After confirming that the Lunarian lineage factor within his body had begun to awaken, Lloyd realized there was still one crucial matter he needed to verify.
He lowered his gaze to the scarred area on the left side of his chest and spoke calmly.
"Dr. Vegapunk, I have two types of Green Blood implanted in my body, correct?"
Vegapunk nodded without hesitation. He was absolutely certain, as he himself had supplied Gulando with the two Green Blood samples back then.
Lloyd continued, his tone measured and deliberate.
"Green Blood does not only carry lineage factors, it can also carry Devil Fruit powers, the so called devil factors. Is that correct?"
Vegapunk froze for a brief moment. With his sharp intellect, he quickly grasped Lloyd's intent and asked cautiously,
"Saint Lloyd, are you asking whether you can consume another Devil Fruit?"
Lloyd shook his head and raised two fingers.
"No. Two."
Vegapunk's pupils contracted.
"Theoretically, it should be possible, but this is far too dangerous. If something goes wrong, your body could collapse completely."
Lloyd let out a low chuckle.
"Body collapse? I have already experienced that once. Trying again does not bother me."
Vegapunk swallowed nervously.
"But why take such a risk? With your status and power, almost no one in this world can threaten you."
"Who would ever complain about having too much power?" Lloyd replied indifferently. "Answer me this instead. The two samples of Green Blood you injected into my body back then, they are capable of carrying devil factors, are they not?"
"Yes," Vegapunk admitted. "Back then, Gulando wanted to add devil factors directly into the Green Blood, but I stopped him. As you know, even just two lineage factors nearly destroyed your body. If devil factors had been added as well, you would not have survived."
Lloyd nodded slowly.
"Your judgment was correct. You could say you saved my life."
If Gulando had truly injected Green Blood containing devil factors into Lloyd at that time, his young body would have turned to ash instantly, with no possibility of recovery.
Lloyd studied Vegapunk for a moment before speaking again.
"In that case, I should repay you. After I return, I will have the World Government allocate a substantial amount of Berries to Baldimore for its reconstruction."
Vegapunk's eyes lit up with uncontrollable joy. Before he could express his gratitude, Lloyd summoned the dark scripture. A Devil Fruit appeared in his hand, which he placed directly into Vegapunk's grasp.
It was the Persian Cat Devil Fruit, a Zoan type that Lloyd had obtained earlier but had no personal use for.
"Do not get excited yet," Lloyd said coldly. "This is an ordinary Zoan type Devil Fruit. Extract a portion of my blood and inject the purified devil factors from this fruit into it. I want to see the result."
With that, Lloyd relaxed his body, coated his finger in Armament Haki, and slashed his own arm. A thin line of fresh blood seeped from the wound.
Given his current physique, ordinary weapons could no longer break his defenses. He had to injure himself.
Vegapunk quickly retrieved a test tube and collected several drops of Lloyd's blood. He then placed the Persian Cat Devil Fruit into a sealed glass chamber on a nearby machine.
At the press of a button, the chamber spun rapidly, crushing the Devil Fruit into thick purple liquid. The liquid flowed through a conduit into another device that resembled a small, steaming boiler. Less than five minutes later, the machine came to a halt.
Vegapunk removed a small glass vial and twisted a valve beneath the device. A faint stream of dark purple liquid dripped out.
Lloyd frowned slightly.
"That is all?"
Vegapunk held the vial carefully and explained,
"These are the purified devil factors. Only this much can be extracted from a single Devil Fruit."
"Then why not use the original juice directly?" Lloyd asked.
"That would not work," Vegapunk replied. "The experimental subject is only a small blood sample, not a complete organism. The two would not react properly."
Lloyd leaned closer, examining the vial with interest.
"If that is the case, can these purified devil factors be applied to inanimate objects, such as swords or firearms?"
Vegapunk stared at him in astonishment before nodding eagerly.
"I had the same idea, but I have not had the opportunity to test it. Devil Fruits are too rare, and I lack sufficient samples."
Devil Fruits were priceless treasures. Even an ordinary Zoan could sell for hundreds of millions of Berries, if it could be found at all. Some Devil Fruits were beyond monetary value entirely.
The Ope Ope no Mi was a perfect example. Compared to the ability it granted, money was meaningless.
Lloyd considered this briefly before speaking.
"If you need Devil Fruits, request them from Saint Saturn. I will also keep an eye out myself. Focus on your experiments. I am very interested in matters related to Devil Fruits."
Vegapunk was visibly delighted, his impression of Lloyd improving noticeably.
Although Lloyd had threatened him earlier, Vegapunk understood that he had been an accomplice of Gulando, even if unwillingly. Given Lloyd's status, being spared was already a mercy.
Compared to other Celestial Dragons Vegapunk had encountered, Lloyd was undeniably different. At the very least, he possessed a degree of rationality, even if only slightly.
As Vegapunk smiled unconsciously, Lloyd frowned.
"Stop smiling and continue the experiment. I want results quickly. Uncle Garling is still waiting for me for dinner."
Vegapunk snapped back to attention.
"My apologies, Saint Lloyd. I will begin immediately."
He returned to the bench and performed a series of precise operations, injecting the purified devil factors into the blood sample he had collected earlier.
Soon after, Vegapunk placed the sample beneath a microscope. The internal changes were projected onto a nearby screen.
Lloyd stepped behind him and watched silently. After a long moment, he narrowed his eyes.
"Well? Are there any abnormalities?"