Chapter 64: Chapter 63
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Chapter 63: You Can't Test Your Power Like This
In the Kingdom of Germa, the training course was devoid of irrelevant personnel, and the clone soldiers of Germa 66 stood like cold sculptures, forming a human wall around the area. Standing at the center of the training ground, the North Blue Marine senior leaders, led by Darren, watched as the soldiers from Germa moved heavy sealed boxes into the area.
"Our cooperation plan stipulates that this is the first batch of military technological weapons you've requested," stated Vinsmoke Judge indifferently, looking at Darren as he spoke. "It's only a sample, but the performance is quite stable overall. Upon passing inspection, we can begin mass production immediately. However, I must remind you that these high-tech weapons are expensive."
Darren, lighting a cigar with a smile, waved his hand dismissively, "Money is not an issue. Just open the box."
At Vinsmoke Judge's signal, the clone soldiers stepped forward, tore off the seals, and opened the boxes. Darren and his group watched with anticipation. Inside the wooden boxes, various technological weapons lay cushioned by dry straw.
Vinsmoke Judge casually lifted a sleek cannon-like weapon. Rather than a typical heavy cannon, it had a thin, elongated barrel with a metal cylinder at the end. "This is a flamethrower capable of shooting flames at about 300 degrees. It has an attack range of thirty meters and can shoot continuously for 15 minutes before needing a reload," he explained, glancing at Darren. "Would you like a demonstration?"
Darren responded with a 'please' gesture. Vinsmoke Judge then coldly ordered, "Come out!"
A clone soldier wearing sunglasses emerged from the group, standing with his hands behind his back at the center of the ground like an unmovable rock. Gion and Kake's pupils contracted slightly at the sight. Could this man be intending to test the weapon's power on a subordinate?
As if to confirm their assumption, Vinsmoke Judge raised the flamethrower, aiming it at the clone soldier from fifteen meters away. The next second, he pulled the trigger, expressionless and unblinking.
A roar erupted as a fiery tornado spewed forth, instantly consuming the clone soldier. Gion and Kake watched, feeling numb, as the soldier transformed into a human torch under the scorching flames, showing no signs of pain, struggle, or even a tremor.
In under five seconds, the soldier fell. The lingering flames slowly died, burnt remains smoldered, and the embers faded. The scent of burnt flesh filled the air, turning Kake's face pale and making Gion feel nauseous. They had experienced war, but the cruelty of using one's own men for weapons testing was new to them.
Afterwards, Vinsmoke Judge placed the flamethrower down, turned to face the Marine Colonel with a look of pride, and simply asked, "Well?"
Darren, frowning, questioned, "300 degrees?"
Flame temperature depends on fuel and the density of the combustion accelerant, such as air, and can range from hundreds to thousands of degrees based on real-world data. However, given the unusual technology in a world like that of the Pirates, where high-concentration fuel is scarce, the normal flame temperature generally spans from 200 to 900 degrees. This was also regarded as the extreme temperature of the Mera-mera Fruit due to the world's unique settings.
The temperature of magma ranges between 900 and 1400 degrees, which makes the Lava-Lava Fruit superior to the Mera-Mera Fruit. "The attack frequency is average, the attack range is average, and it needs fuel," Darren said, shaking his head as he looked at Vinsmoke Judge. "You can't test the power of this thing like this. While researching and manufacturing weapons is your strength, killing people is another matter. For normal human flesh, a bullet, a dagger, or a sap doesn't make much difference when it comes to killing a person." Darren then smiled and added, "Unfortunately, I've done a lot of research on murder."
Vinsmoke Judge paused, then, with a hint of dissatisfaction, asked, "What do you mean by that?" Darren stepped forward, removed his black tie, took off his spotless white cloak of justice, and then his military uniform's upper half, revealing a body covered with scars. Gion and Kake were both astonished and shocked by his actions. Flying Squirrel covered his face, overcome with pain. Vinsmoke Judge stared at Darren, the wild and violent Colonel Marine, in a daze, unable to respond.
Cracking his neck, Darren gave a ferocious smile and said, "Use me for the test." A gust of wind blew across the training ground, sending Darren's black hair flying and making his eyes look crazier. "Are you serious?" Vinsmoke Judge asked, his eyes twitching. Suddenly, Kake jumped out anxiously, exclaiming, "Hey, hey, Darren, this is no joke. It's a flame of three hundred degrees. If you're burned to death, the position of the North Blue admiral would be mine—oops, I misspoke." He quickly covered his mouth.
Realizing the slip, Darren mockingly said, "Well, Major Kake is right. If that's the case, I better not take the risk. Let's leave this glorious task to the genius from headquarters... Major Kake." Reaching out, he grabbed Kake by the back of the neck. "Don't, don't! You should go!" Kake pulled back quickly, sweating profusely.
After the joke, Darren looked at Vinsmoke Judge seriously and affirmed, "I was serious." Darren's body had been trained to withstand bullets and medium-sized shells, as well as the heat from shell explosions, making the 300-degree flamethrower relatively safe for him. Besides, with his "perception" talent, he could accurately judge the destructive power of a weapon by facing its attack. His vision for the fleet went beyond playing in the North Blue; it had to match the combat power of the New World Pirates. The weapons his fleet used needed to reflect this power level.
Seeing Darren's determination, Vinsmoke Judge didn't hesitate and pulled the trigger. Roar! A long tongue of flame erupted from the injector, engulfing Darren's upper body. A heatwave rushed over them as a scorching wind blew across the training ground. Everyone present stared at Darren, who stood enveloped in red flames, looking as if they had seen a ghost.
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