Chapter 371: Fish-Man Serum
The World Government's center—Mariejois. The Five Elders hastily assembled upon receiving news from Punk Hazard, beginning another round of meetings.
"Vegapunk finally succeeded?"
Saint Mars said impatiently. "Took so many years—I almost thought that bastard was just scamming research funding!"
"The sample is already en route."
Saint Ju Peter's face also showed excited smiles. "Vegapunk says this is a mature product, ready for immediate deployment!"
"Excellent!"
Saint Warcury was already excitedly pounding the tea table with his fist. He laughed loudly. "Finally that bastard Brett can't rely on the deep sea for protection anymore!"
"Fish-Man Island is no longer an impregnable fortress!"
"Don't speak too soon. Let's test the finished product's effects first."
Saint Nusjuro, wearing white robes and holding a sword, remained calmer. "Moreover, even if we can freely enter the deep sea like Fish-Men, defeating Brett won't be easy."
The Five Elders' excitement subsided slightly.
Yes—how strong Brett had become was plain for all to see. Simply reaching the deep sea didn't guarantee easily defeating him.
"However, at minimum we can recover our strategically disadvantageous position."
Saint Mars said calmly. "Brett will have some concerns at least."
"Of course. But this all depends on whether Vegapunk truly created what he claims."
The Five Elders didn't wait long. Soon, two CP0 agents respectfully knocked on the Room of Authority's door.
One agent delivered a metal case locked tightly to his right hand into the Five Elders' possession.
The other agent produced a key, offering it respectfully.
Saint Mars seized the key, impatiently opening the case.
As the case opened, white mist drifted out.
Once the vapor dissipated, what appeared before the Five Elders was a syringe lying quietly in the case's center.
Saint Mars picked up this syringe. "Is this it?"
"Yes, honorable Five Elders."
The agent responsible for the key kept his head deeply bowed, speaking with utmost respect. "The Doctor says it only requires intravenous injection."
Saint Mars nodded. After thinking briefly, he casually tossed the syringe to the CP0 agent who'd spoken.
"You'll use it." He said.
The agent's reaction was extremely swift, immediately catching the syringe.
Then without any hesitation, he directly rolled up his sleeve. After removing the syringe's cap, he immediately plunged it into his arm.
The emerald liquid quickly entered the agent's bloodstream, then rapidly dispersed throughout his body via blood circulation.
"Ngh..."
The agent grunted. His body trembled slightly.
"What do you feel now?"
Saint Mars hurriedly asked.
Though the agent looked quite uncomfortable, he quickly answered. "My lungs feel burning, as if undergoing some change. My neck, hands, and feet are very itchy."
"The Doctor said new organs are growing. These changes will continue until the new organs fully form—approximately one month."
"In that case..."
Saint Mars told this agent, "For this month, submit a daily report on your body's changes."
"Yes."
The agent bowed deeply.
Only then did the Five Elders dismiss them.
Years ago, after Fish-Man Island's deep-sea mining capabilities were exposed, the Five Elders had ordered Vegapunk to research technology enabling humans to move freely in the deep sea like Fish-Men and mermaids.
Now this technology had finally matured. Vegapunk had produced a sample.
If the serum truly possessed such power, Fish-Man Island would no longer be an unreachable undersea fortress.
After the two agents departed, the Five Elders didn't immediately adjourn.
"Since this project is complete, we should also urge Vegapunk to quickly finish the original plan."
Saint Ju Peter said. "The mass-production Warlord project! It's been shelved so long—time to put it back on the agenda."
"To deal with that bastard Brett, the Seraphim's power should be indispensable!"
Brett remained temporarily unaware of developments on the World Government's side.
Right now, he and Tesoro had already returned to Fish-Man Island.
Though he'd reached Laugh Tale and learned the world's truth, Brett still didn't plan any immediate action.
It was still too early.
He acted as if nothing had happened, continuing as usual.
Time flowed slowly. One month later.
Mariejois, the Room of Authority. The Five Elders were watching a live feed.
The image projected by the Den Den Mushi showed a pool.
Within this pool, a dark shadow rapidly shuttled back and forth.
He moved fast as a torpedo. Water resistance seemed nonexistent to him. One second he was on the pool's far side, the next he'd kicked off the opposite wall, body rebounding back.
This dark shadow possessed more than just astonishing speed. He'd been swimming back and forth underwater for over ten minutes without surfacing once.
As if he could breathe underwater.
The Five Elders simply watched quietly. But as time passed, their lips gradually curved upward.
Finally the dark shadow shuttling through the pool stopped. It was a completely naked man. He grabbed the pool's edge and climbed out. Then the Den Den Mushi's camera zoomed in. A man's appearance finally displayed before the Five Elders as he deliberately showed various body details.
Judging by appearance, this was the CP0 agent who'd received the injection last time. But his skin had turned blue. Even more—a shark-like dorsal fin protruded from his back.
More remarkably, several slits had opened on both sides of his neck—apparently gills. Thin membranes connected between his fingers and toes.
He completely resembled a Fish-Man now.
"Success."
Saint Mars couldn't help laughing. "Hahaha! Vegapunk's got something after all in this area."
"Incredible effects—even better than we imagined! Hahahaha! Artificial Fish-Men! He actually created such a thing!"
"Now we can give that bastard Brett a huge surprise!"