Regardless of Carl's reaction, the mechanical voice of the system echoed truthfully in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully signing in to Sleeping Ancient Town!]
[Reward obtained: Devil Fruit. (Note: Please check properties manually.)]
[The reward has been issued. Host, please check it!]
Carl stood frozen, feeling numb, not even bothering to examine the sign-in reward.
A Devil Fruit, huh?
It didn't matter—he wasn't going to eat it.
The vulnerability to seawater and Seastone was too much of a weakness.
Just as he set foot on the island, he sensed a terrifying aura—so overwhelming that it seemed unreal.
This wasn't just any powerful foe.
Could it be a Four Emperor…?
"Colonel Carl, what's wrong?" Bright asked, looking at him suspiciously.
Carl had only taken two steps forward before stopping abruptly, leaving Bright confused.
Carl coughed. "Well, Bright, I've thought about it. Let's take a detour and come back later."
"It won't make a difference if we check the area after a round trip."
No matter who was emanating this powerful presence in Sleeping Ancient Town, Carl had no intention of provoking a fight.
A battle against someone of this level wouldn't end quickly.
"Uh… understood!"
Although puzzled, Bright saluted and turned to signal the soldiers to return to the ship.
"Wait."
Carl sighed helplessly and stopped Bright.
"Colonel Carl?" Bright was confused.
"No need to leave."
Carl took out a cigar from his coat, put it between his lips, and struck a match.
"He's already here."
A faint red glow flickered in Carl's eyes.
In his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) perception, that overwhelming presence was approaching fast!
Carl exhaled a smoke ring, narrowing his eyes toward the direction of the aura.
Step, step…
A figure in blood-red garments appeared in his line of sight.
A large crimson cloak draped over his shoulders, and in his hand was a slender, bat-handled umbrella.
His long, pale hair was braided into two strands, cascading over his shoulders.
An eerie smile curled on his lips, exuding an unsettling aura—he looked like a noble vampire from the Middle Ages.
Carl frowned, smoking his cigar.
Who the hell is this old man…?
This man's face wasn't familiar.
He wasn't an active figure in the current era.
Yet, his presence reminded Carl of legends from the past—those who had retired, like the Golden Lion or Rayleigh.
"Well, are you wondering about my identity?"
The man smirked.
"It doesn't matter. I'll tell you myself."
Carl's eyes darkened slightly.
He read my thoughts?!
"I'm Baroric Redfield."
"You can call me Red Earl."
His expression remained unchanged, that wicked smile never fading.
!!!
Carl's pupils shrank.
He recognized the name immediately.
Baroric Redfield—the great pirate from Roger's era.
A legendary figure known as "The Lonely Red," "Red Earl," and "The Solitary Rider."
A one-man force who rivaled Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard alone!
And most importantly—
Carl recalled that the first thing Redfield did after escaping Impel Down was hunt for a Zoan-type Devil Fruit: the Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire.
A fruit that could restore youth, bringing back his prime and full strength.
And the location where he searched for it…
Was none other than Sleeping Ancient Town!
"Damn it!"
Carl turned to look at Coffey and Emily, taking a deep breath.
How did he not realize it sooner?!
Sleeping Ancient Town…
Of course Redfield would be here searching for the fruit!
"You know me, young Marine."
Redfield's smile widened.
"Interesting… I can only catch fragments of your thoughts."
His Kenbunshoku Haki was terrifying—he'd had it since childhood, growing so advanced that it allowed him to read minds.
And because he was constantly aware of human greed and deceit, he developed a strong disdain for others.
But Carl's thoughts weren't entirely readable to him, which piqued his interest.
"Is it because of my Killing Intent Domain passively shrouding me…?"
Carl rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
This unseen pressure of his Killing Intent might be acting as an unintentional mental defense.
"Solomon Carl?"
Redfield tapped his umbrella on the ground.
"So you're the rising powerhouse of the Marines…"
"Are you wondering if I already obtained the fruit?"
Carl's eyes narrowed slightly.
This mind-reading ability is really annoying.
"Heh… not yet."
Redfield's wicked grin remained.
His tone was indifferent—
He didn't care about revealing that information.
This was absolute confidence.
"Hah…"
Carl exhaled a long breath of smoke, his gaze turning sharp.
"Redfield, why don't you old-timers just stay retired in Impel Down?"
"Seventy, eighty years old—still chasing ambition?"
Like Golden Lion, remnants of the past era—
Old men clinging to their dreams, unwilling to fade into history.
Wouldn't it be better to just live out their remaining years peacefully?
"Haha."
Redfield's face remained the same, but his eyes flickered with emotion.
"You're right."
"We are merely relics of the past."
"The death of Whitebeard made one thing clear to me."
"Aging—no, time—is our greatest enemy."
"No matter how powerful you were in the past, time will weaken you."
"So, I will find that Devil Fruit."
His eyes burned with determination.
"If I acquire it, I will reverse the flow of time and reclaim my peak strength!"
Zoan – Mythical Model – Bat-Bat Fruit: Vampire Form.
A fruit with the power to restore youth.
Redfield's goal was simple—
Find the fruit.
And then…
Replace Whitebeard as the strongest in the New World!
Carl sighed.
"I don't care about your plans. Why don't we just pretend we never saw each other?"
Wishful thinking.
He knew this wasn't realistic.
But he had only come to check in—not to fight a Four Emperor-level opponent!
Sure enough—
Redfield wasn't letting them go.
He smirked.
"No, no. Since you've discovered my presence, it's better if you just disappear."
Swoosh!
A jet-black umbrella, wrapped in advanced Armament Haki, stabbed toward Carl's back!
Clang!
'Sakura Ten' clashed against the umbrella!
The sheer force cracked the ground beneath Carl's feet—
The shockwave spread outward, distorting the air.
Zzzt—
A dark, liquid-like lightning surged from 'Sakura Ten'!
Redfield narrowed his eyes.
"You can do this…?"
For a man of his caliber, Haki was nothing special.
But Carl's Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) was so advanced that even he took notice.
A red glow flickered in Carl's eyes.
"Bright! Everyone—fall back!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Marines hurriedly retreated.
Carl exhaled a breath of white smoke, eyes cold as steel.
"Old man, if you're that eager to fight…"
"Prepare to die."
Redfield smiled indifferently—his umbrella lunged forward again.
Then—
ROOOOAAARR!!!
A beastly roar shattered the air!
Redfield froze.
Carl's blade sliced forward—
BOOM!
The ground split apart!
A battle of legends was about to begin.
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