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"Hormone?" 

"Yes, hormones." 

This time, Masa was the one who led instead of being the listener. 

The IT-related industry aside, the reason why Masa entered the medical industry, especially dermatology-related, was so he could make all the women in this world his ally. 

Cosmetic technology might have become more advanced than before, especially when Asuha appeared in her early 40s despite being over 60, yet even so, it wasn't completely safe. Yes, the side effects were minimal, but it was painful.

Yet, if there was a safer method with a lot of potential, why shouldn't Asuha try it? 

Masa's venture into the beauty market was the reason why Asuha came to him, and he didn't mind since he knew that this way, his family would become important, whether it was in the eyes of Asuha and all other women in this world. 

For a woman, beauty is everything—their lives. 

It might seem like an exaggeration, especially for guys who don't care much about their appearance, but for a woman, when they were born ugly, their lives were as good as over. 

Some guys might be interested in inner beauty, but if their exterior was also beautiful, it would be better, right? 

Even if Asuha had a lofty status, her wish was similar to many older women as they wished to always be as young and beautiful as ever. 

Masa had a way of doing that with magic, so of course, Asuha was curious. 

Still, his way of manipulating the beauty and appearance of someone was quite simple, and that was by using a bio-electricity to manipulate the hormones in the patient. 

By using his bio-electricity, he manipulated their estrogen hormone to make one become more beautiful and youthful. 

Unlike a medicine that indirectly enhanced the work of the estrogen hormone, Masa used his magic to directly affect this hormone. Naturally, this wasn't permanent, and one needed to maintain it with magic, but for a business, it was good, so that way, those patients would continue to become their patients. 

It was similar to those plastic surgery hospitals; their number one income came from their old patients since the result of the plastic surgery wasn't permanent, and one needed to maintain it by coming to the hospital to regularly maintain their appearance. 

Masa had to say this was quite difficult magic to create in the beginning, but as he had the knowledge of Vegapunk from the world of One Piece, he was able to complete it.

While it was hard to create, it was easy to use, and when the magic was finished, it was easy to use. All the magicians of the Isshiki family could use it with ease. 

By the way, the hair growth magic also worked similarly, but instead of an estrogen hormone, the magic manipulated the androgen hormone. 

Still, shouldn't they keep this explanation a secret? 

No, instead of keeping it a secret, Masa and everyone knew that they had to explain it to others, so that way, many could be relieved with the treatments, especially for someone with a high status, such as Asuha. 

Then, what if their magic was stolen? 

Well, it was impossible since while it was easy for this magic to be used by the Isshiki family members, it was different from the other magicians. 

Still, as they talked about hormones, Asuha couldn't help but ask, "If you can manipulate hormones, then can you also manipulate telomeres?" 

Masa looked at Asuha and asked, "Do you want me to develop a magic that allows one to become immortal?" This was the conclusion that he came to when Asuha asked him whether he could manipulate telomeres or not. 

What are telomeres? 

Telomeres are a region of repetitive nucleotide sequences at each end of a chromatid, protecting the DNA fragments; they grow shorter as cell division occurs, an indication of the person getting older. Thus, by controlling the telomeres, one can effectively control one's lifespan and achieve so-called immortality. 

"Can you?" 

When Asuha asked this question, her eyes were blazing hot. 

Immortality. 

This was the dream of every powerful person, including the famous first emperor who unified China, Qin Shi Huang. 

For those with power, the thing that they feared the most was losing that power, so they searched for all the methods to prolong their lives, if not to live forever, and achieve something known as immortality. 

Whether it was scientific or occult, everyone tried to search for a way, but even so, until now, there was no such a way. 

No, such a method existed, but the existence of immortality was hidden well from the public, and at least Asuha and her ancestors should have never seen an immortal. 

However, since Masa could develop anti-aging magic, wasn't it possible for him to find a way to develop magic that would allow one to live forever? 

The answer was—

"I might be. I might not be." 

Masa was immortal, especially after he had become a devil, so he would be living a long time until the universe was destroyed. 

Yet, if he was asked to turn a normal person into an immortal, it would be different. 

The Evil Piece from the world of DxD might allow him to turn a being into a devil, which naturally increases their lifespan, but was there an Evil Piece in this world? 

Or, rather, it was impossible for him to find the material to create the Evil Piece in this world, but—

"But I could probably let a human live for 200 years or so." 

"That's good enough." 

If he had time, Masa would be able to find a way to develop magic that allowed immortality, but it was impossible for him to admit that, and it was better for him to say that he could prolong the life of someone for 200 years or so. 

This wasn't bragging, and he felt that this was possible for him, especially when his hormone-related magic had a possibility that allowed him to perform such a feat. 

Asuha was also satisfied with Masa's answer, and when they reached 200 years or so, Masa might develop a magic that allowed one to live 500 years or so, then it would continue. 

Yes, this was his trump card. 

Immortality. 

By using the beauty and hair growth business, Masa gave many people an illusion that there might be a chance of him developing magic that allowed immortality to happen. 

Or rather, he might even develop a magic that allowed one to return to their youth! 

By then, who would try to become his enemies? 

Instead, all of them would please him and protect his family well so that way they wouldn't die and could continue to live forever. 

Even if Masa didn't control them by using his bio-electricity manipulation, they were as good as his slaves, including Asuha, who was so lofty before him. 

This was why Masa wasn't in a hurry with his plan since when everyone died, he would still be alive, and by then, no one could stop him. 

The two talked in a good mood, and with the possibility of prolonging life and achieving immortality, the Isshiki family's position in this world was unshakable, and no one wished to know. 

As for keeping this matter a secret, neither Masa nor the others planned to do so since if no one knew, then no one would put importance on their family, right? 

It was the same case as when Masa announced his "Mercury" magic. 

Still, the time it would take to announce a way to prolong life would need time, and he shouldn't open all of his cards easily. 

The bait shouldn't be given to someone without them giving him compensation first. 

But before all of that—

"Can you use your magic to make me younger first?" Asuha asked. 

"Sure." 

Well, there was no doubt, with his beauty magic and "something else," Masa was sure that Asuha would be his greatest ally in this world.