Chapter 721: Marco Gets Shot
The term "Eternal Surgery" had always circulated among certain special circles in this world.
Since this legend of immortality existed, it suggested that someone in history had indeed undergone the Eternal Surgery!
If this surgery could truly grant eternal life, did that mean the person who received it was still alive in this world?
Combining this with Bonney's experiences, if such an immortal being truly existed, they would surely be among the Celestial Dragons or the World Government!
It was precisely because they understood the eternal life granted by the Eternal Surgery that they tirelessly sought methods of immortality.
At the very least, based on the intelligence Ian had gathered from various sources, they were indeed relentlessly pursuing this goal. Kaido's artificial Uranus project, Bonney's Devil Fruit ability exploitation—and now Ian even suspected that the Pacifista project might also be tied to their search for immortality. After all, transforming a human body into a machine was another form of eternal life in a way...
However, immortality wasn't something easily obtained. Kaido, as an experimental subject, possessed immense vitality but could still die. Bonney's Devil Fruit only altered appearance and body, having nothing to do with lifespan or vitality.
They had probably even experimented with Ain's Retro-Retro Fruit, Zephyr's student.
The Retro-Retro Fruit likely involved the definition of "existence," resetting it every twelve years, much like Bonney's Age-Age Fruit, neither touching upon "vitality."
That was the only explanation; otherwise, Ain would have long been imprisoned by the World Government and Celestial Dragons instead of remaining a Marine...
Looking at it now, only three Devil Fruits seemed reliably tied to vitality. One was Law's Op-Op Fruit, which required the user to be proficient in medicine. Another was Big Mom's Soul-Soul Fruit, which demanded collecting souls from others to extend life.
The last was Brook's Revive-Revive Fruit, which granted resurrection and could be considered another form of immortality.
If the Celestial Dragons were exhausting themselves to find immortality merely to avoid death, that seemed too far-fetched. Ian was more inclined to believe their search was indeed connected to their so-called "National Treasure"!
From Robin's interpretation of the Poneglyphs, a war involving the three Ancient Weapons occurred during the blank century. The victors who seized power were, of course, the Celestial Dragons.
If they were the winners, they must have possessed an Ancient Weapon. But Pluton was a battleship built in Water Seven, and Poseidon was a Mermaid Princess from generations past—neither weapon was something the Celestial Dragons could control.
Thus, Ian was almost certain that the Celestial Dragons held only the Ancient Weapon Uranus, which was their National Treasure!
The Celestial Dragons maintained their privileged status by relying on the power of this weapon. Uranus must have been immensely powerful, or else the World Government wouldn't be so wary of it.
The Five Elders were chosen by the Celestial Dragons, but Ian suspected they weren't fools. With such immense power in their hands, how could they tolerate a "shadow emperor" ruling over them? Human hearts were the hardest to fathom. Given the Celestial Dragons' decay, stupidity, and arrogance, normal people would despise them! Under such circumstances, it was unlikely that all of them were so loyal that they never thought of overthrowing the Celestial Dragons!
Even if they were the creators, after eight hundred years, any halo would have faded...
Yet despite this, the Five Elders still obeyed the Celestial Dragons' commands. This could only be explained by "fear."
But... what exactly was Uranus? Though called a weapon, it might not necessarily be a physical one. Looking at Poseidon, it could be some kind of living creature!
Perhaps Uranus was also some form of life? And the need for vitality as a cost to control it further supported this speculation.
Shaking his head vigorously, Ian felt an odd sense of unease. Since setting sail, he seemed to constantly encounter events related to Uranus and the Ancient Weapons. And as a transmigrator, he knew some of this world's hidden secrets, which brought him closer and closer to the truth about the Ancient Weapons!
"Damn it, could it be that the truth about the Ancient Weapons will really be uncovered by me?"
Come to think of it, could Crocodile have guessed this possibility and that's why he followed Ian? Ian remembered Crocodile was quite obsessed with Pluton back then...
"Ian, what are you thinking?" Seeing Ian silent for a long time after Bonney spoke and now shaking his head, Whitebeard found it strange and couldn't help asking.
But how could Ian share such speculation with him? So he smiled and said, "Nothing!"
Whitebeard gave him a deep look, feeling Ian hadn't told the truth, but he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he said to Bonney, "Alright, though your words need verification, you don't seem like a liar. So stay on the Moby Dick and wait for Ace to return. We won't restrict your freedom anymore."
"Hey, I wonder what expression Ace will have when he finds out he suddenly has a cousin?" Marco chuckled, making the Whitebeard Pirates laugh.
"See? Life is always full of surprises!" Ian said meaningfully.
But Bonney didn't respond to Whitebeard. Instead, she asked Ian, "You said earlier you're going to Wano to rescue Ace?"
"That's right!" Ian nodded.
"Then I'm going with you!" Bonney said, hands on her hips.
"Going with me!?" Ian's eyes widened. "Why are you coming? Even if you want to see Ace, can't you wait a day or two?"
"You know, Ace has never met me!" Bonney spread her hands. "If I just wait on the ship for him to return, he might look at me like a stranger. But if I go with you and help rescue him, he might accept me, this never-before-seen relative, more quickly. Besides, I really want to see his safety with my own eyes!"
"This..." Ian couldn't find a reason to refute Bonney's words.
"Please!" Bonney clasped her hands together, winking one eye playfully. "Aren't you Ace's best brother? Just do me this favor! Besides, with you, a new Emperor, around, there's no danger, right? One more person won't hurt!"
"But how will you come with us?" Ian scratched his head. "Marco and I plan to fly there. You can't fly!"
"Then you can carry me!" Bonney said. "I've never flown before! And..."
As she spoke, Bonney cupped her chest and bounced it, saying to Ian, "And my chest is pretty big! When you carry me, I'll hold you tight. Consider it your good luck this time..."
Pfft! Ian spat out a mouthful of blood!
The Whitebeard Pirates burst into laughter. Bonney's personality was truly something else!
"Stop!" Ian quickly stopped Bonney. "Let's get this straight. I can take you, but you'd better not let me carry you!"
"What? I'm not afraid, so why are you?" Bonney laughed loudly.
"No, I'm just afraid I'll regret it!" Ian also laughed. No one on the Dragon Hunter Pirates dared to let him carry them! Only Bonney, who hadn't experienced it, was bold enough.
So Ian pointed at Marco, who was watching the drama like a spectator, and said, "If you want to fly, it's best to let Marco carry you!"
Bonney turned to look at Marco, who was dumbfounded, pointing at his own nose. "Me!? How am I supposed to carry her!?"
"Just transform into your Phoenix form!" Ian said cheerfully. "Your flames have no temperature. Let Bonney ride on you!"
"Ride... ride on me!?" Marco's face darkened.
Wasn't I just watching the fun? How did I get caught in the crossfire while eating snacks!?