Redfield never expected that this Great Demon Venerable, who had a bounty as high as 2.88 billion Berries and had destroyed Enies Lobby, would apologize to a nobody like him.
This candid and direct attitude caused the anger and hatred filling Redfield's heart to suddenly cool down significantly in this moment.
Dealing with such a wise great prophet was different from dealing with those foolish, reckless pirates.
Having been able to see into people's hearts since childhood, Redfield knew that Kozuki Fang Huo was the same kind of clever person as himself.
Perhaps it was precisely because Kozuki Fang Huo had predicted the existence of a clever person with Innate Observation Haki like himself and valued him highly that he had the Rocks Pirates recruit him.
Yet the result was a catastrophic disaster that brought destruction to the Barlorick Family.
This indirectly proved that after Kozuki Fang Huo makes a prophecy, the future changes, leading to all sorts of unexpected development paths.
Even Fang Huo could not see certain futures clearly.
Facing the choice Fang Huo presented now, Redfield had already made a decision in his heart.
His anger toward Fang Huo just now was merely the emotion suppressed over these past days, which needed to be vented.
"I want to join the Rocks Pirates! I want you to help me protect my hometown!"
Redfield's rationality reclaimed the high ground.
His original goal was to join the ranks of these enemies in the Rocks Pirates, learn more advanced cultivation methods, and then use the influence of the Rocks Pirates to protect Red Line Island.
Now, the conditions offered by Kozuki Fang Huo included not only cultivation methods for the Three Types of Haki and combat support but even the provision of a Devil Fruit.
This was even more generous than he had imagined.
Could this also be information that Kozuki Fang Huo had predicted?
That's why he could know exactly what he needed right now.
"..."
Fang Huo had thought Redfield might seek revenge against him, or perhaps demand a way to become stronger to seek revenge against the World Government alone.
But he had never considered that Redfield would proactively join the Rocks Pirates.
After all, they were currently Redfield's enemies.
However, protect his hometown?
Thinking of Redfield's aloof and solitary personality, it seemed something had gone wrong on Red Line Island.
"What happened to your hometown?"
Fang Huo was somewhat puzzled. Could the Celestial Dragons be planning to launch a Buster Call on Red Line Island to erase the negative secrets regarding their actions against the Count of Red Line Island?
"Those Celestial Dragons known as the Gods Knights are going to hold some unknown contest on Red Line Island; the goal is to clear all the islanders from the island!"
"As a great prophet, you should have more information, right?"
Redfield's tone was full of anger and hatred. From the fragmented information he gathered from those Gods Knights and CP Agents, he could only infer that Red Line Island would eventually be wiped out.
"The Celestial Dragons are going to hold a contest on Red Line Island?"
Fang Huo's pupils constricted, as if he had discovered some sort of surprising secret.
Could it be that he now knew the location of the Celestial Dragons' next contest?
If that was the case, shouldn't he bring the Rocks Pirates along to launch a surprise attack and cause a major incident?
When the time came, he could also let Harald, Ida, and Loki's family witness the cruel contest of the Celestial Dragons.
He could even bring along the Gold, Silver, and Copper trio of the Roger Pirates.
After all, until the God Valley Incident, the Roger Pirates were mired in an Era of Great Suppression, obsessed with Shakky's beauty.
At God Valley, Roger witnessed Imu's terror on the battlefield and, along with Garp, defeated the controlled Rocks.
He experienced Rocks' despairing tears and a certain inheritance of will, learned of the Celestial Dragons' cruel contest, and only then began to actively search for the poneglyphs and study the Void History... seeking a way to overthrow the World Government and that unknown immortal monster.
---Fang Huo quickly calculated the timing of the Celestial Dragons' [Human Clearing Contest].
Based on the contest being held by the Celestial Dragons every three years, one should have been held last year.
Then the next one should be two years from now.
Wait, doesn't that mean Red Line Island might have already been cleared last year?
This inference made Fang Huo's expression turn somewhat heavy.
But he chose not to hide it. If Red Line Island had already been wiped out, there was nothing he could do.
If Red Line Island still existed, then he knew the location of the Celestial Dragons' next [Human Clearing Contest].
Then he would have to plan carefully to create a piece of big news that would shock the world.
---"The World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, have always passed down an evil traditional program within their ranks."
"Every three years, they select a non-affiliated island with rich resources or special significance to serve as a contest ground for killing for sport."
"They completely massacre the indigenous people on the island and then claim the island as the property of the Celestial Dragons."
"Of course, this doesn't rule out them making a move against certain special affiliated nations' islands."
"If the information you've gathered is correct, Red Line Island will become the site for a Human Clearing Contest."
"Also, I have some bad news for you: last year was the time that cruel contest was held."
"If you've lost track of information from Red Line Island now, perhaps your hometown has already..."
"Of course, if Red Line Island is still normal right now, then your hometown might still have two years. The next Human Clearing Contest will be in two years..."
Fang Huo organized his thoughts and slowly told Redfield the information and inferences he knew.
"Human Clearing Contest? Once every three years? Last year and two years from now?"
In the Skull Castle on Paradise Island, Redfield's eyes instantly widened, as if he had heard something terrifying.
Those Celestial Dragons were actually so tyrannical?
Massacring the indigenous population of an island every three years?
No wonder those Celestial Dragons in the Sabaody Archipelago treated buying slaves as a trivial daily matter.
If slaughtering an island's inhabitants happened every three years, then daily torture and killing of slaves was likely even more of a norm.
Also, could his hometown have already been cleared last year?
No, that's not right!
When he left the West Blue, he had specifically spent a large sum to have Information Hunters keep an eye on Red Line Island, reporting back to him via transponder snail every day.
His hometown had not been destroyed yet!
This was also one of the reasons for his anxiety.
Because he didn't know when the Celestial Dragons would make their move.
"My hometown hasn't had any trouble yet!"
"If what you say about the timing of the Human Clearing Contest is correct, does that mean my hometown will be cleared in two years?"
Redfield finally heard some relatively good news, allowing his constantly tensed heart to relax slightly.
If it were true, he still had a year or two to prepare.
He wouldn't have to live in daily worry and suppression.
"If nothing has happened to Red Line Island yet, then that should be the case."
"Are you sure you still want to join the Rocks Pirates now?"
Fang Huo's eyes lit up. If the next location of the [Human Clearing Contest] was truly confirmed, then it was time to get moving.
"Where are you guys?"
"I want to become stronger now!"
Redfield's voice was very firm; now he only wanted to find the Rocks Pirates to become stronger.
The strength of the Rocks Pirates was beyond doubt. Even if they were enemies, even if it was a tiger's den or a dragon's pool, he had to join.
Right now, this great prophet, Fang Huo, seemed to still feel a bit of guilt toward him.
He had to make good use of that.
Currently, their common goal was to deal with the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
As for the matter of seeking revenge against Fang Huo, that could wait for later... --- [Taking leave tonight, only one chapter.]
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