The surgical space vanished, and El descended from the air.
The pirate who performed the surgery knelt on one knee: "I offer you my loyalty!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the pirate began to age rapidly.
From the appearance of a twenty-year-old youth, he quickly aged to a man with white hair and wrinkled skin.
Then he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
The Op-Op Fruit's power, which granted immortality, came at the cost of the user's life.
"Naguri!" El called out.
Naguri quickly pushed open the door and entered, seeing El standing and the pirate lying on the ground.
He asked joyfully, "Lord… it was a success?"
El wasn't entirely sure yet if it was a complete success. He told Naguri, "Collect his body properly."
"I will need to revive him later."
This pirate was loyal, skilled in medicine, and compatible with the Op-Op Fruit. El would need him again in the future.
Hearing El's command, Naguri quickly said, "Yes, sir!" He then ordered men to respectfully handle the pirate's body.
El stood alone in the room, closing his eyes, blocking out his senses of hearing and smell. He focused entirely on his body.
As a top-tier expert, his control over his body was absolute. Now, he could feel it.
The cells and organs in his body were all different from before! Every part of his body seemed to be cheering, filled with an incredible vitality.
It was as if he had an endless supply of energy, as if he would never feel fatigued!
El clenched his fist. He felt the same power as before, identical in every way.
"Indeed… the Immortality Operation was a success!"
El's eyes shone with immense excitement!
At this moment, he also understood something.
Many people mistook the Immortality Operation for true immortality. That wasn't precisely the case.
Those who underwent this surgery simply remained eternally young. If they suffered a fatal injury or an incurable disease, they would still die.
But for El, in his current state, it was almost indistinguishable from complete immortality. There was hardly anyone in this world who could harm him!
El felt an immense surge of confidence.
He walked a few steps across the floor and picked up a basket from a corner.
The basket contained various fruits. Devil Fruits were said to reappear after their user died. One theory suggested they would appear on the nearest similar fruit.
So El had instructed Naguri and his men to prepare every type of fruit they could find, placing them all in this large basket.
He looked at the fruits in the basket. The top layer contained none.
El patiently took out each fruit, one by one, to examine them.
Finally, at the bottom of the basket, he saw a familiar Devil Fruit.
A vibrant red, heart-shaped fruit.
The Op-Op Fruit!
El's heart swelled with unbridled joy. This meant that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he could virtually control the Op-Op Fruit forever!
In an instant, countless possibilities flooded El's mind. He could even use this Op-Op Fruit to create a massive, invincible immortal army!
He could also offer the Immortality Operation as a reward, allowing his loyal subordinates to also gain eternal youth.
He could even use this power to make his enemies defect to his side!
El's heart pounded with excitement.
He thought for a moment, then carefully put the Op-Op Fruit away, placing it in an extremely secure location.
For now, there was no hurry. He would retrieve it when he needed it again.
This would be one of El's greatest secrets.
Naguri pushed open the door and entered again.
"Lord, it has been handled."
"Good." El, his back to Naguri, stood as steady as a mountain.
"Lord…" Naguri hesitated for a moment before asking, "The surgery… was it a success?"
El turned around. "Of course."
He said calmly, "From now on, I am immortal!"
Naguri's heart swelled with ecstasy. He immediately knelt on the ground and praised, "Long live Lord El!"
This was no flattery; it was a genuine truth!
El looked at Naguri calmly. "Do you… also wish for eternal life?"
Naguri froze. Then, an uncontrollable joy surged within him!
"Lord, can I too?" he asked tremblingly.
"Naguri, work hard. As long as you remain loyal to me, you can also achieve it!"
After saying this, El stepped over Naguri and walked out of the room.
Leaving Naguri alone, ecstatic in the room.
"Eternal life, eternal life!" He repeated excitedly.
After this day, a rumor, originating from who knew where, began to spread.
It said that El had become a legendary immortal.
Most people who heard this news scoffed at it. They couldn't believe such a person could exist in this world.
However, a few people…
A few who knew the inside story.
They knew that all of it must be true.
---
Meanwhile.
At Mary Geoise, the Holy Land.
The atmosphere in the highest conference room today was exceptionally solemn!
Even the weather was gloomy, as if a great storm was about to break.
Everyone nearby moved cautiously. They all knew something major was about to happen.
Inside the conference room, all the high-ranking officials of Marine Headquarters were present.
In the center sat the Marine Fleet Admiral, Kong.
Beside him was the Chief of the Marine Headquarters Criminal Investigation Bureau, Black Horse.
__________________
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