Pirate: I'm an admiral now, what's wrong with taking a little extra money?

“Baroric Redfield.” Kane looked down at the man who gave the World Government a headache.

“You’re strong, strong like a monster. If you had teammates, even just one, we might be the ones lying here today.”

Upon hearing this, Count Red's pale lips curled into a mocking sneer, his voice hoarse yet still arrogant:

"A loss is a loss, kid. There's no need to humiliate me with such flattery. Only the weak need to flock together; the true strong always walk alone."

"Traveling alone?"

Kane flicked his cigarette ash, a hint of pity in his eyes.

"That's because you're still young, you can still wield your broken umbrella, and you can still act domineeringly with your swagger."

"But what about ten years from now? Twenty years from now?"

Kane took a step forward, his voice low, each word piercing precisely into the Red Earl's deepest, most fearful vulnerabilities.

"When you get old, can no longer wield an umbrella, your domineering spirit begins to fade, and even your teeth fall out... who will shield you from the knives of those ambitious young men?"

"Roger had Rayleigh and Jabba, Whitebeard had a ship full of stupid sons willing to take the fall for him, and even a fool like Shiki had an entire air fleet to serve as cannon fodder."

"And you, lofty Redfield, on the day you grow old and weak and fall from the throne."

"On this vast ocean, is there anyone who would care whether you live or die?"

The words fell.

The Red Earl's scarlet pupils suddenly contracted.

Those hands, which had remained steadfast even when facing the combined attack of three generals, trembled slightly at this moment.

senescence.

This was the biggest nightmare of his life.

He pursued the ultimate in personal martial prowess, distrusted no one, formed no alliances, and refused to take on crew members. But precisely because of this, he feared aging more than anyone else, feared the loss of his power, and was all too aware of the bleak end that awaited him once he grew old.

"Looks like I was right."

Kane grinned, revealing his fangs.

"What you seek is power that transcends everything. But this human body limits you; it will age and decay."

"Do you want to... break free from these shackles?"

"Do you want to... transcend humanity, achieve true immortality, and possess eternal youth?"

The Red Earl's breath caught in his throat as he stared intently at Kane: "What... nonsense are you spouting?"

"Zoan type, Mythical Zoan, Bat-Bat Fruit, Vampire form".

Kane slowly uttered these words, which struck the Red Earl's heart like a hammer blow.

"Eat it, and you will no longer be a mortal, but a king who walks in the night. You can regain your youth by drinking the blood of the strong, and your peak period will no longer be a few decades, but—forever!"

boom!

The Red Earl's mind went blank.

eternal life!

That was the divine fruit he had longed for and searched for for many years, but had never found!

"You have this fruit?!"

For the first time, the Red Earl's voice lost its composure, filled with undisguised longing and trembling.

"Not now."

Kane shrugged and said matter-of-factly.

The flames in Count Red's eyes cooled instantly, and his killing intent surged once more.

Are you kidding me?

"Don't rush."

Kane pointed to his head with the finger holding the cigarette between his fingers.

"But I know where it is, and I know how to get it. In this world, only I can help you get it."

“That’s priceless, Redfield.”

Kane raised a finger, revealing his true intentions.

"ten years."

"Be my shadow for ten years. And that four billion bill will be wiped clean."

“I don’t need you to be my dog, I just need you to take care of the trash that ‘justice’ can’t handle in the dark.”

"Ten years later, I will personally present you with this fruit and return your freedom."

"When the time comes, whether you want to overturn Mary Geoise or become the governor of the moon is up to you."

"certainly……"

Kane abruptly changed the subject, the warmth in his eyes vanishing instantly.

"You can refuse, and keep your ridiculous aloofness."

"And then, now Sakazuki has turned it into roast meat."

silence.

A deathly silence enveloped the shattered ice field.

Sakazuki's temples bulged with veins, and lava dripped from his fists onto the ice, making a piercing hissing sound.

"Kane! Do you know what you're saying?!"

Sakazuki finally couldn't hold back any longer, taking a step forward, his anger burning.

"Making a deal with pirates? And even offering them a Devil Fruit?! This is a desecration of 'justice'!"

Kane slowly turned around and said coldly in a voice that only the four of them could hear:

"Sakazuki, a brain is a good thing, I hope you'll use it too."

"Killing him will only get us a corpse and a few words of praise. But will there be few pirates on this sea? No."

"But what if... we put a collar on this 'lone wolf' and let it kill other wolves?"

"Use evil to eradicate evil, use darkness to devour darkness. If you don't dirty your own hands, how can you climb to the highest position to promote your absolute justice?"

"Or are you planning to spend your whole life just being a general who can only follow orders and kill?"

Sakazuki's body stiffened.

He looked into Kane's unfathomable black eyes, where ambition burned hotter than magma and was darker than the abyss.

"Using black... to nourish white..."

Sakazuki gritted his teeth and spat out the theories Kane had once instilled in him.

Finally, his boiling magma fist, filled with endless resentment, slowly died down.

He acquiesced.

This scene was witnessed by the Red Earl.

He looked at the young navy man in front of him.

That face was young, greedy, and brimming with undisguised ambition.

navy?

No, this guy is even more pure than the worst pirates.

But... that's eternal youth.

a long time.

A twisted yet relieved smile slowly spread across the Red Earl's pale and arrogant face.

"The Navy... actually produced such an interesting monster as you..."

He struggled to his feet, gripping the broken umbrella handle. Though he swayed precariously, his spine remained ramrod straight.

"Ten years for immortality... what a deal."

"make a deal."

[Ding! Detected that the host not only released a legendary pirate without authorization, but also made a dirty deal with him, attempting to artificially create an immortal, monster-level combat power!]

This action is a serious violation of the highest principles of the Naval Code of Justice and could even lead to a significant shift in the future timeline!

[Discipline Points Earned: 100,000!]

[Current disciplinary violation balance: 501,800!]

Hearing the cold, mechanical congratulatory voice in his mind, Kane's smile was even more wicked than that of the Red Earl.

He strode forward, grabbed the Red Earl's blood-stained hand, and shook it hard.

"Welcome to the G-5 family, Old Red."

"From today onwards, you are a specially appointed 'non-staff member' of our branch."

"Also, now that you've joined the company, pay the joining fee first." Kane spread his palms, looking completely matter-of-fact. "Although your ship is gone, I see that those gem rings on your hand are quite valuable. Let's use them to offset part of the interest."

Earl Red: "..."

Sakazuki: "..."

At this moment, the legendary Red Earl suddenly had deep doubts about the next ten years of his life.

Chapter 76 The base is gone? No, it's my money that's gone!

Having dealt with Lone Red, Kane looked around.

Everywhere you look, there is devastation.

The G-5 fortress, which was originally the gateway to the new world, along with its twelve brand-new warships, has now become a pile of broken construction debris.

Half of it lies silently submerged in the dark seabed, while the other half is frozen on the vast ice field created by Kuzan.