Main World.
Summer, Year 21 of Konoha.
New Capital, British Continent.
Third basement level, Institute of Technology, Imperial Palace.
Sasori stood before the Control Console, his deep-purple, high-collared uniform gleaming coldly under the icy lights. Behind rimless glasses, his Golden Serpent Eyes stared intently at the pale-blue fruit wrapped in layers of runes at the center of the Control Console—the Paramecia-type Spring Vein Fruit. Waterlike patterns flowed slowly across its surface in the light of the runes, like a living spring held captive.
Toyotomi Yinglang stood beside him, holding a thick set of blueprints. Written in the Empire's script on the cover were the words "Sea Eternal Spring Water Purification and Generation Machine: Design Plans." His gaze moved slowly over the plans, and from time to time, he looked up at the Spring Vein Fruit.
"The rule core of the Spring Vein Fruit is 'water source emergence.'"
He set down the plans.
"It doesn't extract moisture from the air or turn other substances into water. It generates fresh water directly at the level of 'rules.' What it generates isn't water molecules, but the very concept of a 'water source.' As long as the rule remains, the source will never run dry."
Sasori adjusted his glasses.
"Teacher, your idea is to 'fix' this fruit's rule inside a machine? A Devil Fruit's rule is bound to its user. When the user dies, the rule returns to the fruit. There's never been a precedent for fixing a rule inside inorganic matter."
"If there's no precedent, we'll create one."
Toyotomi Yinglang's voice was calm.
"The user of the Spring Vein Fruit is human, after all. Humans grow tired, grow old, die, and have selfish desires. Entrusting the Empire's water supply lifeline to one person's loyalty and lifespan is far too fragile. But if we