Chapter 198: A Titan’s Legacy: The Emergence of the Lineage Serum

“Mama, Dr. Vegapunk says he needs to report all his major research findings to you.”

A Biscuit Soldier entered the room and spotted Charlotte Linlin rocking a baby to sleep beside the crib. He rushed over to report.

Charlotte Linlin paused, her hand stopping mid-motion above the cradle. “Vegapunk?”

“Could it be…?”

Linlin knew exactly what Vegapunk was researching. The research facility on Cake Island burned through massive funding every single day—there was no way she could be clueless.

“Bring him in,” Linlin said, her face alight with excitement.

“Yes, Mama.” The Biscuit Soldier snapped a salute and dashed out.

Just then, Perospero and Katakuri also came to stand beside Charlotte Linlin.

“Mama, is something going on?” Perospero, being the eldest, spoke first.

Katakuri stood by, his eyes full of curiosity as he stared at Linlin.

“Mama mama mama!”

“Weren’t you all a bit disappointed that you didn’t inherit Karl’s bloodline?”

At those words, Perospero and the other children looked as if this was only natural.

After all, with their new siblings, it was obvious that the potential they showed was extraordinary. That was all thanks to Karl’s Titan blood.

“Mama, you mean…?” A bold idea was taking shape in Perospero’s mind.

Tap tap tap…

Just then, Vegapunk came jogging up and stopped in front of Linlin.

“Lady Charlotte Linlin, the Lineage Factor is ready. This is a gene sample created from Lord Karl’s blood.”

“Once injected, it grants the power of Lord Karl’s bloodline.” Vegapunk looked very different from before.

Sensing carefully, Linlin realized Vegapunk himself now possessed Titan blood.

She didn’t scold him, though. After all, Karl had already spoken to her about this, and since the serum was now complete, as long as Karl was around, they would never run short of it.

“Mama mama mama!”

“Dr. Vegapunk, this is incredible news!”

“How much of this serum can you make?”

“Reporting, Lady Charlotte Linlin! Lord Karl’s purest blood only yields two doses. These are the strongest—they directly pass on the Titan bloodline.”

“But…” Vegapunk hesitated.

“It’s fine, Dr. Vegapunk. Go on.”

Linlin accepted the serum, her voice encouraging.

“Lord Karl also left behind regular blood before leaving. That can make hundreds of doses, but it only passes on a basic level of the Titan bloodline. It’s much harder to develop further compared to Lord Karl’s, and reaching his level is unlikely.”

“Even the effect from the pure blood is less than a tenth of Lord Karl’s own power.”

There was clear regret in Vegapunk’s voice. This was the very limit of what he could achieve.

What he didn’t realize was that the Titan bloodline itself didn’t belong in the world of pirates to begin with—it was from a higher realm. Even a tenth, if mastered, could stand atop this world.

Linlin felt a pang of regret at that, but getting even a tenth of Karl’s power was already something. After all, Karl could fight Rockx to a standstill.

Even a fraction was still genuine admiral-level strength.

“How much can the regular blood give?” Linlin asked, curious.

If the pure blood could only give a tenth, then surely the regular blood offered even less.

Vegapunk quickly ran some mental calculations and answered, “Roughly between one-thousandth and one percent.”

Linlin did a quick bit of math herself.

Even at the upper end, a perfected one percent would still mean vice-admiral-level power.

She pictured gathering a whole legion of vice-admiral-level fighters at her command, and burst into booming laughter.

“Mama mama mama!”

“Not bad at all, Vegapunk!”

“Anything you’d like as a reward?” With such huge contributions, Linlin had to make sure Vegapunk got something in return.

If she didn’t reward a meritorious man like Vegapunk, how could she expect loyalty from the rest?

Word getting out about such neglect would be even worse.

“Lady Linlin, I’d like permission to visit Ohara in the West Blue, if I may?”

“Ohara? Why do you want to go there?” Linlin frowned, confused.

She genuinely had no idea what could possibly be in West Blue’s Ohara to tempt someone like Vegapunk.

“If you’ve got somebody to meet or something to collect, I can just send someone to retrieve it for you.”

“That way, you wouldn’t have to bother with the trip yourself.”

Linlin thought, whatever caught Vegapunk’s interest could just as easily be delivered.

“Lady Charlotte Linlin, the reason I wish to visit Ohara in the West Blue is because it holds eighty percent of the world’s knowledge.”

“Lately my research has hit a wall. I need to read more books there to find new inspiration.”

Originally, visiting Ohara was his plan for the future. But after getting the Titan blood, he felt his mind was capable of absorbing even more knowledge without bursting. He could hardly wait to experience Ohara for himself.

Linlin mulled it over, troubled.

For someone as brilliant as Vegapunk, any mishap would be impossible to explain to Karl.

On top of that, the Navy had a tight grip on all Four Seas. Sending a fleet there would almost certainly lead to a run-in with the Navy.

What if Vegapunk ran into trouble on the way?

She could never forgive herself for that.

“How about this?”

“I’ll agree to those terms. Wait here on Cake Island. When Karl returns, I’ll have him escort you personally.”

She’d found the perfect compromise.

With Karl’s strength, he could travel anywhere with Vegapunk and never be stopped.

“Thank you, Lady Linlin. I’ll take my leave now.” Vegapunk got the answer he’d hoped for.

He bowed and withdrew.

As Vegapunk left the room, Linlin took the serum in her hand and looked over at Perospero and the others.

They all wore expectant looks as they stared at Linlin.

They had overheard everything that was said just now.

If they’d have plenty of this serum in the future, there was no need to hold back anymore.

Perospero and the rest had been thinking of saving this dose for their youngest siblings.

But now hunger had flared in everyone’s eyes.

“Perospero, step forward.”

As soon as Mama called, the other children instantly lost the glow in their eyes.

“What’s the rush? When your father Karl comes back, there’ll be more of this than you can count,” Linlin barked at their disappointed faces.

The kids weren’t truly upset, just disappointed not to be first. As soon as Mama snapped at them, they perked up.

True enough, once Karl was back, the serum would be in endless supply. Their eyes began to shine again with hope.

They all stared eagerly at Perospero.