Returning to the group, Raleigh moved to stand beside Gion. He reached out, and a fair, slender hand met his.
Raleigh held Gion's hand, remarking, "Gion, you've been training quite frequently lately. I can feel the calluses on your hand. Why the sudden intensity?"
Gion had passed the stage where hand-holding would make her blush.
Now she could listen to Kong's briefing while quietly responding to Raleigh.
"Sorry, Raleigh. The gap between us keeps widening, so I hope to catch up to you soon."
Though Raleigh didn't show much emotion, he tightened his grip on Gion's hand.
Nearby, Tokikake watched with silent frustration.
Not content with just holding hands, Raleigh surveyed their surroundings.
He already knew Kuzan and Sengoku well, but one familiar figure made him uncomfortable.
He never expected Kong would lift his restrictions and bring him here.
"Ahem."
Kong cleared his throat. "Everyone, as you know I'm retiring. But before leaving the Navy, I want to help eliminate the Red Count. He's been my old rival for years, and I've never had the chance to capture him."
Kong's words sounded noble, but Raleigh saw three underlying motives:
First, Kong intended to present the Red Count as his farewell gift upon stepping down as Fleet Admiral.
Second, he wanted to boost Sengoku's prestige.
Third, he needed this opportunity to release his disciple from Marineford.
Now Raleigh understood why both Kong and Sengoku had summoned him from afar.
The reason lay with Garp.
If Sengoku assumed leadership, he would reuse Garp, given their close relationship.
However, the trial three years ago made Sengoku reluctant to offend Raleigh, a vice-admiral with extraordinary potential.
Thus, he summoned Raleigh to hand him an opportunity for merit.
After all, only when everyone benefits can the Navy continue to develop and carry on the fight under Sengoku's leadership.
Though Raleigh disliked Garp, voicing it now would be inappropriate.
With two fleet admirals vouching for someone, allowing them to atone through service, and arranging for Raleigh to claim military credit—harboring resentment in such a scenario would be sheer foolishness.
After Kong finished speaking, both he and Sengoku glanced toward Raleigh.
Raleigh smiled faintly, pretending not to notice, and declared, "Fleet Admiral Kong, I'm willing to test Patrick Redfield's strength first."
Hearing this, Sengoku interjected, "Raleigh, there's no need to rush. Patrick Redfield is no ordinary opponent. Let Garp tackle this hard nut first. We'll provide support from the sidelines."
He shot Garp a meaningful look.
Garp turned his head and grumbled, "Patrick Redfield is a Great Swordsman. I've fought him before and have more experience, so I'll take the lead."
Both Fleet Admiral Kong and Sengoku sighed in relief.
They didn't want internal tensions among the Navy's high-ranking officers.
Now, it seemed Raleigh was willing to give Garp a chance, and Garp wasn't going to make a scene either.
This was what both had hoped for.
...
Soon, the group landed on the island where Patrick Redfield was stationed.
Patrick Redfield, who was eating breakfast on the mountain, paused.
His Observation Haki could read people's thoughts, and the moment the Navy set foot on the island's shore, he had detected them.
Patrick Redfield's expression darkened.
He could sense several powerful auras, none inferior to his own.
Three of these auras felt familiar.
Narrowing his eyes, he gazed down at the Navy from above. "It seems we've been discovered."
With no assigned combat role, Raleigh began slacking off, holding Gion's hand as he trailed behind the others.
Sengoku explained, "Patrick Redfield is no ordinary powerhouse. He possesses an innate Observation Haki that allows him to read minds. During battles, he can predict his opponents' moves. With his physical skills and swordsmanship, he rivals Whitebeard and Golden Lion in reputation."
"I suspect he knew the moment we landed, but that doesn't matter. Fleet Admiral Kong, Garp, and I have fought him before. We're acquainted with his techniques."
Kong lifted his head, looking toward the small house on the mountain peak. "No matter. Even if Patrick Redfield hasn't fled, even if he tried to escape, no one could evade pursuit under four admirals."
Though Raleigh's rank wasn't yet admiral, everyone present regarded him as the next quasi-admiral.
"Attack." Sengoku issued the command.
..
Facing a terrifying opponent like the Red Count, sending ordinary Marine soldiers would be futile no matter how many were deployed.
Therefore, Sengoku did not assign them to engage directly. Instead, he had them set up camp at the foot of the mountain to establish a warning perimeter.
Sengoku sat calmly in the temporary camp, directing the operation.
Fleet Admiral Kong sat nearby, happily holding a teacup and sipping his tea with delight.
According to Sengoku's plan, Fleet Admiral Kong didn't need to lift a finger this time—he just needed to make an appearance near the end to claim the credit.
"It seems Redfield doesn't care about our movements. Truly worthy of being called a man who can single-handedly rival a legendary pirate crew," Sengoku muttered, glancing toward the mountaintop. His Observation Haki could clearly sense Redfield's presence.
It was steady, indicating the pirate wasn't flustered by the siege.
"Garp, stick to the plan as discussed. If you feel you can't hold on, come down first, and I'll take over," Sengoku said, turning his head.
Garp replied with a grim expression. "No need. I'll defeat Redfield with these iron fists of mine."
Kong and Sengoku looked at Garp but said nothing.
They both understood that Garp, having been cooped up in Marineford for three years with his restless temperament, must have built up a lot of resentment.
Letting him vent on a pirate might be for the best.
Garp pushed aside the camp's cloth curtain with large strides and headed alone up the mountain path.
...
At the summit, Redfield set down his teacup.
"Oh... so they are only sending Garp to deal with me?" Redfield smiled thinly. "How underestimated I am."
Before long, Garp's tall, imposing figure appeared in front of Redfield's small cabin.
Redfield picked up the umbrella with the bat-shaped handle resting beside him—his signature weapon, which concealed a sharp rapier inside.
"Garp. Long time no see." Redfield greeted his old enemy with grace.
Unfortunately for him, Garp's face was sour, acting as if Redfield had committed some personal, unforgivable offense against him.
"Such intense killing intent and hatred... yet it is not actually directed at me," Redfield noted, reading the Marine's thoughts.
"Tch. It seems you haven't been having an easy time lately, Garp."
Garp stared at the man in the high-collared, blood-red cloak and finally spoke his first words.
"Redfield, that ability of yours to see through people's hearts is as annoying as ever."
Whoosh!
Without the slightest hesitation, Garp launched a fierce attack the moment he finished speaking.
His fists, reputed to shatter mountains, were already coated in dense Armament Haki as he threw a punch aimed directly at Redfield's head.
"Pirate! Die!"
Garp's punch came fast and urgent, exceeding the speed of sound and causing successive sonic booms.
The rumbling echoes reverberated across the small mountaintop.
Even those at the foot of the mountain heard the crack clearly.
Kong, Sengoku, and the others simultaneously turned their gazes toward the summit.
"Has it started already?"
They had expected some conversation or probing exchanges, but they didn't anticipate Garp diving straight into a death match.
Just from the sound and the shockwaves, they could infer the intensity.
Redfield wasn't flustered, he had already read Garp's intentions through his Observation Haki.
Although the strike was swift and sudden, it didn't panic him.
Clang!
Redfield drew a slender rapier from the umbrella's handle and thrust it toward Garp's fist.
The external release of Armament Haki was mastered to perfection by both men.
Though the blade and the fist hadn't made physical contact, their Haki auras were already clashing wildly.
Gusts of fierce wind continuously generated and canceled each other in the air between them.
Garp's gaze was cold.
Redfield sensed something amiss—Garp wasn't looking at him, but rather at a phantom sworn enemy in his mind.
"Raleigh? Garp, is that the name echoing in your heart?" Redfield spoke aloud.
He intended to provoke Garp, to make him lose his rationality, as that would make it easier to deal with a brawler.
"Do not! Mention him!!!" Garp abruptly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes resembling those of a rabid hyena.
BOOM!!!
Both figures vanished from their spots simultaneously, the shockwave from the explosion rippling outward.
The wooden villa where Redfield resided was instantly obliterated, along with every tree and patch of grass on the mountaintop.
The picturesque summit was reduced to barren, cracked rocky ground.
Redfield's temper flared up instantly.
Imagine living peacefully at home, only to have a group of Marine soldiers show up, attack you, and destroy your house—who wouldn't be furious?
Although Redfield disliked mindless killing, it didn't mean he was someone to be bullied.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have earned the title of "Lone Red."
"Garp! You are something! You really are something!" Redfield raised his rapier and swung it toward Garp's position.
Garp frowned slightly and sidestepped to evade.
But the distant mountain behind him wasn't so fortunate—the dazzling sword beam pierced straight through it.
RUMBLE...
The mountain was cleanly severed at its waist, the broken peak tumbling down in a cascade of massive rocks!