Inflated Page One

"I've already finished improving the cyborg technology."

Vegapunk's voice came through the loudspeaker, carrying a trace of barely perceptible fatigue, "

But to put it into practical use, it requires an enormous amount of life energy. Otherwise, it would be impossible to modify every single cell in the body."

He picked up the improved documents and let out a long sigh. That sigh seemed both ashamed and regretful that a great concept had been constrained by reality.

Dawn's gaze passed through the glass and fell on the documents in Vegapunk's hands.

"Then do you have a way to artificially create life energy?"

He had expected there to be difficulties. Technology that altered human cells, something so close to the domain of gods, would have been abnormal if it came without a corresponding price.

He wanted to see whether this scientist, known as someone whose wisdom surpassed humanity's by five hundred years, had a solution.

Vegapunk adjusted his glasses. Having expected the question, he immediately gave an answer.

"If you can let me study a Woods-Woods Fruit user, I should be able to do it. But unfortunately, no such ability user has appeared on the seas for a long time. Does your intelligence network have any information?"

Dawn was briefly stunned.

Then, a faint smile appeared on his handsome face.

"I happen to know about one."

South Blue, Kuketsu Island.

The island was not large, but four filthy streets divided it into four districts. Each district was occupied by a gang that ruled the locals through violence and fear.

The eastern district relied on smuggling, the western district on gambling, and the northern district on extortion. The southern district was the most chaotic hodgepodge of them all. It had everything, and because of that, it was also the poorest and