Chapter 365: Lineage Factor
The three Vinsmoke brothers were carted off to the medical wing of the castle where they would make a full recovery in record time, such was the nature of their enhanced bodies. Even Niji's unfortunate situation was something that could be handled in less than an hour.
"You're very skilled. I've never even seen Cipher Pol agents with as much proficiency in Rokushiki as you," Reiju complimented genuinely. "You made fighting those three look downright easy."
"The result would have been different if it had been a real fight, I'm sure." Cherry neglected to mention that said result would have been skewed even further in her favor.
"You know, before I am a warrior and a king, I am a scientist. In particular, I am specialized in the analysis and manipulation of lineage factors, that is the very blueprints of life. If you were interested, we could have a look at yours. Perhaps we'll find something interesting?" Judge spoke politely.
Cherry absolutely knew this creep was up to something, but she couldn't help but to be intrigued by the offer. She hadn't ever heard about this 'lineage factor' thing he spoke of, and knowing about it could be very useful information.
She looked at Sanji in search of some clue about the man's true motives, but he looked just as lost as she was in regards to the new term Judge had casually thrown out. Reiju didn't look confused like her younger brother did, but that was because she had schooled her expression into a well practiced smile. That in itself gave Cherry some information, though, even if it wasn't that much.
"I've never heard of 'lineage factors' before. Tell me about them." Cherry decided to probe for information.
"Primarily it will show your racial ancestry," Judge said. "I believe that yours is sure to show an interesting past of mixed relations."
That wasn't necessarily a lie, of course; it certainly did do those things. What he didn't mention was how he could utilize that information in the creation of clones, or the fact that devil fruits altered the lineage factor of a person. Though in the latter case, he was sorely ignorant despite his best efforts. Vegapunk had already cracked it with that stupidly huge head of his, much to his chagrin.
"I'm sure it would, with my father being Dracule Mihawk and my grandmother being from the Kuja tribe." Cherry said.
Naturally Judge knew about her father, but having Kuja blood was new information to him! Perhaps the two powerful bloodlines intermingled in a way to create this monster in front of him, or maybe there was something more lurking beneath her skin. He HAD to know.
"How about it then?" Judge pressed gently, keeping his excitement from showing anything beyond academic interest. "I only need a small sample of blood."
Cherry seemed to mull it over for several moments. She squinted her eyes at Judge as if she was trying to see through whatever deception he was trying to pull over her eyes.
"Sure why not," Cherry finally agreed. It wasn't that big of a deal and she was interested in what it would tell her about her body.
Even though she had agreed, that didn't mean she would leave her blood with the man to do with as he pleased. There are far too many techniques available to cultivators that could make use of blood for her to risk allowing him to keep it. At her stage of cultivation, it was a trivial matter to remotely destroy her own blood, especially in the Soul Fusion realm where the soul permeates every cell in the body.
Reiju had an inscrutable expression as stood silently by the side. Sanji had a vague idea of what Judge was up to since all of his children were bioengineered, but he trusted Cherry to be able to handle whatever came her way. Plus, he has bombs strapped to his wrists and didn't feel like testing his father's temper even if Cherry didn't seem that concerned about them.
…
Two Jinbe's clashed together as Luffy clashed with a large, six-armed man wearing armor made of biscuits.
"Your fishman karate is certainly strong, but mimicry can only take you so far." Jinbe-One spoke resolutely.
Jinbe-Two answered, "This is the real deal, I'm afraid. It's you who is going down today, imposter."
"Which one is which?!" Nami fretted on the sidelines of the chaotic fight.
The self introduced Sweet General Cracker was matching Luffy's blows easily and Jinbe was facing an imposter so he couldn't help. Nami watched them both closely whilst keeping an eye on Luffy's fight in the hopes of rooting out the imposter.
As soon as she could work out who the fake was, a super charged lightning tempo would quickly turn the tides, if not outright put the imposter out for the count. She didn't have any hopes that a high level member of Big Mom's crew would just die from one of her attacks no matter how much stronger they were.
Unfortunately, any attempts made by either one to intervene with Luffy's fight get stopped by the other before they can show their true allegiance.
That was, until now.
Cracker parried Luffy's elephant gun with three shield bearing arms, leaving an opening for him to stab at Luffy.
Jinbe-Two thrust his fist out not at Jinbe-One, but towards Cracker! A force slammed into Cracker's side, sending him stumbling over and ruining his counterattack against Luffy. In turn, Jinbe-Two took a hard blow against his defensibly raised arm from Jinbe-One.
"There!" Nami knew immediately then who the real Jinbe was!
*Rumble Rumble Rumble!*
Thunder clouds formed ominously overhead as Nami spun her staff. With one final downwards strike Nami called out, "Lightning Tempo!"
*ZAP!!!*
Jinbe-Two was struck instantly and Jinbe-One capitalized on his suddenly stunned state with brutal efficiency!
"Why…?" Jinbe-Two lay defeated on the ground and didn't understand why Nami had done this to him!
"Hmph! As if the real Jinbe would interfere with Luffy's fight without being asked! It's one of those stupid 'manly' things!" Nami explained her reasoning.
"Kukuku! Wrong choice!" Jinbe-One laughed ominously.
"Eh?!" Nami raised her staff defensively, positively shocked.
"Just kidding," Jinbe-One said with a goofy smile as he scratched his chest awkwardly. "Maybe it's a bad time for a joke, though?"
Nami's eye twitched, "You think? Go help Luffy!"
"Hm? But you understand, right? He didn't ask for my help, so it wouldn't be right to butt in…" Jinbe said.
"I don't give a fuck about what's manly! If you don't want a lightning bolt too, then get moving!" Nami threatened.
"Ah, sorry Luffy. Nami is too scary…" Jinbe reluctantly joined the fight.
From the way the fake Jinbe was still twitching on the ground, he felt it was best not to test how serious Nami is with that staff of hers.
Cracker frowned deeply. "You can't even hold off one fishman on land, Brulee?"
Naturally he didn't even count Nami as an opponent. She was more like a giant hornet in his eyes; she had a nasty sting, but was easily squashed.
Due to Brulee's incapacitation, he would have to up the ante somewhat. He wasn't foolish enough to believe he could take a super rookie and Jinbe at once without putting in the effort.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone