Chương 45: Chapter 45: Timeskip!
Time Flies.
Sea Circle Calendar 1505. (Luffy sets Sail in 1520)
It had been 20 months since the last tsunami struck Beehive Island. In these 20 months, Edie had not left the island once. His presence in the New World had become nearly mythical, with only rare communications with Kaido and Whitebeard to remind the outside world of his existence. Yet, despite the constant upheaval beyond the island, Edie remained utterly absorbed in his research and cloning projects, shutting out all distractions.
During this period, he made significant advancements, most notably the successful development of the Fourth Generation blue blood device. This new model, still in the form of a ring, boasted a dramatic increase in continuous operational time, allowing up to 10 hours of usage—an order of magnitude leap from its predecessors. The old-fashioned rings were promptly discarded, destroyed, and recycled, replaced entirely by the more efficient Fourth Generation models on Edie's hands.
Edie's daily routine was relentless. The cloning warehouse required constant supervision, with the vital signs of the clones needing meticulous monitoring. The nutrient-rich filling fluid within the cloning chambers had to be regularly replaced to prevent the catastrophic outcomes of necrosis or developmental deformities among the clones. These were tasks that demanded unwavering attention, and Edie managed them all on his own.
He deliberately avoided hiring outside researchers, wary of the potential for spies infiltrating his operations. The idea of a World Government agent tampering with the filling fluid, possibly poisoning it, was too great a risk to take. It would be a catastrophe, akin to a production line disaster in a factory game like Dyson Sphere—a nightmare scenario where one mistake could ruin everything.
And so, the months passed, with the clone warehouse running smoothly for 20 consecutive months.
"It's almost time," Edie murmured in the monitoring room, flipping through the observation records. He turned to Chenlong and instructed, "Prepare to awaken clones No. 1 to No. 10."
Without another word, Edie made his way to Cloning Laboratory No. 1. As he arrived, the filling fluid in cloning chambers No. 1 to 10 began to drain slowly, and the hatches of the chambers creaked open. One by one, the ten clones within were awakened.
There were eight males and two females among them. While they all bore a striking resemblance to one another, close inspection revealed subtle differences—like variations among decuplets.
"F...," one of the clones attempted to speak as they emerged from the chambers, their voices faltering as they adjusted to the act of speech. They were naked, and their movements were tentative, almost instinctual. Each bore a number on their shoulder, identifying them from 1 to 10.
"Get dressed, kids," Edie instructed, gesturing to Chenlong.
Chenlong immediately placed ten identical sets of clothes in front of the newly awakened clones. These clones, though fresh from their chambers, were not entirely ignorant. Edie had embedded essential knowledge within their blood factors during the embryonic stage, ensuring they possessed a basic understanding of the world upon awakening. While their knowledge was limited, it was sufficient to prevent them from being as helpless as newborns.
The ten clones quickly dressed, their movements synchronized yet subtly individual, a testament to the meticulous design and execution of Edie's cloning process. The next phase of their development, and Edie's grand plan, was about to begin.
"I woke you up ahead of schedule because I need you to perform a very difficult task," Edie said, his gaze sweeping across the ten clones before settling on No. 6 and No. 7, the only two females in the group.
"From now on, your names will be 66 and 77," Edie assigned the names without much thought.
"Yes, Lord Heavenly Father," the two female clones responded in unison. They had already become accustomed to using their vocal cords after a brief adjustment period.
"I am sending you to a major medical nation. Your mission for the next four years is to learn medical skills."
"You won't have to worry about anything during this time. I will ensure you have enough money to live comfortably," Edie continued, his voice steady but his mind momentarily hesitating. These two clones were integral to his immortality plan, a plan that had been in the works since they were mere embryos. He had watched them grow from infancy to their current state, observing their development closely within the cloning chambers.
However, the immortality surgery required a fatal price—the performer would die. Edie was now about to send these clones, barely nine or ten years old, to study medicine, only to have one of them sacrifice her life for his eternal existence in four years. A pang of guilt pricked his conscience, but he quickly brushed it aside.
Eternal life was worth any cost, even the lives of two clones. If a person isn't ruthless, they can't stand firm in this world. Besides, Edie was already exploring ways to revive them after the surgery.
"Do you understand?" he asked, his voice firm.
"Yes, we understand," 66 and 77 responded, their demeanor obedient and well-behaved. Absolute loyalty and 100% obedience to Edie were embedded in their very blood, leaving no room for dissent.
Not wanting to attract unwanted attention, Edie had deliberately chosen ordinary-looking women as the prototypes for these clones. They were neither stunningly beautiful nor unattractive—just plain enough to blend into a crowd unnoticed.
Turning his attention to the eight male clones, Edie continued, "As for the rest of you, you will serve as their bodyguards. No matter the circumstances, you must ensure the safety of 66 and 77."
"Yes!" The eight male clones immediately knelt on one knee, awaiting further orders.
Edie didn't bother naming them, as their sole purpose was to protect 66 and 77. He then looked at Chenlong, his trusted subordinate.
"Take them to the Drum Kingdom in the Sea of Paradise," Edie instructed. "Try not to attract attention."
Chenlong, now infamous across the seas, would certainly draw the notice of the Marines or the World Government if he appeared in the Sea of Paradise.
"Can I kill people?" Chenlong asked, his tone cold and detached.
This time, Edie did not chastise him for being too extreme. To ensure the plan went smoothly, he agreed without hesitation. "If anyone recognizes you, eliminate them. But try to avoid killing innocent people."
"As you command!" Chenlong responded, then transformed into a blue dragon, taking the ten clones with him as they flew away from Beehive Island.
Edie sighed deeply, feeling more and more like the archetype of an evil scientist. The doors of the underground laboratory closed automatically behind him as he left.
"Heavenly Father!" Weiyang appeared immediately to greet him.
After a moment of thought, Edie gave a new order. "The clone warehouse has been running smoothly. It's time to add new comrades. Weiyang, you and Wuma will go to Whole Cake Island and collect the blood of Charlotte Linlin."
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