On the frozen sea, Redfield's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. On one hand, it was from Roa's lightning and flames; on the other, it was because his heart had plunged into an abyss. Roa alone had already left him helpless, and now Golden Lion had arrived too! At this point, even escaping seemed impossible.
Since that's the case... Redfield took a deep breath, gripping the handle of his umbrella tightly. Black Haki lightning sparked from the umbrella.
Then let's do this!
However, the Golden Lion, descending from the sky, couldn't be bothered to even glance at Redfield. He stared intently at Roa, his eyes practically gleaming.
"I find it incredibly hard to imagine what you went through this past year, brat, to become this strong!"
A year ago, Roa was already unnaturally strong, a world apart from his peers. Even Kaido and Big Mom at the same age weren't fit to hold a candle to him. But back then, in Golden Lion's eyes, he was still just "somewhat skilled." Once Golden Lion got serious, Roa would have no chance to fight back. Only when Roa and Kaido combined their efforts could they make Golden Lion feel troublesome.
But now, even with the terrain advantage, he had single-handedly suppressed Redfield! That was Redfield! It was precisely because he acknowledged Redfield's strength that he had this year-long feud with him! In Golden Lion's opinion, if Redfield were willing to join the Flying Pirates, he would be his Rayleigh or Jabba!
It had only been one year! Even Golden Lion couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. At this rate, in another year, would he catch up to the likes of himself and Roger?
"Well, of course," Roa replied seriously, "Hard training, good studying, playing hard, eating well, and sleeping soundly."
"Brat!" Golden Lion cursed with a laugh, thinking Roa was talking nonsense again. But he didn't know that Roa truly got stronger this way. This was the secret art of the Turtle School, personally taught by Master Roshi, the one who cultivated the strongest in the universe!
"Still, well done! Roa!" Golden Lion nodded with a smile, looking at Roa with a strange expression. "Since that's the case, I won't hold what you did this past year against you."
"Oh?" Roa was a bit surprised. "What are you talking about, Uncle Shiki? I've been very well-behaved this past year."
"Are you still treating me like a fool?" Golden Lion sneered. "Wang Zhi's weapons, you sold them to him, didn't you?"
"Haha, was I found out?" Roa scratched the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed, just like his tactical silly smile from when he was a kid. "I just wanted to earn some pocket money." As he spoke, he praised, "As expected of Uncle Shiki, sharp as ever. The weapons sold to different regions were custom-made in different styles; the World Government is still investigating."
"Who do you think I am?" Golden Lion continued to sneer. In truth, he was relying entirely on guesswork. He just couldn't believe that Roa, who thrived on chaos, would resist interfering in his war with Wang Zhi. And it just so happened that Wang Zhi really did produce more advanced weapons shortly after the war began. There was no logical deduction involved, just his understanding of Roa.
"However," Golden Lion finally lowered his head, looking at Redfield standing on the frozen sea for the first time, a subtle smile playing on the corners of the lion's mouth. "You did well this time! I've been chasing this guy for ages!"
Roa's expression changed. Uncle Shiki, I didn't expect you to be like this! No wonder you were always so obsessed with Roger. Give up, even if Roger has a child, doing a 'body double' romance won't make you happy!
"Shiki!!" Redfield simply raised his umbrella, its tip aimed at the Flying Lion. "Come on!"
"Which means," Golden Lion's smile grew more dangerous, "you still choose to die, right, Redfield!"
"No freedom, rather die!" Redfield's lips gradually curled into a charmingly wicked smile.
"Then go die!" Golden Lion's smile was equally bright. He didn't bear much hatred for Redfield; if anything, he admired such a strong-willed fellow. But unfortunately, Redfield dared to reject him, and had caused so much damage to the Flying Pirates this past year. Redfield had earned his death.
"Brat, back me up," Uncle Shiki said unceremoniously. "Don't let this guy get away again!" His ability, though incredibly powerful, lacked Roa's versatility. In terms of preventing Redfield's escape, he wasn't as efficient as Roa.
Redfield remained unfazed. The moment Golden Lion descended, he had already prepared to die here. It's just death, who doesn't die?
However.
"That's going a bit too far, Uncle Shiki." Roa sighed softly.
"Hmm?" Golden Lion, who had already drawn his twin swords, paused slightly, then stared intently at Roa. "What do you mean, brat?"
"Isn't Mr. Redfield too innocent?" Roa said with a touch of melancholy. "He did nothing, yet because of a single jest from me, he was forced into the Flying Pirates' arms race."
"And now he has to die for it? How do I put this... I feel quite guilty."
Not just Golden Lion, even Redfield himself was stunned.
A vein throbbed on Golden Lion's forehead. "Damn brat, what are you trying to do now?" This brat always caused him trouble!
"For my sake, let Mr. Redfield off the hook," Roa said with a smile. "When the trials are over, brothers remain; a smile resolves old feuds! If you can't be subordinates, you can still be friends!"
"I'm listening to your bullshit, brat!" Golden Lion sneered. "So that's it, you're coveting Redfield's power too, aren't you?" He understood this bastard brat too well! Now he's acting the good guy!
"Shut up, Roa!" Redfield also snorted coldly. "I don't need your pity!"
"It's not pity," Roa said with a sigh. "It's shared suffering. Since you've seen the memories of Uncle Shiki's subordinates, you should know, shouldn't you, how Uncle Shiki coerced me back then?"
Redfield's expression shifted slightly. He was indeed very aware of that past.
Golden Lion's eye twitched even more.
"Because I've been rained on, I want to hold an umbrella for you," old Roa, the umbrella holder, said with emotion in his voice. "After all, if it weren't for Big Brother Kaido a year ago, I would definitely have been forced to join the Flying Pirates by Uncle Shiki."
"Damn brat!" Golden Lion's cheek muscles twitched. "Am I giving you too much face?! If you want to hold an umbrella, then go back and hold one to your heart's content!"
"Don't say that, Uncle Shiki," Roa said seriously. "I'm doing this for your own good too. Having a friend like Mr. Redfield is always better than having such an enemy."
"Friend?" Redfield scoffed coldly. "I'm not worthy!"
"Don't be so modest, Redfield," Roa said with a smile. "You've given Uncle Shiki a lot of headaches this past year. If it weren't for me today, he would have come all this way for nothing again."
Is that what I meant?! Redfield's lip twitched.
"Roa, what exactly do you want to do?" Golden Lion's tone had turned completely cold. "You want to protect this guy, Redfield?"
"I don't need your help, Calamity Roa!" Redfield's voice was equally cold. "I have no interest in your company either!" He strongly agreed with Golden Lion's words; this Roa guy was probably just coveting his power!
"Don't be so quick to refuse, Redfield," Roa said with interest. "Since you've seen my past with Uncle Shiki from a year ago, then you should know, shouldn't you, my relationship with Big Brother Kaido and Auntie Big Mom."
Redfieldfield froze for a moment.
"I know you're a proud person, never willing to walk with others," (This was a lie. After all, Redfield was like Bullet, a stubborn person who outwardly believed in solo strength but deep down yearned for companions.) But Redfield himself didn't know this.
"So, our alliance is even more suitable for you! No interference with each other's daily actions, only mutual assistance when facing great crises!" Roa laughed loudly. "This is how we 'weaklings' survive!"
Weaklings? Both Redfield and Golden Lion twitched their lips simultaneously. He really has the nerve to say that.
However. Beyond being speechless, Redfield truly fell into thought. Non-interference, only mutual assistance at critical moments? It sounded...
"Roa! That damn brat, that's enough!" Golden Lion's exasperation was barely hidden. "My patience is at its limit!"
"How about it, Redfield? Uncle Shiki is truly furious!" Seeing this, Roa's smile grew even brighter. "Are you really going to refuse me as he wishes?"
Hearing this, Redfield couldn't help but pause, almost failing to suppress a laugh. Because Golden Lion's face was indeed darker than his own at that moment.
"Join us, Redfield!" Roa was very sincere. "I don't care what you want to do, and don't you try to control what I want to do. Only when help is most needed, we assist each other! This way, ambitious people like Uncle Shiki won't bother you anymore, and furthermore,"
"No one can restrict your freedom. You will still be the solitary Redfield! Look, because I became stronger than Big Brother Kaido, to avoid affecting his rule over Wano Country, I even voluntarily left that country."
Redfield pursed his lips. Golden Lion's pupils constricted. Redfield, who had unhesitatingly refused his own invitation, was now actually hesitating!
"Roa! Don't you dare truly piss me off!" A violent aura surged from Golden Lion's body, pressing down on Roa like a mountain collapse and sea storm. But Roa only smiled. By this point, even Conqueror's Haki of Uncle Shiki's level could no longer cause him any harm.
Meanwhile, Redfield looked up at the enraged Golden Lion. He seemed, truly angry?
Redfield's lips suddenly curled upwards. "Alright! I accept!"
"Oh! That's just great!" Roa happily pumped a fist. "Then Redfield, from today onwards, you are the Calamity Company's Guest Elder—no, an Outer Consultant!"
Nailed it!
Thanks for the assist, Uncle Shiki! Without you, I really wouldn't have known what to do with Redfield.
"Redfield!!" Golden Lion's voice was guttural with rage. "You're asking for death!"
"Heh heh, Shiki! I've been waiting for that expression from you!" Redfieldfield laughed out loud, looking at the Golden Lion whose face was twisted with anger. Regardless of anything else, just seeing Golden Lion's expression made accepting Roa's invitation worth it.
"Roa! I'm going to kill him!" Golden Lion glared intensely at Roa, his gaze almost turning into sword light, flying out to pierce Roa like a beehive. "Are you going to stop me?"
"If Redfield asks for my help," Roa shrugged helplessly. "Even pirates occasionally have to keep their word. Redfield has agreed to join our alliance. If I abandon him, then Big Brother Kaido and Auntie Big Mom will also withdraw from the alliance."
"But don't worry, Uncle Shiki, you're my dear friend and family after all. Even if I help Redfield, I certainly won't do anything to you." He glanced at Golden Lion with a smile. "After all, even if I didn't get involved, you couldn't keep Redfield, could you?"
"Damn brat!!" Golden Lion gnashed his teeth. In that case, was all his effort over the past year for nothing? He completely played into this bastard brat's hands! Not only did he gain nothing from the war with Wang Zhi, but he also let this brat make a huge fortune from it. Now, even Redfield, whom he had been chasing, was pushed towards this kid! Doesn't that make him look like an idiot?
He was so furious he wished he could cut this damn brat in half with a sword. But, looking at Roa's smiling face, Golden Lion suddenly felt a little lost in thought.
This brat is truly, step by step, forging a second Rocks Pirates!
Thinking this, a surge of pride suddenly welled up in Golden Lion's chest.
"Roa, it seems you brat want to be my enemy!" It was absolutely impossible to bring this brat under his command now. Golden Lion was more aware of this than anyone else at this moment. If Roa truly intended to become the second Rocks, then, he would be an enemy!
An enemy to this brat? Not bad! Roa has the qualifications!
"Are you sure, Uncle Shiki?" Roa raised an eyebrow. "Redfield, what do you say?"
"Of course I'll help you!" Redfieldfield's lips curled upwards. "An alliance, that's how it is, right?" He couldn't wait for Golden Lion and Roa to start fighting right now so he could kick them while they were down!
"See?" Roa spread his hands towards Golden Lion.
Golden Lion's lip twitched. The power this bastard brat now wielded was indeed enough to make him feel uneasy. Although it was a loose alliance, if he were to truly go to war with him, putting Redfield aside, would Kaido just sit idly by? And seeing this, could Big Mom resist tearing off a chunk of flesh for herself?
Seeing Uncle Shiki fall silent, Roa clapped his hands with a smile. "That's right, fighting and killing are no good. Let's value peace!"
"Come on, Redfield, Uncle Shiki! Let's have a banquet!"
Golden Lion and Redfield instinctively exchanged glances. Without hesitation, Golden Lion sneered, "I'm not interested!"
"Really?" Roa tilted his head. "I just happened to want to talk to you about Roger. I ran into them again recently."
"Hmph!" Golden Lion suddenly snorted. "Just for your sake, brat!"
"Then I'm truly honored today!" Roa chuckled. Uncle Shiki, don't love him too much.
Redfield also gave a wicked smile. "Alright." Being able to continue annoying Golden Lion was a good deal!
Watching their mutual hatred, Roa nodded in satisfaction. Excellent, stay angry. Otherwise, how would I have kept Redfield?