Iers of the New World, a massive sailing ship quietly cut through the waves, flying the insignia of an official Wover caravan. It looked like an ordinary mert vessel, nothing that would attradue 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 Cudius, the youial Dragon. Their target was her than Patrick Redfield, also known as the "Red t," and their destination—Bat Isnd.

  Cudius hadn't had many opportuo meet Fleet Admiral Kong before, and the two didn't share any particur friendship. In fact, he didn't know much about him at all. But in the days they'd spent together, Cudius had e 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 nht?" Cudius asked, watg the record pointer in his hand as it swayed in the dire 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.

  Cudius looked at him, curious. "Is he really as arrogant as they say? Always w alone, rusting anyone?"

  Kong nodded. "Exactly. That's why he's earhe niame '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, g his fists with a dangerous grin.

  Kong nodded in agreement. "Garp, once we reach Bat Isnd, you'll station yourself at the port. That pce has a peculiar geography, there's only one port fetting in or out, and the rest of the isnd 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 pnning 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."

  Cudius raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit uneasy. He wao tell Kong that, as strong as he was, he might not fare so well in a one-oh Redfield. If his memory served, Kong had indeed gooe-to-toe with the Red t on Bat Isnd 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, Cudius couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and . This man had been fighting for the Wover his entire life. Even when Sengoku, his younger colleague, would ter retire, Kong would tio serve well into his ies. A lifetime of loyalty and sacrifice, it was something Cudius couldn't help but respect.

  With this in mind, Cudius 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 Cudius at unnecessary risk. Despite Cudius's impressive abilities, he was no match for someone of Redfield's caliber just yet. And with Cudius's high status as a Celestial Dragon, Ko an added responsibility to ensure his safety.

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

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

  "Gd to hear it," Kong said with a smile of his oreciating Cudius's ck ance. He'd met too many young talents who, brimming with pride, threw themselves recklessly into danger. But Cudius showed a rare bination 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 Isnd already?"

  Cudius nodded. "My cousin is statiohere. But don't worry, Fleet Admiral, his cover won't raise any arms for Redfield."

  "Oh, you mean that didate for the 'Seven Warlords of the Sea' project that Sengoku mentioned? His Highness Dofminght?" Kong asked, recalling their versation.

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

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

  As they closed in on Bat Isnd, Dofmingo himself reparing on the shore, waiting for Cudius'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?" Dofmingo 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 't ehis, you'll never reach the top," he recalled Cudius saying over the Den Den Mushi before this mission. "This is a ce to show the Wover your value. Make a good impression, and we'll both be iure."

  Dofmingo hadn't reached the level of patience he'd have iure, but under Cudius's guidance, he'd learo trol his impulses. This mission was just aep in his ast, a necessary sacrifice freater reward.

  Meanwhile, deep within Bat Isnd's dense forests, Redfield examined a worn scrap of part he had just uncovered. The markings on it hi a pce called "The Sleeping Aown," and he frowned, unfamiliar with the name.

  "The Sleeping Aown… never heard of it," Redfield murmured. His test quest had brought him here, searg for a rare Zoan Mythical Devil Fruit he'd heard rumors about. He inteo find it and harness its power, thinking it might prove useful in his future endeavors.

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

  If he truly wahat fruit, it would have to wait. It would be over twenty years before Bckbeard would one day e to free him from his cell in Impel Down…