Aboard the Wave Rider.
In the room, Hogback wore sterile gloves on his fingers as he carefully operated a sophisticated life detector. The data stream flickering across the screen made his originally ingratiating expression shift to one of astonishment.
These medical detection devices had been brought from Thriller Bark—instruments modified with the latest North Blue technology and Homies Fiber.
Might as well make full use of resources and avoid waste!
"Sir, please remain still. The final cell activity sampling will be completed shortly," Hogback said in his characteristically exaggerated tone, positioning the sampling needle toward the bulging veins on Ryan's arm.
Ryan sat calmly in the examination chair, allowing Hogback to proceed. After all, the man was the "Genius Surgeon." Since he had been allowed aboard, he couldn't just idle around—better to have him assist with physical examinations.
The scene inevitably reminded Ryan of his two years on the Floating Island, where such check-ups had become routine.
Beep... beep... beep... As the tissue was placed into the instrument, it suddenly emitted rapid, urgent beeps. The cell activity curve on the screen instantly surged past the peak, and red alarm lights flashed wildly.
"Is there a problem?" Ryan's gaze swept over Hogback's face, which was nearly pressed against the screen, as he spoke calmly.
"A problem? No, no, no, Sir! This isn't a 'problem'—it's a miracle in medical history!" Hogback spun around abruptly, his glasses sliding to the tip of his nose, which he didn't bother to adjust. Waving his hands exaggeratedly, his tone brimmed with fervor: "The division rate of your muscle cells far exceeds the normal human limit, yet there are no signs of cancerous transformation whatsoever."
"What does that mean?" Ryan had no patience for convoluted terminology.
Hogback immediately dropped the "medical miracle" rhetoric, rubbing his hands together as he leaned in with an ingratiating smile, explaining plainly: "It means your physique surpasses that of ordinary people. Your strength, speed, recovery ability, and physical resilience have all increased exponentially."
Ryan understood. During his two years on the Floating Island, he had been "nourished" by the IQ Killer Drug, which stimulated his body's potential and transformed his physique into something extraordinary. This superhuman endurance wasn't an innate trait like the Merfolk's aquatic talents or the Giant Tribe's natural strength—it was combat power forcibly extracted through Golden Lion's twisted "scientific methods."
While others relied on bloodline for inherent power, Ryan had broken the shackles of physiological limits through drugs.
Come to think of it, he had initially assumed his formidable recovery ability was solely due to the Artificial Dragon Fruit. But now, it seemed his own body played a role as well.
After a moment of silence, Ryan looked up at Hogback and asked flatly, "What are the side effects?"
"Sir..." Hogback's ingratiating smile vanished instantly. He averted his eyes nervously, cautiously leaning closer. "This drug forcibly pushes cell activity to its extreme. Lifespan... your lifespan will be significantly reduced. Based on my 'genius eyes' estimation, your body, as it is now, likely won't live past forty.The IQ Killer Drug traded lifespan for potential—essentially overdrawing the life force within cells. Ryan had known this all along.
Gaining power beyond reason always came at a cost.
Moreover, in this world of Pirates, there are indeed methods to extend one's lifespan. For instance, the Ope Ope no Mi can grant eternal life, and the legendary Pure Gold can freeze the passage of time. As long as one can find these, such "losses" are nothing to worry about.
Hogback noticed that Ryan had been silent for a long time and immediately grew anxious. After all, the man before him was a Seven Warlord who killed without batting an eye. If his words had struck a nerve, he might find his neck snapped in the next second.
Thinking this, Hogback hurriedly took two steps forward, his voice tinged with flattery: "Sir, the power within your cells hasn't been fully unleashed. At most, only thirty percent of it has been activated. With me, Hogback, here, I can use a specially crafted guiding potion to draw out the remaining power. Once that happens, your cells will undergo a complete reorganization. Your skin will become harder than steel, impervious to ordinary blades and swords, and even cannonballs will bounce right off. Even if you suffer severe injuries, as long as you're not completely dead, your cells will instantly divide and repair themselves at an insane rate. It's practically the embryonic form of an 'Immortal Body'!"
"Oh..." Ryan responded with surprise. "Is that so?"
Cell reorganization, a body of steel—if such a thing could truly be achieved, combined with the formidable regenerative abilities inherent to the Dragon Fruit, even if he were grievously wounded in battle, as long as his heart kept beating and his head remained intact, this "insane cell division and repair" might indeed make him what Hogback called an "Immortal Body."
At this thought, Ryan's eyes lit up, and he looked at Hogback. "Then go ahead and make the potion. If you succeed, you'll no longer need to report to me about where you want to go or what you wish to research."
"Sir, rest assured, I will definitely, definitely produce the potion," Hogback quickly assured, wiping the sweat from his brow with a trembling hand.
Ryan watched Hogback's flustered demeanor but said nothing more. He simply tossed out, "Focus on your work. If you need anything, have it prepared," before turning and walking away.
When he had first taken Hogback under his wing, it was solely for the man's exceptional surgical skills. Ryan had thought that, given the inevitability of injuries, having a top-tier doctor by his side would serve as an extra layer of "just in case" insurance. He never expected this old man not only to treat wounds but also to uncover such hidden potential within his body—an unexpected boon.
In the corridor, Perona hugged her plush toy tightly, her steps light and cheerful, clearly having just come from the other side of the ship. The moment she spotted Ryan, her body froze, her eyes darting nervously in another direction as she made to flee in the opposite direction.
"Stop." Ryan's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable pressure.
Perona halted in her tracks, reluctantly turning around. Her hands clutched the edges of her toy's clothing, her cheeks puffed out like an irritated pufferfish, her tone full of reluctance. "W-what do you want?"
"You run as soon as you see me." Ryan slowly walked closer, looking down at her with a raised eyebrow. "What, are you that afraid of me?"
"W-who's afraid?! I just suddenly remembered that the toys in my room aren't arranged properly and I need to go back and tidy up!" Perona's eyes darted away, her heart pounding.
Of course, she was afraid. This guy radiated an aura of "don't mess with me" ferocity. In the few days she'd been on the ship, he had teased her relentlessly. Who knew if this jerk would get another whimsical idea and do something unspeakable to her?
Ryan looked at Perona's "stubborn yet soft-hearted" demeanor, his gaze sweeping over her petite figure as he smirked mischievously. "No need to tidy up. Come inside with me."
"Huh?" Perona's eyes widened instantly, her face paling dramatically as she shrank back. Her voice trembled with a sob as she stammered in protest, "A-Again? How can you be like this? You're like some insatiable beast! Can't you let me have a moment of peace?"
While complaining, she subtly shifted her feet backward, clearly hoping to seize an opportunity to slip away.
Watching Perona's "wanting to escape but not daring to" act, Ryan's playful grin widened. He chuckled and said, "Fine, we don't have to go inside. The deck is windy and offers a great view anyway. Let's just do it on the deck."
At these words, Perona abruptly halted her retreat. Her eyes widened even further, and her face flushed from deathly pale to a panicked rosy hue.
The deck... that was far more terrifying than the room! Back on Thriller Bark, this guy had done it on the balcony—the shame of feeling like she was being watched still made her scalp tingle at the memory.
"F-Fine, we'll go to the room then..." Biting her lower lip, Perona avoided looking at Ryan and trudged dejectedly toward his room, her footsteps dragging. Her back exuded an air of resignation, as if she had accepted her fate.
Escape was clearly impossible, but compared to the humiliation of being "exposed" on the deck, the room offered at least a bit more privacy. At the very least, she wouldn't have to endure others pointing and staring.
Ryan watched Perona's obediently retreating figure and strode after her, deliberately slowing his pace to trail half a step behind. Observing her slightly stiffened shoulders from tension, he couldn't suppress the upward curve of his lips.
If she doesn't behave, then she just needs more training!