Chapter 117
### **Chapter 117**
While Carl was engaged in battle with Redfield, a dog-headed warship docked at the shore of the island.
On the deck, Garp stood with his arms folded, listening to the distant roars and clashes echoing from the battlefield.
Beside him, Dragon gazed at another warship anchored not far away. **"Father, that ship... it looks like Carl's."**
Garp nodded. **"It is. Sengoku already informed me—he summoned Carl here. Since Carl was still in Mary Geoise at the time, which is closer than Marineford, he arrived first."**
Garp then turned to Dragon with an unusually serious expression. **"Dragon, I know you have your issues with Carl. But remember, you're just a recruit, without rank. When you address him, use his title—Admiral Black Dragon."**
Dragon's face stiffened. After a brief silence, he muttered, **"Got it."**
Without wasting another second, Garp leaped from the ship, dashing toward the center of the island.
Dragon, turning into a gust of wind, followed closely behind.
Vice Admiral Bogard, Garp's trusted right hand, led the rest of the soldiers, but their speed was nowhere near that of Garp and Dragon.
---
Garp soon reached the battlefield—only to be stunned by the scene before him.
**Navy soldiers lay unconscious across the ground.**
**And in the middle of it all stood Fleet Admiral Kong—arms crossed, completely unharmed, as if watching a spectacle.**
Seeing Garp, Kong casually waved. **"You're finally here, Garp. Any later, and you'd have missed the show."**
Garp frowned, but before he could speak—
**BOOM!**
The ground trembled as two blurs streaked through the battlefield. Each clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, leaving behind deep craters. Haki crackled like lightning, illuminating the dust-filled sky.
Garp's eyes narrowed as he focused on the fight—
**And then he saw who was battling Redfield.**
**It was Carl.**
A gust of wind swept by as Dragon materialized beside Garp. Unable to clearly see the fight, he asked, **"Father, what's happening?"**
Garp's expression grew strange. He muttered under his breath, **"Looks like we came for nothing."**
Dragon opened his mouth to question further—
**CRASH!**
A red figure plummeted from the sky, slamming into the ground with devastating force.
As the dust settled, a bloodied Redfield struggled to crawl out of the crater.
And then—
**A shadow unfurled its wings above him.**
Carl slowly descended, his dark wings folding behind him as he touched down.
His golden eyes swept over Garp and Dragon briefly before returning to Redfield.
Despite his injuries, Redfield let out a breathless chuckle, his lips curling into a grim smile.
His body had reached its limit.
His defeat was certain.
Still swaying on his feet, he opened his arms wide.
**"Come on, Black Dragon… end my life!"**
Carl tilted his head slightly. **"Why would I do that? My mission is to capture you."**
**Silence.**
For the first time, Redfield was caught off guard.
Even Kong, Garp, and Dragon were visibly surprised.
**Carl never left pirates alive.**
His brutality was legendary.
Yet here he was, **choosing to capture Redfield instead of killing him.**
Was this truly the same Carl?
Redfield frowned. **"Are you mocking me?"**
In a flash, Carl appeared before him.
**THUD!**
A powerful fist struck Redfield's abdomen.
He coughed up blood, staggering forward. His chin rested against Carl's shoulder as his consciousness wavered.
And then, he heard Carl whisper—
**"Not enough fun this time, huh? Go to Impel Down for a while. I'll come find you later."**
Redfield gritted his teeth, forcing out a question with his fading strength.
**"Why...?"**
Carl smirked, his voice barely above a whisper. **"It would be a waste for a strong man like you to die here. Don't you want to see the sea again?"**
Redfield's body trembled.
But his vision blurred—
And he lost consciousness.
Carl retracted his wings, allowing them to fade into shadows once more. He hoisted Redfield onto his shoulder and turned to Kong.
**"Fleet Admiral Kong, the mission is complete. Shall we return?"**
Kong snapped out of his daze, his gaze lingering on Redfield's unconscious form.
With a complicated expression, he nodded. **"Let's go. You've accomplished a great feat today. I won't forget it."**
Carl simply smiled.
He wasn't interested in praise.
There were no more promotions left for him.
What he sought now was **fame.**
And **Redfield was his ticket.**
---
As they made their way back to the ships, Bogard and the other Marines arrived to tend to the wounded.
Dragon, still staring at Redfield's unconscious form, finally asked,
**"Why didn't you kill him? That's not like you."**
Carl handed Redfield off to the soldiers. Hands in his pockets, he didn't even look at Dragon as he replied—
**"Because I didn't feel like it."**
Dragon was momentarily stunned by the blunt answer. He wanted to press further—
**SMACK!**
Garp's fist landed on the back of Dragon's head.
**"Tch! Learn to survive a fight against Redfield before asking those kinds of questions!"**
Dragon rubbed his sore head, frowning. **"I'm just trying to understand the justice of Admiral Black Dragon."**
Carl, walking just half a step behind Kong, never looked back.
**"I told you three years ago—might makes right."**
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