One Piece: So What If I Sin, Lie, and Lust? I'm Still a Good Marine Chapter 173: Volume 2 – - 75: This Makes Sense

What the hell is going on?

Wasn't I just injected by that fat bastard Queen?

No—wait, that didn't co out right.

Wasn't I injected with the Mummy Virus by that fat bastard Queen?

So how is it... that after three straight minutes of this "torture," my body feels even stronger?

That... that doesn't make sense, does it?

Even with all the hardships Daren had faced since crossing into this world—countless life-or-death situations, battles with monsters like Byrnndi World and even the Pirate King Roger—he couldn't help but feel stunned.

A virus... shouldn't it be weakening the body? Tearing it apart?

Queen had just said it himself: the Mummy Virus makes the body overheat beyond what it can bear, spreading a burning pain all over. The blood starts to evaporate, leading to dehydration, and eventually, the organs dry out...

But then, what the hell is going on with ?

Is this... actually reasonable!?

At that mont, Daren's mind began racing.

His body was already near its breaking point...

The virus was damaging him, putting intense pressure on his system...

But the dosage... was low.

Wait a second!

Daren suddenly recalled sothing Queen had said—

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna let you die that easily."

Could it be...?

A wild and ridiculous idea flashed through Daren's mind, like a bolt of lightning exploding in his skull.

That fat bastard Queen never intended to kill and Bullet with the virus from the beginning. Kaidou gave him orders, after all...

He just wanted to use us as guinea pigs—to test his virus.

That's why he used a low dose.

That's why he's been constantly monitoring our vitals with those devices, making sure the virus wouldn't push us past the point of no return...

This thod—applying external stress and forcing the body to its limit while making sure it doesn't reach lethal levels...

Isn't this the exact kind of training I've been doing all along!?

The mont the realization hit, Daren's expression turned downright bizarre. His mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Could it be... that Queen, completely by accident, is actually helping break through my physical limits with his virus torture!?

And the craziest, most absurd part of all—

That asly three minutes of "virus torture" actually boosted my Physique stat by almost a full point!

One point might not sound like much, but considering Daren's current stat was already sitting at 70, that was huge. By his own standards, even soone like Kaidou—hailed in his pri as the "Strongest Creature on Land, Sea, and Air"—only hit a 100 in Physique!

Once you get to Daren's level, pushing your stats even a little higher takes a monstrous amount of effort.

This boost? It was on par with half a month of brutal, top-tier training at an elite officer camp!

And unlike regular training, which loses effectiveness as the body adapts...

This—this virus injection—was applying direct tabolic pressure to his internal organs.

In other words, the strength he felt wasn't just about tougher skin, stronger muscles, or denser bones.

It was his organs—his very core—that had grown stronger!

Which ant his internal function, resilience, and ability to recover from damage had all gone up!

This kind of training effect is impossible to achieve through regular impact resistance drills.

After all, it's nearly impossible to directly train the internal organs.

Thinking about that, Daren couldn't help but recall Kaidou's so-called "invincible" body.

Kaidou's strength didn't co just from his ability to take hits—it was a complete, seamless toughness that left no weaknesses. Even masters who had achieved "Internal Destruction" level Ryuo Haki—people like Zoro, Kin'emon, and Killer—might have managed to injure him, leave scars on the surface, or land blows to his organs...

But in truth, their attacks did little more than scratch an itch.

Even if Kaidou took their hits head-on and suffered internal damage, his combat strength never dropped for a second. He could still easily puml Luffy into the dirt.

That was what true, all-around physical dominance looked like.

Daren had been trying for years to figure out how to train his internal organs, but never made much progress. He never expected he'd actually find the breakthrough... through Queen.

Queen was helping him grow stronger!

But... does that even make sense?

Daren paused to seriously think it through—and soon ca to a conclusion.

It made perfect sense.

Training, at its core, was about applying external pressure while keeping the risk of death low—forcing the body to adapt and push past its limits over ti.

And Queen's setup hit every single mark.

As a scientist, Queen used the most precise monitoring to ensure Daren's life wasn't in danger.

The virus dosage was carefully asured to push his body to the brink without crossing into long-term damage... especially since Kaidou clearly wanted to recruit him.

Daren let out a long breath.

The feverish, burning pain surging through his body was finally starting to fade. Feeling slightly better, he lifted his head—and suddenly rembered sothing. He turned to look at Bullet.

He'd gotten stronger under the stress of the virus... what about Bullet?

But the mont Daren looked over, he was t with a face wearing the exact sa bizarre expression.

Daren: ...

Bullet: ...

Daren blinked.

Bullet blinked.

Their mouths twitched at the sa ti.

No words were needed.

'This guy got stronger too...'

Daren and Bullet exchanged a quick glance, then both looked away—each thinking the exact sa thing.

...

The prison returned to silence.

After resting for a bit, Daren, still feeling weak from the effects of the Seastone, reached out and picked up a food tray that one of the Beasts Pirates had brought in. He casually grabbed sothing and started eating.

The dry jerky was tough and tasteless, but he didn't care.

Right now, the priority was replenishing energy and speeding up recovery. Taste didn't matter.

Bullet hesitated when he saw this.

As a professional soldier—and soone who'd been betrayed by both comrades and superiors—he'd developed deep distrust toward everyone and everything.

"If they wanted to kill us, they could've done it anyti. No need to bother poisoning the food,"

Daren said between bites, barely glancing up as he chewed.

Bullet froze.

After a long silence, he looked at Daren deeply—then, without saying a word, started eating too.

...

(70 Chapters Ahead)

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