"It possesses immense potential, extraordinary learning ability, and superior concealment."
Dr. Reddy's little lecture session began again. Golden Lion Shiki and the others, especially Grizzly Bear Bill, obediently listened like elementary school students.
"Whether beasts or humans, every individual is different, with vast disparities. Just like you." As he spoke, Reddy used Golden Lion Shiki as an example.
After escaping from Impel Down, Golden Lion Shiki disappeared for thirteen years, but no one dared deny that he was a legendary pirate.
Physique, swordsmanship, mastery of both Haki types, and Devil Fruit ability development—all had reached their peak.
In contrast, the vast majority of people in the world could never hope to match Golden Lion Shiki.
The reason lies in genes.
People are born unequal.
For example, some are born at the pinnacle of life, while others start hundreds of meters behind.
Every individual has an upper limit.
This limit varies depending on innate talent.
Reddy rambled on for a long time using Shiki as an example, making things as complicated as possible. By the end, even Shiki and Indigo were completely confused. Only then did he reveal his true intent.
"Humans are the most perfect biological weapons."
"As the most ideal biological weapons, humans have far more advantages than beasts."
"Humans possess exceptional learning ability. Even those without talent can acquire abilities beyond ordinary imagination through learning. Take me, for example."
At the conclusion, Reddy used himself as proof of his theory.
No one doubted his words.
The giant bear, like a loyal guard, lay quietly at Reddy's feet, more docile than a pet. But its earlier battle with Golden Lion Shiki had left a deep impression.
Moreover, Shiki himself had acknowledged the bear's combat prowess.
Who would dare question Reddy's ability to create even stronger biological weapons after witnessing such a terrifying beast crafted in just one month?
"Gyahahaha... I only care about the results."
Golden Lion Shiki puffed on his cigar and laughed, thoroughly convinced. He expressed patience, waiting for Reddy to produce a more perfect creation.
"Please wait a moment."
Reddy smiled and looked at Bill. After thinking for a long time, he still couldn't remember his name, so he pointed at Bill and ordered, "Go to my laboratory. There's a cabinet in the right corner. Bring what's inside."
"Yes, Lord Reddy."
Bill immediately jumped up and ran to Reddy's lab.
Upon arriving, he followed Reddy's instructions and found the cabinet. When he opened it, his eyes widened.
Inside the cabinet were only two Reddys.
Suddenly, one of the Reddys moved, delivering a swift kick straight to Bill's chest.
With a dull thud, Bill crossed his arms to block, sliding back over a meter.
The other Reddy dashed out of the cabinet with unbelievable speed, circling behind Bill and launching a flurry of attacks, forcing him to stumble forward.
The first Reddy, expressionless, delivered a straight punch that sent Bill flying three or four meters away.
"O Kami, I am your most loyal believer."
Blood streamed from Bill's nose, but instead of anger, he wore a fanatical expression as he knelt before the cloned Reddys, pressing his forehead firmly against the lab floor.
He knew Reddy's true strength.
These two clones—one with considerable power, the other with remarkable agility—were proof.
He was confident he could defeat either one alone, but against both, he stood no chance.
The two Reddy clones ignored the kneeling Bill. Expressionless, they walked out of the lab like robots executing Reddy's pre-programmed orders.
Bill quickly scrambled up and followed them back to the courtyard, his face covered in blood but filled with reverence.
When the two clones appeared, followed by the bloodied Bill, Golden Lion Shiki burst into laughter around his cigar, understanding what Reddy intended to demonstrate.
"They are two experimental subjects I casually created."
Reddy stepped forward, spreading his arms with a smile. "This one specializes in strength, the other in agility."
"You experiment on yourself? Aren't you afraid of accidents?"
Faced with undeniable proof, Indigo could only sourly retort.
He had been trying to persuade Shiki to hand Reddy over to him—partly because Reddy threatened his position in the Flying Pirate Crew, and partly because only a scientist could accurately interpret experimental data.
"The essence of science is trial and error!"
Reddy smiled. Accidents didn't matter. Even if something went wrong, it was just a clone. As long as the control chip functioned properly, all was well.
"Just you wait. I'll produce an even better creation." Indigo spat out this hollow threat and fell silent, glaring darkly at the two clones.
"I hope you can provide me with a small amount of blood."
Having silenced Indigo, Reddy turned to Shiki, staring intently into his eyes, not hiding his desire.
"Don't agree!"
Indigo instinctively objected, jumping up and down.
As a fellow scientist, he roughly understood Reddy's research focus.
Though reluctant to admit inferiority, he knew the "Blueprint of Life" was terrifying—capable of creating entirely new life forms from scratch.
If this rival used Shiki's blood to create biological weapons, how could Indigo ever surpass him?
This could not be allowed!
Shiki was initially tempted by Reddy's proposal.
The two clones had proven Reddy's theory correct, with Bill's bloody face as irrefutable evidence.
What if his own blood was used to create biological weapons?
Even if the results were slightly inferior to himself, it would still be an immense gain.
But Indigo's vehement opposition gave him pause. He looked at Indigo, waiting for an explanation.
Thinking fast, Indigo argued, "Science is rigorous. It requires step-by-step exploration. Before sufficient experimental data is gathered..."
Before he could finish, Reddy cut him off, smiling. "I'll prove my point with facts. Who's willing to give me a little blood?"
"I will!"
Bill raised his hand high, even stepping forward to ensure Reddy noticed him.
"Good."
Reddy pulled a syringe from his coat pocket and collected a small amount of blood from Bill's still-damp wounds.
"Is that really enough?"
Shiki studied Bill, his gaze lingering on his chest as if considering a more direct extraction.
In his mind, drawing blood from the heart might yield better results.
Reddy waved his hand. "The Blueprint of Life is the greatest discovery in history. This is sufficient."
Shiki glanced at the two identical clones, his eyes gleaming.
Perhaps forming a pirate crew composed of himself would be even more amusing.