Faced with Arthur's calm but utterly sincere gaze, a faint ember rekindled in Bundy World's chest — a fire he'd thought long extinguished.
"Fine! In that case, I'll take you up on it!"
He wasn't one for empty talk. Without hesitation, he dropped into a fighting stance, fists tightening as his aura surged.
Arthur raised a brow, lightning flickering faintly around him as his Lightning Shield came alive.
"I won't move. If you can hurt me, you win."
"Huh?"
Bundy blinked, caught between gratitude and indignation. He owed this kid for freeing him — but that didn't mean he'd let his pride be trampled. Without another word, he launched himself forward!
Bundy World, user of the Moa Moa no Mi, could multiply the speed of any object — or himself — up to a hundredfold, depending on mastery. He'd only tapped about one-fifth of its full potential, but even twentyfold speed was terrifying enough.
He blurred forward, moving so fast the air cracked. His assault exploded in a blur of fists and kicks, a relentless barrage that forced even the hardened Level Six veterans to whistle in awe.
"Damn, Bundy's still got it. That kind of speed could dominate half the New World."
"Close-quarters with him is suicide."
"Heh, you don't even know the half of it. His real power's long-range!"
"Oh? How so?"
"Imagine—Haki-coated cannonballs, moving twenty times faster. You tell me how you'd survive that."
A wave of understanding rippled through the onlookers.
"Holy hell… that's busted!"
While they chatted in amazement, Bundy himself was on the verge of mental collapse.
What kind of monster is this guy?!
He'd been going all-out for minutes, faster and stronger than ever before — and yet he hadn't so much as grazed Arthur's clothes!
Even when he coated his attacks in Armament Haki, Arthur's Lightning Shield absorbed them like nothing. Not a mark, not a bruise.
Totally unscathed.
Meanwhile, Arthur was quietly analyzing the fight, observing the limits of his own technique.
"So Haki really is tougher to counter… Even if the shield holds, it's warping under impact. If it were someone like Shanks, I might not block it clean. I'll need to boost its output somehow."
As Arthur mused, Bundy's movements slowed, fatigue and frustration dragging at him. His blows weakened, his breathing turned ragged, and finally—
He threw up his hands, glaring at the still-standing Arthur.
"I give up! Damn it, that's brutal, bro!"
When the dust finally cleared, two figures stood revealed: one cool and composed, the other slumped in utter defeat.
The entire floor erupted.
"What the—he didn't even flinch!"
"He really tanked Bundy World's full assault without moving a step!"
"Unbelievable… I wouldn't last ten seconds under that barrage!"
Even the most jaded among them looked rattled. None of them could boast that level of defense.
Arthur brushed imaginary dust off his shoulders, his tone calm and maddeningly smug.
"Not bad. So—are you a man of your word?"
"..."
Every pirate present rolled their eyes in unison.
Not bad?
Bro, you're inhuman!
Bundy took a deep breath, eyes flashing with conviction.
"I, Bundy World, pledge to follow you, Captain!"
The floor erupted into chaos.
"He actually swore loyalty!"
"No way! Bundy World, following him?!"
"With that power, even I'd be tempted!"
Flattery and pleading soon filled the hall as the other prisoners began clamoring for their own freedom. Arthur ignored them all, smiling faintly as he clasped Bundy's hand and helped him up. After a quick exchange of mutual admiration, he turned toward another silent cell — one belonging to a man who hadn't spoken a single word until now.
Redfield.
"Red the Aloof."
Arthur knew him well — the legendary loner, born with extraordinary Observation Haki that grew stronger with age. He'd awakened it at six years old, his insight sharpening as the decades passed.
A terrifying balance of gifts and curses: his Bat-Bat Fruit (Vampire Model) could restore his youth by absorbing others' blood — yet that same deep awareness had exposed him to all the ugliness of the world. The weight of what he saw made him distant, bitter, unwilling to bond with anyone.
But Arthur — blessed by foreknowledge from his old world — knew something most didn't:
Redfield wasn't antisocial by nature. He simply refused to associate with those whose hearts were rotten.
And right now, he didn't even have his Devil Fruit.
Winning him over, then, wouldn't be as hard as people believed. All Arthur had to do was show sincerity — and maybe dangle a few tempting hints about that missing fruit.
Inside his cell, Redfield sat motionless, eyes closed — but the moment Arthur stepped closer, the elder man's curiosity got the better of him.
Without moving, he activated his Observation Haki, his awareness flowing toward the youth like a silent tide.
Arthur felt it instantly. The hairs on his neck rose.
He grinned.
"Heh. Just what I was waiting for."
He centered himself, shedding all distractions, revealing only honest intent and fearless conviction.
A flicker of interest rippled through Redfield's aura — faint but real.
Hooked.
Sensing the opening, Arthur moved swiftly, shattering the seastone restraints with a single electric pulse. Sparks filled the cell as he stepped forward.
"Redfield! Have you decided? Will you follow me?"
The old pirate opened his eyes, calm and sharp.
"If you think saving me will make me your subordinate, you've gravely underestimated Barorick Redfield."
With that, a crushing Conqueror's Haki burst from him, roaring toward Arthur like a storm.
Arthur only laughed, waving one hand lightly as he unleashed his own.
Boom.
The two Haki collided with explosive force, lightning and pressure slamming through the chamber. The clash rippled across Level Six, driving even the strongest inmates back several steps.
"Damn! That brat's Haki just overpowered Redfield's?!" Pizarro gasped.
"Unfair! How can some kid be this strong?! What are the rest of us even doing here?" groaned Sanjuan Wolf, shaking his massive head.
Arthur only shrugged with mock modesty, though inside he was ecstatic.
Holy crap! The Raikage's power plus Roger's Haki? I'm unstoppable!
Redfield was silent for a long moment. Then he sighed, a faint, lonely smile crossing his face.
"I've one foot in the grave already. I doubt I could be of any help to you."
The moment Arthur heard that, his eyes lit up.
Opportunity detected.
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