"The true mystery of the Bloodline Factor!"
The dining hall fell silent for a moment before erupting into noise.
Researchers like Beal stared intently at Reddy, afraid to miss a single word.
"How pathetic," Caesar muttered under his breath, his face full of disdain.
His interest in artificial Devil Fruits was only to prove he was more suited to the title of the world's top scientist than Vegapunk.
His real passion lay in developing poison gas weapons.
Still, Caesar secretly pricked up his ears, waiting for Reddy to reveal the true mystery of the Bloodline Factor.
Reddy smiled mysteriously. "The true mystery of the Bloodline Factor is actually very simple."
The real challenge of genetic (Bloodline Factor) technology lies in accurately identifying specific gene segments.
He understood the researchers in the lab well.
These researchers had a solid grasp of the Bloodline Factor but lacked the ability to precisely locate specific gene segments.
After all, not everyone was Vegapunk. Without the ability to distinguish gene segments representing specific traits from the undifferentiated sections of the gene chain, they could only rely on experience or guesswork in their research.
This was why they had yet to produce convincing results.
Every experiment they conducted failed because they extracted the wrong gene segments.
But Reddy was different.
He had the system, which allowed him to precisely locate and extract specific gene segments.
Of course, due to the diversity of life, the genes of different organisms varied, and even the same species had genetic differences.
It was impossible to create a single diagram that covered the genetic traits of all living beings.
However, by using the system's direct display and cross-referencing, Reddy had mastered the specific gene segments for most traits.
The nucleotide bases might differ, but their positions on the gene chain were largely similar.
The variations in these nucleotide bases also determined the differences in innate abilities among organisms.
Therefore, he only needed to create a simplified diagram to help researchers roughly identify what a particular gene segment represented.
Though not highly detailed, this method would allow the researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the Bloodline Factor and conduct targeted development.
When Reddy personally drew the double-helix structure of the Bloodline Factor on a whiteboard and labeled the traits represented by specific gene segments, the dining hall fell completely silent.
Everyone stared at the hand-drawn diagram as if entranced.
"Dammit, I've got an idea! This experiment is definitely going to succeed!" One researcher suddenly shouted and ran out of the lab.
The others, annoyed at having their thoughts interrupted, didn't dwell on it.
They had all experienced the thrill of a sudden burst of inspiration and could understand the researcher's rudeness.
"I've thought of a brilliant idea. I'm leaving."
Another researcher took a deep look at the hand-drawn diagram before decisively rushing out of the dining hall.
"I have a theory that might solve the problem."
"I have a feeling this experiment will definitely succeed!"
"Me too!"
"Let's go!"
"..."
Soon, only Reddy, Caesar, and Beal remained in the dining hall.
"Shurororororo!"
Caesar put on a fawning expression and urged, "Honorable Lord Reddy, the most pressing matter now is the Marine base on Punk Hazard. These Marines are perfect for testing my proudest invention. I guarantee not a single one will escape Punk Hazard."
"We should just drive the Marines away to avoid provoking a purge from Marineford."
Beal was the first to oppose Caesar's terrible idea, emphasizing that Marine Headquarters would never let anyone who massacred over two thousand Marines go unpunished.
The others nodded in agreement with Beal.
Caesar, humiliated, snapped, "What do you know? Lord Reddy has a clone with the power of the Float-Float Fruit, capable of moving Punk Hazard elsewhere."
"What threat does Marineford pose then?"
"Buster Call?"
"Before the wise and mighty Lord Reddy, a Buster Call is a joke!"
Reddy had to cough lightly to interrupt Caesar's flattery. It was getting embarrassing.
When everyone's attention turned to him, Reddy said calmly, "There's no room for reconciliation between us and the World Government. I will definitely take Punk Hazard away, but there's no need to fight Borsalino. He's a Marine Admiral."
Even if Caesar had developed the "Country of Death" from the original story, Reddy didn't believe mere poison gas could handle a Marine Admiral.
Especially one known for his speed.
If they provoked a barrage of Yasakani no Magatama, the island might survive, but the research facility would likely be destroyed.
Without the research facility, Punk Hazard's greatest value would be lost.
If they just needed an island for a base, there were plenty of uninhabited islands in the sea, with all four seasonal climates available.
Gambling on the fully-equipped Punk Hazard was simply not worth it!
Rebuilding a fully-equipped research facility required massive funds, and Reddy was currently broke.
Using the system to make money wasn't impossible.
But relying on the system was like lab production—high cost, low profit.
The best approach was to use the system to develop results and then have the researchers at Punk Hazard convert those results into mass production.
"In your presence, I feel utterly insignificant."
Caesar continued his shameless flattery, showering Reddy with sycophantic praise.
Reddy snapped his fingers and smiled. "I'll handle the Marines... Caesar, you're coming with me."
Caesar: I bought a bag last year.
...
"Dr. Reddy, you're going to capture a five-thousand-meter Sea King?"
Borsalino scratched his head, confused about why Reddy suddenly wanted to hunt a giant Sea King.
These troublesome creatures either lived in the Calm Belt or the deep sea.
Fish-Man Island would be the easiest place to find such a target.
Caesar gave Borsalino a sidelong glance, his face full of arrogance. "An amateur shouldn't presume to understand the brilliant and mighty Lord Reddy with your pitiful knowledge!"
"Lord Reddy's wisdom is beyond the comprehension of an outsider like you!"
"Hurry up and arrange for ships and personnel to accompany us. Every minute Lord Reddy wastes here is the World Government's greatest loss!"
Reddy couldn't take it anymore and coughed lightly.
Caesar immediately switched to a fawning expression and shut up, though he still looked at Borsalino with disdain.
So what if you're a Marine Admiral? I've got Lord Reddy backing me!
Borsalino wasn't angry and simply took out a Den Den Mushi to make arrangements.
Soon, the Marine base was bustling with activity.
Five warships docked at the harbor as Marines busily loaded cannons, food, fresh water, and other supplies, working frantically.
Half a day later, the five warships left the port and sailed into the sea.
...
On the third day after the five warships left Punk Hazard.
Beal and a few assistants gathered in Reddy's lab, nervously watching Reddy's... clone.
The clone hadn't moved for the past three days.
One assistant asked anxiously, "Did Lord Reddy say today was the day to act?"
Beal nodded firmly. "Yes, today. Is the signal jammer ready? We can't let the Marines at the base send out a distress signal!"
"Everything's prepared!"
The assistants nodded vigorously.
At that moment, the clone suddenly moved, crouching down and pressing its hands against the ground.
The next second.
The ground trembled slightly as Punk Hazard slowly began rising into the sky.