Vegapunk is known as the world's top scientist.
People like him pursue perfect results in everything they do; it's a rule they set for themselves.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Vegapunk, "Plague" Queen, and Vinsmoke Judge used to work together for a while. Although they went their separate ways due to different choices, their ways of handling things were somewhat similar.
They all had absolute faith in their research.
Now, the Crystal Demon virus Caesar has seems to come from "Plague" Queen. Vegapunk likely saved some research data from back then, which Caesar then found.
But if he already made the Crystal Demon virus, why would "Plague" Queen release the Ice Oni virus, which has similar features, in the future?
Probably because "Plague" Queen didn't think the Crystal Demon virus was "perfect" enough.
It spreads slowly, and it needs contact between "crystal and blood" to spread.
Also, the infected person's fighting ability doesn't increase much, and it doesn't kill as quickly as the Ice Oni virus.
But if that's all, it doesn't seem like enough to make "Plague" Queen completely give up on this weapon of mass destruction.
There must be a bigger, deadlier flaw in the Crystal Demon virus!
The most obvious symptom after being infected with the Crystal Demon virus is the armor-like crystal growth.
These crystal growths have the quality of being easily made active; they not only greatly boost the infected person's physical abilities, but can also spread quickly through the blood of ordinary people.
According to common medical ideas, how to deal with these crystal growths is key to solving the Crystal Demon virus.
Now, this "key" has been found by Hiluluk and Kureha—
The Crystal Demon virus is a weapon that acts like a swarm; all the crystals share the same source of infection!
What does that mean?
Simply put, as long as that single source of infection is dealt with, all the crystal growths on every Crystal Demon will lose their activity.
Then, the Crystal Demon virus will lose all ability to spread, and even those already infected can be saved.
Destroying the source of infection – that's the best "vaccine cure" for the Crystal Demon virus!
Now it's clear why "Plague" Queen gave up on the Crystal Demon virus.
For the side that releases the virus, they only need one dose of the vaccine, and that one dose must be hidden very carefully.
But to control the spread of the Crystal Demon virus, the source of infection is essential and must be firmly held in their hands.
Now, the "key to controlling the virus" and the "vaccine to solve the virus" are the same thing, which makes things tricky.
As long as they understand the features of the Crystal Demon virus, everyone will make the same choice—
Decapitation.
The source of infection is very likely in the hands of the person who released the virus.
So, if they kill the person who released the virus along with the virus source, wouldn't that solve the virus?
Not only is the weakness obvious, but it also puts the person who released the virus in danger. "Plague" Queen wouldn't be stupid enough to release this virus in battle.
It's too useless!
But Caesar Clown clearly didn't realize this.
…
Rowan cleared his thoughts, and the sand table in his eyes disappeared.
He said to Kureha, who was busy nearby, "I'm going to the Aden Kingdom's palace."
"Go and come back quickly."
Kureha grinned, "If I figure out the vaccine cure before you do, you'll have made a wasted trip."
Obviously, the information Hiluluk left had inspired Kureha, making her research move quickly.
Rowan nodded and smiled, "I'll try."
Then, he bent down, picked up Hiluluk's wine bottle from the ground, and took a few big gulps.
"Yeah, it really feels good to drink!"
Rowan grinned as he held the wine bottle in his hand, and the staff in his other hand.
He muttered:
"Well, time to settle some scores..."
…
Aden Kingdom, palace.
The Donquixote family's officers were still stationed in the plaza.
Just then, they heard a rumble.
The deafening rumble became clearer and clearer, then a bright golden shooting star appeared from afar, speeding toward the plaza!
Diamante was the first to notice something wrong and called out in a low voice.
"Here it comes!"
Then, ten Donquixote family officers prepared to fight.
At the same time, several thin threads gathered on one side of the plaza and turned into a clone of Doflamingo.
His real body was in the palace, with Caesar, who was holding the crystal infection source.
String-String Fruit power, String Shadow—Clone!
"Doffy?"
"Young Master!"
The officers were surprised to see Doflamingo's string clone.
Doflamingo's clone waved his hand, grinned, walked in front of everyone, and faced the direction the golden shooting star was coming from.
Suddenly, a fierce sandstorm sprang up, with countless grains of sand blowing in the wind.
A figure appeared from within the sandstorm.
It wasn't Rowan himself, but a sand soldier.
He wasn't holding the usual spear for a sand soldier, but a flag pole held with both hands.
At the top of the pole was a "flag" made of sand. You couldn't see the design that should be on it, and the sand at the end was constantly scattering in the wind.
The soldier's outfit was extremely fancy and complicated, more for show than practical use.
He was a "ceremonial guard."
With a "clang,"
The ceremonial guard stuck the flag pole into the ground and stood up straight, as if to announce someone's arrival.
Doflamingo's clone grinned, looking very excited.
"Ryan Rowan, the emperor of 800 years ago, can you hear me?"
The ceremonial guard's gaze came from under his helmet, locking onto Doflamingo's clone.
"Fuffuffuffuffu, looks like you can!"
Doflamingo's clone spread his arms and laughed loudly, "Don't rush to attack, it won't hurt to hear me out first!"
The ceremonial guard didn't move at all, as if the flag was everything to him.
Doflamingo continued:
"I never expected that fool Caesar's 'biological weapon' would stop you and your Four Seas Alliance."
"Because to me, the 'Four Seas Alliance' is something on par with the 'World Government'!"
Doflamingo's words stunned the officers on the scene.
They always thought Doflamingo wanted to use the mission of "stopping the Four Seas Alliance" as a show of loyalty to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea, but now Doflamingo's words didn't seem to mean that.
"Ryan Rowan, you can't attack me."
"Neither the Four Seas Alliance nor the World Government can attack me."
Doflamingo pushed up his sunglasses and said slowly:
"The letter of appointment for the Seven Warlords is on its way and will arrive in the Aden Kingdom soon."
As soon as he said this, the sand messenger finally reacted.
He turned his head, tilted it slightly, as if waiting for Doflamingo to continue.
"I've become a Warlord of the Sea, which means the World Government legally recognizes my position."
"If you attack me, you'll give the World Government a reason to target the Four Seas Alliance!"
"So, you can't touch me."
Doflamingo had never underestimated the "Four Seas Alliance."
Or rather, he saw the terrible potential of the Four Seas Alliance sooner than many people else on this sea.
Therefore, from the start, Doflamingo had treated the "Four Seas Alliance" as a force equal to the "World Government"!
Fighting a force of this level head-on would be foolish.
The right thing to do would be to find their weakness and then restrain them as much as possible!
The eye of the storm is often the calmest part of the storm.
This was the core of Doflamingo's plan.
He wanted to become a key piece for the World Government to restrain the Four Seas Alliance, and at the same time, he also wanted to...
"Let's work together, Ryan Rowan."
Doflamingo grinned and made another suggestion, "Weapons, territory, technology, troops... I can get you anything the Four Seas Alliance wants."
"Isn't that an incredibly good deal?"
The sand messenger remained silent, the flag on the pole swaying in the wind.
A few breaths later, the sandstorm around them grew fiercer.
Gradually, the Donquixote family officers found that there were more sand soldiers around.
Countless soldiers appeared from the sandstorm.
They stood in neat rows, like the ceremonial guard, welcoming their "emperor."
Rumble...
A violent quake came.
On the flat plaza, a steep cliff suddenly rose.
The sound of light armor brushing together came from the sandstorm.
"A good offer."
"If you can satisfy one condition, I'll agree to your cooperation."
Rowan slowly walked up the cliff.
Finally, he reached the top of the cliff, stood with one foot on the highest point, and looked down at the entire Donquixote family.
"You have to survive until the World Government sends your appointment."
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