First Report

[Read Author's Note]

After discovering why seastone affects devil fruit users, I immediately started to research a way to either stop seastone sickness altogether or find a way to prevent the symptoms for a time. It was possibly my greatest challenge by far. So much in fact that I had all my researchers stop their projects and put all their focus into discovering a cure.

Though they were hesitant at first, after reading my report, it quickly changed their minds. Soon the entire building was working, using different methods to try and counteract the effects of seastone. Relying on my strength in biology, I started to grow bacteria and other microorganisms that I could potentially seek out seastone in the bloodstream and destroy the fragments.

One of my assistance made an important note that usually, seastone did not make its way inside the body as fragments; instead, it gave off vapors that carried trace elements to a lesser effect. As a reward, I assigned the Fishman his own team to research what amounts of seastone were nonlethal and lethal.

Shifting my experiment, I took the approach of not entirely stopping the effects but reducing the strain seastone placed on a devil fruit user. After a few days of trial and error, I created two main paths I could delve into.

One was a specialized steroid that was powerful but short-lived, increasing blood flow by expanding the veins and arteries. However, in the clones I tested on, there had been signs of addiction as I saw changes in the brain similar to cases of withdrawal.

The other solution was less glamorous but safer. Back on Earth, it was common for women to become anemic, so doctors used iron supplements and minerals to combat such an issue. With my history in alchemy, I made pills with a high concentration of the same thing.

But it did not fare as well in testing, as the supplement only kicked in several hours after ingestion and only against normal seastone. Whenever I had tested the purified version, the clones always died within seconds, even after taking four times the normal dosage.

The steroid in that category had the most potential but increasing the strength of the drug would also create a greater dependence after the high ran off. And I wasn't fond of the idea of devil fruit users acting like junkies looking for a fix.

I had spent another night late at the lab looking for a clue when one of my assistance rushed in, "General Soren, Abby needs you in the communication room." I nodded and stood, moving to follow him outside and into the command room.

However, it was strange as no one was in the room beside Abby, a very different scene out of place from the usual hustle and whirring of machines. I waved my assistant away and waited until we were alone, "What is this about?"

Abby smiled, "We got our first message from Evos. I have a transcript right here. I thought you might want to see it." I cracked a smile and took the paper from her outstretched fingers, and started to read.

[Day-1: After creating a fake persona, I applied for the science division for the world government. I was quickly accepted and began to make breakthroughs and gather the information that I will send in future reports. It was only a month before they discovered my brilliance, and I was told I had gained the opportunity to work underneath Dr. Vegapunk. I am writing this just before I board the ship that will take me to the secret facility. I do not know when I will be able to write again-Prodigy signing off.]

I shook my head at his code name, but I couldn't help but feel proud, "How long ago was this?" I asked, turning back to Abby. She shrugged, "It's hard to tell, I picked up on the radio frequency an hour ago, but it was so weak and muted I couldn't make out its location."

Thinking for a moment, I realized that if Abby could get a stronger signal, we could pinpoint the exact location of Evos, which would lead us to Dr. Vegapunk himself. If anyone is behind this new seastone, it has to be him.

"Abby, how much would it cost to create a tower capable of picking up a signal from anywhere on the Grandline?" Startled by such a question, she took a minute to respond, "The entire Grandline? It's hard to say. But give me the night, and I could start drawing up estimates. Why do you ask?"

I smiled, "Because the next time Evos calls, I want to know his exact position." Abby nodded with a devilish smile on her face, "Just exactly are you planning, Soren?"

Turning around, I walked out of the room, "Don't worry about me, just get ready to watch the spectacle." After leaving the communication room, I went to find Cal, who was in her office right off the barracks, having fully taken control of all military forces.

Knocking on her door, I didn't wait for a response before opening, "Just who do think you are-" Cal was cut short as she saw it was me, "Oh, did you finally find some time to get out of that lab of yours?"

I walked over to Cal, who was now taller than me on her hooves, but it didn't bother me in the slightest. Reaching up and grabbing her horns, I pulled her head down and sealed her lips.

Cal moaned and greedily leaned into the kiss. When we separated, I could see the fire growing into her eyes. Cupping her breasts, I started to kiss along her collar, "I really have been an awful partner leaving you all hot and bothered in your office."

Gritting her teeth, Cal stumbled back, but I created a portal behind her, and we fell through appearing in my room. Pressing her against the wall, I started to remove her clothes while kissing her collar bone.

"I have a lot to make up for don't I?"