Year 1517 of the Sea Circle Calendar, New World, Punk Hazard.
After four full years of development, the Punk Hazard of today... no, perhaps it should be called the Medical Island, Marian, had been transformed to the point where even the World Government's officials who had originally abandoned this place would not recognize it.
Wind turbine towers and battery swapping stations stood erected, sending electricity along underground cables to various facilities and residential areas in the above Upperworld and below Underworld.
In the Underworld, there were factories of all sizes. Chimneys, with no regard for the environment, belched thick smoke. Wastewater flowed freely, and the roar of machinery mingled with the incessant cursing of the pirates working there was unending.
Besides the entire territory's most important pharmaceutical factories, there were also light industrial factories covering all categories of civilian goods, from plastics to metal components, from clothes and shoes to household appliances.
Anyway, relying on the endless supply of cheap human resources from invading pirates, this manufacturing dividend would probably last until Higanbana's lifespan drew to a close.
When the production capacity of the Underworld satisfied the needs of the above Upperworld, it began to radiate outwards.
Cooperating with the transport routes specially arranged here by the deep-sea currents for the medicine trade, these cheap civilian products could spread throughout the entire New World.
Furthermore, the export of bulk commodities had already reached beyond the New World, to countries existing in Paradise, the Four Blues, and the Calm Belt.
Regardless of whether they were member states of the World Government or the World Government itself, they were all happy to have economic and trade ties with this Emperor of the Sea.
As for so-called justice and evil... Here, take these two bottles of medical potions. When you're critically injured and dying, tell everyone, which bottle is justice, and which bottle is evil?
As for the above Upperworld, this island, held aloft in the sky by giant trees, had also undergone a dramatic transformation.
Roads, completely constructed from specially processed clouds, extended in all directions. Processed cloud elevated highways and island cloud light rail lines were also planned and extending, linking the upper and lower islands, forming an interactive whole.
Buildings rose from the ground. The urban center bustled with activity, with various shopping malls and luxury goods stores clustered together. The streets were clean and crowded with people.
Also, there were inhabitants of Marveille Island, clad in armor and holding special sniper rifles, patrolling the streets.
These natives, whose bodies had evolved due to the special plant, IQ, on the island and who had grown wings, were natural-born fighters and snipers. With just a little training, they could instantly become highly skilled flying musket corps.
All of this lent this resplendent city an air of danger and primitiveness.
Outside the city, within the palace located deep in the thick forest.
A petite girl, twenty meters tall, was running quickly, waving a large stack of documents in her hand.
"Mother, Mother!"
A fierce light flickered, and Sakura opened her eyes inside the room.
[Shuttle complete. This shuttle consumed 10 Achievement Points. Remaining Achievement Points: 190.]
'Hmm, there was still...'
Before Sakura could finish her thoughts, she was pounced on by her twenty-meter-tall daughter, who slammed her to the ground, creating a large crater.
"Alright, get up. What's the rush about..."
Sakura raised her hand, with force lifting her giant daughter and tossing her into the 'doghouse' she had built for herself nearby.
"Oh, right!" Sato Sakura lifted her head from the crater. "Caesar-sensei said that one of the giants frozen beneath Punk Hazard has been thawed out. Also, the analysis project for IQ is complete. The newly developed evolution drug is extremely powerful. Do you want to come see it?"
"Hmm, take me to see it!" Sakura patted the dust off her clothes and stood up.
Behind her, the girl took out a small notebook from her bosom, jotted down 'Mother doesn't like flying pounces', then also stood up and, with cheerful steps, followed Sakura.
…
Below the Upperworld, the Third Research Institute in the Underworld.
"Shurororororo!"
A man draped in a Gas Coat held a test tube filled with green liquid, emitting a horrifying laugh.
"Truly worthy of me, a scientific genius, to be able to develop such a drug." Bringing his large face close to the test tube, Caesar revealed a withered form.
Crack!
Behind him, the laboratory door was abruptly opened by the highest authority holder of the entire base. Two figures, one large and one small, walked in from outside.
"Caesar Clown, I heard your research has produced results?" Sakura stepped forward casually, picking up the records to read.
Knowing that the Emperor before him was also a skilled doctor, Caesar dared not conceal anything from her and quickly disclosed all his experimental data, lest he be slow to act and have his head crushed by the unfilial disciple behind her.
'Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch' Sato Sakura gnashed her sharp teeth at Caesar.
"Hmm, drastically shortens lifespan?" Sakura looked at the cell status column and held her head in frustration.
It was her oversight, forgetting that Caesar's research aesthetic was maximum efficacy and the most severe side effects.
Seeing that the eyes of Sakura behind her were lighting up, Caesar broke out in a cold sweat explaining, "Th-this... my lady, I have done my utmost to pursue maximum efficacy. The problem of lifespan consumption is inherently a constraint at the genetic level. To evolve, one must pay a price!"
"No, it's also because I didn't clearly explain the requirements." Sakura sighed and put down the document.
Producing a large batch of short-lived consumables was not what she needed. IQ, this plant capable of promoting spontaneous biological evolution, could allow the people of this world to possess all kinds of possibilities, along with healthy bodies and normal lifespans.
Sakura believed that only this could be considered true evolution comparable to nature, and it was also the reason she had to take this island from Shiki's hands.
"The evolution drug is not your fault. I'll lead the project later, and you can come help in my group."
Sakura waved her hand to dismiss the matter. "Now, take me to see that awakened giant!"
Caesar, relieved of a great burden, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, shook his fist at Sato Sakura behind Sakura's back, then turned back to Sakura with a smile. "Please follow me."
Caesar led the way. The three passed through several R-Zone areas of the laboratory, took an elevator at the end, and descended directly below the Third Research Institute.
After passing through the laboratory that Caesar had sealed off, they arrived at a huge circular laboratory.
In the center of the laboratory was a fifty-meter-tall giant, supported on a huge stone bed built from piled earth. Dozens of massive needles were inserted densely into his arms. Multi-meter-tall medicine bags hung on either side, their liquid slowly injecting into the giant's body.
"He was frozen for too long. Currently, we can only sustain his life activities in this way." Caesar spread his hands helplessly, indicating he had done his best.
"It's fine. Let me take a look at him!"
Sakura took a deep breath and used Geppo to fly towards the giant.
Before long, she stood on the giant's chest. The petite girl was disproportionately small compared to the rugged giant, looking from a distance like an ant confronting a tree.
"Galleila, I finally found you all!" Sakura bent down, examining the giant's face.
At that moment, that pair of vast eyes suddenly flew open!