Abel was certain that this Century Soup would satisfy his Gourmet Cells' current needs!
With both arms broken, he leaned down and performed a Dragon's Water Absorption, sucking the soup directly from the bowl.
As the rich, savory flavor spread through his mouth, an involuntary, almost exaggerated smile bloomed across his face.
The unparalleled sense of satisfaction was something he had never experienced in either this life or his previous one!
The word "delicious" simply couldn't capture its essence, yet he couldn't think of a more fitting description.
After draining every last drop of the Century Soup, a massive surge of energy began to be digested and released.
Every injury his body had sustained since birth, every lingering ailment, was being healed.
If Abel had X-ray vision, he would have immediately seen that the broken bones in his arms were rapidly healing and reconnecting.
His entire body was being revitalized!
The sensation was akin to someone renting your house, finding it unsatisfactory, and then proactively renovating it from top to bottom, even replacing all the furniture with brand-new pieces.
However, during the detoxification process, the Virus Toxin, which had long resided in his heart and become an innate part of his body, remained completely unaffected.
This undoubtedly confirmed his earlier suspicions.
Simultaneously, the Gourmet Cells within him were immensely satisfied and immediately began their first evolution!
Abel could even feel the ravenous hunger as his cells frantically devoured energy.
It was as if every cell in his body was growing stronger!
Finally, after an immeasurable amount of time, the restless Gourmet Cells finally quieted down.
[Acquired Purple Talent: Rapid Digestion]
[Description: A Talent obtained through the evolution of Gourmet Cells, enabling the digestion and breakdown of food at maximum efficiency to extract energy.]
[While in a state of Fullness, learning any knowledge will receive a tenfold boost.]
At that moment, Abel suddenly felt like he had been reborn!
No, it wasn't just a feeling.
It had actually happened.
It was a thorough transformation, from the inside out.
Abel immediately removed the splint from his arm, casually flexed it, and then touched the spot on his forehead where the wound had been. There was no pain whatsoever.
Even the scars from past falls and injuries had vanished completely.
If this were the Immortal Cultivation World, it would probably be considered Meridian Cleansing and Marrow Tempering.
Abel took a deep breath, feeling better than ever before.
As for the newly acquired Talent, it was simply extraordinary.
Extremely powerful, fully deserving of its Purple rank!
He estimated that he would only delve deeper into the path of being a glutton from now on.
Moreover, if a Purple Talent was already this incredible, he could hardly imagine how heaven-defying the Orange and highest-tier Red Talents would be!
After re-securing the splint, Abel decided to get a good night's sleep.
The unfortunate soul still stuck in the trash heap was completely forgotten.
Sigh, in the end, his trust had been misplaced.
The next day, Abel continued to feign weakness and injury, contentedly enjoying the little girl's cheerful feeding service.
During their conversation, he learned some news.
"Doflamingo... Captain Doflamingo has left with the Executives?"
"Yes, except for Lord Corazon, who's staying behind to guard the base, all the other Executives have already set off. Their target is the port town of Rakesh. The Young Master hates traitors more than anything, so he decided to eliminate them. I was supposed to go with them too, but since Abel needs me to take care of him, I stayed behind."
Seeing Baby-5's expression, which seemed to be begging for praise, Abel couldn't help but smile. "Yes, I need you very... very, very much right now. I'm so glad you stayed."
These words were probably the most devastatingly effective compliment Baby-5 could receive.
Her adorable face flushed crimson, as if steam were rising from her head, and she seemed to grow dizzy.
Seeing her reaction, Abel couldn't resist pinching the little girl's cheeks a couple of times.
'Hmm, soft and squishy, feels good.'
If he slapped her, she'd probably cry for a long time.
Of course, this mischievous thought only flashed through his mind briefly.
After all, he had long considered everything here his own. Sooner or later, he would "inherit" Doflamingo's legacy, which naturally included the obedient and docile Baby-5.
"A... Abel seems different today," Baby-5 said shyly, drawing closer and twitching her nose.
"Different how?" Abel asked, genuinely curious about how he appeared to others and what changes they perceived. Knowing this would help him come up with excuses to smooth things over.
"You seem... even more handsome, and your scent... it's so pleasant."
Seeing Baby-5 unconsciously leaning closer, Abel had to flick her forehead. "It's probably just because I took a bath," he said.
Baby-5 let out a soft "Ah," puffed out her cheeks, and covered her forehead with her hand. But in her mind, she thought, 'That makes sense. I smell nice after bathing too.'
And so she believed him, never pausing to consider whether Abel's injuries would even allow him to bathe, or where he might have done so.
After breakfast, Abel suggested taking a walk around the base.
Once again feeling needed, Baby-5 immediately transformed into the perfect guide, leading him on a tour of the facility.
With Baby-5 leading the way and the other Executives absent, they encountered no resistance along their route.
Apart from a few areas even Baby-5 couldn't access freely, Abel explored every corner of the base, gaining a clearer understanding of the Donquixote Family's current situation, which was far from the rosy picture he had imagined.
Not only were many factions in the North Blue openly or covertly opposing the Donquixote Family's domineering tactics, but the Marines, led by Tsuru, were relentlessly pursuing them like a persistent shadow.
Otherwise, given Doflamingo's personality, he would never have chosen to establish one of his bases in such a filthy, chaotic environment like a garbage dump.
If circumstances allowed, this guy would undoubtedly live in the grandest, most opulent palace, indulging in the most exquisite delicacies.
Don't ask why—it's just some ingrained genetic trait of the Celestial Dragons acting up.
After touring the base, Abel finally remembered his 'good brother.' "Is Law still outside?"
"Hmm, Lord Corazon seems to have thrown him out nineteen times already."
Before Baby-5 could finish speaking, they suddenly heard the shattering of window glass and the heavy thud of something hitting the ground.
"Now it's the twentieth time..."