Chapter 272: The True Price of Power

“I will restore the Vinsmoke Family’s rule over North Blue. North Blue can belong to no one but me.”

Just then, someone burst in at the door, cutting him off. “Sir Judge, with so many new projects underway, we’re running out of funds. Our remaining supplies will only last for three more months. If we can’t find more resources in that time, then we…”

Judge felt a headache coming on. This was a real problem. All the research over the past year had burned through the family fortune, and now they’d just poured money into nutrients for two thousand new clones.

Even the technology they’d brought back from Machinery Island had already been sold off, but it still wasn’t enough to fill this massive hole.

It’d take another five years for these clones to fully mature—that was a long stretch. If they ran short on funding in the meantime, he’d never see those clones completed.

Lack of funds could put an end to his campaign, and controlling North Blue would become nothing but a joke.

“Alright, I hear you. From now on, cut everything that’s not essential. Leave the rest to me. You’re dismissed.”

It was at that moment Judge finally decided to barter the clone technology to the World Government in exchange for a windfall. It was the only way to get through this crisis.

Unfortunately, the World Government no longer had Vegapunk around. Without him, there was no way they’d make clones of the Seven Warlords anywhere close to the originals, and even the Pacifista project was as good as dead.

But given how aggressively the World Government was collecting Devil Fruits, their tech couldn’t be all that lacking. After all, they’ve ruled for 800 years—who knows what they have stashed away behind the scenes?

The day after the meeting, Karl woke up from his soft bed, yawned at the sunlight streaming in, gently pulled his hand from under Linlin’s head, and stretched.

He looked at Linlin, still fast asleep, and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Then he got up and left the room. There was work to do—he needed to get the details about the clones and Pure Gold to Vegapunk as soon as possible and set him to work.

“Hahaha! Halil, long time no see!”

“Notty, it’s been a while!”

Inside the lab!

Notty, still feeling the effects of last night’s drinking, came to the lab early in the morning, gift in hand, to see Halil.

Seeing Halil still lying in bed, he hurried over. “I heard from Lord Karl yesterday that you were fine now? Then why are you still…?”

Concern laced Notty’s voice. He really didn’t want his friend ending up bedridden for the rest of his life.

“Don’t worry, Notty.”

Halil waved dismissively, then pointed at his bandages, looking exasperated. “I injected that gene serum. Now my strength is off the charts—I don’t even know my limits anymore.”

“I smashed several force meters. I’m staying here to help Dr. Vegapunk with his research.”

As he spoke, he climbed out of bed, stretched, and showed Notty he was perfectly fine.

Relieved, Notty stepped forward and gave him a quick hug. They each took a seat and started chatting.

Right then, Vegapunk stormed in, having overheard their conversation. He jumped in with an answer. “Exactly, that’s what happened. I never expected Karl’s genes to chemically react with the Fishmen.”

“That’s something I never could’ve imagined.”

“I did a few other experiments too. Aside from humans, every other race’s blood had a strong reaction as well.”

“The effect far surpassed just 1+1=2. Right from the start, the advancement was a giant leap over what we saw in humans.”

As he spoke, Vegapunk glanced over the data on his tablet—no connection, just a research tool. The numbers were stabilizing. Looking at Halil, he said, “No need for more tests today.”

“According to the data, your unusual symptoms are ending soon. By tomorrow, things should stabilize, so we’ll do the tests then.”

With that, Vegapunk walked out of the room, tablet in hand.

He’d barely stepped outside when he nearly collided with Karl coming the other way.

“Vegapunk, I was just looking for you. Come with me—now.”

Before Vegapunk could respond, Karl grabbed him and pulled him into a secret lab.

Only Karl and Krell knew about this hidden lab. It was reserved for top-secret experiments.

Along the way, Vegapunk took in Karl’s anxious face but said nothing. Once inside the unfamiliar research room, he had a hunch. He turned to Karl, “Alright, you brought me here for…?”

Before he could finish, something appeared in Karl’s right hand, filling the room with brilliant gold light. Vegapunk’s jaw dropped wide, as if he could’ve swallowed a dozen eggs.

Unable to help himself, Vegapunk’s hand shot out, reaching for the Pure Gold in Karl’s palm. As the greatest achievement in chemistry, of course he’d heard of it.

He blurted out in excitement, “Wait—could this be…?”

“That’s right. This is Pure Gold, the thing said to grant immortality.”

“Vegapunk, I want you to study it. Figure out how much would be needed to extend someone’s life—and by how much.”

Karl had always doubted something: the Pure Gold on Olga’s hand couldn’t possibly keep her from aging for over a hundred years.

It was more likely the Pure Gold in the Lanternfish’s lamp, constantly shining on them, that kept Olga and her father looking unchanged. Even if the One Piece world is a bit like a fantasy novel, the law of conservation of energy still applies.

If the amount of Pure Gold is proportional to the lifespan extended—and the individual’s own vitality—then this batch needs to be carefully planned.

“No problem, leave it to me.”

“I’ll get the results for you soon.”

In that instant, Vegapunk’s eyes practically sparkled with a rainbow glow. Even Halil was forgotten—the test could wait, nothing was more important than Pure Gold now.

Vegapunk had studied endlessly and invented all sorts of tech, but he’d never managed to create Pure Gold. He knew it took more than science. It needed the perfect time and place.

Now that he was staring at the real thing, how could he not be thrilled?

Accepting the Pure Gold, Vegapunk kept turning it over in his hand. It was only as big as a fist. Suddenly, he asked, “Wait, is this all you got?”

“That doesn’t sound like you.”

In his mind, Karl was the type to never leave empty-handed. How could he only have this tiny piece?

Could there have been only this bit in the Lanternfish?

Karl shrugged. “Didn’t think you’d notice that.”

“Actually, there’s a lot more. Way more than you can imagine.”

“At least for the early experiments, will this be enough? If not, I can bring more.”

Vegapunk nodded. He knew there was no way Karl would show up with just that. “If it’s just for research and tests, this much Pure Gold is already more than enough.”