I'm at the top of One Piece

Kureha glanced at Messer, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Compared to its practical value, the sentiment behind it is quite nice. Well then, I'll give you face and accept the 'Bamboo Tube.'"

He withdrew his hand and twirled the bamboo-tube-like dagger between his fingers.

In a good mood, Kureha immediately got up to prepare the yak slices, while Moses went to get the iron pot and lit a fire from the fireplace into a small stove.

Xiong Bao went to compress and refine the coal. Before long, with everyone's help, a large pot of red oil soup base was ready.

The fire roared inside the stove, and bubbles soon began to rise from the soup pot.

Add all the ingredients to the pot.

Two people and a bear sat around a large pot, holding bowls and chopsticks.

Thin slices of beef, covered with fine texture, are placed in a hot pot and cooked in just a few seconds. Add some seasonal vegetables and enjoy a delicious hot pot meal.

With Xiong Bao, the big-eater, at one meal, an entire cow was devoured, and in the end, Xiong Bao even picked up the red oil broth and cleaned it all up.

After finishing his meal, Xiong Bao happily picked up the pot to wash it.

Kureha went for a walk alone to digest her food.

Mercer sat at his desk, looking at an interesting serialized comic book aimed at young children.

Sola, the Ocean Warrior.

The story tells the legendary tale of Sora, a sea warrior representing justice (based on the true stories of naval heroes), who leads his companions in their battles against the evil organization Germa 66, which repeatedly tries to drive them to the brink of destruction.

A very interesting comic book geared towards younger readers.

The book describes all sorts of strange abilities and creations, such as super clones, giant robots, and super-powered combat suits.

Although it is a book that is popular all over the world, it also contains some political demands.

See through appearances to grasp the essence.

The theme is that good will always triumph over evil.

The content aims to build Sora's (the Navy's) powerful and righteous image through Germa 66's repeated failures.

Because it's a comic book aimed at young children, it's also an excellent way to instill (brainwash) children's values.

Regardless of how much personal bias is mixed into the comic, in Moses's view it is still an excellent read.

Especially the super-powered warriors in the evil Germa 66, which Moses knew were genetically modified warriors.

Artificially created superpowered individuals.

And it has already achieved success.

"What are you looking at?"

Kureha returned from her walk, stood behind Mercer, and looked at the comic book Mercer was reading.

"Hehe, a change of pace is nice, Germa 66? Interesting."

"What were your thoughts after watching it?"

Mercer asked, "Are you going to share your thoughts after watching it?"

There is no doubt about the authenticity of Germa 66; both of them know that it is real and not a fictional creation from a comic book.

When Garp brought Vegapunk's research on the "bloodline factor" of the life design blueprint, it also introduced the Vinsmoke family of the North Sea, and Germa 66 is the external manifestation of the Vinsmoke family.

Before Kureha could speak, Messer continued, "The super soldiers of Germa 66 should be genetically modified in terms of 'bloodline factors,' right? The five of them, 'Poison Powder,' 'Spark Red,' 'Electric Blue,' 'Stealth Black,' and 'Windlock Green,' each have different super abilities."

However, each of them possesses the same basic abilities: steel skin, powerful regeneration, and superhuman physical qualities.

"Doctor Doriel, I've seen your research on 'bloodline factors.' Could you create special drugs to interfere with human genes, thereby granting people extraordinary abilities?"

Kureha narrowed her eyes. "You can understand those things?"

"I can roughly understand it. Germa 66's gene technology should involve interfering with the arrangement and combination of human bloodline factors to graft a completely new biological gene."

Is it possible to acquire extraordinary abilities by grafting genes from organisms with special capabilities?

Kureha rubbed her forehead, looking helpless. "I didn't expect you to actually understand it. You're right, that's true, but I can't do it. My current research is also about drug development on humans, but it doesn't involve human gene grafting."

No, that's not quite right.

All I can say is that my research involves using drugs to enhance the activity of telomerase in the human body, thereby interfering with the cell's proliferative capacity.

"The elixir of immortality?"

Mercer nodded knowingly.

Kureha immediately beamed with joy, placed her hands on Messer's shoulders, and squeezed them firmly.

"You little rascal are indeed smart, you get it right away, not bad. Although I have now shifted my research focus to the direction of 'brain development'."

However, human research is not a separate field; some gene and cell studies are still common. Not to mention that the main body of research is based on "lineage factors."

Vegapunk is indeed a genius.

Hearing this, Mercer, ignoring his shoulder pain, asked in surprise, "Then, Dr. Doriel, have you made any progress in your 'brain domain' research?"

Kureha's face twitched. "Yes, there are, but the lab mice don't even live a day; they die of brain death."

What? You want to try it?

Mercer's expression stiffened. "Then let's forget it. I'm still young, and I don't want to meet my parents so soon."

Kureha paused her grip on Messer's shoulders, then patted Messer's head with both hands and said knowingly, "I see, it's pretty much what I thought."

"Didn't you even think of asking that bastard Garp who your biological parents are?"

“We’ve asked. Do you want to know?” Moses said. “If it’s you, I can tell you.”

"I don't want to. Your parents have nothing to do with me. Besides, they're already dead. It doesn't matter whether they know or not."

"But from what you're saying, are your parents celebrities?"

Mercer nodded. "Mom is just an ordinary person, while the other one is a household name."

“Hey!” Kureha laughed. “A household name? Is your dad Whitebeard? No, your dad’s dead. Is it that bastard Roger? No, that doesn’t fit the timeline.”

Upon hearing this, Moses said with a wistful look in his eyes, "Is it possible that my brother and I spent more than 20 months together in the womb?"

"Cough cough!" Kureha choked, and with a twist of her hands that were rubbing Messer's head, she snapped Messer's neck with a "crack!"

Cough!

"Sorry, sorry, I was a little surprised."

Kureha looked awkwardly at Messer, who was staring at her with wide eyes now, having just managed to turn around in time to avoid having her neck broken.

Moses looked at her with a deep gaze and said:

"That guy didn't offend you somewhere, did he?"

"No, not really. You almost broke my neck."

"What kind of hatred is this?"

Kureha awkwardly touched her nose, then said angrily, "Just say a few words, okay? I didn't do it on purpose. It's not broken yet, is it?"

Even if it's broken, I can still save you. With your physical condition, it'll heal in ten days to two weeks.

Mercer blinked, thought about it seriously, and said, "It seems that's true."

"Then I won't be angry anymore."

Kureha rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue in amazement, "I never expected this, I never expected this."

The world government spent so much effort trying to capture you, yet you were saved by this method.

Your mother is ruthless. I admire her.

"My godmother is a tough woman too; she almost broke my neck just now."

Kureha said angrily, "You little brat, are you never going to stop? Get this over with and don't bring it up again."

"Hey!"

"Let's get back to the main point, Doctor Doriel. What do you think went wrong that led to brain death?"

"Hmm!" Kureha walked to the table and plopped down on it, her eyes showing a thoughtful expression:

"It should be that a kind of drug catalyst is missing, a medium that can keep brain cells regenerating. After the mice were given the 'brain development drug,' their brain nerves were particularly active for a period of time."

However, when I looked at it again afterwards, it seemed like a situation of overdrawing the brain's potential.

We need to find a organism with regenerative abilities to experiment with. Even better, one capable of regenerating its brain. This way, we can extract the missing core element through experiments.

As she spoke, her eyes suddenly lit up, and Kureha laughed, "Salamanders, these creatures can regenerate parts of their hearts and brains. Using them in experiments should yield useful experimental data."

"Tsk! I'm the smartest one." Kureha smiled smugly and looked at Messer: "I'll take you somewhere tomorrow. It's probably the only place on this winter island where there are snow salamanders."

Go to bed early.

Moses glanced at the sky outside; it was already dark. "Okay!"

Standing up, Moses said, "I'm going to wash up first."

After washing up, Mercer read some comic books for a while, and then went to bed early when it was almost time.

……

The next day.

Get up and wash up.

Mercer drew back the curtains and looked out at the heavy snow falling.

Visibility is very low.

"I'm going for a morning run, I'll be back in a bit."

Messer called out to Kureha in the kitchen.

The door opened, and Xiong Bao followed behind, quickly disappearing into the snowy landscape.

The hot breath exhaled from the mouth turned into white mist.

With his eyes closed, Mercer entered a state of oneness with nature, using his Observation Haki to sense his surroundings as he ran swiftly through the snow forest.

Running rhythmically, in sync with the frequency of my breathing.

Body coordination and unity.