate with Vegapunk to perfect the Pacifista that Kizaru became the commander of the Science Unit.

And this abandoned new type of cannon was the reason Kizaru went to watch the test on the very first day Ron arrived at Marine Headquarters.

This was because after abandoning the first version of the design, Vegapunk had lamented, "If only we had the Rumble-Rumble Fruit..."

"Alright, these are all unfinished toys, let's walk faster."

Kizaru withdrew his gaze, his expression unreadable.

Going down from the internal elevator of the building, they reached the bottom floor, where a separate underground port was set up. A warship was docked inside, and staff were inspecting equipment, installing Seastone patches on the warship. This technology was currently mastered only by the Marines, so there was no problem with keeping it secret.

Passing through the port, the three soon arrived in a large warehouse.

In front of them, hundreds of instruments covered with white cloths were displayed. One of them was moved to the entrance alone, and several researchers were gathered around it, tinkering and setting it up. Seeing Kizaru enter, a middle-aged man with a receding hairline in a white coat waved to him.

"Admiral Kizaru! The instrument has been inspected and is ready for use at any time!"

"Is this it?"

Ron stepped forward and bent down to examine the white cylindrical object. It was made of high-strength ceramic throughout, with a metal interior and a movable hatch at the top for entry and exit. Internal electrode pads were neatly arranged on the left and right hand positions, with an insulating pedal below. If one couldn't bear the pain, they could step on it at any time to block the current.

"This is your mission, Ron!"

Zephyr also walked over and said to Ron, "Test out the similarities and differences between the stimulation effect produced by this machine and your Lightning Stimulation Method. If you complete it well, Fleet Admiral will allow you to learn another Rokushiki technique."

"Another Rokushiki?!"

The champion of the New Recruit Camp's year-end assessment only allowed him to learn two techniques, and now helping with a small favor could earn him another one. Ron's eyes immediately lit up!

"Deal!"

However, at this moment, Kizaru said with a strange tone, "Be careful not to bite off more than you can chew, Ron! Have you learned the Rokushiki techniques I taught you before?"

"Huh?"

Ron looked up and glanced at Zephyr. "Of course! I can already use them in combat."

"Hiss..."

Kizaru immediately gasped in surprise. "To be able to use them in combat in just two months? What terrifying physical talent! It's a waste of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit..."

"Huh? What do you mean, Kizaru?!"

Zephyr's old face darkened, and he growled.

Writing a novel inevitably leads to differing opinions; if someone says one thing, naturally someone else will say two. Some people, just to appear unique and satisfy their vanity, will deliberately call a deer a horse.

So, as an author, how should one discern truth from falsehood and gather information?

Answer: As long as it's not a matter of principle, just let it be.

The internet is false and free. What you care about, perhaps others couldn't care less about. What you strive and die for might be worthless in others' eyes. You might painstakingly revise your work, only to receive a reply like, "It's boring, I'm dropping the book."

So, as long as it's not a matter of principle, just let it be.

Today, a reader somehow found out my ID in World of Warcraft. We chatted happily at first, then they went through chapters one to thirty, telling me how I should write this and that, suggesting the protagonist eat more Devil Fruits, and so on. Finally, they said, "I can't write these ideas into a novel, so I'll give them to you."

Should I be paying you royalties, then?

Thank you very much!

To be fair, he's a good person. He expressed his opinions and suggestions, and I appreciate it.

But that kind of phrasing, where they imply that because they told you, you must change it, is disgusting. I refuse to acknowledge having such an unconventional reader; it must be alt accounts from various factions trying to mess with my mood.

So, I'll say this again: as long as it's not a matter of principle, I won't change it, I can't be bothered to change it, and I have no interest in changing it. Because one person's opinion is too pale and powerless.

Here's a 4000-character chapter!