Chapter 247: Newton
[Of course, you had no intention of pursuing him romantically. Even after all your worldly experiences, your tastes remain perfectly normal—you prefer well-proportioned, mature women with full figures.]
[After hearing your description of Devil Fruits, Cortés grew very interested. He told you that in this world, it is entirely possible to create such a thing. Back in his time, there was a famous European alchemical organization called the Rosicrucian Order, which had made great strides in the search for new elements. If you could find one of its members, they might be able to help you with your Devil Fruit research.]
[July 25, 1716 — At present, you command two legendary warships capable of dominating the Seven Seas. Though the Silent Mary's combat power still falls far short of the Pluton, in terms of size and firepower, it ranks among the very best in this world. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been able to, in Pirates of the Caribbean 5, single-handedly subdue the Nine Pirate Lords. After a brief refit in Nassau, you incorporated the Silent Mary into your fleet and continued sailing northward, having received a report that a French slave ship carrying a large number of African slaves was traveling south toward the Caribbean via Cape Cod in Massachusetts.]
[Perhaps it's fate. The slave ship in question is none other than the Concorde of Nantes. Destiny has it that it will once again fall into your hands. As the saying goes, if you don't intervene, this vessel would be captured by Edward Teach—Blackbeard—renamed the Queen Anne's Revenge, and go on to become a legendary ship famed across the Seven Seas.]
[July 26, 1716 — Near the waters off Boston, you intercepted the slave ship. Almost the moment the Pluton appeared, the captain, Pierre Dorsett, ordered his crew to raise the white flag. You seized the ship with ease. Out of courtesy, once you docked in Boston, you allowed Pierre to take all cargo and ships you didn't need. Having been through so much, you always make sure to leave others a way out.]
[Impressed by your might and magnanimity, about thirty of Pierre's sailors left him that very day to join you. Among them were a navigator, three surgeons, five carpenters, and over twenty sailors. The Pineapple Pirates welcomed another wave of expansion. From this, you learned a truth: if a man is generous, he must show that generosity with feeling.]
[July 27, 1716 — You chose to go ashore in Boston for a short rest. Compared to the world-renowned city it would one day become, Boston at this time was merely a part of New England in the British North American colonies. The vast majority of its residents were English Puritans, with a strong religious atmosphere. Perhaps by fate, that evening, with distant thunder rumbling in the sky, you encountered a boy flying a kite while out for a walk. Striking up a conversation, you learned his name—Benjamin Franklin. Out of a mischievous whim, you taught him the "kite and key trick," hoping that when he grows up, he won't be too shocked remembering this moment.]
[Title Progress – History Changer: 4/5]
[When Franklin learned you were a privateer captain, he became very interested in going to sea and asked to join your crew. But you're not in the business of abducting children—Franklin is only about eleven or twelve right now. Perhaps one day in the future he'll sail under your flag, but that day is not today.]
[August 1, 1716 — Among the new recruits, you discovered someone skilled in both black magic and alchemy. His name was Mason Hicks. Though he was initially wary of you, he quickly became a loyal subordinate.]
[According to Mason Hicks, he was a French alchemist who had recently participated in and succeeded in the assassination of King Louis XIV. To escape the French army's pursuit, he fled toward Port Royal. To your surprise, he turned out to be a member of the very Rosicrucian Order Cortés had mentioned! Upon hearing your request, Mason grew wildly excited—studying such an extraordinary artifact was every alchemist's lifelong dream. However, he alone could not help you. He would need to bring in his dear friend Newton to work on it together.]
[You had read before that Newton was indeed an alchemist—known even as the last of the alchemists—and that the law of universal gravitation was merely a byproduct of his alchemical research. You had always assumed this was just apocrypha, but now it turned out to be true. You agreed without hesitation.]
[August 9, 1716 – March 2, 1717 — Sailing back from North America to the Caribbean over the next several months, you crossed paths with three of the Nine Pirate Lords: Boris Palachnik of the Caspian Sea (bounty: 4,000 gold), Villanueva of the Adriatic Sea (bounty: 2,000 gold), and the gentleman pirate Jocard of the Atlantic (bounty: 3,600 gold).]
[Of these, the March 2 battle against Boris Palachnik remains especially vivid in your memory. This pirate lord was notorious for cruelty and brutality. When you encountered him, he had just massacred every last soul in a merchant convoy—75 sailors and over 220 passengers. You gave him no mercy. In the boarding battle, you alone charged onto Boris's flagship, the sloop Koldunya, determined to "light a candle" for him personally. Confronted with a mass of Caspian pirates, you unleashed your Conqueror's Haki at full force. Instantly, a wide swath of them collapsed like boiled shrimp, tumbling into the sea. At the same time, you drew Roger's pirate pistol—Jackson—took aim at the unconscious Boris, and pulled the trigger. Bang! The bullet struck his brow, and he collapsed lifelessly.]
[Defeating Boris earned you one of his eight-real tokens—a wooden eyeball. This was the pirate lord's token, and one of the nine items needed to break Calypso's seal. Though originally ordinary, under Calypso's divine influence it had gained its own unique properties. (You obtained an Epic Item: Wooden Eyeball)]
[You have once again unwittingly changed history. If you had not killed Boris Palachnik, events would have unfolded differently. At a recent informal meeting of the Nine Pirate Lords in the great hall of Shipwreck City, they had all agreed to put Boris on trial to prevent the European navies from declaring war on pirates. To ascertain his crimes, they resolved to summon Davy Jones, whose supernatural powers could reveal the truth. However, Davy Jones's attempt summoned only Boris's spirit—because you had already killed him. In a way, you have managed to offend all Nine Pirate Lords and Davy Jones himself.]
[March 9, 1717 — Mason Hicks had not been exaggerating. Half a year later, in Port Royal, you met a travel-worn Newton. He was exactly as you imagined: arrogant, stubborn, unreasonable—but with scientific brilliance beyond question. With their help, you finally succeeded once more!]
[In a collision of palladium and beryllium, you accidentally created a new catalyst capable of simulating a substance akin to the Devil Factor. After some experimentation, you successfully produced the first Devil Fruit!]
[Mason Hicks volunteered to be the first test subject—and the result was a success. He transformed into a goat-headed man. Though the fruit was not particularly powerful, he wept with joy, bleating loudly. This was a great leap forward for human alchemy—and for human occultism.]