"So beautiful… it's like a fairy tale world."
When the green dragon broke through the White-White Sea ten thousand meters high, Eddie was awestruck by the sight before him.
Exotic buildings were hidden among the white clouds, with occasional glimpses of green adding a touch of vitality.
On Angel Beach, Sky Island residents were using long sticks to knock down coconuts.
"How amazing." Roux exclaimed.
As a clone, he did not have Kaido's memories.
Kaido might have been to a Sky Island, but this was his first time.
"The houses here are built on clouds, won't they fall down?" he couldn't help but ask.
Eddie smiled slightly and said, "There are two kinds of magical clouds on Sky Island: one is called Sea Cloud, and the other is called Island Cloud."
When volcanoes erupt, they carry out certain keratin particles. These special condensation nuclei react with water vapor, changing the density of the clouds.
Clouds with low density are Sea Clouds, just like the sea.
Clouds with high density are islands, like soft soil.
Both types have strong buoyancy, thus supporting buildings and allowing the Sky Island people to establish civilization in such a place.
"Alright, that's enough looking. We're not here for tourism."
Eddie's gaze shifted. Instead of greeting the Sky Island people warmly, he pointed in another direction and said, "Go over there."
Near Sky Island, there is an island of soil, which the Sky Island people, who have never seen soil, call God's Island.
It came from the Blue Sea below and was once part of Jaya Island.
About four hundred years ago, it was pushed into the sky by a powerful Knock Up Stream.
Soon after.
God's Island, in the interlayer of the sea of clouds.
"This is the ancient city of Shandora…"
Eddie jumped down from Roux's head, his face full of awe.
The Golden City.
The ruins that met his eyes were filled with glittering golden light everywhere.
All the buildings were made of gold.
Roux transformed back into human form, took a few steps forward, and stood up a collapsed golden pillar.
The golden pillar was over ten meters tall.
"Heavenly Father, should we take all the gold here? I can move it with my ability."
Eddie reached out to caress the golden pillar, his mind rapidly calculating.
One cubic meter of pure gold is approximately 20 tons.
This golden pillar in front of him.
Its height is approximately…
Its diameter is approximately…
A simple math problem, the answer…
About twenty thousand tons?!
"No…"
Eddie pressed the ring on his index finger with his right thumb, then gently twisted it.
Ability Ring: Azure Dragon, activate!
The next moment, azure dragon scales appeared on his right hand, and his nails became sharp.
Eddie struck out with a claw, piercing the golden pillar.
Beneath the golden surface was a stone pillar.
"As expected, it's not pure gold, just gold-plated on the surface."
Eddie pouted helplessly, his excitement having been for nothing.
He canceled his transformation and instructed, "Melt the gold on the outside. We only want the gold. The ruins themselves have historical value, so try not to damage them."
"Yes, Heavenly Father."
Upon receiving the command, Roux opened his mouth and spewed a stream of flames, beginning to heat the golden pillar.
Eddie didn't disturb his work and began to wander around.
Several hours later.
A huge lump of gold appeared in front of Eddie.
Ignoring purity, the gold lump is estimated to weigh four to five hundred tons.
"That's enough."
Edie ordered Roux to stop smelting and opened the system.
As a precious metal and a general equivalent, the value of gold in this world is approximately five to six hundred million Berries per ton.
This large lump of gold in front of him is worth over two hundred billion, enough to pay off the research funds he owes the system.
"Do you wish to pay…?"
Yes!
Half of the gold in front of him suddenly disappeared, and the next moment, a vast amount of knowledge flooded into Edie's brain.
The formula for the cloning pod filling liquid…
Methods for extracting, fusing, and transplanting two types of Lineage Factor…
How to make a clone inherently possess the Blue Dragon Fruit's ability…
How to extend the lifespan of a clone…
How to compile the Lineage Factor of an embryo and implant a thought imprint…
Regarding the method of making Green Blood…
Regarding the method of making Blue Blood…
The engineering challenges of the Ability Ring…
Edie felt as if he was swimming in an ocean of knowledge; one after another, scientific research problems opened their arms to him.
As if touching the door of truth, Edie not only did not feel a throbbing headache but instead experienced a physiological pleasure.
He closed his eyes tightly, silently digesting this vast knowledge.
Roux stood by, vigilantly using Observation Haki to prevent anyone from disturbing his father.
At this moment, his father was completely defenseless.
Half an hour passed like this…
Edie slowly opened his eyes, his expression extremely clear.
"Ah… so that's how it is."
He understood everything.
At this moment, he surpassed Vegapunk and could be said to be the Eddie who understands Lineage Factor the most in the world.
Far ahead!
"Whether it's clones or the Ability Ring, both have significant flaws…"
"Clones need maintenance every so often, and the Ability Ring requires Blue Blood replenishment…"
"It seems I need to establish a clone laboratory as soon as possible."
Edie pondered for a moment, then looked at the remaining gold lump.
Its volume had shrunk considerably; the remaining portion is estimated to be worth fifty to sixty billion.
"Let's go, take it with us."
Roux was stunned for a moment and said, "Father, there's still a lot here. Aren't we taking it all?"
The gold melted just now was merely a drop in the ocean; this ancient ruin is full of gold, and it's impossible to melt it all in a short time.
"Why take it now? We'd have to build a vault. It's more convenient to come back for it when we need money."
As long as the gold is moved before Eneru comes here, it's fine.
And Eneru won't come for another 12 years.
It's still early.
"Understood!" Roux immediately transformed into a Blue Dragon, extended a claw, and grabbed the remaining gold lump.
Then, he bowed, bringing his dragon head to Edie's feet.
Edie stepped onto it:
"First, let's go to Jaya. We've been flying for three days; let's go have a good meal."
…
Jaya Island, Mock Town.
Four years ago, Gol D. Roger's dying words sparked the Great Pirate Era.
Countless men dreaming of quick riches set sail, and pirates on the Grand Line surged.
Four years later, Mock Town on this island has become a place where pirates squander their money.
At this moment, in a tavern in town.
The crude sounds of pirates clinking glasses filled the air, noisy and chaotic.
"Father, should I kill them?" Roux whispered.
Edie sat at a corner table, looking at the newspaper in his hand, and couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"We're eating, you idiot."
"My apologies. Then, after you finish eating, I'll make them shut up."
"…"
Edie was speechless, pretending not to hear.
He looked at the World Economy Journal newspaper in his hand; the news on it was quite interesting.
To counter the increasingly expanding pirate forces, the World Government announced the establishment of a new department at this year's World Conference… the Seven Warlords of the Sea!
The 50 kings attending the conference all approved this proposal.
Seven pirates with great power would be invited to become employees of the new department and granted a privilege—the right to legal plunder.
Simply put, find seven pirates to clean up other pirates for the World Government.
Everything they seize can legally belong to the Shichibukai.
The newspaper reported that the first Shichibukai had already emerged.
"Crocodile… so he was the first?"
Edie looked at the introduction of Crocodile in the newspaper.
The first of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Sir Crocodile, a Logia-type Sand-Sand Fruit user.
His bounty when he accepted the government's invitation to become a Shichibukai was…
81,000,000 Berries!
"A Logia-type, huh? Just right for me to look for…"
Edie was just thinking.
Suddenly, the tavern's saloon doors burst open, and a young man with a cigar swaggered in.
The man carried a cloth bag on his left arm; the bottom of the bag was blood-red and still dripping blood.
A strong smell of blood permeated the air, and many pirates in the tavern covered their mouths.
"What? Blood!"
"So smelly! The smell of decay, a corpse??"
"You are…!"
A gasp of surprise went through the tavern.
Edie looked up at the door, then at the photo in the newspaper.
It's the same person.
Crocodile ignored the stares and walked directly to the bar, placing the dripping cloth bag down.
He said in a hoarse voice, "Bring out your best liquor."
"You… you're the Shichibukai from the news! Crocodile!" The tavern owner's face turned pale with fright.
He glanced at the bag beside him and swallowed.
"This… this can't be…"
"Heh heh heh… just the heads of a few dozen pirates. I'm in great need of money lately."
Crocodile chuckled slowly and said, "Don't you understand? Liquor."
"Yes… yes!"
The owner immediately turned to get the liquor.
At this moment, several pirates at a table stood up together.
The bald man leading them grinned, revealing a cruel expression.
"Shichibukai, huh… just dogs of the government, aren't they!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he drew the large cutlass from his waist and slashed Crocodile in half.
"Hahahaha, if we kill you, our 'Blade Pirate Crew' will… will… will…"
The arrogant words didn't last long; the bald man who attacked trembled all over.
He looked at the scene before him with a horrified expression.
Crocodile, who had been split in half by his sword, with his upper body ripped open, had no blood at the cut, but instead, a large amount of sand flowed out.
They attracted each other, gradually coalescing.
"I heard Mock Town is a place where many pirates gather; how fortunate."
Crocodile raised his palm, and streams of quicksand appeared in his palm: "Conversely, you are very unfortunate."
Boom!
Behind him, a small sandstorm suddenly whipped up.
Including the bald man, the pirates in the tavern were all swept up, screaming one by one.
The sand was like sharp knives, constantly cutting their skin.
In a flash, blood stained the yellow sand.
Clink, a sound of a wine bottle falling.
The tavern owner recoiled in fright, directly knocking over the wine cabinet behind him.
"Don't, don't kill me…!"
"…I told you to get the best liquor; who told you to throw it on the ground?"
Crocodile narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze shifting to a corner beside the bar.
At a table in the corner, a young man in a white coat was quietly reading a newspaper.
And a tall man wearing a demon mask raised his arm, easily blocking the sandstorm.
As if that area was a forbidden zone.
"Suppress him, Roux."
Edie put down the newspaper and casually ordered.
Crocodile's pupils constricted.
In his vision, the demon-masked man disappeared from his original spot.
Immediately after, his vision shifted, as if the world began to tilt.
No, it was his head being…!
There was no time to react.
Roux grabbed Crocodile from behind and slammed his head hard onto the bar.
Boom!
The bar counter shattered.
"Damn it…! Haki?!"
Crocodile's head was buried in the floor, unable to move.
He heard footsteps and the voice of the young man from earlier.
The voice was very kind.
"Anyway, let's draw some blood first, wild Shichibukai."