ONE PIECE: THE GREAT VOYAGE

Of course, he didn't tell anyone what he was thinking. If secrets are kept, it becomes easier to achieve great things.

"How about this IQ Grass? Is it as I described?"

Seeing a group of scientists examining the plants for a long time, Caesar couldn't help but smile.

He could see the fire of curiosity in their eyes!

"That's right! It really can accelerate the evolution of organisms!"

"As for how many times evolution is sped up, we'll need to conduct further research."

A middle-aged scientist with a beard carefully placed an IQ Grass specimen into a sealed container. He was a botanist, and despite his extensive research over the years, this was the first time he had encountered such a peculiar plant.

His expertise spanned hundreds of studies, and he understood the immense power that plants could hold. However, among them all, only IQ Grass had demonstrated the ability to trigger evolution in living beings!

"No problem. Conduct your research as needed!"

"I will provide sufficient funding and research subjects!"

Caesar then turned to the zoologists who had been studying animal remains.

"And you lot over there—if you also want to study evolved creatures, I can capture a few for you!"

The three zoologists, who had been analyzing traces left by the island's wildlife, suddenly looked up.

"Really, Your Majesty?"

"That would be an immense help!"

A group of biological scientists, varying greatly in size but similar in age, was overjoyed. They had been struggling to figure out how to capture the evolved creatures for study.

Caesar had just given them the perfect opportunity.

If it were an ordinary research subject, they could have managed on their own. However, the creatures on this island were far from ordinary. Their sheer size, along with the destruction evident in the surrounding trees, made it clear that capturing them was beyond the scientists' capabilities.

More importantly, they were intelligent enough to recognize a significant problem—evolved creatures, even small ones, could be highly dangerous.

Then, Caesar turned to Vegapunk.

"This plant promotes evolution, but it also causes extreme aggression. Dr. Vegapunk, can you find a way to eliminate its side effects?"

The surrounding scientists fell silent.

They all understood the magnitude of this question. If the aggressive effects of IQ Grass could be neutralized and its properties harnessed to create a stable evolutionary formula, it would revolutionize biological science.

"Give us some time," Vegapunk responded calmly. Despite his indifferent tone, there was an air of supreme confidence in his words.

To him, any scientific challenge was just a matter of having the right conditions and enough time.

However, even he wouldn't make empty promises before achieving concrete results.

"Very well," Caesar nodded. "Then focus on that. Nothing else matters—just create a stable evolutionary formula."

So far, Caesar and the scientists were in complete agreement.

To support their research, it was crucial to maintain a steady supply of research materials.

Thus, Caesar brought Keiko, a woman with the Mori Mori no Mi (Forest-Forest Fruit), to Virmejo Island.

Under her powers, the growth rate of IQ Grass was accelerated by hundreds—if not thousands—of times. What would normally take years to mature could now be grown in a matter of days.

With Keiko's ability, even environmental factors no longer posed a concern. As long as there was soil, she could cultivate the plant.

For botanists, it was nothing short of a miracle.

As a result, a large quantity of IQ Grass became available for research.

Biologists also took samples, testing its effects in different conditions and environments, striving to uncover the secrets of controlled evolution.

Then, Caesar realized something crucial—targeted research.

The evolution triggered by IQ Grass was too random. There was no control over what form an organism would take or how its abilities would develop.

Without predictability, the plant's value was severely limited.

Uncontrolled evolution could lead to disaster. But if its effects could be directed and refined—if evolution could be controlled—then the benefits would be immeasurable!

Caesar knew this was the key to unlocking IQ Grass's true potential.

---

The Eagle Eyes—Recruiting Mihawk!

Although Caesar had been busy, he finally found a moment to relax.

Back in his palace, after wrapping up his day's work, he walked happily toward the harem.

The laughter of children filled the air.

Hearing them call him "Father" brought a deep sense of satisfaction that only a parent could understand.

Entering the harem, he spent time chatting with his wives, occasionally lifting one of his young children into his arms and playing with them. Their excited laughter filled the room.

Nearby, his older children—Carlos, Lucius, and Alice—played together. Despite being only five years old, their training had given them strong, sturdy physiques.

Due to their constant cultivation and repeated breakthroughs, they were already nearly 2.3 meters tall! Their mother was around 2 meters, so it was likely they would exceed 2 meters as well—perhaps even reaching 3 meters someday.

Just like Monkey D. Garp.

When Garp was young, he looked just like Luffy. But over time, he experienced explosive growth, eventually reaching a towering height of 2.8 meters.

Suddenly, something on the television caught Caesar's attention.

At first, he had been casually glancing at the screen while playing with his children. But now, he froze, staring at a familiar figure.

His eyes narrowed.

That face...

That presence...

After a moment, realization dawned.

"At this time, Mihawk should be around fifteen years old. That must be him."

Yes. The brief glimpse on the screen had shown a young Dracule Mihawk—the future world's greatest swordsman!

Known as Hawk-Eye Mihawk due to his piercing gaze, he was already displaying the traits that would make him legendary.

The reason he appeared on television? He was participating in a fighting tournament.

It was a combat event hosted by Caesar's own television network, drawing fighters from all over the world.

Thinking about it, this wasn't surprising.

Mihawk was a man obsessed with swordsmanship. A tournament like this—bringing together some of the strongest swordsmen—was the perfect stage for him.

Among the competitors were numerous skilled swordsmen, each with their own reasons for joining.

Some sought fame—after all, with Caesar's global broadcasting, this tournament was being watched worldwide.

Some fought for profit—because in any society, fame and fortune go hand in hand.

And then there were those like Mihawk, who entered solely to challenge themselves, seeking stronger opponents to sharpen their skills.

From the brief footage, Mihawk's strength at this age was already impressive.

Much stronger than Roronoa Zoro had been at the same age.

Caesar recalled that Mihawk had witnessed Gol D. Roger's execution in Loguetown when he was about seventeen or eighteen years old.

And Mihawk wasn't even from the East Blue.

That meant, at a young age, he had already developed the strength and ability to travel the seas alone.

That was extraordinary.

In contrast, Zoro, at the same age, had still been fighting minor criminals in the East Blue.

Of course, some of that could be attributed to Zoro's... unique personality.

Anyone familiar with the One Piece world knew that Zoro's ability to name his sword techniques was just as bad as his sense of direction!

Still, if Zoro had ventured into the Grand Line earlier, perhaps he, too, could have reached even greater heights at a younger age.

But for now, Caesar's attention was on Mihawk.

A young swordsman with boundless potential.

And perhaps, an asset worth recruiting.

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