As he spoke, he slowly drew Gryphon three inches from its sheath, the blade glinting with a cold gleam under the sunlight.
"Before everything becomes irreparable!"
"But according to the agreement, it's not yet time for Luffy..." Benn Beckman frowned slightly, reminding him.
"We can't worry about that anymore. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Captain Roger's final wish must not fail!" Shanks' voice was resolute, without the slightest hesitation.
"..."
Benn Beckman fell silent for a moment, then took a deep drag from his cigarette and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.
He knew that once Shanks made a decision, it was difficult to change.
At this moment, they could only move forward into the unknown.
...
Redfield stood steadily on the slowly advancing canoe, the sea wind howling as it swept past.
His pinkish-white long hair danced wildly in the wind.
His gaze fixed on the gradually receding silhouette of the Red Hair Pirates' ship, his eyes revealing an unfathomable depth.
The pirate ship tossed and turned through the waves, gradually shrinking into a blurry outline, yet Redfield's eyes never wavered in the slightest.
"They've left..."
Redfield slightly raised his head, a meaningful curve slowly forming at the corner of his mouth.
"Consider this a favor for letting me out, Ron."
The waves continuously crashed against the reefs, producing a dull yet powerful sound.
The splashing water, as it approached within three meters of him, seemed to be held in place by an invisible hand, eerily suspended in mid-air before silently falling back into the sea.
Redfield slowly lowered his head, his gaze falling on his slender fingers.
Those hands were covered in wrinkles, bearing the marks of time.
In this ever-changing era, to participate in this thrilling game, one must possess sufficient chips.
Otherwise, he would be swept away by the torrent of history.
"That Red-Haired brat is still too naive."
He gently shook his head, his blood-red cloak billowing without wind as if stirred by the sea breeze, flapping behind him like burning flames.
"Thinking that 'balance' can maintain order on the seas? This ocean has always been a battlefield filled with bloodshed and cruelty. Only the strong can survive on these waters."
A trace of disdain and mockery flickered in his eyes, scoffing at the ideals of the Red Hair Pirates.
"How can the tide of the new era be halted by mere Yonko?"
In the distance, a News Coo flapped its wings as it flew by, its feathers shimmering under the sunlight.
It seemed to be carrying the latest newspaper in its beak, possibly containing the most recent news from the seas.
Redfield watched quietly as it gradually flew away, a contemplative look in his eyes.
"On the eve of chaos, strength is the only truth that matters," he slowly spoke, his voice carrying on the sea wind.
He knew that in this impending turbulent era, only those with formidable power could secure their footing on these raging seas.
Then, his focus shifted to the gradually emerging outline of an island ahead.
The island loomed faintly through the sea mist, and hidden upon it was a legendary fruit—the Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Vampire.
For Redfield, this fruit was the ultimate treasure that would allow him to completely shed his final weakness, the key to reaching the pinnacle.
A glimmer of desire flashed in his eyes, bright and fervent.
"Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Vampire..."
As he murmured these words, the canoe under his control accelerated like an arrow released from its bow, speeding toward the island ahead.
...
Sleepy Ancient Town
Amid the hazy mist, Redfield's figure seemed to emerge silently from the netherworld like a ghost, exuding an eerie and mysterious aura that sent chills down one's spine.
He stood quietly on the jagged reef by the shore, his posture tall and slender.
His pinkish-white long hair remained completely still in the damp sea breeze, as if frozen in time, blending seamlessly with the surrounding fog.
At this moment, his eyes were fixed intently on the dilapidated town ahead.
As his gaze focused, his brows gradually furrowed, revealing displeasure and gravity.
"This is the place..." He lowered his head slightly, his voice low and hoarse. "The location of the Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Vampire."
However, when his gaze shifted to the town's dock, Redfield's eyes instantly turned sharp.
Three Marine warships were majestically docked there, their decks crowded with figures—soldiers standing ready, emanating a stern and imposing atmosphere.
But what concerned him more were the several figures dressed in white uniforms and wearing bizarre masks.
They patrolled the shore slowly like specters, their attire all too familiar to Redfield—agents of the CP Organization!
These pests were like rats hiding in the sewers, utterly detestable.
Moreover, he noticed that they had captured a large group of people, interrogating them about the legend, and killing anyone who refused to cooperate on the spot!
"Dogs of the World Government..." Redfield's lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes radiating an endless chill, cold as millennia-old ice, enough to freeze one's soul.
He coldly observed these Marines and agents, thinking to himself, 'You'd better not be here for my fruit. Otherwise, you will die!'
With an elegant stride, he moved forward.
As he did, his peak-level Observation Haki unfurled like an invisible spiderweb, spreading outward at an astonishing speed.
Instantly, the inner voices of all living beings around him surged into his ears like a tidal wave:
『This mission has an SS priority... The higher-ups have given a strict order—we must complete it no matter what.』
『...We must find that legendary fruit... This is a matter of utmost importance; not a single mistake can be allowed.』
『CP0 said... This fruit must never fall into the hands of pirates... If it goes out of control, the consequences would be unimaginable.』
『...The underground ruins of Sleepy Ancient Town... It's said to hide many secrets unknown to the world. Perhaps the fruit is there.』
『...The legend of the vampire... has been passed down in this town for a long time. It might be intricately linked to the fruit.』
Redfield's pupils abruptly contracted, his brows tightly knit together, forming a deep furrow.
'As expected!'
'These pests were indeed after the Bat-Bat Fruit!'
Moreover, judging from their words, it seemed they had already pinpointed its approximate location.
"They need to die!"
The killing intent in his eyes surged violently, his pink-white long hair billowing without wind, as if stirred by an invisible force.
The next moment, his figure transformed into a streak of crimson light, charging toward the town like lightning.