After hearing Finn's words, Admiral Sengoku sounded somewhat surprised. "What major plan do you have?"
"Naturally, it's a money-making plan. The Gold-Gold Fruit has to be related to gold," Finn said with a smile.
"You want to make counterfeit gold? Can you please behave like a decent human being?" Sengoku said suddenly.
The Gold-Gold Fruit could indeed produce gold, but that gold was fake. Once the ability user got into trouble, the gold would quickly reveal its true nature.
But Finn had never considered making fake gold, because that would be like counterfeiting currency. Once released into circulation, it would cause endless damage.
Why did Admiral Sengoku have such wild ideas though?
Had he been considering these possibilities for a long time?
"What fake gold? Even though we're close, I'll still sue you for defamation if you say such nonsense. I'm a righteous Admiral of the Marines!" Finn said with mock indignation.
Admiral Sengoku finally breathed a sigh of relief. After all, no matter what Finn planned to do, the Marines would ultimately be backing it. If anything went wrong in the future, wouldn't the Marines' credibility be ruined?
"I've found a talented individual here. Perhaps I'll have him open a casino or something in the future. Then we'll make a fortune," Finn said pleasantly.
Admiral Sengoku's breath caught again. He couldn't help saying, "Finn, you're already selling tobacco, engaging in smuggling, using hundreds of thousands of pirate slaves to mine in the Calm Belt, dealing in arms with Doflamingo, and you've gotten involved with Pleasure Street's... adult entertainment business. Now you're opening a casino? You just said you were a Marine Admiral! I, Sengoku, have never encountered an Admiral like you in all of the Marines' eight-hundred-year history!"
"Hey, Admiral, you're being a bit unfair. How can the Marines' development and military expenditures in recent years be separated from what you just listed? Although I sell tobacco, engage in smuggling, use slave labor, resell arms, run Pleasure Street operations, and want to open a casino, I still firmly believe I'm an upright and kind Marine Admiral," Finn said without shame.
What Sengoku had said was true. Looking through hundreds of years of Marine history, where could you find such an Admiral?
And what Finn said was also true. He'd engaged in so many lucrative shady businesses, but in the end, had he pocketed a single berry? Hadn't he contributed everything to the Marines? Wasn't that the mark of a good Admiral?
"I just always feel somewhat guilty," Sengoku murmured softly.
It was clear he was genuinely conflicted. Otherwise, why would he and the Fleet Admiral have handed over all economic and developmental authority for the Marines to Finn in one stroke? They didn't care what Finn did in this regard. Why?
Wasn't it simply "out of sight, out of mind"?
It wasn't that Sengoku was pedantic or anything. If he were truly pedantic, Finn wouldn't have been able to accomplish so much. It was just that sometimes, when he reflected on these matters, he felt somewhat conflicted. This was entirely normal. The old man had fought for Marine justice his entire life. In the end, he'd encountered a peculiar Admiral like Finn who did all these unconventional things. Even though he knew in his heart this was for the Marines' benefit and that Finn gained nothing personally, he still felt conflicted.
However, Finn had no intention of indulging Sengoku's guilt. He went along with it and said, "To be honest, I've always felt terrible. I'm such an honest and kind person, yet now it's come to this. Every night when I go to bed, I wonder if the mines in the Calm Belt have collapsed again, whether more people have died. My conscience is uneasy. How about we just stop, Admiral?"
"What?" Sengoku asked with sudden alarm.
"Let's shut down all these projects. That way we'll both feel better," Finn said with false sincerity.
Sengoku's tone faltered. He quickly said, "Finn, you have to be strong. Half my life's integrity has been destroyed in your hands. Now you say you want to go straight and come ashore?"
"Then don't you feel guilty?" Finn asked weakly.
"What guilt? What conscience? How can I, Sengoku, afford to have a conscience? Opening a casino? Just go ahead and do it. I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong," Sengoku said quickly.
Was he joking? The Marines were in an excellent situation right now. With the aggressive Sakazuki acting as the organization's "enforcer" externally and Finn making money frantically internally, their military strength and economy were growing rapidly. As the designated next Fleet Admiral, Sengoku had an overall view of the situation and could naturally see that the Marines had been improving every year since Finn's Calm Belt plan launched and he became Admiral.
For such enormous benefits, what did he need a conscience for?
Could conscience kill pirates? Could conscience pacify the Great Pirate Era?
Of course, Sengoku also knew Finn was joking. He felt somewhat amused and helpless. This kid didn't know how to show consideration for an old man like him.
But what could be done? Who could deny this guy was reliable when it mattered most?
"Hahahaha! I feel relieved having you, the future Fleet Admiral, endorsing me. I promise I won't disappoint you," Finn laughed.
"You little bastard," Sengoku cursed with a smile.
Then he continued, "Come to think of it, I discussed this with Rosinante more than half a month ago too. I was also planning to have him withdraw from the Donquixote Family. After all, I don't understand what's happening with Doflamingo these past few years. In any case, he doesn't pose a significant threat anymore. Leaving Rosinante there is useless and very dangerous. It's sufficient for him to gain experience outside. He can come back and work under Tsuru for another two years. Even if his strength isn't adequate, I'll promote him to Rear Admiral, and no one will think it inappropriate."
"Yes, I also think there's no need to keep a spy around Doflamingo. It's too dangerous over there. Doflamingo might even kill his own father if he goes mad. If Rosinante is exposed, his life will be in genuine danger." Finn spoke earnestly. "Let him obtain the Gold-Gold Fruit this time, then come back."
"Alright, I'll give you his Den Den Mushi contact. You can talk to him yourself," Sengoku said with a smile.
First half of the Grand Line, the Drum Kingdom.
The Drum Kingdom's environment was that of a winter island, with snow falling year-round and an extremely cold climate.
However, the Drum Kingdom still enjoyed excellent international standing because it was a major medical power with exceptional medical capabilities. It could send numerous skilled doctors abroad annually and maintained cooperative medical projects with many countries.
People in this nation took pride in being doctors.
It was said that five out of every ten internationally famous doctors were born in the Drum Kingdom, and among the remaining five, at least three had studied here.
That's how remarkable it was.
But after the next king, Wapol, ascended to the throne, the country's doctors would be persecuted on a massive scale, and the Drum Kingdom would nearly be destroyed.
Currently, however, Wapol was still just a prince, not yet king.
The medical research atmosphere in this country remained vibrant.
In a medical center, Rosinante sat with young Trafalgar Law in a consultation room, listening to an elderly specialist explain his findings.
"We've already determined the mechanism of Amber Lead Disease. It's a trace metal toxin, so fundamentally it's nothing extraordinary. We occasionally encounter such things in daily life, like mercury." The old expert paused. "But Amber Lead Disease differs from other toxins in that it's hereditary, which is why we're baffled. Furthermore, other trace metal toxins are eliminated from the body through metabolism. Some minor cases can be resolved simply by drinking more water."
"But once amber lead enters the human body, it never leaves. With current medical technology, there's no way to treat this condition. I'm sorry, Mr. Rosinante." The old expert shook his head.
Looking toward young Trafalgar Law, the unfortunate child, regret and sadness filled his eyes.
Trafalgar Law's face remained expressionless. He even felt like laughing. From the beginning, he'd never believed his illness could be cured. During this time, Mr. Corazon had been acting strangely, taking him to see doctors everywhere, as if he wouldn't give up until a cure was found.
But reality was cruel. After visiting so many renowned doctors, the answer was always the same: "It can't be cured. Just wait to die. Goodbye."
"Is there truly no way? He's still a child. Must we watch this young life fade away?" Rosinante said with genuine anguish.
The old expert felt helpless as well. As a doctor, he was accustomed to witnessing death and separation, but as a human being, he still couldn't bear it.
Whenever he encountered such situations, he always felt sorrow.
After a brief silence, the old expert said, "It's not completely impossible. There are two options."
Rosinante, who'd been drowning in despair, suddenly perked up. "Please, tell me."
"Legend has it that over two hundred years ago, alchemists researched a very peculiar metal called 'Pure Gold.' Wearing this metal can dramatically slow a person's metabolism. In other words, it can freeze someone's physical state at a particular stage. You could also think of it as a form of immortality." The old expert's expression turned thoughtful. "As long as this child's life can be preserved, perhaps in a few decades, technology will exist to treat Amber Lead Disease."
Rosinante was stunned momentarily. When he thought carefully, he realized he'd genuinely heard of this matter. Back then, he'd still been a child, a noble Celestial Dragon.
More than two hundred years ago, there had indeed been something called Pure Gold. Even the Celestial Dragons had been attracted to it. However, things had gone wrong later, and no one had obtained the Pure Gold. Now no one knew where it was.
Of course, the technology for creating Pure Gold had also been lost.
What use was telling him this?
So Rosinante asked directly, "I know about Pure Gold. What's the second option?"
The old expert didn't mind Rosinante's impatience. He'd experienced such reactions many times.
He continued with a slight smile, "The second option is to use a medical Devil Fruit ability. I can't guarantee anything else, but there's a legendary medical Devil Fruit said to cure all terminal illnesses: the Ope Ope no Mi. If you could obtain the power of this fruit, then curing Amber Lead Disease would be no problem at all. However..."
"It's just that the Ope Ope no Mi has been missing for decades," Rosinante said gravely.
He knew this too.
He even knew more. For instance, the old expert didn't know that the Ope Ope no Mi could grant someone immortality!
And Rosinante knew this secret very well.
"The Ope Ope no Mi...?" Rosinante murmured, then a flash of determination crossed his eyes.
No matter what, the Ope Ope no Mi was far more reliable than Pure Gold.
Law didn't have much time remaining. It seemed he'd need to accelerate his search for the Ope Ope no Mi!
"Thank you very much, Dr. Kureha," Rosinante said.
"Hehe, it's nothing. I simply couldn't solve your problem. I'm tarnishing my reputation in my old age," Dr. Kureha said with a self-deprecating smile and wave of her hand.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Rosinante left the consultation room with Trafalgar Law.
While walking down the street, a Den Den Mushi he was carrying suddenly rang. Rosinante's expression changed. He looked around, withdrew the Den Den Mushi, and his face showed surprise mixed with delight.
"Brother Finn?" Rosinante answered the call.
"It's been quite a while since I heard your voice, Rosinante. Where are you?" Finn asked pleasantly.
Rosinante didn't hide anything. "I'm in the Drum Kingdom."
"Drum Kingdom? What are you doing there?" Finn asked with surprise.
Trafalgar Law stood beside Rosinante, looking at him with equal surprise. Brother Finn?
Finn... wasn't that the name of an Admiral?
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