<h4>Chapter 92: The Arrest of the Red Count!</h4>


    In the waters of the New World, a massive sailing ship quietly cut through the waves, flying the insignia of an official World Government caravan. It looked like an ordinary merchant vessel, nothing that would attract undue attention.


    But standing on its deck were some of the mightiest figures in the world: Marine Headquarters'' Fleet Admiral Kong, Vice Admiral Garp, renowned as the Marine Hero, and udius, the young Celestial Dragon. Their target was none other than Patrick Redfield, also known as the "Red Count," and their destination—Bat Ind.


    udius hadn''t had many opportunities to meet Fleet Admiral Kong before, and the two didn''t share any particr friendship. In fact, he didn''t know much about him at all. But in the days they''d spent together, udius hade to appreciate that Kong was a straightforward, stubborn man, but not inflexible. The Fleet Admiral had a strong personality yet remained approachable, and they''d quickly found a mutual respect.


    "It should be close now, right?" udius asked, watching the record pointer in his hand as it swayed in the direction of their destination.


    Garp, an old sea dog with years of experience, didn''t even bother with the pointer. After a moment of thought, he said, "Another half a day, give or take."


    "This mission is as covert as it gets. I didn''t even bring any Marine soldiers along. Just the three of us know about it. I doubt that Redfield would ever expect such a small force," Fleet Admiral Kong remarked with a smile.


    udius looked at him, curious. "Is he really as arrogant as they say? Always working alone, never trusting anyone?"


    Kong nodded. "Exactly. That''s why he''s earned the nickname ''Lonely Red.'' He refuses to rely on anyone."


    "Well, this time we''ll shatter that pride of his and send him straight to Impel Down," Garp said, clenching his fists with a dangerous grin.


    Kong nodded in agreement. "Garp, once we reach Bat Ind, you''ll station yourself at the port. That ce has a peculiar geography, there''s only one port for getting in or out, and the rest of the ind is surrounded by cliffs. As long as you hold the port, he won''t be able to escape. I''ll handle him myself."


    "Huh? You''re nning to take that bastard on solo, Kong?" Garp asked, clearly surprised.


    "Yes," Kong replied. "As long as the port''s secured, it''ll be like trapping a fox in a cage. I''ll deal with him personally."


    udius raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit uneasy. He wanted to tell Kong that, as strong as he was, he might not fare so well in a one-on-one with Redfield. If his memory served, Kong had indeed gone toe-to-toe with the Red Count on Bat Ind once before... and lost due to exhaustion. Redfield, however, didn''t get far afterward, as Garp had jumped in and pummeled him into submission, sealing his fate in Impel Down.


    Looking at Kong, who was older than Garp by a decade and well into his seventies, udius couldn''t help but feel a mix of admiration and concern. This man had been fighting for the World Government his entire life. Even when Sengoku, his younger colleague, wouldter retire, Kong would continue to serve well into his nies. A lifetime of loyalty and sacrifice, it was something udius couldn''t help but respect.


    With this in mind, udius asked, "And what about me, Fleet Admiral Kong? Where do you need me?"


    Kong, fully aware of Redfield''s strength, didn''t want to put udius at unnecessary risk. Despite udius''s impressive abilities, he was no match for someone of Redfield''s caliber just yet. And with udius''s high status as a Celestial Dragon, Kong felt an added responsibility to ensure his safety.


    After a moment, Kong said, "Why don''t you observe from a safe distance? You can see everything unfold, but without getting too close to the action."


    In other words, they wanted him to watch from the sidelines. But udius didn''t take offense. He understood that Kong''s intention was to keep him safe, not to belittle him. Besides, he suspected there would be other ways for him to contribute. So, with a rxed smile, he replied, "Understood. My experience is nowhere near as extensive as yours, Fleet Admiral. CP-X will dly learn from you on this mission, haha."


    "d to hear it," Kong said with a smile of his own, appreciating udius''sck of arrogance. He''d met too many young talents who, brimming with pride, threw themselves recklessly into danger. But udius showed a rarebination of strength and humility, which Kong respected.


    Thinking back, he''d seen many promising Marines fall to their own hubris. Even the Whitebeard Pirates had eventually met disaster because Ace had been too headstrong to heed Whitebeard''s warnings. Arrogance was a killer.


    After chatting for a few more minutes, Kong asked, "I heard you have people on Bat Ind already?"


    udius nodded. "My cousin is stationed there. But don''t worry, Fleet Admiral, his cover won''t raise any rms for Redfield."


    "Oh, you mean that candidate for the ''Seven Warlords of the Sea'' project that Sengoku mentioned? His Highness Domingo, right?" Kong asked, recalling their conversation.


    "That''s right, though please don''t call him ''Your Highness'' around him. He''s sensitive about it. He was stripped of his Celestial Dragon status when his father took him to North Blue," udius replied with a chuckle.


    "Got it," Kong replied, slightly embarrassed by his mistake.


    As they closed in on Bat Ind, Domingo himself was preparing on the shore, waiting for udius''s arrival.


    "So I''m supposed to face off against the infamous ''Lonely Red,'' Patrick Redfield? I barely got my feet wet in the New World, and I''m already dealing with a legend?" Domingo muttered to himself, a cold gleam in his eyes. A wicked grin spread across his face. "Fufufufu... cousin, I see you''re making me prove my worth."


    "If you can''t endure this, you''ll never reach the top," he recalled udius saying over the Den Den Mushi before this mission. "This is a chance to show the World Government your value. Make a good impression, and we''ll both benefit in the future."


    Domingo hadn''t reached the level of patience he''d have in the future, but under udius''s guidance, he''d learned to control his impulses. This mission was just another step in his ascent, a necessary sacrifice for a greater reward.


    Meanwhile, deep within Bat Ind''s dense forests, Redfield examined a worn scrap of parchment he had just uncovered. The markings on it hinted at a ce called "The Sleeping Ancient Town," and he frowned, unfamiliar with the name.


    "The Sleeping Ancient Town... never heard of it," Redfield murmured. Histest quest had brought him here, searching for a rare Zoan Mythical Devil Fruit he''d heard rumors about. He intended to find it and harness its power, thinking it might prove useful in his future endeavors.


    Little did he know, however, that the World Government had already set a trap for him—a that had taken months to weave and was about to be sprung.


    <i>If he truly wanted that fruit, it would have to wait. It would be over twenty years before ckbeard would one daye to free him from his cell in Impel Down...</i>