Chapter 40: The Big Shot
The warship slowly docked, and Su Xiao walked out of the cabin, followed by a listless Bubuteni.
An island came into view, covered in trees, looking like a desolate island.
But watchtowers could be faintly seen among the trees. Su Xiao spotted no less than a dozen watchtowers, and there might be such towers scattered all around the island.
Some cannons were hidden among the trees. This island seemed ordinary, but once an enemy approached, the island would unleash astonishing firepower.
Jumping onto a small boat, Vice Admiral Tsuru and Tashigi were already on it. To land on the island, one had to take a small boat; the island had no pier.
The small boat reached the shore. Su Xiao stepped onto the soft sandy beach. There seemed to be no one around, but in reality, at least several hundred Marines were ambushed in the forest ahead. This island was probably not simple.
"White Night, I can only send you this far. Someone will meet you next. Tashigi is responsible for protecting your safety. If you need anything, you can find Tashigi."
Vice Admiral Tsuru was only escorting Su Xiao to this island to prevent him from being taken by other forces along the way.
Tsuru got back on the small boat. Su Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he wouldn't have to match wits with Vice Admiral Tsuru. Although he wasn't afraid, it was a real headache.
"Let's go."
Tashigi walked toward the island. Su Xiao looked around. The Marines ambushed nearby had no hostile intent.
Entering the forest, the air became fresh. The phrase "birds singing and flowers fragrant" described this place perfectly.
There were no large animals in the forest; the Marines had already cleared it out.
Su Xiao sensed at least a hundred guns aimed near him. None were pointed directly at him, but all were aimed around him.
Led by Tashigi through the forest, a cluster of steel buildings came into view. This should be a large research facility.
Two people were waiting at the entrance of the facility. One of them was tall, wearing a shit-yellow suit and yellow sunglasses, with a white coat draped over his back that read "Justice" on it.
This man's face was full of wrinkles, and his lazy demeanor faintly exuded a lecherous aura.
The vibe of a sleazy uncle hit him in the face, but upon seeing this man, Su Xiao's heart tightened.
This was one of the Three Admirals of the Marines, Kizaru—Borsalino. He was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, proficient in Haki, physical techniques, and his swordsmanship was not weak either.
"Yo~, finally here."
Kizaru spoke slowly and lazily, as if nothing could rush him. In reality, his speed was despairingly fast, nearly reaching the speed of light.
"Old man, this guy's aura is off. He doesn't seem like a researcher."
Standing beside Kizaru was a fair-skinned, chubby young man named Sentomaru, the captain of the Marine Headquarters Science Unit.
Sentomaru was skilled in Observation Haki and immediately sensed that Su Xiao's aura was wrong.
Kizaru took out a photo, compared it, and shook his head.
"No, this is exactly the 'researcher' we're supposed to pick up."
Kizaru squinted his eyes. Of course, he also sensed that Su Xiao's aura was off; otherwise, he wouldn't have come personally.
"Admiral Kizaru, the target has been delivered."
Tashigi saluted Kizaru.
"Mm, Sengoku has already told me. This is White Night, right? Before entering the research facility, there's something I need to confirm."
Kizaru glanced at Sentomaru, who took out a Den Den Mushi with a camera.
"Mr. White Night, could you demonstrate that bomb of yours?"
Sentomaru pointed the Den Den Mushi at Su Xiao. Su Xiao had already anticipated this situation.
He took out an alchemy bomb. Under his control, the bomb began to change shape in his hand, sometimes expanding, sometimes appearing ready to explode.
Kizaru watched the alchemy bomb with a gleam of curiosity in his eyes.
"Can others control this thing too?"
"To a certain extent, but not as flexibly."
Su Xiao tossed the alchemy bomb to Kizaru and explained the control method.
Kizaru tried to control the alchemy bomb. It only reacted slightly, but even that was enough to satisfy him.
Kizaru directly detonated the bomb in his hand. With a boom, flames spread outward.
As the flames receded, Kizaru stood unharmed in place.
"The power is satisfactory too."
The Den Den Mushi on Kizaru's body rang. He searched for a while before finding it.
"Moshi, moshi."
"This is Sengoku."
Kizaru walked away with the Den Den Mushi and returned shortly after, having put it away.
"White Night, get used to the environment here today. Tomorrow, I'll take you to meet someone."
Su Xiao shook his head.
"No need to rest."
Kizaru raised an eyebrow at Su Xiao.
"Such diligence. Fine, let's go see that person now."
The group entered the research facility. The interior structure was very complex, almost labyrinthine.
After wandering for a few minutes, Kizaru led everyone to a laboratory.
The sound of welding steel came from inside. As soon as Su Xiao entered the lab, a several-meter-long experimental table came into view.
A man about seven meters tall lay on the table. His upper body was bare, and his body was no longer flesh and blood—he was a cyborg.
Seeing the man on the table, Su Xiao's eyes lit up. This was Bartholomew Kuma, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
A thin man about 1.78 meters tall was busy working. He had curly hair, wore small round glasses, had stubble on his chin, and looked slightly tired.
"Dr. Vegapunk, still modifying Tyrant Kuma?"
Hearing Kizaru's shout, Vegapunk looked displeased.
"Don't disturb me. I'm almost done."
Daring to speak to a Marine Admiral like that, Vegapunk had his own confidence. Not just a Marine Admiral—even if it were the Fleet Admiral disturbing his experiment, he would have the same attitude.
Kizaru's expression remained unchanged, as if this happened often. Vegapunk's technological level was at least five hundred years ahead of the world. The World Government couldn't do without Vegapunk.
"Doctor, the person has been brought."
Vegapunk, who was modifying Tyrant Kuma's arm, looked up.
"The one who made that bomb? Where?"
Vegapunk's expression was excited.
"It's this one."
Kizaru pointed at Su Xiao.
"Hello, I'm Vegapunk." Vegapunk quickly walked over and looked Su Xiao up and down. "What technology is that bomb? It's beyond the scope of science, isn't it? Is it genetic mysticism like Devil Fruits?"
Su Xiao was taken aback. This Vegapunk was no ordinary person.
"No, that's alchemy. Alchemy is..."
Su Xiao gave Vegapunk a preliminary explanation of alchemy. Vegapunk listened with great interest, while the others felt like they were hearing a foreign language.
"So, alchemy isn't entirely mysticism. That's a misconception. Alchemy is humanity's exploration of nature through the physical body."
Vegapunk nodded thoughtfully.
"The materials you need are no problem. There are perfect substitutes. But can those things really make bombs?"
"Of course, no problem."
With Vegapunk's help, the materials were resolved. However, mana was still an issue. Su Xiao needed an item or potion that could restore mana.
"There's another problem. My energy is limited. Making those bombs consumes a lot of energy."
"Don't worry about that. I used to have the same problem with insufficient energy hindering my research, so I invented this."
Vegapunk picked up a test tube from the side and handed it to Su Xiao.
[T3 Potion]
Quality: Purple
Type: Recovery Item
Effect: Restores 100% Mana after drinking.
Rating: 150
Introduction: This potion can be consumed consecutively with no side effects (This potion cannot be taken out of this derivative world).
Su Xiao was slightly stunned. High-level combat derivative worlds were indeed different.
"Then there's no problem. I can mass-produce alchemy bombs now."
Helping the World Government produce alchemy bombs also benefited Su Xiao. He could quickly increase the proficiency of [Alchemy Bomb Manufacturing].
It was no longer about how high he could level up [Alchemy Bomb Manufacturing], but what the maximum level of [Alchemy Bomb Manufacturing] was.
Su Xiao had specifically asked Reincarnation Paradise before. Since [Alchemy Bomb Manufacturing] was a knowledge-based ability, as long as he spent Paradise Coins, he could upgrade it even outside Reincarnation Paradise. Last time, Su Xiao upgraded [Alchemy Bomb Manufacturing] in the Trade Market, not in the Skill Upgrade Hall.
Moreover, once Alchemy Bomb Manufacturing reached Lv.10, Su Xiao would unlock Alchemy Pharmacology, which was what he desired most.