Chapter 11: Edie's Plan for Immortality!

"Hiss... that hurt a bit," King muttered as he climbed to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb. The pain was sharp, and he couldn't ignore the power behind Chen Long's strike. His opponent's Haki was far superior to his own. Even though he had instinctively defended with his Haki, it felt like paper—easily torn through by Chen Long's overwhelming force.

"This guy's Armament Haki is on another level," King thought, still reeling from the blow. "You said your name is Chen Long? Twelve Earthly Branches... does that mean there are eleven more warriors like you?"

Chen Long offered no reply, his cold gaze locked on King.

"Not talking? Don't be so serious," King taunted, trying to provoke a response. "These people can't escape. Warming up with me wouldn't hurt."

But Chen Long's mind was focused on the task at hand. He knew that Heavenly Father and Kaido were allies, which meant that, technically, King was on his side. "I can't kill you," Chen Long concluded, his voice dripping with annoyance. "But you're too irritating."

For Chen Long, the mission always came first, and distractions were intolerable.

"Just a spar, then!" King shouted, and in an instant, he disappeared, launching himself at Chen Long.

The clash between the two warriors was explosive, sending shockwaves through the air. The force of their collision brought Kinemon and the others back to their senses.

"Now's our chance! Run!" Kinemon commanded, seizing the moment. "A-nin, let's go!"

"Yes!" A-Nin responded, though her mind was still spinning. Why was she being targeted?

Meanwhile, Chen Long raised his arm, effortlessly blocking another of King's powerful slashes. The impact of their Armament Haki clashing caused the ground beneath them to crumble.

"You're really getting on my nerves..." Chen Long growled, flicking King away with one powerful motion. He glanced at the fleeing A-Nin, then immediately darted after her, intent on completing his mission.

"It's a bad habit to turn your back on an opponent," King sneered, flapping his wings as he quickly positioned himself behind Chen Long. With both hands gripping his katana, he slashed down without hesitation.

Chen Long's patience had worn thin. King's persistent interference, despite their alliance, was intolerable. In a flash, Chen Long dodged the attack, his speed startling King.

"So fast...!" King thought, his eyes barely catching Chen Long's movement. As he turned to follow Chen Long's trajectory, time seemed to slow.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chen Long's fist hurtling towards him.

"Get out of the way!" Chen Long snapped, his voice cold as he delivered a devastating punch to King's back.

The impact was catastrophic. King's body was driven into the ground, creating a crater with a radius of 100 meters. Blood spewed from his mouth as he crashed into the earth, the force of the blow shaking the very ground.

Chen Long, his dark wings unfurling, wasted no time. He flew swiftly towards A-Nin, who was desperately trying to escape.

In the pit, King coughed violently, struggling to breathe. "That... that wasn't even his full strength, was it? He's holding back," King realized with a shudder. As he looked up, his eyes widened in shock.

"Black wings?" King muttered, disbelief coloring his voice. He recognized the wings—they were just like his own.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the night. A-Nin, having been caught by Chen Long, was yanked into the sky.

Chen Long had his target. With A-Nin in his grasp, he disappeared into the night, his mission complete. King, still reeling from the blow, could only watch as Chen Long vanished, the realization of who—or what—Chen Long might be dawning on him.

"A-nin!" Kinemon and the others cried out in shock as they watched her disappear into the sky, gripped tightly by Chen Long. The realization hit them hard—Chen Long could fly as well. Their shock, however, was short-lived, as they suddenly found themselves face-to-face with another deadly threat.

King descended slowly, hovering in mid-air with his long sword drawn, his cold gaze fixed on the Nine Samurai below. His expression was one of merciless intent. "The warm-up is over," he declared, his voice like ice. "You're next."

Ashura's face twisted in frustration. Clenching his teeth, he shouted, "You run ahead! I'll hold him off!"

"No, we stand together!" Kawamatsu insisted, stepping forward, his determination unwavering.

Denjiro took a deep breath, steeling himself for the inevitable. "Kin'emon," he said, drawing his sword to face King, "take the others and go. It's impossible for all of us to escape."

Kinemon's heart ached as he looked at his comrades, knowing the sacrifice they were about to make. "I... understand," he replied, his voice tight with emotion. "But you must survive!"

Without another word, Kinemon led the remaining members of the group away, their hearts heavy with the burden of leaving their friends behind.

King wiped the blood from his mouth once more, his expression darkening with contempt. "Do you really think the three of you can last even ten minutes?" he sneered.

What followed was an hour of relentless combat. The forest became a battlefield, its once serene landscape marred by destruction. Trees were uprooted, the ground was torn apart, and the air was thick with the scent of blood.

In the end, Ashura, Denjiro, and Kawamatsu lay in a pool of their own blood, defeated but not broken. King, though victorious, stood nearby, breathing heavily. He would never admit that these three warriors had given him such a hard fight. Ashura, in particular, had proven to be an extraordinary opponent, his strength and resilience far beyond what King had anticipated.

But deep down, King knew the truth—he had been weakened by that devastating punch from Chen Long. It wasn't just the physical damage; the humiliation of being so easily overpowered by someone who was supposed to be an ally stung even more.

"Damn that Chen Long," King muttered under his breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Attacking an ally with such ferocity... he's completely unqualified!"

"Kaido should know about this…" King muttered to himself as he steadied his breath, regaining composure. Reaching into his cloak, he retrieved a Wisdom Snail—a specialized communication device unique to Wanokuni. Unlike the standard Den Den Mushi, this snail's signal was weaker, limited to the island's boundaries. Nonetheless, it was reliable for immediate communication.

King dialed a number, his expression unreadable.

"Kaido-sama," he reported once the line connected, "I've apprehended three samurai warriors—Ashura Doji, Denjiro, and the fishman Kawamatsu."

"Good," Kaido's gruff voice responded.

"Also," King continued, his tone slightly hesitant, "I encountered a masked figure earlier today. He captured a female ninja."

"Hm?" Kaido's interest piqued, his voice betraying mild curiosity.

"He claims to be from the Twelve Earthly Branches," King explained. "He gave the name Chenlong—likely a code name. He's extremely powerful, stronger than me, and… there's a chance he's a remnant of the Lunarian clan, just like me."

There was a moment of silence on the other end. In the Flower Capital, within the grand halls of the Shogun's Mansion, Kaido's eyes widened in surprise.

"A Lunarian, you say?" Kaido mused, leaning forward in his seat. The Lunarian clan, a near-extinct race known for their resilience and mysterious powers, was almost a myth. To simply confirm their existence and report it to the World Government could fetch a reward of 100 million beli. King himself was a rare find, once captured and experimented on by the World Government before Kaido intervened and freed him.

"Oh, giggle giggle, how fascinating!" Kaido chuckled darkly. "So, Edie has someone like this among his subordinates? Well done, King—you've found a compatriot."

But King's expression remained grim on the other end of the line. "He didn't seem to care about our shared lineage," King confessed, his voice tinged with frustration. "I interfered with his mission, and he retaliated… viciously."

Kaido raised an eyebrow at this. "What's so special about that kunoichi?"

King paused, recalling the encounter. "I'm not sure. Her strength is negligible, hardly worth mentioning. Her appearance is… acceptable, at best."

Kaido let out a deep sigh, the pieces of the puzzle not quite fitting together. "I see. Continue with your mission—hunt down the remaining samurai."

"Understood." King disconnected the call, his mind still turning over the events of the day.

Kaido, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed in thought. Edie's actions were becoming increasingly baffling. First, he captured Kozuki Oden's wife, and now, he had taken a female ninja. What could his motives be? Was it simply an infatuation with these women? Kaido frowned at the thought. Getting distracted by women would be a foolish mistake.

With a huff, Kaido reached for another Den Den Mushi, dialing Queen this time. The line clicked, and Kaido barked an order.

"Go to the research institute tomorrow and tell Edie this—if he desires women, I'll provide him with as many as he wants once he completes his work on the artificial Devil Fruit. But he mustn't let this distract him from our primary objective!"

On the other end, Queen's voice crackled with confusion. "Eh? What's this about, Kaido-sama?"

But Kaido simply hung up, leaving Queen to wonder what, exactly, had just transpired.

The Next Day

Edie awoke to a pleasant surprise.

[Scientific research reputation reaches 100%. One scientific research simulation will be rewarded.]

His spirits lifted by the good news, Edie got out of bed, washed up, and headed downstairs. In the living room, Chen Long, ever-loyal, awaited him. Next to him, A-Nin was securely bound with chains, her eyes filled with defiance.

"My Lord, Kurozumi Semimaru has not been found," Chen Long reported, his voice steady and composed.

Edie waved a hand dismissively. "Lock her up for now," he instructed. Then, noticing Chen Long's hesitation, he raised an eyebrow. "What else?"

"I may have exposed my wings during the mission," Chen Long admitted, his tone betraying a hint of concern.

Edie paused for a moment, then shrugged it off. "It doesn't matter. The wings are of little consequence."

With that, he turned his attention away from A-Nin, ignoring her muffled protests. He made his way to a cabinet where his custom-built coffee machine stood—a small luxury in the isolated world of Wanokuni. Coffee was a rarity here, its beans nearly impossible to procure due to the country's isolationist policies. Yet Edie, ever resourceful, had found a way to produce his own. The rich aroma of brewing coffee soon filled the room, a comforting scent that reminded him of his past life.

In his previous world, late nights in the lab were routine, and coffee was a trusted companion during those long hours. Some habits, it seemed, were too deeply ingrained to ever fade.

As the coffee brewed, Edie opened up the system interface.

[Scientific Research Simulation System]

Number of simulations remaining: 1

This simulation project: "Research on eliminating the weaknesses of Devil Fruit powers."

With practiced ease, Edie set the research parameters and initiated the simulation.

[Environmental test…]

[Necessary conditions for this study: Blood factor theory]

[Necessary conditions have been met]

[Simulation starts]

[In the first year, you traveled to Sky Island, the Kingdom of Gods. With Chen Long's assistance, you successfully stole over 1,000 tons of gold, securing abundant research funds.]

[In the twentieth year, despite numerous attempts, you failed to find the answer.]

[In the fortieth year, your determination remained unshaken.]

[In the sixtieth year, you continued your relentless pursuit.]

[In the sixty-third year, your life span reached its end at the age of 87. You died.]

[Research failed.]

Edie stared at the final result, the words hanging in the air like a bitter aftertaste.

"..." He was silent, a mixture of frustration and resignation settling over him.

The simplicity of the simulation process left Edie momentarily speechless.

"So, I can live to be 87 years old," he mused aloud, a mix of curiosity and unease crossing his features. "How does it feel to know your remaining lifespan in advance?" The realization left him with a strange, unsettling sensation.

But what truly gnawed at him was the failure of the research.

"Sixty-three years... and still no answer," he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. "Is there really no solution to this problem? Or perhaps, if I could achieve eternal life, I could accumulate enough time to finally find one. One year might not be enough, but a thousand years… that might do it."

Eternal life was not just a fantasy—it was a reality in this world. He knew of beings that had achieved it, but the path to immortality was anything but easy. It required a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit known as the Op-Op Fruit, a fruit so valuable that the World Government itself coveted it.

As an avid fan of One Piece, Edie knew exactly when and where this fruit would appear—in North Blue, seven years from now, in the year 1509.

"When the time comes, I'll seize that fruit, have a clone consume it, and then order the clone to perform the 'immortality surgery' on me." His voice grew more resolute as he envisioned his plan. "That way, I can live forever."

However, he quickly recognized a significant hurdle. The immortality surgery was still a surgery, requiring an incredibly skilled and knowledgeable doctor to perform it.

"Perhaps I should start training a doctor as soon as possible..." he pondered as he poured the freshly ground coffee into a cup and added hot water. As someone who relied heavily on his mental faculties, Edie had a pronounced sweet tooth, and he added several spoonfuls of sugar into his coffee.

"The doctor training can be added to the agenda, but it's not the priority right now," he decided, his mind already moving ahead.

He glanced at the system panel once more.

Number of simulations remaining: 1

Fortunately, the failed simulation hadn't consumed any resources, but repeating the same process seemed pointless. The first simulation had already made it clear: the problem was unsolvable with his current knowledge. Running the simulation again would likely yield the same result.

"Huh? No, that's the wrong way of thinking!"

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Edie like lightning. He remembered Shenhou—a being who wasn't a Devil Fruit user but could still activate the abilities of the Clone-Clone Fruit through his unique "green blood."

"I can change the approach! If I study green blood in depth, maybe I can find the answer in a roundabout way!" Edie's eyes lit up with excitement as the idea took shape in his mind. His intuition told him that this path might just be the breakthrough he needed.

Without hesitation, Edie initiated the second simulation.