"Undersea mining..."
Mining on land is easy; professional Gigaliths, not-so-professional Onixes and Geodudes, most Rock-type Pokemon can be excellent miners, with Gigaliths' work capability even surpassing professional machinery.
But the deep-sea environment of Fishman Island is different. The common problem with Rock types is their fear of water. Even the unique Seastone Pokemon of Wano Kuni aren't as afraid of water, but they still can't live in the deep sea.
Unique types like the Crystal Onix can soak in shallow waters, but deep-sea work is impossible. Therefore, Water-type Pokemon become the best option for deep-sea work.
As he pondered over the types, the ever-capable Queen was summoned once again.
"Are you very hungry?"
At the time, Queen was clutching a bucket of mochi red bean soup; it looked like he had been eating when called.
"Lord Arceus, this stuff doesn't taste good when it's cold, and I've lost weight recently. I need to replenish, so feel free to tell me what you need. I can remember it."
As he spoke, he reached into his soup pot with a spoon. At least he hadn't asked, "Do you want some?"—this indirectly showed Queen's obsession with mochi red bean soup, especially since he had improved it into banana-flavored mochi red bean soup.
"Can machinery be built for deep-sea mining?"
"Hmm... not really. Deep-sea machinery is different from what's on land, and I haven't researched much in that area."
He was a skilled practitioner, and most of his mechanical research was applied to himself. He hadn't studied machines for deep-sea operations.
Considering his current workload, he didn't have time to mess with that stuff.
"Never mind, we brought back a lot of platinum lead this time. Go and figure out how to decompose that stuff. Don't worry about its practicality; just whip up a plausible research report. And be gentle with the methods."
Preparations for the upcoming action also began. The report was meant for outsiders. Obtaining platinum lead products wasn't difficult outside, and this method was meant for them to test. After all, they hadn't found any patients with platinum lead disease yet.
If this method could decompose platinum lead, it would increase the credibility of medicinal treatment.
The reason for a gentle approach was that the method would ultimately be used inside human bodies. If it included something corrosive like sulfuric acid or released high temperatures during the reaction, even a fool would know it was a sham.
"No problem. I'll experiment with Asie later. The process shouldn't be too difficult."
As an expert in mineral materials, handling this matter with Asie would be much easier.
Then, Queen lifted the iron bucket of mochi red bean soup and drank the rest. However, halfway through, he suddenly thought of something...
"Lord Arceus... this matter... am I involved again?"
"Hmm?"
"I mean, the scapegoat part..."
He already bore too many scapegoats; when that plan came back from Olga through Rotom, Queen had realized that they needed a "famous doctor" to take the blame.
Reputation is valuable, but he really didn't want to keep carrying the blame.
If it continued, the CP Department wouldn't be setting up a special unit for the Hundred Beasts but rather a special unit for Queen.
"Oh, it's not you this time; you can't handle this job."
Although the top brass of Hundred Beasts Fruit were part of the Hundred Beasts Pirates, they were special. At least their public identities were clean—they were the white gloves of the Hundred Beasts Pirates outside.
Their internal codes were to prevent outsiders from grasping any handles. This time, they needed a legitimate doctor; neither Queen nor Nightin fit the bill.
Even though Nightin's reputation wasn't as strong as Queen's, she was once a cadre of the Wald Pirates. Her identity couldn't withstand scrutiny; what a pirate says, the average person might not believe.
The Grand Treasure was an exception—the mystery of that thing was so immense that countless people set sail for Roger's treasure.
However, when it comes to life and death, even if they don't believe them, they have to consider it. But having a doctor was much better. By now, a mysterious research department had emerged within Hundred Beasts Fruit.
They were the geniuses who had supposedly cracked the platinum lead disease, but in fact, the department was empty, existing only through a representative they had put forward.
"Phew, that's good. Strange, why do I still feel empty inside?"
After hearing that he wasn't the scapegoat, Queen suddenly felt an odd emptiness.
"An illusion. Even though you don't have to take the blame, there's still plenty for you to do. Here's the nun's treatment status. Combine it with the method you devised for decomposing platinum lead.
The same request stands—practicality isn't important, but it should have a professional touch and withstand scrutiny."
Decomposing platinum lead into chunks wasn't difficult. The numerous methods employed by Freyvans' platinum lead refineries mass-produced platinum lead products this way. The real challenge was removing the platinum lead accumulated within the human body.
That stuff reached almost the cellular level. Without the Op-Op Fruit's buggy capabilities, external means couldn't do it, so they needed a professional overview.
For the next few days, Queen's main task would be to write a paper.
Asie hailed from the previous generation and wasn't versed in medical skills, while Nightin was self-taught. They couldn't write something with strong professionalism.
"Don't worry, I'm quite skilled in this sort of thing."
Without considering practicality, an idealized paper was easy to produce.
"Are there any other requirements?"
"Make it clear to them that this is a very valuable technology. Production costs are high, so the price must be too. Add some rare, expensive but harmless and useless drugs."
Plans on Ghost Island had begun. As one of the executors, Tesoro, was on the Red Earth Continent in a somewhat lavish private room, waiting for the person he needed to meet.
He was there to grease the wheels—otherwise, such a large mess would limit the development of Hundred Beasts Fruit.
The World Government didn't care about Freyvans' situation or the public's opinion. Their control of the matter was to continue profiting from platinum lead.
As long as the profits could fill the gap—or even bring more—they would even help fan the flames.
"What's the matter? I'm very busy."
"Please take a look at this."
"Tesoro, what are you up to? I'm an official of the World Government. Do you think I'd agree to this? For the sake of the past, leave quickly."
"Don't be hasty, sir. You can receive this amount."