"Your Highness, please come inside."
Judge noticed Ross's gaze. Ross only glanced at him when he looked over, but when he looked at Sora, he lingered for at least a few seconds.
Although it was not obvious, he remembered this detail.
As he turned and walked forward, Judge's eyes kept flickering.
He believed that when technology reached its full potential, it would absolutely not be inferior to any powerful force in the ocean.
Judge's main research focused on 'lineage factors,' which were essentially the power contained within human genes.
To create the strongest cyborgs, powerful genes were indispensable. However, he lacked the power of the World Government, and to obtain the lineage factors of a strong individual, he could only start with Ross.
Perhaps...
"Your Highness, I have prepared a grand banquet for you, and I hope you will grace us with your presence."
The snail-shaped ship looked like a weapon of war on the outside, but its interior was as luxurious as the royal palace of the member states.
Judge first led Ross to a reception room, and then had his men take Vegapunk's body to the laboratory.
He noticed that Stella, who was behind Ross, left with a few people, but he didn't think much of it.
One look at Stella and he knew she was either a doctor or a fellow researcher, and could never be a combatant.
After all, the sharpness of the swordswoman's aura emanating from Gion was almost making Judge feel a stinging pain on his face.
A powerhouse of this caliber should be the bodyguard of Celestial Dragons like Ross.
Upon entering the reception room, Ross sat in the head seat, smiling as he looked at Judge:
"I've brought Vegapunk, the Vinsmoke leader. Now it's time to show your sincerity?"
"Your Highness, I will be analyzing Vegapunk's brain today. Back in MADS, we secretly researched the Brain-Brain Fruit. With Vegapunk's technical support, we know exactly how to extract information from the brains of the dead," Judge grinned.
The years he worked with Vegapunk were the years in which his scientific and technological development grew the fastest.
Unfortunately, MADS was discovered by the World Government, and not only was it forcibly disbanded, but Vegapunk was also recruited by the World Government.
It was after that that he returned to the North Blue, preparing to revive Germa 66.
Life is unpredictable. Who could have imagined that Vegapunk would die just a few years after being granted amnesty, and that he would eventually fall into Ross's hands?
"This method comes from Vegapunk?" Ross raised an eyebrow.
"Your Highness, please rest assured." Judge, knowing Ross's concerns, quickly added, "Although Vegapunk perfected this technology, it's a technology we can understand. Does Your Highness know about lineage factors?"
"Isn't the lineage factor genetic information contained within an organism?" Ross narrowed his eyes.
He didn't know much about lineage factors, and the few bits of information he had came from Vegapunk and Dragon's communications.
But how could a technological breakthrough in biology be clearly explained in just a short-term remote communication?
"It does contain genetic information, which is divided into innate and acquired genetic information. Innate genes are genetic information in the broad sense. Acquired genes are the content that is recorded in the genes of an individual through growth and learning."
"The lineage factor not only encompasses all genetic information, but also includes the information stored within the cells," Judge explained.
His lineage factor research was his foundation, but since Ross had heard of it, it meant that there were research records left by Vegapunk within the World Government.
Instead of keeping it a secret, it was better to tempt Ross and let him take charge of the research on lineage factors.
Most importantly, even ordinary researchers would find it difficult to understand the intricacies of his explanations, let alone Ross, a Celestial Dragon.
Celestial Dragons had no taboos and no restrictions on what they could do. They could do so many things that no Celestial Dragon would ever engage in scientific research.
"In other words, we can extract information from Vegapunk's brain through lineage factor technology, right?"
Ross lowered his eyes. If he were a native of the pirate world, he really wouldn't understand what Judge was saying.
Unfortunately, he didn't only have the memories of a Celestial Dragon. At least his efforts in his previous life weren't in vain, because he could tell that Judge was trying to fool him.
It seemed like he talked a lot, but it was all just conceptual stuff and didn't get to the point at all.
But none of that mattered. Although Judge was intelligent, he was still within a manageable range. What he cared about was the value Judge could create; everything else was less important.
"That's right, I call this technology 'lineage factor extraction.' It can not only extract memory information from the mind, but also extract biological genes, thereby modifying the organism."
When talking about his main research projects, Judge inevitably became somewhat enthusiastic.
He was 34 years old this year. He had only been involved in the reconstruction of Germa 66 for a few years, and his experience was mainly in scientific research.
So deep down, he still saw himself more as a researcher.
"I've heard about your plans."
Ross nodded slightly and said casually:
"When the World Government was eradicating MADS, your research was submitted to the Five Elders. They highly valued your lineage factor modification technology, but..."
"But what?"
Judge asked instinctively, but at the time, the World Government only accepted Vegapunk, and the rest of the scientists were dismissed. He didn't know what had happened behind the scenes.
"It's just that Vegapunk offered a better plan back then, so the Five Elders gave up on recruiting you. In hindsight, the World Government made the wrong choice," Ross said.
"Damn Vegapunk!"
Judge couldn't hold back his emotions after hearing this and angrily cursed the dead Vegapunk.
When MADS disbanded, he returned to North Blue penniless, without any connections.
After several years of struggle, they finally built up the current Germa 66 through their own hard work.
If it weren't for Vegapunk's interference, he would have already made contact with the World Government. Even if he didn't become the World Government's chief researcher, the research resources would be incomparable to what he had now.
Scientific progress is not like cultivation; every step forward in science requires not only bold conjectures but also a large amount of experimentation and verification.
With the resources in the North Blue, he could never create an army-sized group of cyborgs in his lifetime.
He couldn't even obtain the lineage factors of a powerhouse at that level, let alone research and modify them.
To block someone's path is to obstruct their way.
Fortunately, Vegapunk was already dead, otherwise Judge would have made him wish he were dead.
"Your Highness, what is Vegapunk's plan?"
After calming himself down, Judge suddenly realized the reason behind Ross's actions.
Since the World Government believed that Vegapunk's plan was better than his, it meant that Vegapunk's plan was already underway.
However, Vegapunk was now dead, and the World Government needed someone else to take his place.
In terms of research on lineage factors, besides Vegapunk, he was the one who had gone the furthest in this world.
The other members of MADS may have been okay in other aspects, but when it came to lineage factors, they weren't even worthy of carrying his shoes.
...
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