Chapter 153: Lineage Factor? Kuma's Choice!
Bartholomew Kuma had a turbulent life.
Slave, Revolutionary, Priest, King, Pirate... his constantly changing identities were proof of that.
His origin, his race, his ability—all led him through too many experiences.
These experiences never changed his character or essence, but inevitably made him calm and steady.
But at this moment, even the calm Kuma.
Facing the good news from Vegapunk, couldn't help but be moved.
"'Fountain of Youth' can cure Bonney's illness?"
His voice trembled.
Jewelry Bonney—his daughter, the only treasure left by the person he loved.
But she suffered from the same strange disease as her mother, 'Sapphire Scales'.
Gem-like crystals grew continuously on her body, hardening her skin. Eventually, she would turn completely to stone and die in agony.
Sunlight and moonlight accelerated the disease's progression.
It was an incurable terminal illness, even for the best doctors in the world.
"No, it's not a matter of the 'Fountain of Youth'."
Looking at Kuma, the equally excited Vegapunk said.
"Kuma, I told you—Bonney's condition is complex. The disease she has isn't a normal 'Illness'."
He said gravely. "It's likely caused by Celestial Dragons' experiments on certain slaves... but anyway, its essence is a genetic disease caused by 'Lineage Factor' defects!"
"The crystals growing on Bonney are the materialization of her life force. They weaken her constantly."
He waved the Fountain of Youth in his hand. "The Fountain of Youth can restore Bonney's life force directly—in other words, enough Fountain of Youth can keep her alive, but..."
But only keep her alive.
Kuma wasn't stupid. He understood—a constantly leaking bucket, if not patched, would never be fixed even if water was added continuously.
And for Kuma.
He obviously wanted his daughter to be completely cured.
So...
"If that's the case, I still think the deal with Saturn is more reliable..."
"No, listen to this old man first!"
Hearing this, Vegapunk interrupted him.
He knew clearly what happened recently.
Not long after he moved his research institute here, this man came knocking.
Bartholomew Kuma, titled 'Tyrant', a legendary pirate who overthrew a nation's regime single-handedly.
With his powerful and unique fruit ability, he bypassed the many defense barriers Vegapunk set around the island and infiltrated Egghead.
Honestly, Vegapunk thought he was dead.
But unexpectedly, the intruder didn't come for slaughter or plunder.
Instead, he made a request.
"I came here guided by someone. Please save my daughter."
He begged Vegapunk to save his daughter.
As mentioned, Bonney's illness was incurable, related to one of the world's greatest secrets, 'Lineage Factor'.
But clearly, Vegapunk was one of the few people in the world with deep enough research on Lineage Factor.
After confirming Kuma was a descendant of the supposedly extinct 'Buccaneer Race', Vegapunk agreed readily. They struck a deal.
He would cure Bonney; Kuma would provide blood for research and cloning—Vegapunk planned to use the naturally strong Buccaneer bloodline to create the 'Pacifista' he long envisioned to bring peace to the seas.
But the problem arose here.
Their deal was eavesdropped on by a special surveillance Den Den Mushi made by one of the Five Elders, 'St. Jaygarcia Saturn'.
The Five Elder stopped the deal between Vegapunk and Kuma, proposing a new, cruel bargaining chip.
Kuma must become a Warlord and undergo cyborg modification, losing all self and consciousness to become a mindless 'Slave', in exchange for Bonney's treatment.
Crucially—after treatment, Bonney would be separated from her father as a hostage. Until Kuma completely lost his self, she wasn't allowed to see him again.
Vegapunk understood the meaning clearly.
"Saturn's deal... that despicable guy, he wants to torture you!"
Gritting his teeth, Vegapunk showed rare emotion.
Yes, what Saturn proposed wasn't just a trade.
Letting a father accompany his seriously ill daughter through treatment.
And when the daughter finally recovered, her father would undergo modification, losing the concept of 'Love' from his heart.
This was the cruelest torture in the world.
It was the Five Elders punishing Kuma, the last of the 'Buccaneer Race'—a race said to have committed crimes against the World Government in the past.
"I know."
Kuma said gently. "But this can cure Bonney, right?"
That gentleness was the source of Vegapunk's emotional fluctuation.
During this time, he learned what kind of person Kuma was.
Gentle, calm, strong, keeping promises, valuing relationships... he was a 'Saint' even Vegapunk acknowledged.
Just like now.
For his daughter, he didn't care about his own ending.
Pain, torture, death—such things were worthless before Kuma's 'Love'.
"You guy... can't you be a bit selfish?"
Vegapunk shook his head helplessly.
He guessed Kuma would say this.
Without absolute certainty, Kuma would choose to continue the deal with Saturn to ensure his daughter's 100% health.
But precisely because Kuma was such a person, Vegapunk couldn't sit by and watch him meet such an end—they had known each other for a short time, but he considered Kuma a friend.
Vegapunk had even prepared to execute certain 'Plans' secretly to preserve a last glimmer of hope for Kuma.
His smartest brain made a rare irrational decision—for a pirate, he indeed intended to defy the World Government's order.
Of course...
That was only his 'Original Plan'.
Now, after researching the Fountain of Youth.
His thoughts changed.
"Kuma, the key lies not in the Fountain of Youth itself, but in its Creator."
He looked at Kuma seriously.
"Creator?"
"Yes, my research shows the Fountain of Youth cannot be naturally produced. Its structural sequence and coding are very special, belonging to Type X structure... anyway, according to the DMF-314 reagent test, there's a 97.813% probability it's an 'Artificial Product', containing at least three sets of Lineage Factors."
Vegapunk said excitedly. "Do you know what this means?"
Kuma: "..."
Are you making things difficult for me, Big Bear?
Unaware of his friend's thoughts, Vegapunk continued spitting excitedly. "I've researched Lineage Factor for many years, thought I knew something, but still far from glimpsing its true face—'Lineage Factor' is simply too vast a research topic."
"To treat Bonney, I need at least half a year to research her Lineage Factor and slowly modify her body, requiring massive research materials from the World Government."
This was why Saturn was fearless.
Bonney's treatment must be done in Vegapunk's lab, requiring Government materials.
Kuma wouldn't flee, dared not flee.
Saturn's goal was for Kuma to accept his fate in helplessness, knowing he couldn't change anything.
But he certainly didn't expect the conclusion Vegapunk reached now.
"The Fountain of Youth should be a product of 'Devil Fruit Ability'."
Vegapunk said, clearly incredulous.
"And it contains more than one fruit ability!"
He understood what this meant.
"In Lineage Factor research, the creator of the Fountain of Youth has mastered far more than this old man... no, compared to him, my research is nothing!"
Kuma felt he understood. "You mean, he can definitely cure Bonney?"
"Extremely likely."
Vegapunk maintained scientific rigor. "Even if the creator of the Fountain of Youth can't, the person behind him mastering this 'Lineage Factor Technology' definitely can... If my guess is right, it should be the existence codenamed 'Star Lord'."
"Star Lord?"
Hearing this, Kuma became curious.
"Do you think 'Neverland' is really the work of The Zodiac?"
He heard the rumor, but it wasn't mainstream yet.
"I analyzed various possibilities. The probability of Neverland belonging to 'The Zodiac' exceeds 82%—adding the Fountain of Youth research and the abilities shown by Zodiac executives, it rises to 99%."
Vegapunk's voice turned solemn. "Moreover, I now somewhat understand why the World Government fears Star Lord so much, willing to cause such turmoil to search for him."
"With his progress in Lineage Factor research, if he goes one step further... he might touch the Essence of 'Lineage Factor'!"
"Essence?"
Kuma's tone turned solemn too.
He didn't understand the details.
But he understood—what the World Government feared so much must be the biggest secret of this sea.
And Vegapunk before him might be one of the few who vaguely sensed that secret.
"Yes, the essence of Lineage Factor—the method to 'Create Devil Fruits'."
"Create Devil Fruits? The topic your colleague researched?"
Kuma clearly chatted a lot with Vegapunk recently, including why Vegapunk came to Egghead.
"No, different of course."
Vegapunk shook his head decisively.
"Caesar works hard in this area, but his approach is too extreme. What he creates is destined to have huge defects—that is the wrong path."
He wasn't arrogant, nor overly humble.
He knew his talent and objectively recognized the gap in scientific levels.
Caesar researched Lineage Factor deeply and was indeed a genius to ordinary people.
But...
Compared to Vegapunk, his talent was far behind—like a firefly to the bright moon.
The so-called 'Artificial Devil Fruits' he researched didn't even qualify for Vegapunk's attention.
"My former organization 'MADS' did discover some precious materials related to the essence of Lineage Factor. Our respective researches were based on them."
"I once thought I grasped the key, consumed a portion of that precious material, and created a fruit—it was indeed a real 'Devil Fruit'."
Vegapunk sighed, seemingly regretting the consumed material.
"But it was still a failure."
Kuma was truly confused.
Goal was to create a Devil Fruit, succeeded in creating a real one—why was it a failure?
"Because..."
Vegapunk looked at him, then said softly.
He recalled the Devil Fruit he created.
When the World Government demanded it, he claimed it was a failure to avoid handing it over.
The reason he told other researchers was 'The color is different from the original, so it's a failure'.
But in fact, only he knew.
The different color was the Only Success of that fruit.
"The essence of that fruit was Copying, not 'Creation'."
"It was still bound by the world, so... it was a failure."
His sigh fell.
Kuma looked at the inexplicably melancholic scientist, asking no more.
He never cared about topics like Devil Fruits or Lineage Factor.
"..."
He just pondered what Vegapunk told him.
Just then...
"Father, Father!"
He heard calling.
Turning, he looked at the nearby greenhouse.
Inside, a little girl with crystals on her face and pink hair.
It was his daughter.
As mentioned—Bonney's illness should prevent her from seeing light; natural light accelerated her death.
Only in Vegapunk's greenhouse, with special artificial light, could she play happily for a while.
But now, Bonney wasn't playing on the lawn.
She leaned against the window, looking at Kuma.
"Bonney, why aren't you playing?"
Kuma asked gently.
"It's no fun without Father—oh, and Grandpa Vegapunk."
Bonney said, adding consideration for a certain lonely old man at the end.
Vegapunk: "..."
Hearing this, Kuma paused.
Then...
"You go first, I'll come play with you soon."
"Really?"
Bonney beamed. "Let's dance the Liberation Dance later!"
"Mm, we'll dance."
"Yay!"
Bonney left cheering.
The crystals on her seemed to shine with happy light.
Watching his daughter leave happily, Kuma smiled too.
"Vegapunk."
"Hm?"
"Do you know where Neverland is now?"
Kuma asked softly.
Vegapunk's eyes flashed with surprise.
He knew—Kuma accepted his suggestion.
"Why look at me like that?"
Seeing Vegapunk's expression, Kuma chuckled.
He looked at Bonney in the distance.
In that cheerful figure, he seemed to see another person.
His wife.
"Kuma, promise me..."
He could almost hear her weak yet affectionate voice before death: "Take Bonney, live on for me."
"Live freely."
So...
"No one wants to die."
He said softly. "I want to live too—whether for myself or others."
Clearly, he made a choice.
If necessary, he didn't mind sacrificing everything for his daughter's health.
But if... there was a chance to stay by her side forever.
He was willing to pay everything for that too!
"That's good, that's good."
Hearing this, Vegapunk breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, he looked at Kuma seriously. "As for Neverland, I don't think you need to search for it."
"Hm?"
Kuma was confused again.
Vegapunk explained patiently, "Based on recent newspapers and the situation on the sea..."
"I guess, The Zodiac... should make a big move soon."
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