Ezra shook his head, casting the thought aside. The Surgery Fruit had already been reborn and swallowed by Law.
If he had ever eaten the Surgery Fruit himself, it could only manifest after his death. So he quickly dismissed the idea.
Yet, in the sparse fragments of his memory, there were always images of people in white lab coats. How could that be explained?
There were only two possibilities. Either his body was sick, or his body had been modified.
But he had lived here for over twenty years and had never noticed anything unusual with his body. The only thing that didn't make sense was that his appearance had never changed.
Whether this was due to his body or the inheritance from the Reaper, it was hard to say. But if it was the body, then there was only one explanation:
He, Ezra D. Vale, had once possessed the immortality granted by the Surgery Fruit.
The only person capable of doing this? Imu.
Still, a question lingered in Ezra's mind. Why would the Surgery Fruit have emotions? Why would it express feelings toward him?
This remained an unsolved mystery. With no further information, Ezra let the thought rest for now. He would ask Imu directly when the time came.
"Hopefully, Imu will tell me something this time," he thought.
He told Law to stay about ten meters away. Only then did Law feel slightly better. The heartbeat racing sensation remained, but the energy surging from within his body had disappeared.
Putting the matter temporarily aside, Ezra ordered the Underworld to move at full speed. He was eager to deal with Redfield.
The scene shifted to Longchain Island.
A figure descended from the sky a tall, lean man. His hair was braided into two long plaits that fell over his shoulders. He wore a crimson shirt with matching blood-red trousers, black leather shoes trimmed in gold, and a wide blood-red cloak that billowed in the wind.
He shook the slender bat-shaped handle of his umbrella. A faint smile curved Redfield's lips.
"Vampire form… this youthful feeling is exhilarating."
Gently touching the blue rose pinned to his chest, Redfield finally felt reborn.
"But it's not enough. Returning to my peak isn't enough. I need more fresh blood to surpass it."
Knowing that Sengoku would send the Navy after him, he grinned.
"And at least an admiral or vice admiral! Fresh, powerful blood… perfect!"
A feral gleam lit Redfield's eyes.
"They're coming… soon enough."
Yet Redfield had no idea how serious the situation was.
Days passed in a blur. The Underworld arrived near Longchain Island, and Ezra rose from the deck chair, eyes fixed on the island in the distance.
"Admiral Zanka, the soldiers are ready," Law shouted from ten meters away.
Ezra's lips twitched. This way of shouting was exhausting.
"I understand. Stay in the nearby waters. No need to land."
Law froze for a moment, then realization hit. Ezra intended to annihilate the island.
"Yes, Admiral Zanka!"
The Underworld moved to the coastal area, stopping just off the island.
"I understand," Law said. Ezra inclined his head and rose into the air, flying toward Longchain Island.
Meanwhile, Redfield, relying on his exceptional Observation Haki, sensed Ezra's presence.
"Finally arrived, huh?"
Excitement gripped him, but he paused, frowning.
"Why is there only one person? Could they have sent an admiral?"
Clutching his umbrella, Redfield stepped toward the shore.
He saw Ezra approaching dressed in a black suit, black tousled hair, crimson eyes, dark red gloves, and his unchanging Justice Cloak.
Redfield's eyes widened.
"Ezra D. Vale! Admiral Zanka!"
Ezra raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
"Well, well. Didn't expect an old relic like you to recognize me."
Redfield watched Ezra warily. During his fight with Whitebeard, he had studied the video recordings carefully. How could he not know Ezra? After all, Ezra was the one person he wasn't confident he could defeat, even at his peak.
"I didn't expect Sengoku to send you directly… my mistake," Redfield muttered.
He didn't dare underestimate him now. Closing his umbrella, he drew a blade from its handle and fixed his gaze on Ezra.
Ezra raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Not a very wise choice, Redfield. Why not surrender to me directly?"
Even Redfield couldn't suppress a cold snort.
"The outcome isn't certain yet."
Ezra didn't respond. His right hand gripped the sword hilt.
"Let's see this legendary pirate in action."
In an instant, Redfield lunged forward, swinging his umbrella-blade.
[Slashing Strike].
Ezra, as expected, didn't hold back. A blade of force surged toward Redfield, but the pirate anticipated it.
With a light tap of his right foot, Redfield shifted in midair, easily dodging the strike. His umbrella-blade continued its downward momentum.
Ezra's brow lifted, and he countered with his own blade, forcing Redfield back.
Flashing his sword in a fluid motion, Ezra glanced at Redfield.
"No wonder he's a legendary pirate… that Observation Haki of his is extraordinary."
Indeed, Redfield had relied on his powerful Observation Haki to predict Ezra's strike. Born with the ability to read minds and memories, few in this era could master it fully.
This was Redfield's strength: swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, Observation Haki, Armament Haki all honed to perfection. Now, combined with the Vampire Fruit, he was even more formidable.
A smirk played across Ezra's lips.
"This is going to be interesting."