CHAPTER 345: CHAPTER 46: MARTYR, TYRANT KUMA

Su Xiao suddenly opened his eyes three hours after falling asleep; someone had entered the lab.

Looking up, it was Kizaru; Kizaru had already returned to the island, astonishingly fast.

"The bomb has already been tested, and the three materials are being collected at full speed. A dedicated lab will be set up on the island in a few days."

Kizaru’s meaning was clear: there was no need to manufacture special level Alchemy Bombs anymore; just focus on creating the Sun God Apollo, which holds strategic importance.

"Marshal Sengoku knows you have a fondness for collecting famous swords. These two good fast blades are added to your collection."

Kizaru placed two good fast blades on the lab table, signifying the Navy’s sincerity.

Su Xiao nodded in agreement. He certainly wouldn’t refuse benefits delivered to his doorstep, as for helping the Navy to massively produce Sun God Apollo, that was impossible; his remaining time in the Pirate World was only two and a half days.

"So, for the next few days, I can rest? Go wherever I want?"

Su Xiao fiddled with a special level Alchemy Bomb, contemplating his next move.

"Officially, yes, but..."

Kizaru’s words were cut off by Su Xiao.

"About the CP Department’s Highly Poisonous Capsule that I swallowed, the Navy should be clear, so I won’t escape; I don’t wish to die yet."

Kizaru didn’t respond, leaving this awkward question hanging. The Navy would never give Su Xiao a one-time antidote but would provide a drug to ensure the capsule wouldn’t break, thereby controlling Su Xiao.

Su Xiao had never swallowed such poison; he seemed eager for an antidote but didn’t actually care.

"I help you manufacture bombs, and the fee is collecting some famous swords. Mind you, just collecting; these swords don’t belong to me, right?

I have manufactured thousands of bombs for you, yet there’s a poison sac in my body. Now I am still helping you create a more powerful bomb, and the sac could break at any moment, meaning I could die at any time."

Su Xiao lit a cigarette, Kizaru glanced at the few Alchemy Bombs on the lab table, not just those bombs, but also the materials contained explosive substances; this was akin to sitting on a powder keg while smoking.

Su Xiao flicked the ashes and continued:

"I don’t really care about these things. I joined the World Government simply because I enjoy making bombs. It’s a secret technique passed down in my family, and by my generation, it could only be made, not passed on. I don’t want this technology to quietly disappear.

I have drifted at sea for many years, killed a King, worked as a bounty hunter, even became an imperial assassin for a kingdom. It’s not surprising that you suspect me of having ulterior motives; after all, my demeanor is entirely different from those feeble-minded lab workers."

Su Xiao exhaled deeply, his expression calm.

"Mr. Kizaru, I just have one question for you."

"Go ahead."

Kizaru sat across from Su Xiao, lost in thought.

"Did I ever do anything to oppose the World Government?"

Kizaru nodded and then shook his head: "Yes, and no, you once killed a King, but there’s no concrete evidence."

"That King, I killed him. The Navy can arrest me anytime."

Kizaru’s frown deepened, and the usual laziness in his eyes was gone.

"Dr. Bai Ye, I hereby arrest you for murdering a World Government subsidiary Kingdom’s King."

"Heh~." Su Xiao extended his hands.

"Alright, arrest me now then."

Kizaru frowned even more.

"Don’t joke, Bai Ye. Some things, if there’s no evidence, it means they never happened. I understand your aim; while aiding the World Government in making weapons, you seek freedom."

"Exactly."

Kizaru got up to leave, leaving behind a parting sentence.

"Shapodi Archipelago’s scenery is quite nice, perfectly suited for sightseeing."

Kizaru’s meaning was evident; freedom was possible, the issue of poison was left untouched.

"Looks like there are more things that can be done."

Su Xiao was waiting for the right opportunity, which hadn’t arrived yet.

Checking the attributes of the three good fast blades on the lab table, these three blades were all of purple quality, with ratings between 100 and 130.

Seeing the ability carried by one of the blades, Su Xiao’s heartbeat skipped half a beat, the World Government truly has deep pockets.

Even though he had the right to leave the island, the Navy would undoubtedly send someone to follow Su Xiao; Tina would be the best choice.

With over a day left before the final battle, Contractors should all be making their way to Enies Lobby; under the Contractors’ incitement, the Straw Hat Pirates would surely go.

Robin was captured too quickly, and the Straw Hat Pirates weren’t aware Robin was risking her life for them, but the Contractors knew this fact.

While Su Xiao pondered his next strategy, the lab door was pushed open; Vega Punk walked in alone.

Sitting across from Su Xiao, Vega Punk made a shocking statement.

"Bai Ye, were you brought here by the Navy against your will?"

Su Xiao was taken aback; what did Vega Punk mean by this?

"No, I came here willingly."

Vega Punk scratched his head, seemingly in disbelief.

"No, judging by your situation, you should have been brought here by force."

"Not at all, and you are?"

"Yes, I am. Previously, I researched human genetics with Vinsmoke Judge. That lab was taken over by the Navy; Vinsmoke Judge fled, and I was left behind. That damn Vinsmoke Judge actually escaped alone, should’ve taken me with him at least."

Vega Punk slapped the lab table, appearing very disgruntled; although he looked glamorous now, Kizaru and War Momotsuki on the island indicated everything: the Navy was closely monitoring Vega Punk.

"Do you want to escape?"

"I don’t."

Vega Punk lowered his head, deep in thought.

"I just have a proposal. I want to implant the Sun God Apollo you created into Tyrant Kuma’s body as an emergency measure."

Su Xiao raised an eyebrow, clearly understanding Vega Punk had another agenda.

"Leaving aside the Navy’s opinion, would Kuma agree?"

"He would. Kuma’s intentions are unclear to everyone, but I sense he is orchestrating a grand plan, willing to sacrifice himself for it."

After contemplating for a long while, Su Xiao nodded. He had nothing to lose and might even plant a chess piece.

"Alright, I’ll provide Apollo; the materials are enough to make one."

"Great, let’s start now. Do we need to go to the shelter?"

"No need; I understand Apollo’s properties sufficiently. Even if there’s an error during production, it won’t explode, at most wasting materials."

Su Xiao got up; Vega Punk immediately grasped Su Xiao’s intention, and the two headed to Vega Punk’s lab.

Arriving at Vega Punk’s lab, Tyrant Kuma was sitting at the lab table reading a book.

"Kuma, this is Bai Ye, my colleague."

Tyrant Kuma nodded, his approximately seven-meter height making him exceedingly tall even when seated; Su Xiao couldn’t help but wonder if this fellow was raised on fertilizer, his height was simply too massive.

"Hmm."

Kuma acknowledged and continued reading the book.

"Let’s begin."

Su Xiao took out three types of materials and began crafting Sun God Apollo.

Three hours later, a Sun God Apollo was implanted into Kuma’s chest cavity. Kuma didn’t utter a word throughout.

After the surgery concluded, Kuma pressed his hand against his chest.

"What is this?"

Kuma finally spoke, his voice steady, quite mismatched with his title of tyrant.

"A bomb potent enough to incinerate you to ashes."

For someone like Kuma, a martyr, Su Xiao held a bit of admiration; self-sacrifice for an ideal is more commendable than the Navy constantly proclaiming justice.

"How wide is the range?"

"Half a kilometer; if the bomb detonates, everything within half a kilometer will turn to charcoal."

Kuma’s pupils contracted but quickly calmed down.

Su Xiao glanced at the busy Vega Punk nearby, then quietly spoke to Kuma:

"This bomb cannot be controlled by you. When it detonates, it will suddenly release heat. If you wish to remove Apollo, directly pierce your chest and take out the bomb, remember to tightly grip Apollo during extraction, use your full strength; otherwise, the immense heat it releases will reduce you to ash."

Kuma’s expression, normally like a calm well, finally showed change.

"Thank you, Dr. Bai Ye, here’s a gift for you."

Kuma handed Su Xiao an item; Su Xiao glanced at it before accepting, standing to return to his lab.

After implanting Apollo into Kuma, the Navy showed no reaction, leaving Su Xiao somewhat puzzled.

After assisting Vega Punk, Su Xiao occasionally visited his lab during which he gained an understanding of Kuma’s modifications.

Time slipped by, drawing closer to the time for the final battle.

Su Xiao, along with Bubute Ni, approached Tina, his first words upon meeting being: "I need to go to Enies Lobby to meet an ’old friend,’ his name is Zero."