A massive stream of information surged into Luo An's mind, deepening his understanding of life even further.
If the previous Master level allowed Luo An to see the flame of life, now he could understand the fuel components and burning methods of that flame.
Luo An raised his head and looked at Roger again.
This time, the world in Luo An's eyes was completely different.
Luo An didn't immediately use this new skill; instead, he walked up to Roger.
"Captain Roger."
Luo An looked up and calmly said, "May I perform a detailed physical examination for you?"
Roger was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing, "Hahahaha! Alright! It's a good chance for everyone on the ship to see that this Captain is in excellent health!"
He casually followed Luo An into the infirmary, and Rayleigh also followed with a serious expression.
The infirmary door closed, cutting off all outside sounds.
"Please sit down and relax."
Luo An's voice had a power that made people involuntarily trust him.
Roger sat down as instructed.
Luo An extended his small hand and placed it on Roger's wrist.
【Life Essence Analysis, activated.】
In an instant, Luo An felt his mental power pour out like a floodgate opening.
Before his eyes, Roger was no longer in human form, but had transformed into an incredibly brilliant collection of life energy, composed of countless light points and runes.
That flame of life was more magnificent and domineering than anything Luo An had ever seen before.
It was like a star, emitting endless light and heat.
But at the core of this star, in the deepest part of its life origin, Luo An saw that trace of rust.
Under Life Essence Analysis, this trace of rust was no longer a vague concept.
It was a section of... incorrect life coding.
Like an unremovable virus attached to Roger's source of life, slowly but steadily corrupting and disintegrating his existence.
Whenever Roger burst forth with powerful vitality, the erosion of this rust would intensify.
His strength was accelerating his own death.
This was a disease originating from the law level, incurable by medicine, untreatable by any art.
No medical skill in this world could do anything about it.
After a long while, Luo An slowly opened his eyes; his face was pale, and his forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat.
"How is it, little ship doctor?"
Roger grinned, his smile still hearty, but deep in his eyes, there was a hint of tension that even he hadn't noticed.
Luo An was silent for a very long time, so long that Rayleigh couldn't help but want to ask.
"I cannot cure it at present."
Luo An finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse.
The air in the infirmary instantly solidified.
Rayleigh's heart sank, and the smile on Roger's face disappeared for the first time.
He had experienced countless storms, faced countless powerful enemies, and never once felt fear.
But at this moment, hearing this verdict from a doctor he trusted, even Rayleigh felt a hint of powerlessness.
"But..."
Luo An changed his tone, and on his pale face, his black eyes shone astonishingly bright: "Before I am capable of curing you, I might be able to extend your life first."
"What do you mean?"
Rayleigh asked urgently.
"This disease cannot be cured by conventional means."
Luo An's voice returned to normal: "It is consuming your life origin; I cannot eradicate it, but I might be able to find ways to slow its erosion, or... replenish your consumed origin."
He looked at Roger and said, word by word, "This will require a long journey, spanning the entire world, to find things that exist only in legends."
Luo An took out a piece of parchment from his Arms and quickly wrote down several names with a quill.
"The life elixir nurtured within the Ten Thousand Year Sky Island Shell."
"The heart of the Sea King's Forest, ten thousand meters beneath the deep sea."
"The kindling of the undying fire that has burned for a thousand years in the core of Magma Island."
"And... the Initial Flower that blooms only on the final island, Laugh Tale, capable of reshaping the laws of life."
With each name written, Rayleigh's expression grew more solemn.
Each of these things existed only in the oldest myths and most absurd legends; there was no way to find them.
What was the difference between this and a direct death sentence?
However, after hearing these names, the gloom on Roger's face vanished.
Roger took the parchment and looked at the fantastical names on it; far from despairing, he burst into a louder laugh than ever before.
"Hahahahaha..."
Roger slapped Luo An's shoulder, with such force that Luo An felt his bones rattle: "Extending life? No! This isn't extending life!"
He held up the parchment, his eyes burning with an unprecedented light.
"This is a treasure map! A treasure map to miracles! An unprecedented grand adventure!"
Roger's voice was filled with excitement and heroic spirit: "Searching for legendary treasures, curing incurable diseases—isn't this much more interesting than being the Pirate King!"
Rayleigh looked at his Captain, whose fighting spirit was rekindled, even more excited than before, and smiled helplessly, the worry in his eyes turning into a hint of relief.
Yes, this was his Captain, Gol D. Roger.
The man who always challenged the most impossible goals.
Luo An looked at Roger's fiercely burning flame of life, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.
This was right.
This was the ultimate challenge worthy of him, a topic that could make him break through to divine medical skills.
Curing the Pirate King.
This thought made Luo An's blood begin to warm slightly.
...
Since the legendary battle later known as the Battle of Edd War, a curious change had occurred in the atmosphere on the Oro Jackson.
The crew's attitude towards Luo An had evolved from the initial miraculous little ship doctor, to the terrifying little devil, and finally transformed into a fervent worship, almost like a walking talisman.
The most direct manifestation of this worship was that the infirmary entrance became bustling with people.
"Doctor Luo An! I haven't been enjoying my food lately; can you check if I have some incurable disease?"
A burly pirate with a scarred face carefully held an apple and asked with a worried expression.
Luo An glanced at him and said indifferently, "You just drank too much rum yesterday, and your taste buds are temporarily dulled. Also, your third molar on the left has a cavity; if you don't deal with it, it will have to be pulled next month, and you'll only be able to chew with your right side if you want to eat apples."
The burly pirate looked as if he had been granted a great pardon, thanking him profusely as he withdrew.
"Lord Luo An!"
Another tall, thin crew member leaned in, lowering his voice mysteriously: "I've been feeling like someone's watching me lately; have I been cursed?"
Luo An pointed behind him to another crew member also waiting in line: "He wants to cut in line; he's been staring at you for ten minutes. Your problem is paranoia; staying away from crowds will help alleviate the symptoms."
The crew member who was trying to cut in line scratched his head awkwardly, and a burst of laughter erupted from the queue.
Shanks became Luo An's most loyal supporter and medicinal supplier; his most enthusiastic activity every day was finding all sorts of strange and wonderful things for Luo An.
