Looking at Redfield's body, now reduced to nothing, Ezra showed no mercy. With a crisp snap of his fingers, he activated Flame Blaze.
A pale blue fire erupted from Redfield's body, instantly reducing him to ashes.
Ezra brushed his hands clean, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Job done."
He leapt into the air, and in the blink of an eye, he was back aboard the battleship.
"Admiral Zanka!"
All the soldiers turned toward him, their eyes filled with the highest respect.
Ezra nodded slightly. "Yes. Everything here is settled. Set sail."
"Yes, Admiral Zanka!"
He reclined in his chair on deck and pulled out his Den-Den Mushi.
In the office, Sengoku's Den-Den Mushi buzzed urgently.
"Hello, Admiral Sengoku?"
"Oh, Ezra. What's happened?"
"Nothing much. Just letting you know that Redfield has been eliminated."
Sengoku froze. "Already? That fast?"
Ezra nodded faintly. "Yes. His swordsmanship was formidable, and his Devil Fruit powers weren't weak either… but he was reckless."
Sengoku tapped his desk in amazement. "Your strength keeps growing, Ezra. Truly…"
Ezra didn't correct him. When he had faced Whitebeard, he had held back, showing respect rather than full power. But now, finishing a duel with a legendary pirate like Redfield so swiftly gave Sengoku the impression that Ezra had grown even stronger.
Ezra simply shrugged. "Alright. That's settled for now."
He ended the call and called out, "Roh, come here."
Roh approached, ten meters away, shouting, "Admiral Zanka! What is it?"
"Set course for Mary Geoise. That's our target."
Roh paused, then quickly responded, "Yes! Admiral Zanka!"
Though he didn't know exactly what the Admiral intended at Mary Geoise, he wisely didn't ask. Roh rushed to relay the order to the ship.
Ezra, meanwhile, began contemplating how to approach Im so she would finally tell him the truth.
With that thought, the ship set sail.
Days passed, and the Reaper finally reached Mary Geoise.
"You will stay on the ship until I return. Do not wander. If any Celestial Dragons cause trouble, don't worry."
Roh saluted sharply. "Understood, Admiral Zanka! No Celestial Dragon will set foot on this ship."
Ezra nodded slightly and left the deck, heading toward Pangaea Castle.
His mind was heavy with questions, so he bypassed the Five Elders and went straight to the heart of the castle. He knocked on Im's door.
"Come in."
The cool, calm voice reassured him. Ezra stepped inside.
"Im, it's been a while."
"Ezra?" Im raised an eyebrow, surprised to see him, but her mood was light.
Ezra didn't hesitate, sitting down beside her. "How have you been?"
Im chuckled. "As usual. Bothered by all kinds of pirates every day."
Ezra laughed. "I've been doing my best to eliminate them."
Im shook her head. "Don't worry about it. I don't blame you."
After a moment of casual talk, Im asked, "So, Ezra… you came to see me for a reason, didn't you?"
Ezra nodded. "You noticed?"
Im smiled faintly. "You're practically wearing your questions on your face."
Ezra scratched the back of his head. "I do have something I want to ask you."
"Go ahead. I'll answer what I can."
He cleared his throat. "Im, I want to know… did I ever undergo the immortality surgery?"
Im's body froze. "Why would you ask that?"
Ezra explained the unusual sensations Roh had experienced when approaching him, describing the fear and excitement emanating from him.
Im's brow relaxed. "I see…" She looked at Ezra with a small smile, noting his insatiable curiosity.
"Though it might not be exactly what you imagine… you did 'receive' the powers of the Devil Fruit of Surgery."
Ezra raised an eyebrow. "Received… fine. But why say it's different from what I imagined?"
"Besides taking it yourself, or having someone else grant you immortality… is there a third option?"
Im nodded. "Exactly. You are the third option the most unique kind."
Ezra's confusion deepened. Though the mystery of the Devil Fruit was partially solved, questions about himself multiplied.
"What is this third option? How is it special?"
Im, seeing him lost in thought, decided to give him a hint. She smiled and asked, "Do you remember the sensations of the Devil Fruit?"
Ezra nodded slightly. Whenever Roh approached, the fruit radiated fear and excitement.
"Does the third option have something to do with these emotions?"
Im nodded. "Have you ever considered… that you yourself might have stripped the fruit of its powers?"
Ezra froze. "I… stripped the Devil Fruit's power? How?" He pondered, and a flash of insight struck him.
He looked up at Im. "Could it be… that I took the immortality power myself?"
Im smiled but said nothing, indicating he was close to the answer.
"Think carefully about that. As for Roh… you can try communicating with the fruit."
Ezra accepted this, realizing Im had decided to leave the conversation there. He bid her farewell and left, his mind swarming with questions about his connection to the Devil Fruit and to Im. None of the answers would be easy.
"Ugh… what a headache."
Rubbing his throbbing temples, Ezra walked back to the Reaper. Fortunately, no Celestial Dragons had dared interfere.
"Roh, come here."