It is about 300 nautical miles from the sixteenth branch.

On a small, uninhabited island.

At the moment, a top-secret test is underway here.

A large number of surveillance phone bugs are deployed on it, covering almost all areas.

At the same time, a large ironclad stopped about a kilometer from the island.

Inside the ship, Sean was taking Robin, Lucky, and a group of white coats, looking at the large number of screens in front of him.

A pirate in a prison uniform is exploring the island.

"Lieutenant General, the No. 7 special ammunition has been reloaded, and the ship's guns have been calibrated!"

"Let's get started, order Usopp to fire!"

"Yes, Lieutenant General!"

A few seconds later, with a loud bang, a special cannonball instantly exploded from one of the barrels of the ship's bow main gun, and smashed into a place on an uninhabited island less than 3 seconds later, and the terrifying explosion instantly tore over a large area of trees near the explosion site.

Fortunately, there is not much deviation from the explosion point, and the distance from the monitoring phone bug is nearly 100 meters, and the picture can still be transmitted.

It's just that at this moment, the sky is dusty and almost impossible to see.

After more than a minute, I could barely see the scene.

"Lieutenant General, the pirates 10 meters away from the bombing point have been confirmed dead, and they are all sieves."

"The pirates who are 30 meters away from the explosion point still have slight signs of activity and are judged to be seriously injured."

"The pirate who is 50 meters away from the explosion point, although he moves, can only crawl, and his injuries are not serious, but the sea tower stone embedded in his body causes him to be extremely weak."

"The pirates 80 meters away from the bombing point, hiding behind the trees, do not seem to have suffered any other damage except for some concussions."

"The pirates 100 meters away from the bombing point, although they were knocked to the ground by the shock wave, were still able to get up and escape, and the injuries were very slight."

"The preliminary conclusion is that the effective killing distance of the fragmentation projectile against the capable person should be about 50 meters, and at the position of about 100 meters, it has almost lost its lethality."

According to the scene in the picture, Reiters on the side immediately made a preliminary analysis.

The shell that was fired just now was not an ordinary shell.

Rather, under the leadership of Sean, the scientific research institute developed a new type of artillery shell, fragmentation shells!

Pure gunpowder damage, in fact, in the world of pirates, is not too lethal.

After all, the people of this world are far stronger than the humans in Sean's previous life.

Even if it is just an ordinary person, if you only talk about physique, you are definitely several times stronger than the soldier king in Sean's previous life.

Not to mention those who are much stronger than ordinary people and have the ability to eat Devil Fruits.

Therefore, the idea of fragmentation bullets was put forward by Sean.

It's still the old rules, Sean doesn't know technology, so he just came up with an idea.

What if the Hailou Stone is made into a large number of micro-fragments, and then loaded into the shell, so that after the shell explodes, these countless fragments can be released, forming a large-scale attack with no dead ends?

Although Sean only came up with an idea, it was enough.

As I said before, the scientists of the Pirate World never lack abilities, and even their abilities are much, much stronger than those of Sean's previous scientists.

But what they lack is ideas, ideas.

No, fragmentation shells have been studied.

It has also been proven that the use of fragmentation shells has great lethality for those who are capable.

A large number of fragments enter the body, even if you can resist it with a strong physique, it will definitely make you completely lose your combat effectiveness.

After all, the body is full of fragments of Hailou stone, and those who are capable are equivalent to being wasted.

He could only slump on the ground, waiting to be caught, and then sent by Sean to the small black house of Hailou Stone for Devil Fruit Peeling.

As for the pirates who were within 10 meters of the explosion point, because the distance was too close, they might be shot into their bodies by several times or even dozens of times the fragments of the Hailou Stone, and they would be directly beaten

up the sieve.

This, there is a high probability that it will be hung directly.

"The effect is not bad, but it would be even better if we could find a way to improve it to ensure that the target does not die even at a distance of ten meters!"

"Yes, Lieutenant General, we will continue to figure out how to do this!"

"Well, there's no rush for this, the existing fragmentation projectile will be produced first, and you can develop an improved model while producing, and then try another baby."

"Understood!"

nodded, but soon Reitus gave an embarrassed look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

"This... Although we have come up with the cluster bomb proposed by the lieutenant general, we currently lack the means to deliver it, because this thing needs at least 500 naval guns to meet the conditions for use..."

All right...

It's not that Sean can't understand this, after all, the strongest naval gun in his hand now is not less than 300, and the size of the cluster bomb is destined to not be small, who made him have so many things in his stomach?

"Tell me first!"

Nodding, Sean said.

"Yes, Lieutenant General, the cluster munitions we have made so far also use the method of fragmentation, each carrying about 180 high-explosive fragmentation shells, which can be triggered in the air, and let these 180 high-explosive fragmentation shells cover an area of at least about one square kilometer."

"If you talk about lethality alone, it will definitely be much smaller than the 280 fragmentation shells just tested, and it will be difficult to cause lethal damage, but it should ensure dense coverage in this area, so that all capable people will lose their combat effectiveness."

"Although we can make smaller cluster shells as long as we reduce the number of high-explosive fragmentation shells and use them on the current 280 naval guns, then the coverage will not meet the requirements of the junior general, so..."

After listening to Lotus's explanation, Sean also understood.

The main reason is that the needs that he put forward at the beginning could not be realized with the existing naval guns.

"It's okay, let's try the effect first, where's the thing?"

"Here, Lieutenant General!"

------

A few minutes later.

On the bow deck, all the white coats were dumbfounded.

Because Sean directly lifted the huge cluster bomb up.

"Lieutenant General?"

"I'm going to be a human cannon!"

Human ship guns...

What the heck?

"By the way, how did this thing detonate?"

Suddenly, Sean remembered an important question, how to get this thing to detonate over the target?

"According to the calculation of the precise time when the shell will arrive at the target location after it is fired, and then the setting of the countdown of the cluster projectile should be set."

"Well, that's fine, set me 3 seconds."

"Lieutenant General, are you going to..."

"Don't ask, just do it!"

"Yes, Lieutenant General!"

Soon, Reitus set the time.

"How do I activate this countdown?"

"You don't need to activate it, as long as the cluster bomb moves at high speed, this countdown will automatically start."

"And what if I drop this thing from the air? Is the descent fast enough to start?"

Sean frowned.

This question has to be asked clearly, after all, the speed at which the shell is fired out is supersonic speed.

"That's enough, in fact, it only takes about 30 meters per second to activate!"

"30 meters? Then no problem!"

nodded, and then Sean was stunned by the white coats, carrying a huge cluster bomb, like walking up a staircase, step by step into the air.

"Brigadier Admiral Lu Qi, is this the Navy's moon step?"

Retus looked confused, then looked at Lucci on the side.

But Lucci shook his head.

How can it be a moon step...

Speaking of which, I still don't know how my own lieutenant general did this.

I've tried several times, but I've failed each time.

Even if he asked Sean, he was answered, this is his special ability, and only he can do it in the whole world.

Over time, I became numb.

------

Ten minutes later.

Looking at the huge cluster bomb, Sean finally came to the center of the island, about 500 meters above it.

Even he is a little struggling at the moment.

Well, 100 million points!

At least it's a little harder than not taking anything.

After all, this thing weighs several tons, and his basic Dao power value is only nearly 7,000, which is far from the level of a monster like Karp.

Otherwise, you will directly learn how Karp smashes cannonballs with one hand.

"Hey, sure enough, my body is still too weak!"

He sighed slightly, then looked at the island below.

In an instant, Sean dropped the huge cluster cannonball.

A few seconds later, with a bang, the shell of the cluster bomb suddenly shattered, and the 180 high-explosive fragmentation shells inside were instantly scattered and flew out, and after a while, they fell downwards like rain.

About ten seconds later.

High-explosive fragmentation shells landed one after another, and explosions rang out one after another.

Boom boom boom...

From the air, although these explosions cannot be compared with the fragmentation shells of 280 just now, and each explosion is not strong, it is better than covering a wide area.

Almost half of the uninhabited islands have been covered.

Xien Du felt that the coverage of one square kilometer mentioned by Reiters was definitely conservative.

"How's it going, Retus?"

Not having to carry such a large cargo, Sean quickly returned to the warship.

"Confirming, Lieutenant General!"

"Hmm!"

Looking at the busy group of white coats, Sean was not in a hurry.

A full minute later, the results were in!

"Lieutenant General, among the nine pirates on the island who are not yet dead, one person died and eight were completely incapacitated by the blow of cluster bombs."

"Wait, how can it kill people, the lethality of this thing shouldn't be enough to kill those pirates directly, right?"

"Well, that's because one of the high-explosive fragmentation shells just landed on the pirate who had just been seriously injured in the previous round of testing, 30 meters from the explosion point, and then..."

Well, if I had known, I should have brought this guy out first, and then I would have tested the cluster bomb.

Once this person dies, he won't be able to strip the Devil Fruit.

Although the fruits of these ten people are very garbage, the fruits of the animal system are garbage, and they can enhance a lot of physique after eating.

It hurts...

"Lu Qi, tell Bruno to come and clean up, bring all the non-dead back to the branch research department, and then send them to the [black room] one by one."

"Yes, Lieutenant General!"

What the [Black Room] is, Lu Qi knows too well.

This is the code name of the small black house of the sea building, and when the [black room] was used for the first time, Lu Qi was present.

And now, Sean has handed over the right to use the [Black Room] and the handling of the captured pirate abilities to Luki.

Eight animal-based Devil Fruits...

Take it as a reward and hold a big competition of branch sailors?

This can be there!

"Lu Qi, go back and organize, we will hold a branch competition, only the participation of sailors below the rank of school officer, and the top eight will be rewarded with a Devil Fruit!"

"Lieutenant General, this is the one who will be fine, but he can get the best ranking

What if you don't want to use animal-based fruits?"

Lucky's groaning mused and asked a question.

To put it bluntly, there may be people who don't like this fruit, after all...

Even in the animal family, these fruits are very rubbish.

The most important thing is...

In this competition, Sophia will definitely get a place, and he doesn't want Sophia to eat these garbage fruits.

"Well, you're talking about a problem, so..."

"After the competition, let the top eight choose first, he can choose a certain fruit to eat, or he can choose to give up, and postpone to the ninth place to enjoy the reward, and so on until the eight devil fruits are allocated."

"Of course, the last eight people, those who give up will be given a priority."

"Take Sophia as an example, I know you definitely don't want him to eat this thing, so no matter what new fruits the branch gets in the future, she will have the right of first choice, how about it?"

Lu Qi's eyes lit up, and he nodded.

Now below the school officer, the strongest are Ace and Sophia.

Ace is already an ability, so you don't have to think about him, and Sophia is likely to be the first place in this big competition.

This means that in the future, Sophia will have the first choice of the Devil Fruit of the sixteen branches, and as long as there is a good fruit, she can directly use this permission to obtain it.

Well, I can also go and help her hunt some pirate with a powerful fruit back...

As for Sean's addition, Lucci couldn't be more satisfied.

"Lieutenant General, I want to apply and lead the team into the Great Voyage for training!"

"Come on, do you want to go hunt for a powerful Devil Fruit ability and come back, and arrange it for Sophia?"

Careful thinking was seen through by Sean, and Rao is Lu Qi also showed a touch of embarrassment.

"Alright, don't be embarrassed, I agree!"

"Thank you, Lieutenant General!"

Blu Blu Blu...

Just then, Sean's phone bug suddenly rang.

"I'm Sean!"

"Lieutenant General, I'm Kaku."

"Kaku, what's wrong?"

"Lieutenant General, the people from Nine Snake Island are here, saying that they have sent 50 awakened armed warriors as agreed."

"Oh, Hancock is quite trustworthy, you can arrange it first, I'll be back in two days at most."

"This... Lieutenant General, the people on the Nine Snakes side said that they want you to come back immediately, otherwise it will be too late!"

"Huh? What's going on?"

Sean looked confused.

What do you mean to go back immediately, otherwise it will be too late?

"According to Sandasnia, Poyahan Cook seems to be sick and dying, and only you can save her!"

"Sick, and terminally ill? What disease?"

Sean was a little confused.

"Well, according to her, Hancock had lovesickness, and I asked the military doctor, but they said they had never heard of it."

"Tell me again, what's the problem?"

"Lovesickness!"

I'll go...

Sean understood, but people are stupid.

What is lovesickness, how could he not know after reading the original book?

Isn't it the curse of the Amazon lily, a disease that only their emperor can get?

Lovesickness, and say that only I can save it?

So, this Hancock fell in love with his own?

Just because I erased the Draco mark for him?

It's a little outrageous, but it seems to make sense...

"Luki, let Bruno come and take me back to the sixteenth branch first!"

"Yes, Lieutenant General!"