Chapter 287: Advance the Scientific Research Team Under the City!
After the formal salute, Magellan stepped forward and handed a set of keys to the jailer beside him, motioning for them to be given to Saturn and Mars.
"Everything below is now unlocked," Magellan said slowly. "All punishments are temporarily suspended. Once the two lords enter, they will resume."
"Thanks for your hard work, Magellan," Saturn said with a calm smile. "We're getting closer to solving your condition. Once we do, you'll finally be free to leave this place."
"Thank you... my Lords... coo coo coo..." Magellan started to reply, only for his stomach to interrupt him with a loud gurgle.
Without another word, he turned and hurried off. Naturally, he was rushing to the toilet again.
Such was the price of the Poison-Paramecia fruit. While Magellan was immune to toxins, his digestive system wasn't. Anything he ate would spoil immediately upon contact with his poison-coated insides. The result? Chronic stomach problems. Constant, relentless diarrhea.
By now, neither Saturn nor Mars were surprised by his abrupt departure. They didn't even find it disrespectful.
After all, if Magellan ever did lose control in front of them, the scene would be... let's just say, unforgettable.
Soon, guided by a few jailers, the trio passed through layer after layer of the infamous Impel Down prison. Even with punishments suspended, a chilling atmosphere still clung to the walls. The kind of darkness that was etched into the very stones.
The pirates and criminals held here lived in constant torment, every second a reminder of their sins.
Kirito's expression tightened.
Even if those prisoners were released now, it was unlikely many would still be capable of fighting. Torture on this scale destroyed the body and crushed the will.
Eventually, they reached the deepest level.
"My Lords, here are the keys. I will take my leave now," the jailer said, handing them over and quickly retreating. He knew the orders well—no one was allowed past this point unless specifically instructed by the prison warden himself.
"Let's proceed," Mars said as he stepped forward and expertly inserted a key into the wall.
With a soft click and a low hum, a beam of light pierced through the hidden lock.
A hidden passage opened, and the three of them stepped inside.
What greeted them caused Kirito's eyes to widen in astonishment.
The surrounding walls turned transparent, revealing the vast ocean outside. Natural light filtered in through these special walls, illuminating the chamber with a surreal blue glow. Beyond the glass, massive shadows moved—countless Sea Kings, all gigantic in size, swimming in lazy, watchful circles.
An eerie silence filled the chamber, broken only by the soft hum of machinery and the distant swish of water.
"So many Sea Kings gathered in one place..." Kirito muttered, his instincts on high alert. "There's something serious down here."
Soon, they reached a central platform—an elevator of sorts. They stepped on, and without a sound, it began descending.
Faster and deeper they went, past layers of pressure that no ordinary human could survive. The deeper they plunged, the larger the Sea Kings grew. Some were island-sized beasts—creatures that could swallow entire ships in one bite.
And yet, these monsters ignored them completely, as if blind to their presence.
Guards, Kirito realized. Living guardians of something far more terrifying than even they could comprehend.
After more than ten minutes of descent, the elevator finally stopped. The doors slid open with a mechanical hiss, revealing a massive underground facility.
A futuristic base stretched out before them, lined with glowing panels, humming servers, and laboratories sealed in reinforced glass.
"This is the headquarters of the scientific research division," Mars explained. "And it's where Dr. Vegapunk—the world's greatest scientist—once worked."
Saturn stepped beside Kirito, voice solemn. "This is the most advanced power center under World Government control."
He pointed to a series of sealed pods.
"Those from the SW and Dwool organizations? They were all created here. All of them—defective products."
Kirito's brows furrowed. "Defective?"
"Yes," Saturn Lodge said. "Failed experiments. Low-quality models. Castoffs."
Kirito was stunned. The Dwool and SW operatives were widely known—feared, even. Though he hadn't personally fought them, the Celestial Guards spoke of them in hushed tones. Even the arrogant among them admitted those operatives were stronger than most of the elite.
And yet... they were nothing more than rejects from this place?
Then what kind of monsters were the successful products?
As they walked deeper into the lab, Kirito's thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a towering figure.
"Tyrant Kuma..." he breathed.
It was him. Bartholomew Kuma—one of the former Seven Warlords of the Sea. A revolutionary, now reduced to a research specimen.
Around him were dozens—no, hundreds—of identical models. Lifeless, mechanical versions of the original.
Pacifistas.
If these were mass-produced and unleashed…
"Interested in testing your strength against one?" Saturn asked, noticing Kirito's.
Kirito cracked his knuckles, his grin sharp. "Only if you won't blame me when I break one."
He wasn't joking. He wanted this fight. This was the perfect opportunity to gauge their capabilities and understand just how far science had come.
If they could replicate Warlord-level power... and make an army of such monsters...
Then no pirate crew in the world could stand against it.
"Dr. Mudo!" Mars called out.
A man in a reinforced lab suit approached without bowing or removing his gear. His face was hidden behind layers of protection.
"Lord Mars," the scientist said bluntly. "You arrived earlier than expected. We're still short on key metals. Without them, production of the new units will be delayed."
"The shipment is already en route," Saburo replied. "For now, prepare a test chamber. One of our captains will fight the next-generation Pacifista. We want to see how it performs."
Dr. Mudo glanced at Kirito, visibly doubtful.
"…That skinny guy?"
"Don't let appearances fool you," Saturn said, smirking.
Dr. Mudo remained skeptical. "Let me make one thing clear. These units are built for war. Once combat mode is activated, they won't stop until the enemy is dead. We sacrificed mobility for raw offense and defense."
"If it kills him, we won't complain," Saturn said flatly. "If it can."
The doctor hesitated, then nodded and activated the necessary systems.
Kirito stepped forward, fists clenched, eyes glowing with excitement.
He was ready.
Let the experiment begin.
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