Chapter 351: Then What Are We Waiting For

The tragic experiences of his childhood had long shown Blackbeard a cruel truth.

In this sea where the strong devour the weak, only strength matters.

Blackbeard never believed in pity, expected no redemption, and held no use for hollow dignity; he only worshipped the control brought by absolute power.

For Blackbeard, becoming stronger was never a choice, but the only path to survival and standing at the peak.

As long as he could grow stronger, as long as he could stand at a summit no one dared to look down upon.

Let alone abandoning the Davy family bloodline, even fusing the Lunarian bloodline and completely transforming himself, what harm would it do?

Before extreme ambition, any price was merely a stepping stone to the Wang Zuo.

Precisely because of this, upon hearing Vegapunk's plan, Blackbeard for a moment could not tell.

Whether Vegapunk was helping him.

If he had known the World Government's purpose beforehand, why would he have miserably fled from the West Sea to the South Sea, from the South Sea to the North Sea, and finally gone to the East Sea to recruit people?

With such a good thing, he would have surrendered long ago.

Seeming to see tears seeping from the corners of Blackbeard's eyes, soaking the bandages on his face, Vegapunk walked slowly to the experiment table.

"Marshall D. Teach, do not worry."

"We will not waste your talent; once the transformation is complete, you will become the true pinnacle of technology upon this sea."

Blackbeard asked only one question: "At that time, will I still have self-awareness?"

"Yes." Vegapunk spoke only half the truth.

The most fundamental difference between Seraphim and Pacifistas lies in this—

Pacifistas are cyborgs; they implant large amounts of metal machinery and weapon systems into the human body, essentially machines wearing human skin.

Seraphim, however, fuse the Lunarian bloodline through the Lineage Factor technology...

Belonging to living beings, not machines.

The former is a perfect recombination of life science with the strongest Lineage Factors; the latter is a semi-mechanical modification of the human body by technology.

Both will obey Vegapunk absolutely.

Blackbeard, possessing three hearts and a constitution unlike ordinary humans, could undoubtedly endure the fusion of more Lineage Factors.

Vegapunk had already decided—

Not only would he fuse the Lunarian bloodline, but also the Bakania bloodline, the Ancient Giant bloodline, and the Oni bloodline extracted from Kaido in recent years, all to be fused with Blackbeard.

If one is to do it, do it to the extreme.

Otherwise, where would one find another perfect experimental host with three hearts!

As for the Pacifista project required by the Five Elders, Vegapunk decided to kill two birds with one stone: clone a Blackbeard for semi-mechanical modification.

Hearing that self-awareness would still be retained, Blackbeard chose to trust Vegapunk.

"Thank you."

Clearly, he had worked very hard before, yet no matter how he chased, he was always left far behind by Little Bai Mao.

In that case, he would trust the power of technology to make his strength leap, truly standing at the peak of the strong.

At that time, first take revenge on the Marines.

Then slaughter into the Holy Land of Mary Geoise to avenge the Davy family; he would make Mary Geoise run with blood!

Vegapunk sighed with relief.

"You're welcome."

Previously, when undergoing various tests, Blackbeard had shown great resistance; now that Blackbeard was willing to cooperate, it undoubtedly greatly reduced the difficulty of fusing the Lineage Factors.

"To ensure a higher success rate for the Lineage Factor fusion, you cannot eat for this period."

"We will guarantee your life signs remain unproblematic through nutrient injections."

Having spoken, Vegapunk added one sentence.

"You may eat only one day per month; if there is anything you wish to eat, I will try my best to satisfy you."

Blackbeard did not think and blurted out immediately.

"Cherry pie, I want to eat cherry pie."

"Good." Vegapunk nodded: "The first stage, fusing the Lunarian bloodline, is estimated to take half a year; after success, you will possess extremely strong defense, speed, and the ability to control fire."

"Zehahaha~" Blackbeard grinned.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"Come on, I can't wait anymore."

Marines, World Government, you just wait for me; the day I emerge from seclusion will be your day of death.

Blackbeard ultimately did not include Saint Saint Saiwen, for he truly did not believe he could surpass Saint Saint Saiwen through Lineage Factor fusion.

The strength of Little Bai Mao was simply beyond what technological power could overcome.

"By the way," Vegapunk asked again, "Theoretically, you can consume three Devil Fruits; is there any particular Devil Fruit you desire..."

"If not,

I will apply to the World Government to select a systematic combination of Devil Fruits for you."

Upon hearing this, Blackbeard instantly fell silent.

The Yami Yami no Mi was the fruit he had long dreamed of, followed by the Gura Gura no Mi of his father Whitebeard, yet obtaining these was extremely difficult.

"Do I have the right to choose?"

"Within a certain range, yes."

Blackbeard decided to take a gamble; what if the World Government was blind and he succeeded?

"I don't have any particular desires either; just the Yami Yami no Mi, and you can pair the other two as you see fit."

"Good." Vegapunk silently noted it down: "Shall we begin now, or wait..."

"What are we waiting for?"

Blackbeard cut him off directly; the chance to grow stronger was right before his eyes, and he could no longer wait.

"Well done!"

Vegapunk had been researching the Lineage Factor for so many years, yet he had never seen anyone like Blackbeard who was willing to believe in the power of technology.

"Let us begin now."

Blackbeard's heart swelled with heroic ambition; the crucial first step on his path to kingship had finally been taken.

After a brief report to Saint Saturn, Vegapunk led his assistants straight into the first stage of Blackbeard's modification without pause.

Holy Land Mary Geoze, Saint Saturn's residence.

Upon receiving Vegapunk's report, Saint Saturn interlaced his fingers to support his chin.

Saint Saturn's title among the Five Elders was the Scientific Defense War Deity; matching his position, Saturn was also a scientist.

He was a mad scientist who viewed humans as ants, loved conducting human experiments, and spared not even infants.

Moreover, he enjoyed torturing his test subjects.

He was also an arrogant scientist who believed Vegapunk could not fool him.

"Three Devil Fruits..."

Modifying Blackbeard was originally intended solely to completely sever the D. family bloodline; he never expected such an unexpected bonus.

Saint Saturn had realized that if he could keep the modified Blackbeard in his grasp, his own power would advance a step further.

He would firmly cement his position as the second-in-command.

Even if, in the near future, the Great One Imu were to sign the Abyss and Deep Sea Contracts with Saint Saint Saint Saiwen and Harald.

Yet Saint Saint Saint Saiwen had no interest in power, and while Harald was strong, he was easily duped; Saint Saturn did not take them seriously at all.

He must keep Blackbeard under his control.

However, thinking of the three Devil Fruits Vegapunk had requested, Saint Saturn found himself in a dilemma once more.

"The Dark-Dark Fruit... he truly dares to ask for it."

If Vegapunk dared to ask, Saint Saturn dared to give.

The modified Blackbeard would ultimately obey his orders absolutely; there was nothing he was unwilling to part with.

It was just that the Dark-Dark Fruit was not currently in the World Government's possession; Saint Saturn had the will but not the power, so he could only order the CP to search for it immediately.

As for the other two, that was easy to handle.

Saint Saturn decided to use subtle deception, siphoning off two Devil Fruits from the reward promised to Saint Saint Saint Saiwen for retrieving the design blueprints of Pluton.

"I truly am a genius."