One Piece:The Merchant King of Grand Line

The Merchant King of the Grand Line

Chapter 6: The Scientist Behind the Curtain

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A Glimpse into Forbidden Knowledge

Lord Rensfeld believed he had found a valuable investor.

I knew I had found an opportunity to take over his entire operation.

The difference between us?

He thought in terms of power. I thought in terms of ownership.

A king rules by command. A merchant rules by controlling the supply.

And soon, I would control the supply of artificial Devil Fruits.

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The Journey to the Laboratory

Two days after my conversation with Rensfeld, I was escorted aboard a luxurious private ship bound for a hidden research facility.

It was located on Dagger Isle, a remote, mist-covered island off the beaten paths of the Grand Line. Not charted on official maps.

A secret that was meant to stay buried.

The security was no joke. As we neared the island, I counted:

Two warships stationed at key vantage points.

Cipher Pol agents disguised as staff.

Armed guards patrolling the docks and the cliffs.

This wasn't some small underground lab—this was a high-priority research center.

Which meant whoever was behind this had far more influence than Rensfeld alone.

I smiled to myself. Good. More power to steal.

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Meeting the Mad Genius

Dr. Alvus Kreig was not what I expected.

Most rogue scientists were either deranged lunatics or bitter exiles.

Kreig?

He was calm. Too calm.

Dressed in a pristine white coat, with thin glasses resting on the bridge of his nose, he exuded the composed arrogance of a man who thought himself above others.

And maybe he was.

"I was told we had a new benefactor," Kreig said, his voice smooth but devoid of emotion. His sharp eyes studied me. "Are you here to bring me more money? Or to ask foolish questions like my last investors?"

I smirked. "Money, obviously. But also something far more valuable."

He raised an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"

I stepped closer, lowering my voice just slightly.

"The guarantee that you'll never have to beg for funding again."

For the first time, his expression changed. Just a flicker of intrigue.

I knew then.

I had him.

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The Secrets of the Project

Dr. Kreig didn't waste time with pleasantries. He led me deeper into the research facility, through sterile hallways lined with sealed containment units.

Inside some of the glass chambers, I saw… experiments.

Failed artificial Devil Fruits—misshapen, half-formed, oozing strange substances.

Animals mutated beyond recognition, their bodies twisted by unstable transformations.

A human test subject, unconscious, with blackened veins spreading across his arms.

The stench of science unchecked by morality filled the air.

I kept my expression neutral. Horrified investors lose leverage. Smart investors adapt.

Finally, Kreig stopped in front of a large, reinforced vault. He pressed a series of codes into the panel, and the massive steel doors hissed open.

Inside was a single pedestal.

And on it…

A perfect artificial Devil Fruit.

Unlike the grotesque failures I had seen earlier, this one looked just like a real fruit—spiraling patterns, vibrant color, a sense of contained power.

Kreig smiled faintly. "The first successful prototype."

I stared at it, my mind racing.

This wasn't just science. This was an empire waiting to be built.

If I could mass-produce these…

I wouldn't just be a merchant.

I would be the single most powerful supplier of Devil Fruits in history.

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The First Move Toward Control

I turned to Kreig. "How close are you to stabilizing the replication process?"

He exhaled. "The fruit is stable. The problem is reliability."

I frowned. "Explain."

Kreig pushed his glasses up. "This fruit is a success. But it's one success out of hundreds of failures. The process is… unpredictable."

"So you need more resources," I said.

Kreig nodded. "More funding. More test subjects. More raw materials."

I smiled. "I can provide all of that."

He eyed me carefully. "In exchange for what?"

I leaned in slightly. "Exclusive control over the commercial distribution."

His lips curled into a smirk. "You wish to be the sole merchant of artificial Devil Fruits?"

I chuckled. "Oh no, doctor. I wish to be the sole owner of the entire industry."

He tilted his head, intrigued. "And Rensfeld?"

I smirked. "He thinks he's running the show. But tell me… how often do you deal with him directly?"

Kreig's smirk widened. "Not often. He prefers to send envoys."

"Exactly," I said. "Which means if I control the supply chain, Rensfeld will eventually answer to me."

Kreig chuckled. "You are a dangerous man, Mr. Lancaster."

I grinned. "Doctor, I'm just a businessman."

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Planting the Seeds of Takeover

By the time I left that lab, I had already begun laying the groundwork for my hostile takeover.

Step One: Gain Kreig's trust by providing funding he desperately needs.

Step Two: Slowly cut Rensfeld out of the supply chain by offering Kreig better deals directly.

Step Three: Use my own connections to expand the operation beyond their control.

Step Four: When the time is right… take full ownership of the research and production.

This wasn't just about money anymore.

This was about building an empire from the shadows.

Because once I controlled the market for artificial Devil Fruits…

Even the World Government would have to negotiate with me.

And that?

That was true power.

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Next Chapter: The First Experiment

(Victor takes his first step toward testing an artificial Devil Fruit—on himself or an unwilling subject.)