"Password entry timeout, access authorization failed..."
Damn, it timed out already? You didn't even give me a place to enter the password!
At least let me try!
Just as Taro was grumbling, that voice rang out again.
"Backup access authorization initiated..."
Then, the mountain-like giant "Nutrient Tank" slid upward like a slider phone, revealing a circular hole.
Immediately after, a mechanical arm extended from the hole, with a sharp needle at its tip!
Is it going to take blood?
This was exactly how Vegapunk had collected his blood back then!
Sure enough, the mechanical arm reached out in front of Taro, but its attempt to pierce forward was blocked by his protective Internal Energy.
After a brief hesitation, Taro withdrew his Internal Energy. The needle then pierced his shoulder and was quickly retracted.
"Bloodline testing in progress..."
"Blood purity 100%, no Implantation of ability, meets access conditions!"
The voice responded quickly, completing the test in just an instant.
Then, the mountain's "slider" fell back down, returning to its original state.
"Sizzle~ Click!"
With a crisp sound, this time the mountain opened a "door" from its midpoint to the left and right!
Taro released a trace of Internal Energy to probe inside, then his figure flashed, and he flew in.
After passing through a bright corridor, Taro reached a hall with a high vaulted ceiling.
Colorful lights flickered in the hall, and countless small "Nutrient Tanks" stood neatly against the walls, filling the space. They were even hanging densely from the ceiling.
The voice rang out once more.
"Staff attention: The Implantation program lacks the core functional module and stock is insufficient; Implantation services cannot be provided!"
This was the second time this place, calling itself the "Origin Factory," had mentioned "Implantation!"
Taro had also heard this word from Cobra's mouth!
He scanned the surroundings and asked loudly,
"What is the Origin Factory? And what does Implantation mean?"
This question seemed to cause some trouble for the artificial intelligence guarding the factory; it paused for a moment.
"Retrieving from knowledge base..."
"The source of power extracted from nature is called Origin. Injecting the extracted Origin into a biological body is called Implantation!"
"This response was created on April 27, sea calendar year 620!"
900 years ago?!
Taro was stunned. This place... Rubbing his face, he asked again, "Does Origin power refer to Devil Fruit Abilities?"
"Entry for 'Devil Fruit' not found..."
"Starting extended search..."
"Search ended, no valid answer found!"
Taro frowned. Origin power had nothing to do with Devil Fruits?
Or was it that, at least here, that power wasn't called Devil Fruit Ability?
"What is the missing core functional module? And what does 'insufficient stock' mean?" Taro asked again.
"The core functional module is the Origin Matrix, the key to implanting Origin power. This factory's Implantation Tanks are empty; stock is insufficient!"
Origin Matrix?
In an instant, Taro thought of the "her" that Garp had mentioned!
If Origin power was Devil Fruit Ability, then the Origin Matrix was the thing Dragon had seen in Marijoa!
Was that "she" originally a part of this factory?
"How long has the core functional module been missing?" Taro thought for a moment and asked this decisive question.
"Retrieving maintenance logs..."
"First error for missing core functional module, time: June 18, sea calendar year 720! Total errors recorded: 293,471 times!"
As expected, it was 800 years ago, the year the World Government was founded, that the Origin Matrix was lost!
"She" was indeed taken to Marijoa!
"Has the Origin Factory always been here?" Taro thought about the strange stylistic shift he had felt earlier.
"Querying..."
"sea calendar year 603, factory coordinates 459643.278536;"
"sea calendar year 1017, factory coordinates 845943.654323!"
Taro was completely baffled by where these coordinates pointed, but these two points in time were very intriguing.
The first coordinates lasted for over 400 years,
While the change to the second coordinates clearly referred to this place, and it happened 500 years ago!
"What exactly happened here? Can I see the complete factory logs?"
"Exceeds visitor permissions, cannot be provided!"
Taro remained silent for a long time, sorting through the known information.
sea calendar year 603, over 900 years ago, should be when the Origin Factory was built.
Then, 800 years ago, the core functional module "Origin Matrix" was lost.
Another 300 years later, someone moved the Origin Factory here!
The one who built the Origin Factory should be the Giant Kingdom, and the one who stole the "Origin Matrix" should be Lord Imu.
Then the one who could move such a massive mountain here... Oars the Demon Ogre, who has the "Continent-Puller" legend?
He happened to be an active figure 500 years ago!
Then, Taro thought of the connection between Rocks and this island.
That fellow who dreamed of becoming King of the World clearly knew of this factory's existence, though it was unclear how much he knew.
Judging by how perfunctory the factory's admission system was, as long as the Rocks Pirates had someone with so-called "high blood purity who meets Implantation conditions," they could enter.
Clearly, this condition meant being a "non" Devil Fruit Ability user!
Combined with Rocks' later crazy action of attacking God Valley... Taro guessed that this Origin Factory might have been in God Valley hundreds of years ago!
Rocks had learned this information through some channel, which is why he went to God Valley attempting to retrieve the "Origin Matrix"?
And even though the factory had been moved for hundreds of years, until the God Valley Incident 36 years ago, a large number of Celestial Dragons still gathered there.
Does that mean there was something else in God Valley besides the Origin Factory?
"The factory only has an Implantation function, so what about a recovery function?" Taro asked again.
"Outside the scope of this factory's duties, please visit other factories for inquiries!"
As expected, there were supporting facilities!
Implantation, recovery, and re-Implantation!
It was a recurring assembly line!
Just like the murals in the Alabasta Royal Mausoleum!
Taro reached out to touch an "Implantation Tank" beside him. Beneath the outer metal shell was a thick layer of Sea Stone!
He could now be certain that Origin power was Devil Fruit Ability!
This factory, in coordination with other factories, could both implant Devil Fruit Abilities into organisms and recover those abilities.
The structure of the Royal Mausoleum in Alabasta was like a weakened version of this factory!
Recovery could only be performed there after an ability user died!
Hundreds of years ago, the Giant Kingdom developed the method for implanting Devil Fruit Abilities.
How could such a technologically advanced and powerful nation, possessing a large number of Devil Fruit Ability users, be destroyed by the 20-nation alliance!
Taro couldn't figure it out. How exactly did Imu, that traitor, manage it?
Their strength shouldn't even have been on the same level!
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