"Brother Terry is super strong."
Haya gestured excitedly beside him, describing how Terry had seized this camp from another group. His words were full of admiration.
Reddy listened while glancing at his panel.
Gene Rating: LV8
While examining Terry, Reddy casually collected a sample and sent it to the Gene Analysis Lab for testing. The result surprised him.
Apart from Golden Lion Shiki, who was LV13, this was the first time he had collected a human gene sample rated LV8. Even Grizzly Bear Bill's gene rating only reached LV7.
However, this was partly because he hadn't specifically focused on collecting human gene samples.
After finishing Terry's examination, Reddy took another look at him. "LV8… His strength ceiling is roughly equivalent to a Marine Headquarters captain. No wonder he managed to hold on."
Terry's injuries were severe. Four of his ribs were broken, with one fragment piercing his lung and causing major internal bleeding.
Without immediate treatment, such injuries would have been fatal.
But Terry's natural healing ability allowed him to survive the first critical phase, which was why he had lasted this long.
Judging by the wounds, they were at least two months old.
Seeing that Reddy had finished the examination, Haya asked anxiously, "Doctor Reddy, can Brother Terry be cured?"
Hearing this, a flicker of hope appeared in Terry's eyes.
Reddy sighed, his tone grave. "His condition is very serious."
"I've already accepted my fate."
Disappointment flashed in Terry's eyes, but he quickly forced a smile to comfort the dejected Haya. "Tomorrow, we'll leave this place and find somewhere else to stay."
"Doctor Reddy, is there really no way?"
Haya refused to give up, pleading with Reddy. "I can earn money, a lot of money. I'll give you everything I earn. Please, save Brother Terry, okay?"
Reddy laughed. "I never said it was impossible."
"Really?"
Haya grinned foolishly, not minding that Reddy had teased him.
But Reddy didn't let his good mood last long, shifting his tone. "Although I'm a doctor, this place lacks many things."
Haya immediately tensed up. "I can find a way. What do you need?"
Reddy teased, "I need a quiet environment."
Haya froze, then quickly realized Reddy had tricked him again. Unhappy, he shut his mouth.
Reddy chuckled and turned to Terry. "The wound in your lung has healed, but the broken bone needs to be removed. Your body's natural healing will take care of the rest."
At this point, Reddy stared into Terry's eyes, his expression serious. "I have a special medicine that can heal your injuries. The only problem is that it might have some side effects… For example, parts of your body might take on animal-like traits."
"Will it make me stronger?"
Terry's response made Reddy look at him more closely.
A new light shone in Terry's eyes as he said firmly, "Even if I turn into a monster, it doesn't matter. This is the Grand Line. I need to get stronger."
Reddy nodded and took out a syringe from the Bio Lab's product inventory.
This was a product of the Bio Lab—a potent restorative agent extracted from the bodily fluids of a sea creature with extraordinary regenerative abilities. It could greatly stimulate cell activity, rapidly healing wounds in a short time.
Seeing Reddy produce a syringe out of thin air, Terry and Haya's eyes lit up.
"You're a Devil Fruit user?"
Unlike the East Blue, nearly everyone in the Grand Line knew about Devil Fruits. Terry's eyes filled with envy.
"No."
Reddy took out a gun-style injector.
Golden Lion Shiki had prepared well for him, and before escaping, Reddy had grabbed some compact equipment like this.
Terry was disappointed, but when he saw the injector, he quickly pushed aside his thoughts.
Reddy then began preparing Terry for treatment.
Terry's willpower was formidable. He endured the agony of having the bone fragment extracted from his lung without passing out.
Reddy realigned his broken ribs and loaded the restorative agent into the injector.
He looked at Terry. "Ready?"
Terry, pale from the pain but with unusually bright eyes, nodded firmly. He no longer had the strength to speak.
Reddy smiled and injected the serum into Terry's body.
This serum was extracted from the blood of multiple creatures with extreme regenerative abilities and had remarkable effects on external injuries.
As soon as the injection entered his body, color returned to Terry's face.
"Doctor Reddy…"
Overjoyed that his injuries were healing, Terry relaxed his nerves, and exhaustion overwhelmed him. He passed out.
"Brother Terry!"
Haya panicked.
Reddy stopped him, quickly checking Terry's condition before smiling. "He's just too tired. Let him sleep."
Haya looked downcast. "It's all our fault for dragging Brother Terry down."
This camp's situation was similar to Ark and the other orphans.
The difference was that this was the Grand Line, and the challenges Terry and his group faced were far harsher.
Even in the sewers, they had to compete with other gangs.
Two months ago, Terry had seized this rare shelter in a fight but suffered severe injuries in the process.
"Let him rest properly."
Reddy carried the sleeping Terry back to the tent and specifically instructed Haya before moving to a corner to begin crafting a new Gene Beast.
As everyone knew, to catch fish, you first had to bait the hook.
Reddy opened the Gene Database and extracted Bill's gene sample.
Just like when he had cloned Bill before, the difference this time was that Reddy incorporated gene segments from Sea Kings and other beasts, giving the clone a Sea King's head and claws.
Creating a clone from scratch was simple.
After consuming 204,800 energy points, the new Gene Beast was born.
[Gene Rating: LV11]
Reddy checked the Gene Beast's rating—perfect. The genetic ceiling hadn't dropped despite being a hybrid.
The new Gene Beast had a crocodile's head, a body covered in rugged scales, tiger-like claws, and a human lower half.
Reddy didn't implant Haki modules or waste energy enhancing it.
This wasn't his ideal genetic creation—it was just bait. Spending extra energy wasn't worth it.
"What kind of monster is this!"
Haya was startled by the sudden appearance of the Gene Beast.
"Brother Terry, those bad people are back!"
A girl around eleven or twelve years old rushed in carrying a basket, her face full of urgency.
When she saw a stranger and a monster standing in the camp, she immediately fell silent, her eyes wary instead of afraid.
"Doctor Reddy is a good person."
Haya quickly vouched for Reddy, vividly describing how he had treated Terry.
Terry had high prestige in the camp. Hearing that Reddy had healed him, the girl's wariness turned to gratitude. "Thank you, Doctor Reddy."
"Brother Terry isn't awake yet, I…"
Haya glanced at Terry's tent and stood up to leave, but the Gene Beast blocked his path.
Reddy smiled. "Leave it to it. If you don't mind, tell me about Water 7."