"Perona!"
Redfield stepped in front of Perona, speaking seriously, "Take Moria and go."
"Oh my, what a touching display of friendship."
Shiryu's words carried a sharp edge, difficult to call anything but sarcasm. "Red, so now you're going to avenge Moria?"
Redfield said nothing.
By their original agreement, the Cross Guild was a place where they stuck together for mutual survival. No one here could truly be called a comrade, let alone friends.
Yet it had to be said: Moria was a straightforward and passionate man.
After so many years together, Redfield couldn't deny that there was something between them that could be called friendship.
He might not be able to do much, but at the very least, he couldn't let Perona come to harm!
That was Moria's final wish.
"Mama! Mama! You damn old man, then try stopping me!"
Aunt Linlin laughed heartily, her hand reaching toward the hat above her head.
Using that brat to vent her anger was boring. This old man, however, was far more satisfying to unleash her wrath upon!
"No!"
Just then, Mihawk stepped forward, a teasing smile at the corner of his mouth. "Leave this one to me!"
Though Redfield's weapon was an umbrella, he also used swordsmanship!
He might not have been a match for Golden Lion Shiki in that battle, but in the previous era, Redfield was a renowned master swordsman as well!
When he was defeated in the East Blue by the Golden Lion, it remained a lingering regret in Mihawk's heart.
So now, with the chance to face a great swordsman from the previous era, Mihawk was unwilling to miss it.
The supreme blade Yoru, carried on his back, was instantly drawn. A green slash shot forward in an instant toward Redfield.
Redfield's expression was unbearably serious.
He swung the long umbrella in his hand, directly dispersing Mihawk's slash.
But the terrifying force carried within the slash still made his arm tremble, and his body staggered back two steps.
Such a powerful strike!
As expected, whether it was Mihawk or Charlotte Linlin, both were rare top-tier fighters on the seas. Handling one was already exhausting—now, both stood in his path!
Yet, compared to these two, the truly terrifying one was, of course, Ian.
Redfield still found it hard to accept. Ian had killed Moria with just a snap of his fingers.
What kind of power could accomplish something like that?
"Excellent!"
Seeing Redfield block his attack, Mihawk didn't show any anger. On the contrary, he nodded with delight. "Looks like we can have some real fun now!"
It would be boring if this was someone he could crush with a single casual strike.
"Hey! You little brat!"
Aunt Linlin shouted angrily. "Are you trying to steal my opponent?"
"Huh?"
Mihawk narrowed his eyes, glancing back slightly.
Come to think of it, this woman used a sword too.
"All right," Ian smiled, speaking to stop the tense standoff between Aunt Linlin and Mihawk.
He looked at Perona, who was struggling to carry the enormous body of Moria and escape.
"Since Moria is already dead, there are no enemies for me here. I'm not so bored that I'd waste time arguing with a little girl."
Perona was indeed trying her best to take Moria away, but she hadn't undergone rigorous training. Her physical strength was too weak; she simply couldn't lift Moria's massive body.
"Unless—"
His figure blurred into a phantom, and his right hand lightly tapped Red's shoulder. "Red, have you truly decided to oppose me?"
Redfield's body stiffened instantly.
What speed was that??
He hadn't even reacted in time!
He didn't actually harbor much animosity toward Ian.
After all, strictly speaking, it was thanks to Ian that he had been able to recover from his previous state. Ian's contribution was undeniable.
But that didn't mean he could stand by and watch Ian kill his friends.
If they kept fighting now, he and Perona would probably die here as well.
"How about it, Red?" Ian asked with a cheerful smile. "Think it over carefully. Don't go disappointing Moria's dying wish."
After the shock subsided, Redfield was already grinding his teeth.
This bastard.
"Ian!"
Crocodile, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, finally spoke. "If we agree to cooperate with you, what do we get in return?"
The situation was already clear. Refusing meant only one thing—death.
Ian smiled. "A ticket to the New World."
The New World, huh?
Crocodile suddenly felt a wave of defeat.
It felt like everything… ended here.
His ambition, his dream—they seemed to stop at this point.
"Also, if you're willing, I can take you to the Final Island." Ian added casually.
He had already painted this dream for Big Mom. Letting Crocodile and the others taste it too wasn't a big deal.
"You said… the Final Island?"
Crocodile's eyes instantly lit up.
For those who had witnessed Roger's execution with their own eyes, the Final Island was undeniably carved into the deepest part of their hearts—an obsession they could never let go of.
"I already possess three Road Poneglyphs. Only one more and I can find the route to the Final Island."
Ian smiled. "That's also why Aunt Linlin decided to cooperate with us."
Playing people for fools again?
How could such empty words make someone as suspicious and self‑centered as Charlotte Linlin bow her head?
Of course, it must have been force—force that left her with no choice.
Still, the Final Island part probably wasn't a lie.
There was no reason for him to lie about something like that.
Ian's strength alone was enough. Enough to make anyone believe anything he said.
Crocodile pressed his lips together.
So… obey or refuse?
Live, or die here?
It shouldn't be a difficult choice.
But—
Crocodile suddenly looked up at Ian.
A sharp grin spread across his face, the scar that ran across it seeming to glow with malice as he smiled brightly. "Ian!"
"Go to hell!"
Ian raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
"Crocodile! You fool!"
Shiryu instantly erupted in anger, drawing his blade and lunging at Crocodile. "Lord Ian spared your life out of goodwill, and you dare bare your teeth at us, you bastard!"
"Let me send you straight to hell!"
"Come on! You dog of Ian!"
Crocodile laughed heartily, showing no fear at all. "I'm nothing like you! I won't kneel!"
"Impressive."
Mihawk remarked with admiration.
Ian simply smiled lightly.
Anyone can talk about being unafraid of death a hundred times, but when the reaper's scythe is truly hovering before your eyes, how many can actually charge headfirst?
Crocodile was indeed an extraordinary man.
Then let's honor that.
Ian turned to Red. "So, Red, what's your decision?"
Redfield's face was calm.
Once again, he felt that emotions were truly a burden.
But—
He looked back.
Perona was struggling, trying to carry Moria away.
He let out a sigh.
**********
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