Free Web NovelChapter 1304: Chapter 15: Plague God
Su Xiao held a quill in his hand, starting to write and draw on the paper. The technological level of the Pirate World is quite peculiar; they’ve invented firearms and cannons, yet they’re still using these relatively outdated quills.
A moment later, Su Xiao handed several sheets filled with various array diagrams to Doflamingo. Doflamingo took the sheets and examined them repeatedly, occasionally glancing at Su Xiao.
It wasn’t just the alchemy array diagrams on the paper that puzzled Doflamingo; even the strange texts on the paper were beyond his comprehension. He was amazed to find that even the punctuation marks on these scribbled sheets held meanings he couldn’t decipher.
"The World Government hasn’t acquired this technology yet?"
Doflamingo tossed aside the paper. He had investigated Su Xiao’s background but couldn’t find out what Su Xiao was exactly manufacturing for the World Government.
"You might try looking for someone else. My previous collaboration partner was named Dr. Vegapunk. When I went through his experimental materials, it felt like reading a heavenly book, and I’m sure he feels the same when he looks at my explosive blueprints."
Su Xiao’s implication was clear: even Dr. Vegapunk couldn’t crack the Apollo blueprints, so you might as well give up early.
"Vegapunk..."
Doflamingo certainly knew Dr. Vegapunk, but he wouldn’t fully trust Su Xiao’s words.
"So, does that mean if I want to obtain this bomb, I can never bypass you?"
"You could interpret it that way, but when I’m manufacturing a bomb, any researchers can observe."
"No need."
Doflamingo picked up the blueprint on the table and tore it into pieces right in front of Su Xiao.
"Before we repel Big Mom, I can cooperate with you, but what do I need to offer?"
"Use your status to shield me from the Navy, the World Government, the CP Department."
"I’m merely one of the Seven Warlords, I don’t have that kind of authority."
"The CP Department doesn’t dare venture into the territory of the Seven Warlords—is that something merely the Seven could accomplish?"
Su Xiao looked at Doflamingo with a smile on his face. Just then, Doflamingo suddenly stood up, his leg enveloped in Armament Haki, and kicked towards Su Xiao’s face.
Clang.
The long knife was unsheathed, slashing directly at Doflamingo’s calf.
Bang!
A shockwave spread out, and the glass windows of the villa shattered with a crash.
"Ah~"
A sharp scream came forth. A Mu, who was standing behind Sugar, grabbed her head, while Bubu Wang bit down on Sugar’s arm, and her other arm was also seized by A Mu.
As soon as A Mu exerted force, Sugar’s head would be crushed.
Rumble... Rumble...
The whole villa began to shake, and Pika had vanished without a trace, having merged into the villa. As a Stone-Stone Fruit User, he could integrate into any stone.
Crack, crack.
Large cracks appeared on the ground beneath Su Xiao’s feet, and faint blue ghostly light emerged on his body surface, signaling the coming of Demon Hunting Time.
"Wu hu hu hu hu."
Doflamingo laughed loudly, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Who told you?"
Doflamingo’s words were somewhat ambiguous. In reality, he was asking who informed Su Xiao of his Celestial Dragon identity.
"I was once a mid-high level personnel in the World Government, of course, I am aware of some secrets. I participated in the Pacifist plan, the refinement of artificial Devil Fruits, not to mention that matter."
"Refinement of artificial Devil Fruits?"
Doflamingo looked at Su Xiao with confusion. The two returned to sit on the sofa, and A Mu released Sugar, who had been gasping with eyes rolling back.
"Quite unexpected? The artificial Devil Fruits developed by Dr. Vegapunk far surpass the half-baked products imitated by Caesar Clown. The garbage made by Caesar Clown is more akin to partially animating the user’s body, thereby simulating Zoan Devil Fruit abilities. Dr. Vegapunk’s research results are much more advanced; he can almost replicate complete Zoan Fruits, yet those fruits also have flaws, such as significantly reducing the user’s lifespan and potential ability run amok."
Su Xiao obviously managed to deceive Doflamingo. To deceive people, one needs leverage. Su Xiao indeed participated in the Pacifist plan, which involved Kuma’s modification.
Most of the weaponry aspects were designed by him. Regarding the artificial Devil Fruits, he had consulted Dr. Vegapunk for information on the topic, the payment being part of the alchemy bomb’s structural principles.
Su Xiao cannot create artificial Devil Fruits; alchemy and the Pirate World’s technology aren’t part of the same knowledge system. However, he understands artificial Devil Fruits, and Dr. Vegapunk, as the developer of artificial Devil Fruits, possesses knowledge that Caesar Clown or Vinsmoke Judge couldn’t compare to.
"So, can you manufacture artificial Devil Fruits?"
Doflamingo was starting to lose his restraint, finally understanding why the World Government was searching for Su Xiao worldwide and issuing bounty orders for live capture only.
"Of course not."
"..."
Doflamingo’s eyelid twitched.
"I handle the weapons. Artificial Zoan Fruits involve genetics and bloodline factors; the two are fundamentally not in the same domain, I just understand them."
"So you’re saying that you’re only good at manufacturing weapons?"
"You could understand it that way."
Su Xiao had already demonstrated his value, and Doflamingo had figured out Su Xiao’s purpose for coming here. To establish cooperation, both parties must operate on a basis of mutual benefit, blunt as it may sound, that’s how it is in reality.
Doflamingo urgently needed to drive away the Big Mom Pirate Group, so the cooperation between the two was quickly finalized.
First, Su Xiao would help the Donquixote Family manufacture Apollo, with Su Xiao holding the ownership of Apollo, and the Donquixote Family possessing usage rights, allocation rights, and sales rights.
Nominally, the Apollos produced by Su Xiao were his personal property, while the Donquixote Family served as the ’business partner’ with substantial authority.
Su Xiao’s stipulation puzzled Doflamingo somewhat; he didn’t understand why Su Xiao was so fixated on Apollo’s ownership.
"By the way, you’ll also need to prepare other materials; the cost of Apollo is too high, making it unsuitable for use as a regular explosive. In warfare, however, this item is more practical."
Su Xiao took out a Special Level Alchemy Bomb. Upon seeing this bomb, even with Doflamingo’s composure, he stood up with a whoosh.
"Is this... something you made?!"
Clearly, Doflamingo had encountered a Special Level Alchemy Bomb before, or rather, during a secret skirmish with the Navy, his subordinates were nearly blasted by a ’Special Level Alchemy Bomb.’ This thing is hard to detect and can adhere to most objects, and what’s worse, it can be remotely detonated.
Doflamingo had tried obtaining alchemy bombs through various channels, but unfortunately, it seemed this item was exclusive to the World Government, Navy, and CP Department, with no outside access at all.
"That’s right, I had previously made a lot for the Navy."
"..."
Doflamingo fell silent. At this moment, Su Xiao appeared not as a collaborator in his eyes, but as a Plague God. A particular use of alchemy bombs significantly reduced Navy casualties.
That method involved dispatching soldiers to dive into the sea, adhering alchemy bombs beneath enemy vessels; these bombs were not afraid of seawater and could even detonate underwater.
In naval battles, once a ship was blown with a big hole, the result was predictable. Furthermore, the cost of alchemy bombs was extraordinarily low.
"Can this thing... be mass-produced by you?"
"Of course, and the cost is unimaginably low."
"..."
Doflamingo once again fell silent, and a few seconds later, he made a decision.
