Redfield frowned. He didn't know why Reynold felt joy upon seeing him, but as a powerhouse, he could sense the faint but powerful aura emanating from Reynold. Not wishing to cause trouble, he briefly glanced at Reynold twice before averting his gaze. As long as the other party didn't launch an attack, he wouldn't bother them. To Redfield, Reynold was just a stranger among the countless masses; brushing shoulders was the extent of their destiny.
In fact, he had already noticed Reynold's group a long time ago. After landing on the island, his Observation Haki had enveloped the entire area, and he had detected Reynold and his group the moment they arrived. As for his own presence, he was merely passing through the island, stopping to rest while taking a casual look at the so-called ancient ruins. As for treasure, he had never cared about it. Setting aside the truth of the rumors, even if there had been treasure, after all these years, it would have been completely divided up by others. There was no way these people would be picking up any scraps now.
The Red Count, averting his gaze, stopped dwelling on it, passed Reynold, and walked toward the edge of the island.
Reynold also shifted his gaze and contained his excitement. He never expected that Redfield, whom he had searched for in vain, would suddenly appear here. It didn't make sense; didn't this guy only come here to look for the Bat-Bat Fruit after the Summit War?! Was there some unknown secret involved?!
He decided not to worry about it. The top priority was retrieving the Bat-Bat Fruit.
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
Thunder erupted, the ruins exploded, and all obstructions in front of him were cleared away. Reynold carefully pushed the last boulder aside with his bare hands. Immediately afterward, a strange purplish-red fruit with spiral patterns appeared before him.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully obtaining the Zoan Mythical Type: Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire!]
[Congratulations to the Host for gaining 500,000 Navigation Points!]
[Congratulations to the Host for acquiring a Treasure of the Sea, triggering a Luck Event, and gaining 20 Luck Points!]
The system prompt confirmed the identity of the Devil Fruit before Reynold; it was undoubtedly the Bat-Bat Fruit.
"Open System Panel!"
[System Panel is opening!]
[Host: Reynold]
[System: Great Voyage System]
[Swordsmanship: Lv49 — 50/200,000]
[Observation Haki: Lv25 — 26/250,000 (Future Sight)]
[Armament Haki: Lv25 — 26/250,000 (Internal Destruction)]
[Conqueror's Haki: Lv22 — 23/400,000 (Conqueror's Coating)]
[Navigation Points: 1.52 million]
[Recruits: Lingling (Tremor-Tremor Fruit User), Jess (Rumble-Rumble Fruit User), Flame Flower (Soul-Soul Fruit User), Rogue (Golden Sword Lion User), Long Bread (Eat-Eat Fruit User), Rupert (Bag-Bag Fruit User), Hajrudin (Grow-Grow Fruit User), Shadow]
[Luck Points: 40]
[System Storage: Vast amount of Gold, Pure Gold, Six Powers of the Navy, Supreme Grade Sword Sea Splitter]
————————
Adding the 20 Luck Points gained when acquiring the Grow-Grow Fruit, the Luck Points had now reached an astonishing 40. Once he gathered 100 points, he could once again guarantee a Luck Event trigger and acquire a certain ability. Something like Hajrudin's Grow-Grow Fruit seemed like a good candidate.
After a period of accumulation, his Navigation Points had also reached 1.52 million. The Grow-Grow Fruit and the Bat-Bat Fruit contributed 1 million points. The Island-Island Fruit obtained at the auction last time contributed 200,000 points. In addition, the 320,000 points he had painstakingly accumulated by reading ancient books and classics over this period. (It really was quite difficult!)
However, as his Swordsmanship and Haki levels increased, the Navigation Points required for each level-up became massive. Currently, his Swordsmanship was clearly at the Great Swordsman level. His Observation Haki had awakened Future Sight. He had mastered all applications of Armament Haki. Only his Conqueror's Haki was still lacking.
Although Conqueror's Coating was already a very advanced application of Conqueror's Haki, beyond it, there was also Haki Kill (Kenbunshoku Killer)! This was an even more advanced technique than Conqueror's Coating, a derivative ability obtained after cultivating Conqueror's Haki to the highest level. Once Haki Kill was used, it could prevent the opponent from using Future Sight and other advanced applications of Observation Haki. Shanks had demonstrated this ability in the original story.
Thinking of this, Reynold no longer hesitated and made a mental command.
[1.5 million Navigation Points have been deducted. Conqueror's Haki has successfully upgraded to Lv25!]
[Congratulations to the Host for successfully activating Haki Kill!!]
Feeling the powerful force suddenly surge into his body, Reynold, who had just obtained the Bat-Bat Fruit, was once again immersed in pleasant surprise. Today was truly a double celebration! He wondered if he could make it a triple celebration later!
A satisfied Reynold stored the Bat-Bat Fruit in the System Storage. So, next—
"Hmm?!?!"
Reynold suddenly frowned. Having awakened Haki Kill, he sensed a peculiar Observation Haki surging towards him from all directions.
Redfield had made his move!
Bang!
Facing the sudden attack, Reynold decisively used Haki Kill, immediately locking down the opponent's Observation Haki and then utterly destroying it.
"How truly profound!" Sensing the opponent's Observation Haki disperse like smoke, Reynold couldn't help but sigh in wonder.
...
Meanwhile, the Red Count, several hundred meters away from Reynold, suddenly stopped, his brow slightly furrowed. Unsettled by the recent incident, he attempted to read Reynold's mind using his Observation Haki, but unexpectedly, his Haki was destroyed by a burst of power before it even reached Reynold.
What in the world was going on?!!
Since he first took to the sea, his Observation Haki had never failed him; this was unheard of. Redfield instantly developed a great interest in Reynold. He was determined to find out what kind of ability the other person possessed that could suppress his Observation Haki and even block his Mind Reading!
His figure flashed, turning into an afterimage, crossing the hundreds of meters instantly, and reappearing directly in front of Reynold. Reynold stood with his hands clasped behind his back, having waited for some time.
"You know me?" Recalling the subconscious surge of joy Reynold had emitted upon seeing him, Redfield frowned, his heart filled with suspicion.
"Yes, I know you. You are Redfield (The Lonely Red), Patrick Redfield!" Reynold didn't hide the truth. For someone like Redfield, who could read minds and was solitary by nature, it was better to be completely honest.
"Not only do I know you, but I've been looking for you!"
"Looking for me?!" Redfield grew even more confused.
"That's right. I want you to join my pirate crew and become my right-hand man!"
Learning Reynold's true intention, Redfield curled his lips into a wicked, charming smile. "So you want to recruit me. But unfortunately, I'm used to wandering alone. I have absolutely no interest in joining a pirate crew." For Redfield, who had witnessed countless negative human emotions, companionship was the most useless thing. It held no meaning other than being a burden.
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ONEPIECE My Crewmates Are All God-Tier! (130 Chapters, Ongoing)
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"Don't be so quick to refuse. There are quite a few benefits to joining my pirate crew," Reynold said with a smile, unsurprised by Redfield's rejection.
"Oh? Tell me about them!" Intrigued, Redfield folded his arms across his chest and listened intently.
"First of all, if you join my pirate crew, this will be yours!" Reynold flipped his hand, and a purplish-red Devil Fruit appeared in his palm. Redfield, who had been dismissive just moments before, cast a fleeting glance, but that one look instantly froze his gaze. His eyes were filled with unconcealed greed, and he even lowered the arms he had crossed over his chest.
"This is... the Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire?!"
"Sharp eyesight!" As Reynold responded, the Devil Fruit vanished again.
"Where did you obtain this Devil Fruit?!" Seeing the sudden disappearance of the Bat-Bat Fruit before he had satisfied his curiosity, Redfield asked in a deep voice.
"You don't need to know that. All you need to know is that if you join my pirate crew, you will be its master!"
"Hahahahahahaha..." Redfield suddenly threw his head back and laughed heartily, as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke. "Since you know who I am, how dare you try to negotiate terms with me?! If I kill you, this Devil Fruit will still be mine!"
A fight broke out instantly! The Red Count gripped his umbrella sword, and a terrifying aura instantly erupted. Before he even moved, a fierce, rainbow-like slash soared past him and targeted Reynold.
"Don't you know the saying, 'A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure makes him guilty'?! Daring to show off such a heaven-defying Devil Fruit—it serves you right to die!!" A fierce Flying Slash Skill instantly traveled dozens of meters and struck toward Reynold.
"It seems I can only discuss this further after defeating you first." A somewhat helpless Reynold shook his head. Couldn't the man at least let him finish speaking? What kind of childhood did Redfield have to turn out this way?
Reynold took up his Supreme Grade Sword, Sea Splitter, and casually swung it once. Swoosh! A powerful slash whistled through the air, effortlessly destroying Redfield's attack mid-flight, and continued, its remaining power undiminished, toward Redfield.
Redfield's expression changed slightly. He coated his umbrella sword with Armament Haki and shattered the incoming wave of energy. Thud, thud, thud! Although he neutralized the attack, the concussive force contained within it pushed him back two or three steps involuntarily.
"Your sword!" Redfield's eyes narrowed. When he looked back at the sword in Reynold's hand, they were filled with caution. Although he didn't recognize the sword, if he wasn't mistaken, a weapon that could casually unleash such a powerful slash had to be at least among the 21 Great Grade Swords.
"Can we talk properly now?" Reynold didn't want to dwell on the topic of Sea Splitter and got straight to the point again.
"Ridiculous. You can talk after you defeat me!" Redfield had absolute confidence in his own strength! Although he wasn't widely known, those stronger than him on the sea were few and far between. In his opinion, Reynold was not one of them.
Redfield snorted coldly and unleashed his Observation Haki at full power. As a born user of Mind-Reading Observation Haki, once activated, his ability would constantly infiltrate the opponent's mind, putting pressure on them and detecting their innermost thoughts. Although his Observation Haki couldn't directly predict the future, before a person takes any action, they must first form a thought in their mind. His all-pervasive Observation Haki could read the enemy's thoughts beforehand. Even if it was only a flash of thought, it was enough for him to react. And sometimes, even a subtle thought could change the entire battle.
Unfortunately, Redfield was destined to hit a snag this time. Because to his shock, the Observation Haki he released couldn't even reach Reynold. It was as if an invisible barrier stood between the two of them. The moment his Observation Haki crossed that barrier, it was violently destroyed by a powerful force, eventually dissipating into nothingness. Even using his full power made no difference.
"Damn it, what kind of ability is this?!" Failing to read a mind for the first time, Redfield was utterly horrified. Before, he had merely tested the waters; now he was using his full power, and it still had absolutely no effect. His proudest ability was useless against Reynold, and for the first time, Redfield felt a hint of panic.
Watching Redfield's rapidly changing expression, Reynold's lips, which he couldn't help but let curl, turned into a slight smile. Haki Kill truly lived up to its name!! Every single application of Observation Haki was completely suppressed! It was enough to show just how incredibly powerful Shanks was!
"I know you want this Devil Fruit. Can we talk properly now?" Reynold put away Sea Splitter, his voice becoming gentle.
With a fluctuating expression, Redfield reluctantly sheathed his umbrella sword. Since the opponent could suppress his Observation Haki, they certainly couldn't be weak. Of course, joining Reynold's pirate crew was absolutely impossible for him. But giving up such a heaven-defying Devil Fruit—he couldn't accept that either.
"Redfield, I know your history and understand your past. Because you were born with the Observation Haki to read minds, the ugliness and evil you witnessed in your youth planted deep seeds in your heart. That's why you are so erratic and solitary today. But I believe that over the years, you must have encountered kind and sincere people! It's just that you've closed off your heart, which is why you refuse to interact with them!"
"Those having a feast on the island are my crewmates. Why don't you use your Observation Haki to sense their inner thoughts? See what they are truly thinking inside?" Redfield had already noticed the crewmates Reynold spoke of. However...
"Hehehehehe... How ridiculous. Do you think what's on the surface is what they truly think inside? Naive! I've seen countless times where people were calling each other brothers one moment, and drawing swords against each other the next! Do you really believe that the so-called companions you speak of are actually as you see them? I will tell you their true inner thoughts; just don't deny it when I do!"
Redfield, determined to prove him wrong, snorted coldly and immediately directed his Observation Haki into the minds of Lingling and the others. But after he peered into the minds of Lingling and the rest...
"Big Brother hug?"
"Reynold, go easy?"
"Training is too tiring, I need to eat more."
"Why is the Boss so strong?!"
"When will I be able to get a Devil Fruit?"
"These little devils eat too much, my spatula is about to fly off!"
"..."
After sensing the inner thoughts of Lingling and the others, he was left speechless. Weren't these all just everyday thoughts and complaints? Was there truly no evil thought at all?!
"How was it? Are you perhaps a little disappointed?"
Reynold smiled as he looked at Redfield's fluctuating expression.
"So what? Just because they don't have them now doesn't mean they won't in the future!"
"In any case, I don't believe in the existence of true companions!"
Redfield clung to his conviction, stating stubbornly.
"Is that so? In your heart, is even Brook such a person?!!"
Boom—
The moment Reynold's words fell, an unparalleled aura violently erupted from Redfield, instantly sweeping across the entire island.
Lingling and the others, who were enjoying the feast, changed expression slightly. They immediately dropped their large mutton skewers and rushed to Reynold's side.
"Brother, what happened?"
"Boss, was it this guy?"
Lingling, Jess, and the others surrounded Redfield, blocking all his escape routes. Redfield seemed oblivious to their presence, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Reynold as icy words jumped from his mouth.
"Don't you dare mention Mr. Brook!!"
"You are not worthy to be compared with him, understand?!"
Reynold was completely unfazed by Redfield's loss of composure. His relationship with Brook was comparable to that of a young Luffy and Shanks. Brook was the person Redfield most respected. His admiration for Brook was no less than young Luffy's admiration for Shanks. Even after many years, Brook's position in his heart remained completely unchanged.