"You have a sharp mind, little Marine!"
Kureha looked at Taro with some appreciation and surprise.
"And you know much more than I imagined!"
Kureha's words clearly confirmed Taro's earlier guess.
Taro pondered for a long time, then raised his head and looked at Kureha.
"How long did his treatment take?"
Kureha was even more surprised that Taro could ask this question.
"Your perceptiveness is astonishing!"
After a sigh of admiration, she continued, "The entire treatment process took over a year, from start to finish."
Taro nodded, his expression becoming even more serious. "So, what exactly is that power?"
Kureha's eyes deepened slightly.
"Demon!"
"Is it a Devil Fruit Ability?" Taro raised an eyebrow.
"No, just 'Demon'!" Kureha shook her head.
Taro's eyebrows twitched even more intensely, somewhat puzzled.
"What is 'Demon'?"
Kureha took a sip of wine and stood up.
"That's beyond what I, a doctor, can understand. This word was heard from Dragon!"
"That's all for today..."
Taro heard Kureha's intention to dismiss him, quickly stood up, and spoke rapidly.
"One last question..."
"Are you telling me this because of Dragon's intention, or at someone else's behest?"
Kureha turned around and looked at Taro with interest.
"Kid, why do you ask?"
Taro gently shook his head, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
"When I asked about Blackbeard's intelligence, you kept silent."
"But for Dragon, who is also from the d clan, you're telling me such important information. I find it hard to believe there isn't someone else pushing this from behind!"
More importantly, Garp had just mentioned Dragon during the day, and then at night, he heard more information about Dragon.
How could there be such a coincidence in the world?
There must be someone closely related to Kureha deliberately guiding him to understand these things!
Facing Taro's questioning, Kureha's expression didn't change at all.
"Kid, I'm telling you these things, and instead of being grateful, you have this attitude?"
Taro frowned, staring at Kureha, pondering for a long time, then suddenly laughed, his expression relaxed.
"Ha, I think I know who it is!"
Then he sighed with emotion.
"Dealing with you eccentric people really drains my energy. One moment of carelessness and I'm drawn into your schemes!"
Dr. Vegapunk, right?
Kureha had previously been very interested in the peculiarities of his body, but this time she gave up so easily.
Moreover, she made a completely unequal exchange of information!
It was almost as if it was intentionally leaked!
The only one who knew he would definitely come to Drum Kingdom was Vegapunk, who had given him a hint.
He just didn't know if Elder Garp mentioning Enies Lobby and Dragon was also part of this scheme!
Garp and Vegapunk also have a connection...?
He was being played with by these big shots!
"It seems you really guessed it!" Kureha nodded, picking up a white paper from the table.
"You are much smarter than he reminded me!"
Taro recognized the material of the paper at a glance; it was from Vegapunk, indeed!
"Alas, it's not that I'm smart, it's that I'm gradually getting used to your way of thinking!"
He shook his head in distress, sighing, "You wouldn't understand how painful it is to communicate when your minds are in different dimensions!"
"Dimension?" Kureha raised an eyebrow.
See, this word also needs an explanation!
"Just think of it as two different worlds!" Taro sighed.
Kureha rubbed the white paper, nodded as if she understood something.
"Is that so? I think I understand!"
Taro didn't expect her to truly understand, but rather showed a smiling face.
"Although I'm still not sure what he's trying to do, the information you gave me today is very useful. Thank you, Dr. Kureha!"
With that, he walked out without waiting for her to dismiss him.
He pulled open the door, and the howling wind and snow poured into the room, as Kureha's voice came at the same time.
"Ace is training on Drum Peak in the interior!"
"Also, there are many empty rooms in the castle."
Taro paused, and softly said, "Thank you!"
Sitting on the tower of Drum Peak Castle, the biting wind and snow were blocked by his Internal Energy.
Taro quietly watched the increasingly sparse lights below the mountain, lost in thought.
When Vegapunk gave him the 'Internal Energy Form' Devil Fruit, he asked him for a favor at some point in the future.
He also wrote to Kureha, who, through her own words, told him that there was a power called 'Demon' in Marijoa.
Moreover, it was a power distinct from Devil Fruits, simply referred to as 'Demon'.
All of this was interconnected; clearly, Vegapunk's previously mentioned 'idea' and 'endeavor' had already begun!
Taro knew Vegapunk's hometown, which is the island where Franky is currently located, Future Kingdom Balkimoya.
And coincidentally, Dr. Tsukimi, who could create exclusive moon civilization robots, was from the same hometown as Vegapunk!
Although that Dr. Tsukimi ridiculously choked to death while eating dango!
However, that level of technological strength and Vegapunk's technology, which was 500 years ahead of the world, were equally astonishing.
Thinking about it this way, Vegapunk's 'endeavor' would definitely be big news.
Also, the shape memory alloy!
Because this was something that already existed in the original plot,
Taro had always thought it was simply to improve the combat capability of the SSG Unit.
Moreover, that combat power must be considerable, to the extent that Fujitora felt the time was ripe to abolish the Seven Warlords of the Sea system.
Now it seems that while possessing extremely high combat power, that thing probably also contained Vegapunk's other 'ideas'!
This scientific genius, after learning of the success of the 'Internal Energy Form' Devil Fruit, called it a 'new approach and alternative solution'.
Clearly, Vegapunk didn't intend to put all his eggs in one basket; SSG was one of his plans.
And Bartholomew Kuma, who was the first to undergo modification, should also be a plan.
Vegapunk prepared so many plans, and almost every one involved Devil Fruits, was it targeting 'that thing'?
That'she' in Marijoa, did she involve the essence of Devil Fruits?
Now, Vegapunk couldn't be met, so, Dragon and Robin... Taro scratched his hair in distress, almost in tears.
It was fine that Blackbeard's matter couldn't be resolved anytime soon, but now he was mixed up in the schemes of these scientific giants.
If he had known he wouldn't have a moment's rest now, he would have just been a lazy bum from the start!
Inside the castle, Dr. Kureha sensed Taro sitting silently on the castle's roof.
She held Vegapunk's letter between two fingers, her gaze distant.
"Lineage Factor, source of power, all different from all known human races?"
"You really discovered something incredible, Vegapunk!"
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