"Subject's body temperature is at an abnormal level... and continuing to rise."
"Subject's white blood cell antigen HLA levels are still increasing."
"Subject's heart rate is dropping... Life functions have ceased."
"Subject..."
A nearby Germa clone researcher read out the real-time data, tracking the changes as they occurred.
Caesar and Judge continued making adjustments to the mutation synchronization. As long as he wasn't completely dead, they weren't going to stop. After all, their boss was watching from behind.
'They don't even know my name!'
As that thought crossed his mind, Kashu suddenly felt a strange surge of power coursing through his body. The pain was beginning to subside.
"Subject's body temperature is dropping..."
"..."
???
This doesn't make sense!
Several large question marks might as well have floated over Judge and Caesar's heads.
...
Outside the lab.
Using a handkerchief to gently wipe the sweat from his forehead, Doflamingo asked,
"Baccarat, how much do we have left?"
"About 5,000."
This kind of continuous output was something Baccarat had never experienced before. It drained both her energy and stamina at an alarming rate.
In the past, she had always set a single goal and then sacrificed all the luck she had gathered at once.
After a brief moment of thought, Doflamingo gave his orders.
"From now on, only use it when the subject's vital signs become unstable."
"Understood, Boss."
...
As time passed.
Kashu felt the pain fading into the background, almost negligible.
And every time he brushed against death, an invisible force seemed to hold him up.
Replacing the agony was an indescribable rush of euphoria.
Two instinctive abilities surged within him.
But he continued to let out agonized screams—
Because he had to master this overwhelming power.
Because he had to strike back. He had to return the favor to everyone in this place.
"Zzzzzzt!"
Electricity crackled and leapt from the nearby machinery, drawn to him like a magnet.
Kashu sprang up, his body light as air yet as fast as lightning, both hands wrapped in a web of electricity.
It felt like gripping a thousand screaming hummingbirds as he lashed out toward Judge and Caesar on either side.
He could even see the stunned expressions on their faces.
"BOOM!"
A pitch-black meteor hammer smashed through the transparent wall, crashing toward him.
"THUD!"
Before Kashu could react, everything went dark.
...
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Judge, Caesar, keep a close eye on his vitals."
Doflamingo could barely contain his excitement.
Without hesitation, he pulled Baccarat into a deep, heated kiss.
His hypothesis was correct.
It might be difficult to make Baccarat directly wish for someone to have Blackbeard's physique...
But increasing the success rate of Bloodline Factor transplantation?
That was absolutely possible.
And this wasn't just a one-time experiment. What about the other projects?
Forget "Lucky Princess."
This woman was a walking, talking, infinite wish machine!
From now on, screw "Life's Great Voyage."
Baccarat was Doflamingo's personal cheat code!
"Pop!"
"Hahh~ Boss..."
Baccarat felt lightheaded, her body weak, arms naturally draping around Doflamingo's neck.
"Whoosh!"
Holding her tightly, Doflamingo shot toward the Divine Palace.
Tonight, he was going to let loose.
Seven years in this pirate world, constantly chased by the looming threat of the Sun God...
But today, he had finally unlocked a whole new version of reality.
...
In the laboratory.
Judge and Caesar stared at the unconscious subject.
They exchanged glances.
How did this work?
How did this actually succeed?
Could it be that Paramecia types were more compatible than Zoans?
No, that couldn't be right. Previous test subjects had been blown to pieces.
"Caesar, what do you think? The Boss is convinced this one's going to succeed."
"How the hell did he survive multiple rejection responses?"
"Let's review the experiment footage."
...
Moments later.
Both men watched the playback, their eyes glowing with realization.
In unison, they exclaimed:
"She increases the success rate of experiments!!!"
"Boss should let her help me!"
"Idiot! Your weapons are only good for making money. Boss's vision is ten, a hundred, a thousand times greater than yours!"
"..."
Number 59 from Punk Hazard, who had been quietly observing, let out a sigh and murmured:
"That's Boss's woman. You really think she'll be assisting you?"
Judge and Caesar, who had been mid-argument, instantly fell into silence, their moods plummeting.
To be so close to success, yet have it remain just out of reach—it was torture.
"Hmph! I, Caesar, will succeed on my own!!!"
"..."
...
After an exhausting session.
Cradling the sweat-drenched, half-conscious Baccarat in his arms, Doflamingo cut straight to the point.
"Baccarat, how much did the experiment just consume?"
Regaining her composure, Baccarat pressed her hands against Doflamingo's broad chest and replied.
"I've nearly drained everything I had accumulated. There are about 2,000 left, and the total cost was around 30,000."
"Does changing different people's luck require different amounts?"
"Yes, Boss. The worse their luck, the more it takes to alter their outcome."
"Baccarat, gauge my total reserves."
Without hesitation, she activated her Lucky-Lucky Fruit ability.
"This...!!!"
If an ordinary person was a drop of water, and an exceptional person was a river...
Then her Boss was an ocean—beyond her comprehension.
"Boss, my maximum storage limit is 100,000. You've already far surpassed that."
Baccarat lowered her head in shame, resting against Doflamingo's chest.
Doflamingo's mind spun rapidly.
"By ancient standards, I qualify as a warlord ruling his own territory—combined with my extraordinary power.
"Surpassing 100,000 makes sense.
"A lowly captive pirate wouldn't have more than 10.
"It took 30,000 to force success.
"That's a 3,000-fold difference.
"By that logic, I'd need at least 300 million.
"That's 300 million average people. 30 million average pirates. 600,000 stronger ones.
"If Baccarat collects them one by one, how long would it take?
"No, that's not the way.
"Weaklings' luck leads to failure. My reserves surpass 100,000—my outcomes should be different.
"To be safe...
"I'll keep wishing for improved methods, push Baccarat to refine her fruit, and hunt down strong foes to stockpile reserves.
"A three-pronged approach.
"That's the real way to cheat."
For a moment, "Life's Great Voyage" seemed more tempting after all.
"Damn it!"
Frustrated by his failure to instantly break through, Doflamingo turned away.
He decided to check in on his soon-to-be-born son.
Waving off the approaching attendants, he entered the side chamber.
A soft yet firm cloud-bed supported the slightly pregnant female divine attendant, easing the strain on her body. The scene was tranquil.
Honestly, as a self-proclaimed scumbag, Doflamingo considered himself a rather responsible one.
Though this pregnancy had been an accident, he still had no idea what this woman's name was.
Silently, he approached and gently placed his hand over her swollen belly.
Feeling the faint consciousness within, his expression grew complex.
In his past life, he had lived over twenty years without experiencing fatherhood.
Now, at just eighteen, he was about to have a child.
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+220 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg