Chapter 15: The Plague God
Su Xiao picked up a quill pen and began to scribble on paper. The technological level of the pirate world was indeed bizarre—they had invented firearms and cannons, yet still used such relatively primitive quills.
After a moment, Su Xiao handed several sheets of paper covered in various array diagrams to Doflamingo. Doflamingo took the papers, examined them repeatedly, and occasionally glanced at Su Xiao.
Not to mention the alchemical array diagrams on the paper, Doflamingo couldn't even understand the strange script written on them. He was astonished to find that on these haphazardly scribbled sheets, he didn't even know what the punctuation marks represented.
"The World Government hasn't obtained this technology yet?"
Doflamingo tossed the papers aside. He had investigated Su Xiao's background but couldn't figure out exactly what Su Xiao was helping the World Government manufacture.
"You can try asking someone else. My last collaboration partner was Dr. Vegapunk. When I looked at his experimental data, it felt like reading a heavenly script. I believe when he looked at my explosive blueprints, he felt the same way."
Su Xiao's meaning was clear—even Dr. Vegapunk couldn't decipher this Apollo blueprint, so you might as well give up.
"Vegapunk..."
Doflamingo certainly knew who Dr. Vegapunk was, but he wouldn't fully believe Su Xiao's words.
"So you're saying that if I want to obtain this bomb, I can never bypass you?"
"You could put it that way. However, when I manufacture the bombs, I can allow any researcher to observe."
"No need."
Doflamingo picked up the blueprints from the table and tore them up in front of Su Xiao.
"Before repelling Big Mom, I can cooperate with you. But what do I need to pay?"
"Use your status to block the Navy, the World Government, and the CP departments for me."
"I'm just a Warlord. I don't have that much authority."
"The CP departments dare not set foot in a Warlord's territory. Is that something an ordinary Warlord can achieve?"
Su Xiao looked at Doflamingo with a smile. At that moment, Doflamingo suddenly stood up, Armament Haki enveloping his leg as he kicked toward Su Xiao's face.
*Clang!*
The long blade was drawn, slashing straight toward Doflamingo's calf.
*Boom!*
A shockwave spread outward, shattering the villa's glass windows.
"Ah~"
A brief scream came from behind. Amu grabbed Sugar's head, while Bubu Wang bit down on her arm. Her other arm was also seized by Amu.
If Amu exerted force with his hand, Sugar's head would be crushed.
*Rumble...*
The entire villa began to shake. Pica had vanished, having merged into the building. As a Stone-Stone Fruit user, he could merge into any rock.
*Crack, crack.*
The floor beneath Su Xiao cracked extensively, and a faint blue glow emerged on his body—a sign that he was about to activate Demon Hunting Hour.
"Fufufufufu."
Doflamingo laughed loudly, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Who told you?"
Doflamingo's words were somewhat ambiguous. In truth, he was asking who had told Su Xiao about his Celestial Dragon identity.
"I was a mid-to-high-ranking member of the World Government before. Of course, I know some secrets. I participated in the Pacifista Project and the refinement of artificial Devil Fruits, let alone that matter."
"Artificial Devil Fruit refinement?"
Doflamingo looked at Su Xiao with confusion. The two sat back down on the sofa, and Amu released Sugar, who was so furious she was rolling her eyes.
"Surprised? The artificial Devil Fruits developed by Dr. Vegapunk are far superior to the half-finished imitations made by Caesar Clown. The garbage Caesar Clown produces isn't so much an artificial Devil Fruit as it is a partial animalization of the user's body to simulate Zoan-type abilities. Dr. Vegapunk's research results are far more sophisticated—he can nearly replicate a complete Zoan fruit. But those fruits also have flaws: drastically reduced user lifespan, ability rampages, and so on."
Su Xiao was clearly bluffing Doflamingo. Bluffing required capital, and Su Xiao had indeed participated in the Pacifista Project—specifically, Kuma's modification.
Most of the weapons were designed by him. As for artificial Devil Fruits, he had consulted Dr. Vegapunk about that information, paying with the principles behind some alchemical bombs.
Su Xiao couldn't create artificial Devil Fruits—alchemy and the technology of the pirate world were different knowledge systems—but he understood them. As the developer of artificial Devil Fruits, Dr. Vegapunk's understanding of them was unmatched by Caesar Clown or Vinsmoke Judge.
"So, you can manufacture artificial Devil Fruits?"
Doflamingo could barely contain himself. He finally understood why the World Government was searching the world for Su Xiao and had issued a capture-only bounty.
"Of course not."
"..."
Doflamingo's eye twitched.
"I was responsible for weapons. Artificial Zoan fruits involve genes and bloodline factors—they're completely different fields. I only understand them."
"So you only specialize in manufacturing weapons?"
"You could put it that way."
Su Xiao had already demonstrated his value, and Doflamingo had figured out the purpose of Su Xiao's visit. For cooperation to work, both parties must be based on mutual exploitation. It sounded crude, but that was the reality.
Doflamingo urgently needed to repel the Big Mom Pirates, so the cooperation was quickly negotiated.
First, Su Xiao would manufacture Apollos for the Don Quixote Family. Su Xiao retained ownership of the Apollos, while the Don Quixote Family had the rights to use, deploy, and sell them.
Nominally, the Apollos Su Xiao made were his personal property, while the Don Quixote Family was like a "business partner" with significant authority.
This request puzzled Doflamingo. He didn't understand why Su Xiao was so fixated on owning the Apollos.
"Oh, by the way, you'll need to prepare other materials. The Apollo's cost is too high for regular use as explosives. For war, this thing is actually more practical."
Su Xiao pulled out a high-grade alchemical bomb. Seeing it, even Doflamingo, with his composure, stood up abruptly.
"This is... made by you?!"
Clearly, Doflamingo had seen high-grade alchemical bombs before. In secret skirmishes with the Navy, his subordinates had nearly been blown to bits by these bombs. They were hard to detect, could adhere to most surfaces, and—most shamelessly—could be detonated remotely.
Doflamingo had tried various channels to obtain alchemical bombs, but unfortunately, they seemed exclusive to the World Government, Navy, and CP departments, with no external access.
"That's right. I made a lot for the Navy before."
"..."
Doflamingo fell silent. At this moment, Su Xiao was no longer a collaborator in his eyes but a plague god. A certain usage method for alchemical bombs had drastically reduced Navy casualties.
That method involved sending soldiers to dive underwater and stick the bombs to enemy ships' hulls. The bombs weren't afraid of seawater and could even explode underwater.
In naval battles, the result of a ship being blown open was obvious. On top of that, alchemical bombs were very cheap.
"Can you... mass-produce these?"
"Of course. And the cost is lower than you can imagine."
"..."
Doflamingo fell silent again. A few seconds later, he made a decision in his heart.