Chapter 17: Gol D. Roger

"Damn it, how do you two know Dr. Qingcheng" The moment Rayleigh and the others left the room, the remaining people inside erupted.

"I have no idea. I've never even met him," Shanks replied.

"Cut the crap," another person said. "You guys definitely know him. Otherwise, how did he know your names?"

"Exactly, exactly."

"Haha, you fools. Isn't it obvious?" Buggy laughed. "It's because our names are known throughout the world!"

"Tch." Several people scoffed before walking away.

Buggy: "Hey, hey, don't leave! I wasn't finished…"

―――――――――

"Cough, cough… cough…"

Meanwhile, before Rayleigh and the others could even reach the captain's quarters, they heard bouts of coughing coming from inside.

Knock knock.

"Rayleigh? Come in!" a hoarse voice called out from within the room.

The one speaking was a pale-faced man, whose resolute face still held a comforting smile at the corner of his lips. This was their captain—the future Pirate King, the current Gol D. Roger.

"Captain!"

"Captain!"

…

"You all came…" Roger looked at everyone in the room, then turned his gaze to a man he didn't recognize. In truth, he had already noticed him. The man had been watching him closely from the moment he entered. He must be the famous doctor Qingcheng.

"This is the renowned doctor I told you about," Rayleigh introduced. "He is Halvis D. Bilia Qingcheng. He can definitely cure you."

"D, huh?" Roger murmured before saying, "Hello, I'm Gol D. Roger."

"So it really is Gol D. Roger. I wonder what the Navy was thinking, changing the 'D' in your name to 'Gold' on the bounty poster… turning it into Gol Do. Roger." Qingcheng composed himself, then shook Roger's hand. "Nice to meet you, Roger. I've wanted to meet you for a long time. I just didn't expect it to be under these circumstances."

"Cough, cough, cough…" Roger began to speak but was overcome by a violent fit of coughing.

Seeing the blood in Roger's palm, Rayleigh's expression darkened. He turned to Qingchengand said, "Dr. Qingcheng, we can talk later. Please check on our captain first."

"Alright." Seeing Roger's condition, Qingcheng nodded. "Captain Roger, please lie down. I'll examine your body."

"Then I'll begin." Once Roger was lying down, Qingcheng placed his glowing green hands over him. However, after just a few seconds, his expression changed. The others couldn't help but feel a sinking sensation in their hearts.

Lokas—origin unknown, ranked third in the world in terms of danger. There is no cure. It can only be suppressed with medication to prolong life. Medical data suggests that treatment extends life by about a year—and even then, the year is filled with suffering.

The Lokas bacteria wreak havoc on the meridians and internal organs, rapidly multiplying by absorbing the patient's nutrients. The most terrifying part? Even now, there's still no medicine that can destroy this bacteria—only drugs that slow down its reproduction. Over time, Lokas also develops drug resistance. Even when suppressed, it still has the power to destroy the body within a year.

In fact, this was the very first virus Qingcheng ever studied. After two years of research, he discovered a way to destroy it. However, only he can administer the method—it's not something others can replicate, so he never publicized it.

Using poison to fight poison—that was the method he found. He developed a toxin even more virulent than the Lokas bacteria. But this poison had a fatal flaw: it could only be neutralized by spiritual pressure (Reiatsu). It took a massive amount, but with his lieutenant-level spiritual energy, he could handle it.

Roger's condition was already in its late stages. The bacteria had already infected nearly half his body. At this rate, the rest would be consumed within a month. Qingcheng couldn't help but wonder how Crocus, Roger's doctor in the original story, managed to keep him alive for three years. Perhaps the disease in the original wasn't Lokas, or maybe Qingcheng presence in this world changed the timeline. Either way, it didn't matter.

"Whew…"

As he withdrew his hand, Qingcheng sighed. "I really wonder where this Lokas bacteria came from… Why are there so many cases appearing around the world?"

"Dr. Qingcheng, is there… any way to treat it?" Rayleigh asked anxiously, seeing the expression on Qingcheng face.

"If I had seen him right when he first got sick, I could've extended his life by about five years. But now… at most, two."

"Two years… So it still can't be cured?" Rayleigh's heart sank.

"Hehehe…" Roger, however, sat up smiling. "As expected of a once-in-a-century genius doctor. Two years? That's more than enough."

"Don't flatter me," Qingcheng replied. "At least I know someone named Crocus who could extend your life by more than three years."

"Oh?" Rayleigh's eyes lit up. "So there's someone even more skilled than you? Dr. Qingcheng, could you possibly—"

"Hehehe…" Before Rayleigh could finish, Roger suddenly interrupted, "Two years is fine. That's enough. Please, Dr. Qingcheng."

Qingcheng looked at Roger strangely, surprised at how accepting he was. He smiled and said, "Actually, what I just told you was the lowest-level method. There are two others—intermediate and advanced—that could allow you to survive like a normal person."

"There are other ways?" Rayleigh asked. "Then tell us—what's the advanced method?"

Qingcheng smiled. "The advanced method involves a Devil Fruit. If Roger eats the Paramecia-type Bacteria Fruit, he would be able to control the Lokas bacteria in his body—and even use them to attack enemies."

"That kind of fruit only exists once in the whole world. There's no way we'll just happen to find it," Rayleigh said, disappointed. "What about the intermediate method?"

"The intermediate method is currently the most practical. It can completely eradicate the Lokas bacteria in Roger's body—but it's a gamble. If it fails… he'll die."

As Qingcheng spoke, he opened his medical kit and pulled out a bottle filled with a green liquid. "This poison is even more deadly than Lokas. Not only can it kill the bacteria, it's dozens of times more destructive. The infected won't live more than half a day. Even someone with Haki might not last long."

He paused, then added, "Of course, since I developed this poison, I also made the antidote. The question is—does Roger have the courage to try it? After all, we've only just met."

"I trust you," Roger said, grinning and baring his teeth as he looked into Qingcheng eyes.

There was no denying the charm of that smile. Not only did it feel natural, it actually put people at ease. Seeing it, Qingcheng couldn't help but smile back. "You agreed so quickly. Are you really okay with that?"

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