[Chat Group For The Death] Chapter 81 - 85

Chapter 81 You must strive to do well!

Lucas stood in front of the Punk Hazard research facility, arms crossed, watching as the half-human, half-beast hybrids continued to fire their weapons at him.

Bullets zipped through the air, only to bounce harmlessly off an invisible barrier.

Lucas sighed.

"Is that really all you’ve got?"

Meanwhile, the chat group buzzed with conversation, reacting to the bizarre creatures in front of him.

Senju Tobirama: "Are these… orcs? This world really does have some peculiar races."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Orcs? @Whitebeard, @Pirate King Roger, @Gold Thief Woonan—have any of you heard of this race before?"

Whitebeard: "No!"

Pirate King Roger: "Never seen anything like this."

Gold Thief Woonan: "Same here!"

Senju Hashirama: "Hahaha! So, have we just discovered a brand-new race?"

Lucas shook his head.

Lucas: "Wrong. These aren’t a race. These are humans who have had their bodies modified with animal limbs."

Senju Tobirama: "This is what you call biotechnology? Fascinating. So your world has scientific modifications just like ours?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "The Marines have the technology to clone humans. Modifying bodies like this shouldn’t be that hard."

Lucas smirked.

Lucas: "You’re thinking too much. This isn’t biotechnology—this is the work of the Op-Op Fruit."

The chat fell silent for a moment.

Whitebeard: "Op-Op Fruit? I remember that fruit. There’s a rookie in the sea who ate it, right?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "You actually keep track of newcomers, Whitebeard?"

Pirate King Roger: "Hah! He must have been trying to adopt another son."

Whitebeard: "Tsk! Wrong. It’s just that the Op-Op Fruit is a very valuable Devil Fruit."

Lucas chuckled.

Lucas: "That’s right. The Op-Op Fruit is worth five billion berries. Even the Gura Gura no Mi (Tremor-Tremor Fruit) and Fuwa Fuwa no Mi (Float-Float Fruit) don’t compare to that price."

Pirate King Roger: "Five billion?! That’s insane!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "A fruit sold for that much must have extraordinary abilities. Lucas, care to explain?"

Lucas grinned.

Lucas: "Of course! If an Op-Op Fruit user has medical knowledge, they can unlock the fruit’s ultimate ability—the Perennial Youth Operation."

Senju Hashirama: "Perennial Youth Operation? Is that… the power to stay forever young?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "If that’s true, this Devil Fruit is worth every berry. Aging is the true enemy of all warriors. No one can escape it."

Whitebeard: "I’m not obsessed with immortality, but I’ll admit—it’s an incredible ability. If I could have stayed young, the World Government and Marines would never have dared to act against my crew."

Pirate King Roger: "Even if I had that ability, it wouldn’t have helped me. My disease still would’ve killed me."

Lucas smirked.

Lucas: "You’re wrong, Roger. If an Op-Op Fruit user had treated you before it was too late, your disease could have been cured. And you’re also underestimating what the Perennial Youth Operation actually does."

Roger hesitated. "What do you mean?"

Lucas explained, his tone casual yet firm.

Lucas: "This isn’t just eternal youth. It’s true immortality. No aging, no disease, and an endless lifespan. With this surgery, you wouldn't just be young forever—you would be completely unkillable unless someone physically destroyed you."

The chat fell silent for a moment.

Then—

Golden Lion Shiki: "Shihahaha! Damn! Why didn’t I know about this when I was alive?! If I had known, I would have hunted down every Op-Op Fruit user and forced them to do the surgery on me!"

Lucas laughed.

Lucas: "If you had done that, you wouldn’t have needed to worry about the rudder stuck in your head or your missing legs. The Op-Op Fruit could have fixed you."

Whitebeard: "Lucas, are you going to undergo the immortality surgery yourself?"

Lucas shook his head.

Lucas: "I admit, the temptation is strong… but I’m not interested."

Pirate King Roger: "You expect us to believe that? That’s the power of eternal youth and immortality! Even I wouldn’t be able to resist that temptation."

The rest of the chat group expressed doubt as well.

Even for the strongest warriors, the fear of aging and death was very real.

Lucas’ casual rejection of such an ability seemed impossible.

Lucas: "You’re all thinking too small. The reason I don’t care about the Op-Op Fruit is simple—I know of many abilities and treasures that offer something even greater than the Perennial Youth Operation."

Golden Lion Shiki: "What kind of things?"

Whitebeard: "Give us an example."

Lucas smirked.

Lucas: "Ever heard of Pure Gold? It’s found inside a certain lantern fish, and its light can halt aging, making whoever possesses it immortal."

Senju Hashirama: "Wait, are you telling me your world has multiple ways to achieve immortality?"

Lucas: "That’s right. And not just this world—there are many treasures across the multiverse that grant eternal life. The Op-Op Fruit is just one of many options."

Senju Tobirama: "And in the Ninja World? Are there things that grant immortality?"

Lucas smirked.

Lucas: "Yes."

Senju Tobirama: "What is it?"

Lucas chuckled.

Lucas: "I won’t tell you now. I’ll explain when I visit the Ninja World in person."

Howard Stark: "What about my world? Are there immortality-related technologies in my Universe?"

Lucas nodded.

Lucas: "Oh, absolutely. Your world has advanced beyond both the Pirate World and the Ninja World. There are plenty of ways to achieve immortality in your Universe."

Golden Lion Shiki: "So you’re telling me the world of scientists is more powerful than ours?"

Lucas: "Of course."

As Lucas casually chatted with the group, the orc-like hybrid guards outside the research facility were still desperately firing at him.

Their bullets continued bouncing off the invisible barrier surrounding him.

Lucas sighed, watching their futile efforts.

Lucas shifted his attention back to the real world, his Conqueror’s Haki surging outward like an unstoppable tidal wave.

The hybrid beast-men standing in his path barely had time to react before their eyes rolled back, their bodies slumping to the ground in unconscious heaps.

Without sparing them another glance, Lucas strode forward.

With a simple wave of his hand, the massive iron gate blocking his path shimmered into gold, softening like molten liquid before splitting apart, creating a clear entrance.

He stepped inside the heart of the Punk Hazard research facility.

Deep Inside the Laboratory

Seated before a row of monitor screens, the notorious mad scientist Caesar Clown sipped his coffee, leisurely observing the various security feeds.

Then, his eyes landed on one particular screen—and his entire body froze.

He choked on his drink, spewing coffee across his lab coat.

"Wh—WHAAAT?!"

He stared in horror at the screen, where a single figure was walking through his base, completely unbothered.

Lucas.

One of the Four Emperors of the Sea.

The man who captured Kaido.

"Why the hell is he here?!"

Caesar felt his stomach drop as an overwhelming sense of dread settled over him.

This is bad—this is REALLY BAD.

Beside him, Monet, his emerald-haired secretary, narrowed her eyes as she watched the screen. Unlike Caesar, who was on the verge of panicking, she remained calm and composed.

"Caesar," Monet said seriously, "this situation is beyond our control. We need to contact Young Master Doflamingo immediately."

Caesar swallowed hard, watching Monet pull out her personal Den Den Mushi.

His hands trembled.

He had always relied on Doflamingo as his greatest backer.

But now?

Now, even Doflamingo’s backing felt worthless.

Because the man who defeated Kaido was standing at my front door.

Dressrosa – The Royal Palace

Doflamingo leaned back in his lavish throne, fingers tapping restlessly against the armrest.

Ever since Kaido’s capture, the underground market had shifted drastically.

With his most powerful backer gone, Doflamingo had been forced into a tense stalemate, uncertain whether he should seek new alliances or wait for Kaido to escape and reassert control.

The uncertainty was infuriating.

Just as he was about to pour himself another glass of wine, his Den Den Mushi rang.

The distinctive tone signaled that it was Monet calling from Punk Hazard.

His eyebrows furrowed.

"What now?" he muttered before answering.

"Monet," he said smoothly, "is something wrong? Did Law make a move?"

Trafalgar Law had been lingering in Punk Hazard for a while now, and while Doflamingo was keeping tabs on him, the surgeon had yet to make a move.

If Law wasn’t the problem, then—

Monet’s voice came through, clear and serious.

"No, Law hasn’t acted. But we have another situation—The new Emperor Lucas is here."

Doflamingo stiffened.

His usual smug grin vanished.

"…Are you sure?" he asked sharply.

"Positive," Monet confirmed. "He arrived alone, and we have no idea why he’s here."

Doflamingo’s mind raced.

Lucas… on Punk Hazard?

His first thought was that Lucas was here to personally deal with him.

But that didn’t make sense.

If Lucas wanted to go after him, he would have made a move in Dressrosa, where His allies were gathering.

Doflamingo’s second thought was even worse.

Is he here for Caesar?

If Lucas was targeting Punk Hazard, then that meant—

He’s interfering with my entire supply chain.

His jaw tightened.

"Is Kaido with him?" Doflamingo asked quickly.

Monet shook her head. "No, he came alone."

Doflamingo’s lips curled into a smirk.

"Good," he said. "Listen to me, Monet—do not engage him. You’re no match for him. Stall him as long as you can."

He hung up the phone and immediately reached for another Den Den Mushi, dialing a different number.

It was time to call in some favors.

The line connected.

A gruff, irritated voice spoke.

"What do you want, Doflamingo?"

Doflamingo grinned.

"Lucas just landed in Punk Hazard."

A brief silence.

Then—

"You’re serious?"

"Dead serious," Doflamingo confirmed. "If you want your captain back, this is your chance."

The voice on the other end let out a low growl.

"Understood. We’ll move immediately."

Doflamingo chuckled as he ended the call.

Leaning back in his chair, he let out a deep sigh.

"You bastards better not screw this up," he muttered to himself.

For the first time ever, Kaido’s been captured for over half a month. If the Beasts Pirates can’t rescue him now, then I need to seriously consider cutting ties with them.

Chapter 82: Don't Be Silly, Sister, I Don't Kill Women

"Nani?"

"He expect me to stall Lucas, one of the Four Emperors? The same Lucas who even defeated Kaido of the Beasts? Has Joker lost his mind?"

Caesar Clown grumbled with a displeased expression, openly rejecting Doflamingo’s order.

He, Caesar, was the greatest scientist in the world! Why should he take such a massive risk? No way!

Monet, standing beside him with an impassive expression, sighed. "Is this really the time to be complaining? It’s not like we have much of a choice. Let’s first see what that Four Emperors Lucas intends to do."

At that moment, in the surveillance feed, Lucas lifted his head and smirked at them. Instantly, the entire experimental base began to shimmer with gold.

Steel, stone, glass—everything transformed into radiant gold under Lucas’s Gold-Gold Fruit ability, forming a straight, glimmering pathway leading directly to them. The complex terrain of the base was rendered meaningless as Lucas advanced toward Caesar and Monet without obstruction.

"A-Ah—!"

"No way! I don’t have the courage to face him!"

"I’m getting out of here—do the clown’s mission yourself!"

Caesar gritted his teeth, making the swift decision to flee, leaving Monet behind. As a Logia-type user with the Gas-Gas Fruit, he had the ability to fly—he wasn’t sticking around for this!

Just as he turned to escape, a calm voice echoed through the golden walls.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

One of the golden walls melted, shifting like liquid metal, and Lucas stepped through it effortlessly.

"Four Emperors Lucas! H-Hello!" Caesar stammered, swallowing hard as he trembled before the golden figure.

"Relax." Lucas's voice was indifferent, his sharp gaze fixed on the scientist. "I hear you’re quite the renowned scientist. I came to recruit you. Work for me."

"Eh?" Caesar blinked in shock. His anxiety faded almost instantly, only to be replaced with smug confidence. Just as he was about to boast about his scientific genius, Lucas's cold, unreadable eyes silenced him.

"It would be my greatest honor to work for you!" Caesar declared hastily, shifting back to a fawning attitude.

Lucas merely acknowledged him with a nod before turning to Monet. "And you—Doflamingo’s subordinate. Want to switch sides?"

Monet’s eyes narrowed. "How do you know my identity?"

Lucas chuckled. "Who do you think I am? No one in this experimental base can escape my eyes and ears. I overheard your conversation with Doflamingo."

Monet stiffened. If Lucas truly knew everything, then things weren’t looking great for her boss.

"Let me guess—Doflamingo ordered you to stall me, right?" Lucas smirked. "It’s obvious. I don’t have much direct interaction with him, aside from Kaido of the Beasts. He’s trying to keep me here long enough for Kaido’s crew to come and rescue him? How predictable."

His voice was calm, but there was clear disdain in his words. While Lucas hadn’t expected Doflamingo to interfere, he had anticipated that someone would try to free Kaido sooner or later.

He looked Monet directly in the eyes. "So, what’s your decision? Will you join me?"

Monet hesitated before asking, "And if I refuse? Will you kill me?"

Lucas shrugged, exhaling as if the question was ridiculous. "Don’t be silly, sister. I don’t kill women."

Monet’s lips pressed together. That may be true, but it was clear refusal wasn’t really an option.

Lucas continued, "But if you reject me, I’d be quite offended. And I heard Kaido likes to keep pirates who challenge him as forced laborers until they break. Want to try that?"

Monet’s body stiffened. Forced labor?

Lucas clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "No, no. You’re too soft for that. Your skin is too smooth. Maybe I should send you to the ‘Pleasure Street’ in Wano instead. You’d be more suited there."

Monet’s face drained of color. She knew exactly what kind of place ‘Pleasure Street’ was, and the thought of being sent there made her shudder. Death suddenly seemed like the kinder fate.

"Enough! I’ll join you!" she declared bitterly, surrendering without further hesitation.

Lucas nodded in satisfaction. "Good."

Then, his gaze shifted toward the doorway.

"So, have you seen enough?"

The door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. Trafalgar Law entered the room, gripping the hilt of his nodachi, his expression serious.

"I never imagined that the infamous Four Emperors Lucas would come here personally," Law said, his voice low.

Lucas chuckled. "You want to kill Doflamingo, don’t you? Come work for me, and I can help you with that."

Law’s eyes sharpened. "How do you know about my grudge against Doflamingo?"

Lucas smirked. "There’s very little in this world that I don’t know. No need to act so surprised. I even know the true power of your Op-Op Fruit."

Law’s grip on his sword tightened. "You want me for the fruit’s ultimate ability, don’t you? The Perennial Youth Operation?"

Lucas waved a hand dismissively. "No. I have no interest in immortality. What intrigues me is the Op-Op Fruit’s ability to control things."

Law frowned. "Control?"

Lucas nodded. "That’s right. Like how you handed your heart over to Caesar to gain his trust. Right now, I don’t fully trust Caesar or Monet, and they still have reservations about me."

Lucas glanced at Caesar and Monet indifferently, making both of them feel a little guilty. Although they had agreed to join Lucas, they wouldn’t hesitate to leave if the opportunity arose.

"To build a closer bond with my subordinates, I’ve decided to do something meaningful for them. Understand? Your Op-Op Fruit ability was made for this," Lucas said, his tone casual yet commanding.

As soon as he spoke, Caesar and Monet's expressions changed. Trafalgar Law smirked, clearly enjoying their discomfort.

"Caesar, return Law’s heart to him."

"Law, take out the hearts of Caesar and Monet."

Lucas watched with amusement as their faces twisted in shock. "You’re too young—you should learn to control your expressions," he commented offhandedly.

Caesar, grumbling under his breath, reluctantly retrieved Law’s heart and handed it over. Law took it, unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a frozen cube within his chest, and carefully placed the heart back inside.

Then, moving behind Caesar and Monet, Law tapped their backs lightly with the hilt of his nodachi. Two hearts, encased in a glowing purple energy, fell into his hands.

"How about now? Can you pledge your loyalty to me wholeheartedly?" Lucas asked, holding up their hearts with a smirk.

Caesar and Monet instantly declared their unwavering allegiance, their fear palpable.

Satisfied, Lucas got straight to the point. "The main reason I’m here is to learn the technology of this world. Bring me all the scientific materials in this facility."

Caesar hesitated. "All of it? Master Lucas, the amount of data is enormous. I suggest starting with a book and—"

Lucas cut him off. "No need to worry. I’ll learn it all at once."

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!

Dozens of identical Lucas clones appeared, each ready to absorb the vast amounts of scientific knowledge. Caesar and the others fell silent, stunned beyond words.

What kind of Devil Fruit ability was this?! Lucas had far too many powers—it was both enviable and terrifying.

Reluctantly, Caesar retrieved the scientific materials, handing them over to the clones. As the sheer volume of data overwhelmed the existing clones, Lucas created even more—hundreds of them—to meet the demand.

Inside the Chat Group

Howard Stark: "It’s a shame we can’t share the Shadow Clone’s perspective. I’d love to see the technology of this world!"

Lucas: "Share their perspective? I have hundreds of clones studying at once. Even if you could see through their eyes, it’d be overwhelming."

Senju Tobirama: "That scientist named Caesar seems pretty evil. Does he have any real talent?"

Lucas: "Of course! Come with me, and I’ll show you his masterpiece."

Lucas had Caesar lead him to the laboratory where the gigantic human experiment was being conducted. Inside, they saw children who resembled the descendants of giants.

Whitebeard: "Are these children part of a giant race?"

Lucas: "No. Their parents are ordinary humans. They don’t have giant ancestry—this is all the result of scientific experimentation."

Golden Lion Shiki: "A human gigantification experiment? I recall the World Government attempted something similar before. Giants have natural combat advantages, making them excellent soldiers."

Whitebeard: "Hasn’t the World Government gave created giant marine soldiers?"

Senju Tobirama: "Is this experiment supported by the World Government? That would explain how Caesar gained access to their abandoned research facilities. No—actually, I suspect the World Government deliberately left this base for Caesar to use."

Lucas: "Wrong guess! This human gigantification project isn’t backed by the World Government—it’s funded by Big Mom. That old woman is as massive as Whitebeard, and she has a rather... naive wish."

Whitebeard: "Gurarara! I know what you’re talking about. She mentioned it back when we sailed under Rocks. She dreams of a world where everyone is as big as she is, eating and drinking in the same table."

Senju Hashirama: "That’s such a pure and beautiful dream. Now I want to meet this ‘Big Mom.’"

Lucas: "You don’t actually think she’s a good person, do you?"

Senju Hashirama: "Anyone with such a bright dream can’t be that bad, right?"

Lucas was momentarily speechless. Hashirama’s logic was so absurdly simple that it was impossible to argue against.

But reality was far from idealistic. Charlotte Linlin, known as Big Mom, was arguably the most ruthless of the Four Emperors. Even Kaido of the Beasts, for all his brutality, was more lenient toward his subordinates. Shutenmaru had defied Kaido for over two decades, and Kaido never killed him.

And Big Mom? She would kill her own children without hesitation. Outsiders meant even less to her.

Whitebeard gave Senju Hashirama a detailed account of Big Mom’s true nature. Hashirama, wide-eyed, was left completely stunned.

Chapter 83: Did You Lure the Beasts Pirates Here?

Senju Hashirama: "A woman with such good intentions can be so cruel? I can't believe it."

Lucas: "Reality is strange; it never makes sense. The person you see as kind and benevolent might actually be an ambitious and merciless reproductive machine."

Golden Lion Shiki: "A reproductive machine? I have to say, Charlotte Linlin truly deserves that title. Just look at her history—her entire life has been a cycle of pregnancy or preparing for the next one."

Howard Stark: "I'm more interested in Charlotte Linlin's physique. Was she born with a body of steel? There are so many monsters in this world!"

Howard Stark was astonished. The strongest human he had ever seen before his death was Captain America. The Super Soldier Serum had pushed Steve Rogers to the peak of human potential, enhancing his physical abilities to their limits.

However, even someone like Captain America was insignificant compared to the monsters roaming the One Piece world. Howard Stark had no doubt that even at his peak, Steve Rogers would be powerless against a young Charlotte Linlin.

Had Howard Stark voiced this thought in the chat group, Lucas would have immediately told him that Charlotte Linlin, even as a newborn, likely possessed enough strength to defeat Steve Rogers.

Kozuki Oden was born with enough strength to throw a grown man out of a room. Compared to Oden, Charlotte Linlin was an absolute monster, a true superhuman from birth. At the mere age of five, she had single-handedly destroyed fifteen villages of the Giant Clan. A child capable of such destruction? That was no joke.

"Law, use the power of your Op-Op Fruit to remove the drugs from their bodies."

"Caesar, find a way to restore these children to their original state."

Lucas issued his orders without hesitation, putting an immediate stop to the human gigantification experiment. His priority was to find a way to return the children to their normal sizes.

Caesar's expression twisted with unease. "But... this is an assignment from Big Mom herself. Are we really just going to stop like this? That crazy woman will definitely come after me!"

Lucas snorted. "If that old woman has a problem, let her take it up with me."

Hearing this, Caesar's face lit up with relief. "Then there's no problem! I can’t guarantee full success, but I’ll do my best to return these kids to normal."

Though Caesar lamented the termination of the gigantification project, he also felt a sense of relief. After all, what he had been researching was entirely different from what Big Mom had originally requested.

Lucas gave Caesar a sharp look and smirked. "Feeling relieved? Did you think I didn't know what you've been up to?"

Caesar's expression froze, and he forced a dry laugh. "What do you mean...?"

Lucas scoffed. "Big Mom wanted a drug that could make adults larger. What you were researching, however, was a method to turn children into giants."

A cold sweat broke out on Caesar’s forehead.

Lucas sneered. "With Doflamingo backing you, I see you've grown quite bold. Not only did you deceive Big Mom, but you also dared to pocket her research funds."

Without hesitation, Lucas pulled out Caesar’s heart and squeezed it tightly. The scientist immediately collapsed to the ground, screaming in pain.

Lucas's tone remained icy. "I don’t want to see you pulling such low-level tricks on me again. Do you understand?"

Caesar, gasping for breath, nodded quickly and flattered, "Understood! Lord Lucas, you're incredibly wise and talented—how could I ever lie to you? It's only that insane Big Mom whose money I dared to steal."

In the chat group, Sword God Ryuma chimed in

Sword God Ryuma: "This Caesar, he's a biologist, right? Could he have a solution for those people in Ebisu Town who can only laugh? If he can restore these children to normal, then he should be able to cure those people too, right?"

Lucas: "You've found the right person. The ones responsible for those 'smiling' people in Wano? The culprit is standing right in front of me."

Sword God Ryuma: "Nani?!"

Lucas: "The people in Ebisu town were force to eat a fruit that cause them this problem. Do you know what fruit? Its an Artificial Devil Fruit created by This Caesar."

Pirate King Roger: "Wait, artificial Devil Fruits? Devil Fruits aren't naturally occurring? You mean they can be manufactured?"

Lucas: "Of course! Vegapunk discovered the concept of bloodline factors—what some worlds call genes. These determine a person's natural attributes. Using this knowledge, Caesar developed a way to artificially replicate Devil Fruits."

Pirate King Roger: "Incredible! Science is truly amazing. It seems what you said at Marine Headquarters wasn’t an exaggeration. If the world government fully masters this technology, they may no longer need naturally powerful Marines in the near future."

Golden Lion Shiki: "To think someone has successfully developed artificial Devil Fruits... I really underestimated this Caesar."

Lucas: "You give him too much credit. The first artificial Devil Fruit was actually created by Vegapunk. The prototype was developed in this very lab. Caesar simply found a way to mass-produce them."

Howard Stark: "Still, that's impressive. Something that can't be mass-produced has limited value. If Caesar managed to create a production process, then his skills aren’t bad."

Lucas: "Don’t overestimate him. He’s nowhere near Vegapunk’s level. All he did was refine the manufacturing process. The key ingredient in making these artificial Devil Fruits is something he calls ‘SMILE.’"

Sword God Ryuma: "SMILE?“

Lucas: "BThe people of Ebisu Town were essentially guinea pigs for Caesar’s experiments. The SMILE fruits were introduced into their food, and those who consumed them lost the ability to express any emotion other than laughter."

Sword God Ryuma fell silent for a moment before speaking again.

Sword God Ryuma: "I can't believe this... those people in Wano suffered so much, and the cause was this man's greed?"

Lucas said with a confident grin, "Yes! Only Caesar can produce this kind artificial devil fruit, which means he should also have a way to resolve the side effects caused by it."

Outside, Lucas gave Caesar an order that left no room for negotiation. "Research and develop a cure for the disease caused by SMILE. Also, work on eliminating the drawbacks of artificial Devil Fruits."

Caesar’s heart sank. He groaned inwardly, feeling as though the weight of the world had just been placed on his shoulders. In the mere three hours he’d been under Lucas’s command, he had already been assigned three monumental tasks:

• Restoring the gigantified children to their normal size.

• Curing the disease caused by SMILE.

• Eliminating the flaws in artificial Devil Fruits.

Each task was a Herculean challenge in its own right, but all three at once? Caesar felt the stress mounting, as though it were a physical force crushing him. His hands twitched involuntarily as he imagined the endless hours of labor and experimentation ahead. He wanted to run, to disappear, to escape this nightmare. But then, with a heavy sigh, he remembered one critical fact—Lucas still held his heart.

The thought of that tiny organ being crushed like a grape brought Caesar back to reality. Resigned, he muttered under his breath, "This workload is going to kill me faster than Lucas will..."

Meanwhile, inside the bustling chat group,

Golden Lion Shiki: "You want to manufacture artificial Devil Fruits yourself?"

Lucas:  "It's an incredible technology, isn’t it? If perfected, artificial Devil Fruits could change the world."

Senju Hashirama: "That reminds me of the battle against the Beasts Pirates. Most of them had Devil Fruit powers, but they were almost all animals. Some even seemed to lose control when using their abilities. How should I put it...?"

Lucas :Ugly and weird!"

Senju Hashirama: "Yes! That’s exactly it!"

Lcuas: "That’s one of the flaws of artificial Devil Fruits. I want Caesar to fix that. The Beasts Pirates primarily use Zoan fruits because Kaido has a preference for them."

Pirate King Roger: "That does make sense... They do look bizarre."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Roger, you're slow to catch on. You and Hashirama are cut from the same cloth—strong, but not the sharpest tools in the shed. Honestly, if you weren’t from different worlds, I’d suspect you were brothers."

Lucas: "Every powerful warrior has their quirks. Golden Lion, don’t you enjoy awkward dances?"

Pirate King Roger: "Wait, what? Shiki likes awkward dancing?!"

Shiki’s face turned crimson with anger. "Shut up! That’s none of your business!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "No, I was asking Lucas! You butt out!"

The two instantly launched into a heated argument, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of insults and laughter. The chat group buzzed with life, the tense atmosphere from earlier completely dissipating.

As the dust settled,

Senju Tobirama, ever the pragmatist, brought the discussion back to the matter at hand.

Senju Tobirama: "So the main drawback of artificial Devil Fruits is that they’re uncontrollable?And why only Zoan"

Lucas : "I’m not entirely sure. So far, only Zoan-type artificial Devil Fruits have been produced. There haven’t been any artificial Paramecia or Logia fruits yet."

He paused, pondering the implications. The artificial Devil Fruits created by Caesar seemed less like the mystical abilities granted by devil fruits and more like genetic modifications. Rather than bestowing powers, they fused human DNA with animal traits, resulting in grotesque hybrids that were powerful but unstable.

Before Lucas could delve deeper into his thoughts, his transponder snail buzzed, its ring cutting through the chatter in the room. He picked it up, and Marco’s voice came through, calm but urgent. "According to our spies, the Beasts Pirates are on the move. Their target is Wano, and it’s highly likely they’re coming to rescue Kaido."

Lucas’s lips curled into a confident smirk. "Don’t worry, they won’t succeed. Send Kaido to Onigashima, where he used to live. We’ll fight them there."

There was a brief silence on the other end before Marco’s voice returned, incredulous. "Wait... did you lure the Beasts Pirates here on purpose?!"

Lucas chuckled, a sly glint in his eyes. "That’s right. I can teleport Kaido back at any moment, so just see my plan in motion."

Chapter 84: The Pirates’ Strategic Maneuver

In the chat group:

Senju Tobirama: “You have the Flying Thunder God Technique, and you can reach Kaido of the Beasts anytime. So, are you deliberately trying to lure people from the Beasts Pirates?”

Lucas: “That’s right! The last time I fought the Beasts Pirates, I was busy dealing with Kaido. My men were useless, and the core members of the Beasts Pirates managed to escape.”

When Whitebeard heard this, he immediately defended his sons.

Whitebeard: “What do you mean useless? Marco said at the time that he didn’t want to risk both sides suffering heavy losses against the Beasts Pirates. That’s why he let their core members go. Otherwise, my sons would’ve defeated them long ago.”

Lucas: “Yeah, yeah, your sons are the best, huh? But during the Summit War, Akainu beat you down and you lost your temper.”

Pirate King Roger: “Oh? Sounds like I just stumbled upon some juicy secrets. Care to explain, group leader?”

Lucas: “During the Summit War, Marine Admiral Akainu punched Ace to death. Then, an enraged Whitebeard severely injured Akainu, sending him plummeting into a fissure.”

Shiki the Golden Lion: “In that situation, to still land a hit on a Marine Admiral? Whitebeard, you’ve got guts! But what happened next?”

Lucas: “Akainu didn’t die. He climbed out of the ground, and at that time, Straw Hat Luffy had passed out. The Whitebeard Pirates were retreating while covering him, but Akainu chased Luffy alone. Not even Marco and the others could stop him.”

Pirate King Roger: “Seriously? If Akainu was at full strength, I’d understand. But a Marine Admiral who had been severely injured by Whitebeard, and they still couldn’t stop him?”

Lucas: “They couldn’t stop him! It was only with the help of three outsiders—Jinbei, Crocodile, and Buggy the Clown—that Straw Hat Luffy barely escaped.”

Shiki the Golden Lion sneered, enjoying Whitebeard’s embarrassment.

Shiki the Golden Lion: “Ha! As expected of Whitebeard’s sons, they’re truly worthless!”

Whitebeard growled in frustration.

Whitebeard: “Shut up!”

Pirate King Roger: “Wait, did you just say Buggy the Clown helped rescue Straw Hat Luffy? That kid? He’s actually capable now?”

Roger was genuinely surprised. Assisting Marco and the others to save Luffy from Akainu wasn’t something just anyone could do. Without considerable strength, it was impossible to even think about it.

But according to Roger’s memories, Buggy the Clown had always been lacking in talent. He was more interested in treasure than training. Roger found it hard to believe Buggy had become strong.

Even the Devil Fruit Buggy ate, the Chop-Chop Fruit, wasn’t particularly powerful in combat. Roger racked his brain but couldn’t figure out how Buggy could’ve gained significant strength. His confusion deepened.

Lucas: “Buggy’s different from the rest! Others rely on strength to get things done, but Buggy? He relies on luck.”

Pirate King Roger: “Ah, that’s right! I remember now—you said he was incredibly lucky during the Summit War?”

Lucas: “He’s got a group of brainwashed fans backing him, and now he’s one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.”

Shiki the Golden Lion: “Speaking of that, after you caught Kaido last time, didn’t the core members of the Beasts Pirates show up with Red-Haired Shanks? Why didn’t you deal with them then?”

Lucas: “Because of Shanks. I didn’t act rashly since he was there. He doesn’t listen to Roger anymore, and that makes him unpredictable.”

Shiki the Golden Lion: “I remember the Beasts Pirates’ cadres were cautious back then too. They kept their distance, ready to flee at a moment’s notice. Even if you had made a move, it would’ve been hard to capture them.”

Whitebeard: “And Kaido, whom you sealed, still needs to be watched. If you left Kaido unattended to go after the Beasts Pirates and Shanks, what would you do if Kaido broke free?”

Pirate King Roger: “Wait… Are you saying Shanks might’ve rescued Kaido when you weren’t looking?”

Lucas: “Do you think that’s impossible? Don’t be naive. He definitely showed signs of wanting to. I just hope he doesn’t get in my way in the future. If he does, I won’t be polite.”

Lucas had set a trap for the remaining Beasts Pirates. To give them the illusion of safety and lure them into action, he took up residence at Punk Hazard’s experimental base.

Time flew by quickly. Lucas immersed himself in studying the biology of the pirate world, and with his top-notch scientific talent, he integrated this knowledge.

During this time, Lucas even instructed Monet to contact Doflamingo, informing him that Lucas had been stationed at Punk Hazard. Doflamingo, unaware of Monet’s defection, thought she was secretly feeding him intel.

New World

After learning that Lucas was at Punk Hazard, the remnants of the Beasts Pirates, led by their top cadres, assembled a fleet to attack Wano Country.

They held Kaido’s vivre cards, which could pinpoint his location. When they realized the vivre cards pointed in a different direction than Lucas’s, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

If Lucas had brought Kaido with him, they wouldn’t stand a chance. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. Otherwise, they might’ve had to consider finding a new captain.

After all, Lucas’s Float Float Fruit abilities were beyond comprehension.

Lucas could create floating Sky Islands to trail him, and he could easily toss Kaido onto one. With Lucas personally guarding him, Kaido’s chances of escape were slim to none.

Shiryu of the Rain, who had recently become one of the Beasts Pirates’ top cadres, was polishing his famous sword, Raiu, as he casually spoke to King, the wildfire.

Shiryu of the Rain: “Is it really just us going to rescue Governor Kaido? Lucas’s forces in Wano aren’t exactly weak.”

According to their intel, besides Marco and his men, Wano also had local powerhouses like Shutenmaru. The master who had defeated them last time had left no one behind—they were all guarding Kaido.

Epidemic Queen chimed in, his voice crackling over the Den Den Mushi: “Doflamingo said on the phone that he’ll find a way to ask the World Government and the Big Mom Pirates for help.”

Shiryu of the Rain frowned skeptically. “Doflamingo? You really think he can pull that off? He’s just one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.”

King, the Wildfire chuckled, his eyes gleaming behind his mask. “Don’t underestimate him! Doflamingo’s had two chances to become the biggest broker in the entire underground world. He’s got connections everywhere.”

Red Line, Mariejois

In the heart of Mariejois, beneath the grandeur and corruption of the World Government’s highest chambers, the Five Elders gathered for an urgent meeting after receiving Doflamingo’s message.

Saint Topman Warcury spoke first, his voice as cold as the polished marble floors. “Doflamingo wants our help to rescue Kaido. What are your thoughts?”

Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro sneered, his fingers idly tracing the edge of his blade. “Does that brat think the World Government exists to save a Yonko? He’s out of his mind.”

Saint Shepherd Ju Peter tapped his fingers against the table thoughtfully. “His reasoning is that the balance of power must be maintained. If the Beasts Pirates collapse, the Four Emperors’ system will crumble. There’s no force at sea right now capable of replacing them.”

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “The Seraphim is nearing completion. Do we even need the Four Emperors’ balance anymore?”

Saint Marcus Mars shook his head. “The Seraphim isn’t finished yet, and even if it were, the Marines are too weak right now to maintain order on their own. The seas can’t be allowed to fall into chaos.”

After the fierce duel between Akainu and Aokiji, Akainu had emerged victorious and assumed the role of Fleet Admiral. Aokiji, unwilling to serve under Akainu’s iron-fisted rule, resigned from the Marines entirely. The aftermath left the Marine Admiralty in shambles, with only one Admiral remaining.

The sole surviving Admiral was an aging veteran, more inclined to bureaucratic laziness than actual enforcement. On top of that, Garp and Sengoku, both possessing Admiral-level power, had chosen retirement over active duty. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say the Marines were at their weakest point in history.

Originally, the World Government had planned to promote Momousagi and Chaton, the candidates for Admiral, but Akainu, freshly appointed as Fleet Admiral, rejected the traditional promotion system. Instead, he proposed a radical new idea—world recruitment.

A staunch hardliner and radical hawk, Akainu's world recruitment plan aimed to rapidly replenish the Marines' high-level combat strength. Seniority wouldn’t matter; only strength would. As long as an individual possessed enough power, they could become a Marine Admiral without the usual bureaucratic hurdles.

If nothing else, Lucas had to admire Akainu for that. The world recruitment plan was as ambitious as it was unprecedented—comparable to a recruitment order from another world entirely.

Unfortunately, the World Government hadn’t approved the plan yet.

Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro finally spoke, his tone measured but firm. “The Marines' strength must be replenished. I propose we approve Akainu’s world recruitment plan. As for Kaido of the Beasts… if there’s a chance to rescue him, we should.”

Saint Shepherd Ju Peter interjected suddenly, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. “I’ve heard that Kaido of the Beasts was imprisoned by Lucas using some kind of special method.”

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn nodded gravely. “Yes, that’s what our intelligence reports say. It’s hard to believe. Kaido, who couldn’t even be restrained by seastone chains, was supposedly locked down by Lucas with some kind of magic.”

Saint Shepherd Ju Peter leaned forward, his expression serious. “I propose that, if circumstances permit, we attempt to retrieve Kaido—whether for his own sake or to study the magic Lucas used to imprison him. Both have considerable research value.”

Saint Marcus Mars, spoke, his voice low but resolute. “I agree. Compared to the Four Emperors, who’ve been around for decades, this Lucas, with his strange methods and sudden rise to power, is the true enemy we need to address.”

Saint Shepherd Ju Peter nodded thoughtfully. “Indeed. His abilities are too strange, and he seems to have a wide array of powers. Could he actually have the ability to acquire abilities from the death?”

Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro stiffened, a bold and dangerous idea forming in his mind. “If he can obtain abilities from the death … then what about the death connected to the three ancient weapons?”

The room fell into heavy silence, the weight of that possibility hanging over them like a dark cloud. The thought of someone like Lucas wielding power connected to the ancient weapons was enough to unsettle even the most hardened of the Five Elders.

Chapter 85: Joker, You Really Are a Crafty Little man!

It wasn’t that the Five Elders were unaware of Lucas’s growing threat. The strange abilities and tactics he employed were more than enough to raise alarm among them. However, the World Government and Marines had been embroiled in too many issues recently. They simply didn’t have the time or resources to deal with Lucas.

On top of that, eight centuries of ruling the world had bred an arrogance within them. With the Celestial Dragons’ national treasure and Imu backing them, they didn’t perceive Lucas as a genuine threat.

They couldn’t have been more wrong. Lucas wasn’t just another up-and-coming pirate like the ones they had crushed in the past. This was a monster—one capable of toppling their entire world order.

After some careful deliberation, the Five Elders decided on a course of action: they would send the ace of the Cipher Pols to the New World. If Kaido could be retrieved, they would bring him back. If not, they’d release him to create chaos and destabilize Lucas’s influence.

Dressrosa

In Dressrosa, Doflamingo rushed to make contact, his Den Den Mushi clutched tightly in his hand as he spoke to one of the Four Emperors.

On Cake Island, Big Mom let out a blood-curdling laugh, her wide, toothy grin stretching unnervingly as she addressed the Den Den Mushi in front of her.

Big Mom: “Mamamamama! Clown of the underworld, what do you want with Mama?”

Doflamingo chuckled darkly, his tone low and calculated. “Mama, I’m here to propose a little cooperation. The Beasts Pirates are heading to Wano to rescue Kaido. I hope you’ll consider attacking the Whitebeard Pirates’ territory while they’re distracted.”

Big Mom’s laughter echoed eerily through the receiver. “Oh? And why would I do that? The Beasts Pirates going to Wano to save Kaido has nothing to do with me. Why would I offend another Pirate Emperor for him?”

Doflamingo’s tone grew serious. “Because Lucas—the leader of the Whitebeard Pirates and for a Pirate Emperor like you—is too great a threat. Kaido, the so-called ‘Strongest Creature in the World,’ was defeated and captured by Lucas in a one-on-one battle.”

Big Mom snorted, unimpressed. “So what? The title of ‘Strongest Creature’ just passed to someone else. What’s that got to do with me?”

Doflamingo pressed on. “It does matter. Today, he captured Kaido. Tomorrow, he could be at Cake Island, coming for you. He’s your enemy, too.”

Big Mom’s laughter turned into a furious roar. “Joker, are you threatening Mama? Who do you think I am?!”

Doflamingo flinched but quickly recovered. “Don’t misunderstand, Mama. I’m simply pointing out the danger he poses. Don’t you think his threat is too great to ignore? He possesses abilities akin to the legendary pirates—three powers in one. And…” His voice dropped to a whisper, “no one knows where his limits are. What if he keeps getting stronger?”

Big Mom dismissed the idea with a scoff. “Don’t be ridiculous! Joker, humans have limits. If people could get stronger without limit, the powerhouses in this world would’ve started an arms race long ago.”

Since becoming one of the Four Emperors, Big Mom hadn’t left Cake Island much. Her children handled all the pirate activities, while she lounged on the island like a content, lazy queen.

Why did she dare live this way?

Because she knew that after a certain point, increasing strength was nearly impossible. If it weren’t, the other Pirate Emperors and Marine Admirals would be constantly training, striving to outmatch each other. But they weren’t—because they couldn’t.

Big Mom chuckled darkly. “I know Lucas. His abilities are impressive, sure. But after a certain point, quantity loses meaning. No matter how many powers you have, you can only use so many at once.”

Her own power, derived from the Soul-Soul Fruit, allowed her to control elements like thunder and flame. But to her, the Devil Fruit was just an enhancement—her true strength came from her formidable body and Haki. Even without the Soul-Soul Fruit, she could still stand as a Pirate Emperor, a berserker unmatched on the seas.

Back in Dressrosa, Doflamingo’s face darkened. His plan to make Big Mom see Lucas as a threat had failed. But as a seasoned player in the underground world, Doflamingo always had a backup plan.

With a sly grin, he moved on to Plan B.

Doflamingo: “Since Lucas doesn’t seem to worry you, perhaps his territory will pique your interest. You know, the current situation is very favorable for you.”

Big Mom’s interest was piqued. “Oh? Do go on.”

Doflamingo: “Lucas beat Kaido badly. Once Kaido escapes, he’ll want revenge. Kaido might not be strong enough to take down Lucas alone, but with your help, it’ll be a different story.”

Big Mom’s laughter roared through the Den Den Mushi. “You want me to team up with Kaido to take down Lucas?”

Doflamingo’s grin widened. “Exactly. Kaido will do the heavy lifting, and all you have to do is support him. While they’re occupied, you’ll be free to snatch up whatever benefits you like from Lucas’s territory.”

Big Mom cackled. “Now that’s how you ask for a favor. You should’ve said that from the start! I’ll forgive you this time, but don’t let it happen again!”

Doflamingo chuckled apologetically, though inwardly he cursed her as a madwoman. ‘This crazy hag is obviously afraid of Lucas but refuses to admit it. All for the sake of her ego.’ He bit back his irritation and continued.

Big Mom’s voice turned cold. “But words alone won’t convince me to send troops.”

Doflamingo gritted his teeth. ‘This woman wants it both ways—plundering Whitebeard’s territory and making us pay for it. Outrageous!’

After a brief pause, Doflamingo’s mind sparked with another idea.

Doflamingo: “Mama, I heard Fish-Man Island used to be your territory. But now, it’s under Lucas’s protection.”

Big Mom’s tone darkened. “Yes! Fish-Man Island flew my flag to deter pirates. But without my permission, they switched allegiance to Lucas. I’ll settle the score with them eventually.”

Seeing an opening, Doflamingo dropped another bombshell.

Doflamingo: “Mama, you’ve been funding Caesar’s research into human gigantification, right?”

Big Mom’s laugh turned sly. “That’s right! I know Caesar works for you. Are you trying to use him to threaten me?”

Doflamingo: “Not at all. But you should know—Caesar is in Lucas’s hands now. If you don’t show your strength soon, Lucas might just ignore you altogether.”

Big Mom fell silent, her expression unreadable.

Doflamingo seized the opportunity to press harder. “Without Kaido to oppose Lucas, how will you reclaim what’s yours? But if you release Kaido and let him challenge Lucas, you’ll have the best of both worlds.”

Big Mom’s laughter erupted once more. “Well, well! Joker, you really are a crafty little man! Fine, I’ll send troops.”

Punk Hazard

Lucas had stayed on Punk Hazard for half a month. With the help of hundreds of his clones, he had finally absorbed all the biological knowledge from the island’s research facilities.

He summoned Caesar Clown.

Lucas: “Caesar, have you completed the task I assigned you?”

Caesar’s face twisted in embarrassment. “Lord Lucas, you must understand—scientific research takes time.”

Lucas sighed, his disappointment clear. “I overestimated you. Your skills really can’t compare to Vegapunk’s.”

Caesar’s face flushed with humiliation, though inwardly, he fumed. ‘If you’re so capable, why don’t you do it yourself?!’

Lucas remained indifferent. “Fine. Continue working on perfecting the artificial Devil Fruits. I’ll handle the other two tasks myself.”

While perfecting the artificial Devil Fruits required extensive biological research that Lucas wasn’t ready for yet, he had already devised solutions for the SMILE-induced diseases and the restoration of human gigantification.

Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi rang.

Buru Buru Buru!

Lucas answered, and Marco’s voice crackled through.

Marco: “The Beasts Pirates’ fleet has approached Wano. They’ll land on Onigashima soon. I’ll lead our forces to confront them, so I may not have time to call you again. Just wanted to give you a heads-up.”

Lucas responded calmly. “Got it. Do what you must. Don’t worry.”

He hung up the phone, created three Shadow Clones, and ordered them to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport to Kaido’s location.

Onigashima

Marco hung up his Den Den Mushi, glancing at the bound Kaido of the Beasts before preparing to confront the incoming Beasts Pirates.

Suddenly, three versions of Lucas appeared beside Kaido, startling Marco.

Marco: “You…?”

His face was a mask of astonishment. ‘Why are there three Lucases here all of a sudden?!’

One of the clones stepped forward.

Lucas Clone: “These are my clones. I left them here as backup.”

Another clone added, “Leave Kaido to us. You focus on leading our forces into battle.”

The third clone smiled slightly. “You need more combat experience, Marco. This battle is a perfect opportunity for that. And don’t tell anyone I’m here.”