What do you mean?
In a hidden underground laboratory, enormous machines hummed with unknown purpose, their towering forms exuding an eerie, almost otherworldly presence. The design was unconventional, far from the rigorous scientific structures of Germa 66 or Dr. Vegapunk's hyper-advanced research facilities. Instead, the place carried an almost chaotic energy, as if the science here operated on a different set of principles.
A dozen researchers in white coats moved swiftly between the machinery, their hands never idle as they adjusted dials, checked pressure gauges, and monitored arcane instruments. Occasionally, one of them would stop to jot something down, their pens gliding across the pages in rapid, almost frantic strokes—recording crucial data that could change the course of their experiments.
Charlotte Linlin, better known as Big Mom, stood in the middle of it all, her sharp eyes scanning the room with intrigue. She had never expected Saga Yar's laboratory to look like this.
"The first time I came here, it really felt a bit novel," she muttered to herself, crossing her arms.
A crisp, commanding voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Charlotte, here we come!"
Turning toward the source, she saw Saga Yar approaching, clad in a pristine white lab coat, her presence exuding confidence.
"Yar, if you needed something, you could've just called me over," Charlotte remarked, frowning slightly.
She had little patience for the complexities of science. Unlike Caesar Clown, Judge Vinsmoke, or Vegapunk, she had no interest in the intricate workings of scientific advancements—only their results. To her, science in the pirate world had always been an oddity, a mix of brilliance and absurdity.
Saga Yar, ever the enigmatic scientist, merely chuckled.
"Of course, I have something to show you," she said with a playful smirk.
As she spoke, she deliberately leaned forward, her posture exaggerated enough to draw attention to her chest. The motion was anything but subtle, and Charlotte found herself momentarily caught off guard.
"Does it look good?" Yar teased, her tone dripping with amusement.
Charlotte coughed, clearing her throat to regain composure.
"Ahem…" She shook her head, grumbling to herself about how troublesome Yar could be. Yet, she had to admit—this woman had the confidence and charisma to pull it off.
"Alright, enough games. What's going on?" Charlotte asked, redirecting the conversation back to business.
Yar's smirk softened into something more genuine.
"Let me show you a new medicine."
With that, she turned and led the way to a section of the lab lined with glass cases and chemical vials. From a sealed container, she carefully retrieved a small, white pill.
Charlotte took the pill and examined it closely, rolling it between her fingers before giving it a quick sniff. Surprisingly, it had no discernible scent.
"Looks pretty plain," she remarked, unimpressed. "What's this supposed to do?"
Saga Yar's expression remained composed.
"After taking this, it rapidly numbs pain and eliminates physical suffering."
Charlotte raised an eyebrow.
"Just a painkiller?" She was expecting something far more revolutionary.
Yar chuckled knowingly.
"Not quite. Even if you're seriously injured in battle, consuming this pill will suppress the pain entirely, allowing you to fight at full strength without being hindered by wounds."
Charlotte's eyes widened slightly, the weight of that statement sinking in.
In the pirate world, pain tolerance often decided the difference between victory and death. Even the most fearsome warriors—Kaido, Whitebeard, Rocks D. Xebec—had their limits. A drug that could allow someone to ignore their injuries, even temporarily, was invaluable.
"But," Yar continued, her tone growing serious, "if you don't exercise restraint, you'll push your body beyond its limits and die of exhaustion. So, I don't recommend using it in combat unless absolutely necessary."
Charlotte nodded slowly.
"A double-edged sword," she muttered. "If you misuse it, you're as good as dead."
"Exactly. But in medical applications, it's invaluable. It can relieve pain to an unprecedented degree, making it useful in surgical procedures and injury recovery. And more importantly—it's cheap to produce."
Charlotte's sharp instincts immediately kicked in.
A cheap, effective painkiller with battlefield applications?
Her mind raced through the implications. This could be a game-changer—not just for warfare but as a highly lucrative business. If distributed wisely, it could become one of the Hiberfeller family's major industries, securing financial dominance.
However, a nagging thought crossed her mind.
"Can it be copied?" she asked, narrowing her gaze.
Saga Yar rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed by the question.
"Do you think I'm an amateur? The main ingredient is the Miracle Flower, a rare and difficult-to-cultivate plant. Without it, no one can replicate this formula."
Charlotte exhaled in relief. Even if the recipe leaked, competitors wouldn't be able to mass-produce it without access to the essential ingredient.
"For now," Yar added, a pleased smile playing on her lips, "I've named it DR-Type QG."
Charlotte smirked.
"You really are a hardworking, intelligent, and beautiful scientist," she said smoothly. Compliments came easy when the rewards were this promising.
Yar, however, was quick to pout.
"But Charlotte, look around! I have too many research projects, and we're short on manpower, machinery, materials—hell, even our lab space is too small!"
Charlotte sighed.
Another request for money.
Everywhere he turned, someone needed funding—the army, the fleet, the training grounds, the weapon suppliers. Even without knowing the full financial details, he could tell Ivan was running the books ragged just to keep things afloat.
"I don't have the funds right now," he admitted. "You'll have to wait."
Yar huffed, looking like she'd just been dealt an unforgivable injustice.
"But Charlotte…" she pouted dramatically.
"Fine, fine," Charlotte sighed. "I'll see what I can do. But Ivan has to approve it first."
That seemed to lift her spirits immediately.
"Oh, that's great! If you ask, Ivan has to give you face!"
Charlotte nearly stumbled.
This woman's mood swings were faster than flipping pages in a book.
Before he could process her sudden excitement, Yar casually threw in another topic.
"Oh, by the way, what do you plan to do with Gillian?"
Charlotte blinked.
"What?"
Yar leaned against the counter, arms crossed, an amused expression on her face.
"You know, she's a medical prodigy. While I'm best at pharmaceutical research, I don't specialize in treating patients. You should get her trained under a true master—someone with superb medical skills."
Charlotte's thoughts immediately went to legendary doctors in the pirate world—Crocus, Dr. Kureha, and even the enigmatic Law, who wielded the Ope Ope no Mi. The importance of a ship doctor couldn't be overstated.
Whitebeard had Marco. Roger had Crocus. Even the Straw Hats had Chopper.
A proper doctor was a necessity, not a luxury.
Charlotte exhaled deeply.
"Fine. I'll find someone to train her," he said, nodding decisively.
Yar smiled knowingly.
"Good. Because in this world, knowing who you can trust is more valuable than gold."
Charlotte couldn't argue with that.
Trust was everything.
And in the unpredictable seas of the New World, trust was often the difference between life and death.