Arceus in One Piece - Chapter 16

“Looks like you two don’t need to worry for now,” Queen said, looking at the newspaper.

The newspaper briefly mentioned an explosion caused by a laboratory being hit by a meteor, but it didn’t occupy much space.

“Seems like you two are in the clear for now,” Queen glanced over the newspaper and then handed it to Shayna. At this point, Shayna and Jia were in their human forms, the only two people on the ship, so there was no need to worry about their identities being exposed.

“A pharmaceutical research laboratory? These people sure dare to say anything,” Shayna said, visibly annoyed, as she read the description in the newspaper.

A research facility on the Red Soil Continent was leveled to the ground, and this couldn’t be hidden. However, the nature of that facility was described as an essential location for pharmaceutical research.

There was no mention of the Luna tribes in the newspaper, but it reiterated the characteristics of the Luna tribes on the front page and offered a high reward for information after confirmation.

“In fact, that place is indeed a pharmaceutical research facility with top-notch analytical equipment and facilities,” Queen began to say but retreated under Shayna’s murderous gaze.

But what he said was true. The drugs produced by that facility were highly efficient because their test subjects were people, and the drug experiments were conducted directly on individuals from various races.

As for human rights? Are people from non-affiliated countries considered human? Are enslaved people considered human? Those people there were just expendable commodities.

The Luna tribe was indeed unique, with extremely high resistance, but they were so similar to humans that they were perfect test subjects for observing drug reactions.

The newspaper emphasized the importance of the research facility and stated that it would be rebuilt in a short time.

“Let them fix it. If necessary, we can destroy it again,” Arceus’s tone remained indifferent, showing little concern for the consequences of destroying the facility.

Since becoming an undead, his humanity had faded, and his actions had become more akin to that of an undead. Arceus was similar to him in some ways but also fundamentally different.

He himself was the mastermind, but in some ways, his actions were influenced by Arceus, such as his extreme aversion to deception.

The foundation of a mighty tree had already rotted, and trimming a few dead branches and leaves was useless. Only by addressing the root cause could the problem be solved.

Or rather, planting a new tree.

“Great Beast, you need not intervene. I will burn them all to ashes with the power you have bestowed upon me,” Shayna said before continuing to read the newspaper, along with Jia, to catch up on what had happened during this time they had been disconnected from the world.

Not only did the World Government not mention the Luna people, but even Kaido’s coverage in the newspaper differed somewhat from the truth. It only mentioned him escaping from prison again and stated the fact that he was a Devil Fruit user.

Seeing the information in the newspaper, Arceus even felt a bit regretful. The opportunity to make money was lost.

“Kaido’s status as a Devil Fruit user has been exposed. I was thinking of fleecing him a bit,” Arceus said.

“Fleecing him?”

“Yes, now that you two are not wanted, and only Kaido has a bounty, you could pretend to be bounty hunters and deliver Kaido to a Marine base, claim the bounty, and then let him escape again. What a great opportunity. By the way, is the bounty immediately settled by the Marines?”

“If the base has enough funds, then yes, the bounty will be settled immediately. If not, it will take some time before it’s sent over. With Kaido’s high bounty, I’m afraid the Southern Branch won’t have enough to pay it,” Queen explained.

Most pirates have bounties, giving rise to the profession of bounty hunters. Corruption within the branches is much worse than in the main office, but regarding this part of the money, they generally don’t touch it, especially when the bounty is higher.
Even the marines, which are slacking off, hope for stability and peace in their jurisdiction. Being able to bring pirates to a Marine base indicates that they are stronger than the pirate, and forcing out a stronger pirate for a bit of berry is something only fools would do.
However, fools can occasionally be encountered.
“12.73 billion Berries. What a pity. If we could do this twice, the funds would be sufficient,” Arceus remarked, referring to Kaido’s current bounty. In today’s world, the purchasing power of Bberriesis much higher than it was thirty years ago. Even if they succeed once, Queen wouldn’t have to worry about his research funding.
As one of the elders of the Beasts Pirates, Queen made a significant contribution at this moment.
Everything in this pirate crew now owes much to Queen’s incredible dedication. He prepared the ship, charted the course, and even spent the money.
One cannot expect three people who just escaped from the laboratory, one of whom had just hatched from an egg, to have money. Kaido used to have a bit of integrity when he was young, starting by eating food from the kingdoms and when he was wanted and eating from the marines. When he was hungry, he handed himself over to the Marines and escaped again after being fed.
So, Arceus thought of taking advantage of Kaido, as he was accustomed to. He used to go to the prison ship for a buffet, and this time, he wouldn’t refuse to eat and take.
But the premise is that Kaido’s status as a Devil Fruit user is not exposed. Otherwise, with a large number of Sea-Prism Stones restraining him, Kaido would become a Muggle, and then, with the Marines guarding him, it would take wasting human resources and resources to rescue him.
According to the descriptions in his memory, Kaido had been captured dozens of times and still survived well, but who knows how he managed to do it? If things went wrong, his number one minion would be lost.
“Speaking of which, Queen, how much money do you have left?”
“I still have a few hundred million left, but it’s no big deal. We can just snatch a ship. Kaido! Don’t sleep! Wake up!”
Arceus looked at the newspaper for a moment and then stopped talking halfway through because he saw some special news.
“John’s pirate group appeared in the South Sea, and the marines’s 277th Branch was attacked.”
Pirates from all over the world wouldn’t openly attack a Marine base, as they didn’t have the ability, and the newspaper made it clear that John’s pirate group came from the Grand Line.
He needed Kaido to confirm whether this John was the one they were looking for.

Become a Patron to read chapters ahead of public release and support me 😉

30 chapters ahead are available on Patron!