Chapter 95: Immortality and Memories!

A few days later, within the third underground floor of the Hive Research Institute, Edie stood inside the human body modification lab, his gaze fixed on the operating tables where 66 and 77 lay, undergoing [Ability Transformation].

Using Law's blood factor as a blueprint, Edie had devised a wrist-mounted, green-blood device, successfully transforming them into artificial Op-Op Fruit users. The device, embedded in their wrists—left for 66, right for 77—was sleek yet invasive, its glassy surface revealing light green, bubbling fluid coursing within.

"Get up," Edie commanded, his voice steady yet expectant. At his words, 66 and 77 rose from the tables, immediately noticing the alien sensation within their bodies. They glanced down, marveling at the strange device now fused with their flesh.

"First," Edie began, launching into a detailed explanation, "understand that, for now, only Paramecia-type abilities can be harnessed this way."

He proceeded to elaborate on the limitations of cloning Devil Fruit abilities: Zoan types could be cloned identically; Paramecia types, however, required the green-blood device to function. The device, while effective, consumed green blood that would need replenishing. As for Logia types—currently, they could not be cloned at all.

"For me, obtaining the Op-Op Fruit or even a blood sample from a natural Op-Op user was vital," he continued. "But, even with the fruit, you two need this green-blood device to simulate the ability."

Edie's gaze hardened as he added, "You have one month to master this ability. Afterward, you will perform the immortality surgery."

He paused, his tone taking on a sharper edge. "Ordinarily, this surgery would result in death for the surgeon. But…I've discovered a way that might allow you both to survive."

At this, 66 and 77 dropped to their knees, gratitude and loyalty glowing in their eyes. "Heavenly Father, please allow us to contribute to your eternal life," they intoned with reverence.

Edie's resolve softened, if only slightly. Although he could view enemies with cold detachment, these two were different. He had created them—he was, in a sense, their father. He'd spent years contemplating ways to ensure they survived the surgery. But despite exhaustive research, he found no concrete solution.

Yet, Edie was not one to yield easily. Inspired by Vegapunk's ingenuity, he pursued a potential answer: the combination of [consciousness dissociation] and [memory preservation technology].

Vegapunk had faced a manpower shortage, solving it by creating six [Vegapunk Satellites]—entities with portions of his own consciousness. Additionally, Bartholomew Kuma, with his Paw-Paw Fruit, had managed to extract and preserve memories, with Vegapunk's assistance. These revelations sparked Edie's plan: a resurrection of sorts.

"If death is unavoidable after the immortality surgery," Edie mused aloud, "then we'll simply resurrect the deceased."

The method was elegantly simple. Before the surgery, he would capture and store a complete set of memories for 66 and 77. Should they die, he could create new clones of them, with their memories intact and re-uploaded into their minds. Possessing identical blood factors, perfectly cloned bodies, and their original memories, they would be reborn as they were, unaltered.

To Edie, this would be a true form of resurrection. Without full knowledge of the immortality surgery's details, it was, for now, the most feasible path to ensure his precious creations—his daughters in all but name—could continue to serve him in the pursuit of eternal life.

As Edie pondered his "resurrection plan," he left the human body modification lab, taking the elevator up to the second underground floor. There, he opened the doors to Cloning Laboratory No. 1, where the newly crafted clones of 66 and 77 awaited in Cloning Warehouses 6 and 7, prepared and still in stasis.

"Such a shame that Kuma didn't come to save Ginny last year…" he muttered, gazing at the two sleeping clones. The Revolutionary Army, in Edie's eyes, was unreliable, aiding people only selectively. In the Egghead Island arc, he recalled, Kuma's consciousness had been completely erased, reducing him to a mindless weapon, loaned out as a mere tool for the Celestial Dragons. When Sabo and others stormed Mariejois to rescue him, they didn't even react when Ginny was taken.

In truth, Edie believed Kuma's value went far beyond mere combat power, particularly when combined with the potential of his Paw-Paw Fruit and consciousness manipulation tech. It was a vision that went beyond simply preserving memory or controlling consciousness—he envisioned true resurrection, made possible through technology. The missing piece of the puzzle was the Paw-Paw Fruit itself.

With a sigh, Edie activated his Scientific Research Simulation System:

[Simulation System Activated: 1 Simulation Remaining]

Edie noted with some frustration that his reputation had been growing more slowly. Although his cloning techniques were unrivaled, the demand for cloning technology was ultimately limited. Yet, he saw promise in high-yield grain varieties he'd developed for Whitebeard. When these innovations hit the market, he was sure to see his scientific influence spread among the common people.

For now, though, he put aside thoughts of reputation and began a new simulation.

Simulation Log: Project on Human Memory Separation and Preservation

[Year One]

With his goal clear, Edie secretly visited the Punk Hazard Institute, presenting his idea of resurrection to Vegapunk, who eagerly agreed to collaborate. They decided to pursue the possibility of separating human consciousness and preserving memory, away from the prying eyes of the World Government.

[Year Four]

Edie introduced the concept of [Human Consciousness Separation]. Vegapunk was electrified by the idea, envisioning how such technology might allow him to create clones of himself to assist with his work. With funding covertly redirected from World Government projects, the team expanded their research.

[Year Eight]

With six Vegapunk clones assisting, Edie's research progressed swiftly, leading to the discovery of memory retrieval technology. But a rift formed between the two scientists: Vegapunk argued that memory is more than data—it's deeply personal, shaped by unique experiences and ideologies and thus making 'resurrection' a flawed ideal. Edie, however, insisted that a person's blood factor, containing over 70,000 genetic pairs, can truly replicate a personality., suggesting true resurrection was possible. They parted ways on disagreement, Meanwhile, Portgas D. Ace rises as a fierce pirate, joining Whitebeard's crew after rejecting the World Government's Shichibukai offer.

[Year Eleven]

Edie's simulation took a chilling and tragic turn.

A new pirate named Straw Hat Luffy rises and is defeated in the Sabaody Archipelago.

Marine conducted a grand public execution in marineford, and Straw Hat Luffy and Ace were publicly executed on the same day.

The Whitebeard Pirates participated in the Summit War and were defeated even worse than in canon.

Luffy and Ace died on the same day.

Edie saw this news on the newspaper's and felt confused, Why did canon randomly go to shit? Where was Shanks or Dragon???

Is it because you saved Ginny that Kuma didn't become a Shichibukai and therefore didn't save Straw Hat Luffy in the Sabaody Archipelago? 

Dismissing it, you return to memory preservation research.

(Btw Simulation Edie and the Real Edie are kind of Different, The real Edie would not let this happen)

[Year Fourteen]

Edie achieved human memory extraction and preservation alone, paving the way for his first resurrection experiments.

[Year Sixteen]

On Beehive Island, he began mass human trials on captured pirates, testing memory infusion. Disappointingly, results were inconsistent: although clones retained some continuity, true identity seemed elusive.

The problem lies in the memory infusion process. When an identical memory is injected, some memory is lost during this process.

In other words, in fact, the memory obtained by each experimental subject is different, and random memory loss will occur. 

[Year Twenty-Six]

Edie perfected a device to minimize memory loss during the transfer process. While differences remained, they were now barely perceptible, allowing personality tendencies to carry over.

[Year Twenty-Seven]

With the experiment a success, Edie launched an assault on Impel Down, descending to the deepest level, Eternal Hell, where Vegapunk had been imprisoned for researching the Void Century. Face-to-face once more, Vegapunk asked, "Edie, have you come to save me?"

Edie smirked. "No. I'm just here to say—I was right~."

[Simulation Ends]

Watching the final scene of the simulation play out, Edie couldn't help but smirk. Persistent to the end, even taunting Vegapunk in Impel Down after perfecting the resurrection experiment.

A notification chimed, breaking his thoughts:

[Simulation Costs]: 125.5 billion Baileys in research funds consumed

[Simulation Reward]: Knowledge on the separation and preservation of human memory

The figure surprised Edie. Only 125 billion Baileys—far below the half-trillion he'd expected. Without delay, he pulled out his Den Den Mushi and dialed.

"Gion, how much do we have left in the institute's budget?"

"Huh? Aren't you in the lab?" came her puzzled response, "You even call me for that?"

"Answer the question first." Edie pressed.

"Over 140 billion Baileys left, plus about 9.7 tons of gold. A lot of gold has gone into the lab equipment over the years; it's necessary for various devices," Gion replied.

"Perfect," he replied, then swiftly hung up. A flood of knowledge surged into his mind as the simulation's reward took effect. Half an hour passed before he opened his eyes, a newfound understanding illuminating his gaze. Resurrection is...far more intricate than anticipated.

Calculating the funds left in his vault, he sighed. Only 10 billion Baileys left—I'm barely richer than that ruler in Dressrosa. He needed another revenue stream. High-yield grain varieties would need to hit the market soon, and Kaido's Zoan research would be another lucrative project. Kaido, with his constant arms dealings, would surely pay handsomely for the additional research.

The next item in his simulation reward drew Edie's attention:

[Bonus Reward]: Human memory extraction and infusion device

His face lit up. This device was invaluable, saving him countless hours and funds. Originally developed with Vegapunk, it had since been modified at least half a dozen times, costing over 5 billion Baileys in materials alone. Now, with this, he could bring the resurrection lab to full functionality.

Edie returned to the third underground floor, activating his Island Fruit powers to expand and reinforce the lab. The central device resembled a colossal MRI machine, with a large circular chamber surrounding an adjustable bed. Over the next month, he meticulously transformed the space, fine-tuning every piece of equipment. Meanwhile, clones 66 and 77 honed their Op-Op Fruit abilities, claiming they were prepared to perform the immortality surgery.

Not willing to risk himself immediately, Edie sought a suitable test subject: Toki. He viewed her neutrally; if the procedure failed and she died, it would be a minor inconvenience. However, if successful, eternal life awaited her. After a moment's deliberation, he chose her, deeming it a fitting test for the surgery.

66 began the immortality surgery on Toki, a complex operation lasting hours under Edie's watchful eye. Once complete, Edie inspected her post-op data and was stunned. Her cellular structure had transformed completely, showing remarkable resilience and vitality. He named these new "immortal cells," observing further how her genetic makeup displayed subtle changes, a trait he dubbed the "immortality factor."

Satisfied, Edie wasted no time having 77 perform the procedure on him. The operation lasted well into the night, and as midnight struck, Edie opened his eyes on the operating table.

"So... this is eternal life," he murmured, sitting up as a profound sense of vitality coursed through him. Surrounding him, the Earthly Branches stood guard, vigilant against any interruptions during his transformation. Glancing to the side, Edie saw the lifeless forms of 66 and 77 slumped on the chairs, their purpose fulfilled. Gently placing a hand on each of their foreheads, he whispered, "Thank you. Rest easy—you'll return to this world soon."

The Earthly Branches knelt, each one bowing deeply.

"Heavenly Father, congratulations on reaching the other side of life!" Weiyang declared solemnly. "How do you feel?"

"Incredible," Edie replied, feeling time frozen within him. He ordered the bodies buried and moved to the second underground floor, where he reawakened the next iterations of 66 and 77 from Cloning Chamber No. 1. Leading them back to the resurrection lab, he began the lengthy memory infusion process.

As dawn painted Beehive Island with light, 66 and 77 stirred, their memories intact. They looked at Edie with eyes wide, as though awakening from a dream spanning four years. With a soft smile, Edie welcomed them.

"Welcome back to this colorful world."