The Battle of the Red River Wasteland had reached its grim conclusion. The main force of the Revolutionary Army and the Rebel Army had been virtually annihilated. Of the 100,000-strong host, at least 80% lay dead, their broken bodies littering the vast expanse of the wasteland.
The Red River, once relatively clear, was now stained a deep, visceral crimson by the sheer volume of blood, truly living up to its name as a river of gore.
For all intents and purposes, the Revolutionary Army in the Bivins Kingdom had been wiped out. The few who remained were nothing more than scattered remnants, mere "stray cats" hiding in the shadows. The Red River camp had been the largest gathering point for the insurgents; with its fall, the rebel factions in other regions, numbering at most a thousand or as few as a hundred, no longer posed a credible threat.
Furthermore, the consecutive looting of the Church of the Night's Ronalfort and the Revolutionary camp had yielded a mountain of gold and silver so vast that even a fleet of a dozen ships could barely contain it. To solve the logistical nightmare of transporting such a haul, Aeridar had personally traveled to the sea to find a deserted island, used his powers to make it float back to Bivins, and deposited the entire treasury there.
The crew of the Chris Pirates jokingly dubbed the place "Treasure Island," the land where all riches converged.
…
Five hundred meters above, aboard the Chris.
Medical Bay.
Sabo lay on the operating table, his eyes tightly shut and his face a ghostly pale. A middle-aged man in a white lab coat was meticulously suturing the wound in Sabo's abdomen.
It was a testament to the doctor's skill that such a massive, through-and-through puncture wound was being closed so precisely, leaving behind only three jagged, stitched scars.
"Phew..."
The doctor placed his needle and thread onto a silver tray, peeled off his blood-stained rubber gloves, and pulled down his mask, exhaling a long, weary breath.
Aeridar, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened up and offered a light smirk. "Doctor Jason, I take it the surgery was a success?"
The doctor ran a hand through his blond hair and shot his captain a disgruntled look. "Captain, you went too far. With that much blood loss, a normal man would have been dead three times over."
Asa Jason, a world-class physician, currently the ship's doctor for the Chris Pirates and formerly the Chief Grand Doctor of the Clifford Kingdom.
"Couldn't be helped," Aeridar shrugged with feigned helplessness. "Like you said, a normal man would be dead. He's anything but normal."
"Whatever. Just make sure he doesn't move too much or the stitches will pop," Jason waved his hand dismissively. "He'll wake up in about half an hour. However, under the effects of my Anes-Anes (anesthesia) Fruit powers, he'll remain paralyzed for at least five hours."
Aeridar nodded with satisfaction. "I'll have him chained in the lower decks of the Chris with Seastone-infused shackles. I'll also need some medication for him; I don't want him throwing a tantrum and wrecking my ship."
"Simple enough. Based on my anesthetic abilities, I've developed a traditional herbal formula that induces total body paralysis. One bowl every twelve hours will keep him completely immobilized," Jason said flatly. "Even if Whitebeard himself drank this, he'd be paralyzed for hours."
"Oh? You've actually managed to concoct something like that? It seems you've been studying the herbal data we got from Nightin (doctor of the World Pirates) quite well," Aeridar noted, his brow arching in surprise.
At the mention of medicine, Jason's eyes lit up with professional fervor. "I must admit, Nightin-sama is a true master of the Herbal Medicine Style. Her proficiency in traditional medicine is top-tier. To invent a drug that can actually reverse aging, even if it's temporary and has a time limit, without any side effects? Truly remarkable."
Aeridar's interest was piqued. "And that formula... how is your research coming along?"
"I've already made improvements. I've increased the potency and doubled the duration of the rejuvenation effect. It now lasts for ten minutes!" Jason declared with absolute confidence.
"Excellent! Keep at it. I'm allocating 5 billion Berries specifically for your research on this formula," Aeridar decided instantly.
Aeridar's ultimate dream was human evolution, to reach a state of "immortality." If he reached old age before his dream was realized, this rejuvenation drug would be his safety net. Moreover, if such a drug hit the black market, it would command astronomical prices. The Celestial Dragons, high-ranking World Government officials, royalty, nobles, billionaires... the list of people who would kill for it was endless.
Even the aging Great Pirates, should they get their hands on it, might find their ambitions reignited, plunging the world back into a chaotic struggle for the title of Pirate King. The sea would descend into total madness.
"Five billion Berries...!" Jason stared at Aeridar, stunned. He had never seen that much money in his life.
"Think of the achievement, Doctor Jason, if you could develop a version of this drug that wasn't temporary," Aeridar said softly, his voice smooth and persuasive. "The ultimate secret of the Paramecia Op-Op Fruit is the 'Perennial Youth Operation,' granting 'Eternal Life' to another at the cost of the user's life."
"Perhaps you can find inspiration in this research and create a true 'Elixir of Immortality,' Grand Doctor Jason!"
Gulp. Jason swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "Captain... you truly are a devil."
The offer was a diabolical temptation that struck right at the heart of a scientist's ambition.
"So what if I am?" Aeridar replied nonchalantly. "If a devil can give people 'Eternal Youth,' then I'll gladly be one."
Jason's face flushed red, his breath coming in heavy, excited gasps that he tried in vain to suppress.
Aeridar smirked and patted Jason on the shoulder. "I'm counting on you, Doctor. Perhaps you can discuss this further with Professor Dalt."
…
Baltigo, the Island of White Soil.
Monkey D. Dragon stood alone on a balcony, staring out at the desolate white landscape.
He had just received devastating news. The Revolutionary Army had suffered a catastrophic defeat in the Bivins Kingdom. From Chief of Staff Sabo down to the rank-and-file soldiers, nearly everyone had been wiped out at the Red River Wasteland. The entire force stationed in Bivins, along with the reinforcements sent from headquarters, was gone. Only a handful had escaped.
To make matters worse, the Revolutionary intelligence network in Bivins had been systematically dismantled by the Chris Investigation Bureau. Their entire operation had been torn to shreds.
Step... step... step...
Emporio Ivankov, the man with the giant face, approached. His usual flamboyant playfulness was gone, replaced by a somber expression. "Dragon-boy, I heard. Have you decided what to do?"
"Intelligence just came in. Hack is still alive; he was rescued and taken to a nearby castle," Dragon said calmly. "He reports that Sabo, Koala, and Len aren't dead. They've been taken prisoner by the Chris Pirates."
"Then you mean..." Ivankov frowned, hesitating. "You want to go rescue them?"
"Since that man didn't kill Sabo and the others, it means they still have value to him," Dragon's voice was steady and certain. "As long as they are alive, we have a chance. We will find a way to bring them home."
"If you need anything, just say the word," Ivankov nodded, his tone resolute.