New World, Hachinosu.
Inside the Skull Castle, the imperial capital of the Rocks Empire and the headquarters of the Rocks Pirates.
"Fang Huo!! Those bastards have started to move!"
"The intelligence hunters I hired no longer dare to approach the waters of Red Soil Island!"
"After they saw the World Government's Cipher Pol agents appear, they refused to work for me anymore and abandoned their bounty monitoring missions."
"I have now lost all intelligence on Red Soil Island."
Redfield gritted his teeth as he spoke to Fang Huo, his eyes bloodshot. The usually calm and composed 'Lone Red' had lost his cool and composure at this moment, his emotions in disarray.
He didn't know when the Celestial Dragons would start the Native Purge Competition on Red Soil Island.
What if it was in January!
What if it was even on January 1st of the new year!
Would they still have time to make it back to the West Blue?
"Calm down! Redfield!"
Fang Huo pressed a hand onto Redfield's shoulder, and a wisp of lightning quickly calmed the man down.
"Besides having people watch Red Soil Island, I also have people watching Mary Geoise and the Red Port."
"So stay calm. Neither I nor Rocks will miss this opportunity."
Fang Huo spoke slowly, revealing a piece of news that quickly calmed Redfield down.
"..."
"Thanks..."
Hearing that Fang Huo was still monitoring the Celestial Dragons in Mary Geoise, Redfield instantly understood Fang Huo's meaning.
He had just lost his composure for a moment.
Monitoring the Celestial Dragons was indeed more effective than monitoring Red Soil Island; he hadn't even thought of that move earlier.
It seemed he still wasn't thinking as thoroughly as the Prophet Fang Huo.
"You've been suppressed by hatred for so long! Perhaps this is the opportunity for you to break through the shackles of Haoshoku."
"Hatred can make a person stronger, but it can also blind your heart and limit your potential."
"A person shouldn't live only for revenge."
Fang Huo spoke earnestly to this crewmate who was both a friend and a rival.
The breakthrough in conviction while fighting the extreme storm previously hadn't allowed Redfield to take the step of mastering Conquerors Haki Infusion.
His mind was burdened with too many things.
On the contrary, Whitebeard Newgate had taken another key step and was already touching the edge of Conquerors Haki Infusion.
Perhaps this battle at Red Soil Island would be the one where Newgate claimed his title as an Emperor.
As for the even more talented Charlotte Linlin, for some reason, her growth rate was actually slowing down.
Perhaps without the influence of the ambitious Sister Carmelo, the simple-minded Linlin needed more experiences and setbacks to grow.
To become an Emperor at 19 like Straw Hat Luffy probably wasn't feasible right now.
In the original timeline, Charlotte Linlin at age 30 was already extremely wary of Iron Fist Garp and was no longer his match.
He wondered if, under Fang Huo's guidance and cultivation—having fewer children and practicing more—the Charlotte Linlin of this timeline...
...could keep pace with Roger, Garp, and Newgate, or even become stronger.
After all, after the original Rocks era ended, it was first the era of the three legends: Roger, Whitebeard Newgate, and Golden Lion Shiki.
Charlotte Linlin and Beast Kaido still needed time to grow before reaching their peak.
The Great Pirate Era began when Roger became the Pirate King and was executed, and Golden Lion Shiki was imprisoned... Only then did the era of the Four Emperors begin, with Charlotte Linlin and Beast Kaido taking their turns to become Emperors.
---
"Everything you say is right!"
"But we are all smart people, and I don't like the feeling of being lectured."
"You should save those words for those brutes."
"Also, you've never experienced that feeling of being filled with hatred."
"But then again, how could a Prophet like you have ever experienced such a painful feeling!"
"Human emotions are not universal."
"Until revenge is taken, a person will only live for revenge."
After learning that his hometown was temporarily safe, for some reason, even though Redfield knew Fang Huo was trying to enlighten and help him...
...he still felt a bit uncomfortable.
He hated the way Fang Huo, as a 'Prophet' and 'philosopher,' looked down on him from a higher dimension.
That feeling usually only existed when he was looking down on others.
This was perhaps the mutual repulsion between intelligent people.
He had been chasing after Fang Huo, and he hoped Fang Huo would treat him as an equal rather than looking down on him.
"..."
Fang Huo hadn't expected Redfield's train of thought to go in this direction, nor for him to be so blunt; his EQ was practically zero.
But what was this guy babbling about, and where did his imagination lead him?
If it weren't for Fang Huo's great magnanimity!
He might have beaten this so-called 'smart person' on the spot, just like Rocks would!
Innate Observation Haki and being used to the ugliness of human nature since childhood were no excuse for Redfield to disrespect the strong.
Besides, truly smart people don't go around calling themselves smart all day.
A person who is strong in both IQ and EQ is a truly smart person.
"Heh, actually, I don't like it when people talk back to me either."
"Since you don't like being lectured, my fists are just as firm."
"Remember, when you can't beat someone, no matter how smart you are, you have to stay coiled and low."
"That's exactly how Rocks taught me a lesson back then!"
Fang Huo chuckled softly, his expression darkening as a sudden force of gravity pressed down on the arrogant Redfield.
With an exaggerated kick, he struck Redfield square on the buttocks and followed up with a swift, powerful bolt of lightning.
He had kindly given Redfield good news and had earnestly enlightened and taught him.
In return, he got such a low-EQ, nonsensical response.
In any case, he no longer felt any guilt toward Redfield.
A beating was a beating!
"You dare kick me?!!"
Redfield, who was instantly sent flying, felt the pain in his rear, which made him feel exceptionally shamed and enraged.
He really hadn't expected this 'smart and steady' Vice Captain Fang Huo to suddenly attack.
In all his years, this was the first time someone had kicked him in the butt!
Did he have no dignity!
He instantly forgot his worries about the loss of contact with Red Soil Island, his mind filled only with the explosive urge to hit back.
"Why wouldn't I dare?"
"Redfield, get angry! Feel the shame! You look like a normal person now."
"Also, don't act like a smart person or a cold noble in front of me ever again!"
"When I'm showing off, I don't allow anyone to be more of a poser than me!"
Seeing the humiliated and enraged Redfield, Fang Huo actually started laughing.
He suddenly enjoyed seeing this cold guy's composure break.
"Angry my ass! Shamed my ass! Fang Huo! I'm going to kill you!"
Redfield's face was flushed as he instantly drew his sword and slashed, completely losing his noble elegance and calm.
"See, doesn't this look more like a pirate!"
Fang Huo drew the seven star demon sword, infused it with Conquerors Haki, and slashed back.
He was going to learn from Rocks—using Conquerors Haki Coating the moment he raised his hand.
One strike to break these guys' defiant souls.
The enraged Redfield was once again sent flying by Fang Huo's strike.
"That kick was to teach you not to be a poser, or you'll get struck by lightning!"
"This sword strike is to teach you to overcome arrogance and impatience."
"And this elbow is to teach you to respect the big boss, man!"
Fang Huo continued to rush toward the flying Redfield, delivering a pitch-black elbow infused with Haki and crackling with black-red lightning right into Redfield's face.
In an instant, black-red lightning splattered everywhere, and the world lost its color.
Redfield's eyes bulged, blood spurted from his nose and mouth, and he was slammed violently into the wall by Fang Huo, creating a massive crater as exaggerated cracks spread rapidly in all directions...