In that instant, Darren's gaze sharpened as he locked onto Redfield, a faint suspicion flickering deep in his eyes.
"You little brats from Marine Headquarters who call yourselves 'Monsters'…"
Those words immediately pulled a few familiar faces to the front of Darren's mind.
Within Marine Headquarters, the ones widely acknowledged as "Monsters," aside from himself, were only four: Dragon, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan.
So one of them—like him—had approached Impel Down to seek "advanced training" from Red the Aloof?
If so, Sakazuki could be crossed off instantly.
Darren had served with Sakazuki in the North Blue long enough to know him down to the bone. The man's hatred for pirates was carved into his blood. You could break both his arms and he still wouldn't accept even a single word of "guidance" from one.
In fact, Sengoku had long banned Sakazuki from setting foot in Impel Down. He'd even deliberately assigned escort missions to others, just to prevent that hotheaded madman from turning the prison into a slaughterhouse.
As for the remaining three…
Dragon was easy to dismiss too.
Before Dragon "defected" by killing a Celestial Dragon, he did have special privileges to enter and leave Impel Down freely—thanks to being the biological son of Marine Hero Garp. But Dragon wasn't the type to visit a place like this for amusement.
More importantly, he hadn't yet mastered Future Sight.
That left only two possibilities.
Kuzan… wasn't impossible. Ever since Darren's "rampage at Marine Headquarters," he'd heard Kuzan had grown increasingly withdrawn, to the point of ignoring orders—riding a bicycle across the seas and fishing like it was therapy.
But Borsalino…
A smug, punchable face with that lazy grin floated into Darren's mind, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
He had his answer.
"I suppose so," Redfield said. "It was shortly after the old man was defeated by Steel Bone Kong and Garp…"
When he mentioned being "defeated" by Garp, Redfield's lips curled ever so slightly. After a short pause, he continued, tone casual.
"…and tossed into this hellhole called Impel Down. Not long after, that little brat from your Marines—Borsalino—came to visit."
I knew it.
Darren went momentarily speechless, teeth grinding.
Because a terrifying realization clicked into place.
If that sleazy bastard Borsalino had come to Redfield that early… then he must have already mastered Future Sight by the time Darren "single-handedly challenged all of Marine Headquarters."
What an act.
Darren's mind replayed that day—how he'd sent Borsalino flying hundreds of meters with a single kick, shattering more than a dozen fortresses in the process.
And that yellow monkey had "tanked" it with Future Sight, then staged the most dramatic, outrageous exit imaginable.
…Impressive.
"So," Darren asked, irritation threading into his voice despite himself, "you did the same thing to him? Blindfolded him, slapped Sea Stone shackles on him, and trained him the way you're training me?"
Redfield's expression twisted into something subtle and strange. He looked at Darren, then shook his head.
"No," he said. "He only came to ask about the secrets of Observation Haki."
"At first, I didn't want to say anything. That little brat didn't exactly look like a good person—shady, slippery, and pretentious even at such a young age. Not a shred of elegance…"
"…Borsalino does have a somewhat… unfortunate face," Darren muttered, not knowing what else to say. He could only nod along, agreeing from the depths of his soul.
Redfield chuckled.
"He wasn't much to look at," he went on, "but he offered me a rather interesting secret in exchange."
"And his request was modest. He didn't even ask me to train him. I figured it wasn't anything vital. Without innate talent and relentless effort, even gathering every master on the sea around you won't guarantee you'll reach the top."
"So I told him."
Redfield's gaze grew distant for a moment, and his tone changed slightly.
"But I never imagined…"
Darren sighed and finished the thought for him.
"…that he'd grasp it immediately?"
Redfield glanced at Darren, mildly surprised. Then he nodded, awe faintly slipping into his voice.
"Exactly. That level of comprehension… I've never seen anything like it. If I hadn't witnessed it myself—and confirmed he didn't already possess Future Sight—I'd never have believed such a freak could exist on this sea."
"Back then, to an old man like me, he was just a Rear Admiral trailing behind Sengoku."
"A mere Rear Admiral… and yet he awakened an ability most people can't reach in a lifetime."
Darren watched Redfield's expression, then lowered his eyes to the Sea Stone shackles and black cloth in his hands.
A tight knot of frustration twisted in his chest.
Redfield seemed to sense it. He chuckled softly.
"Don't worry, Little Brat Darren. Your talents aren't the same as his. They point in different directions."
Darren shrugged, forcing a crooked smile.
"I wish I had Borsalino's kind of talent…"
He shook his head. Then his eyes sharpened again, that familiar arrogance returning.
"But if I'm not mistaken… you're not going to tell me what his 'secret' was."
Redfield smiled and raised a hand, placing his index finger to his lips in a silent shush.
"Some secrets are more interesting left unsaid."
"All right," Darren conceded. "Then shall we continue?"
Redfield shook his head.
"Rest first. Training Observation Haki isn't like forging your physique. It demands focus and calm. Don't grind yourself into dust."
He paused, then his smile turned faintly amused.
"Besides… weren't you planning a party?"
Party!?
The prisoners huddled in their cells practically flinched at the word, and the groaning convicts sprawled across the floor all perked up at once, ears straining.
Darren let out a long sigh.
"Your heart-reading is just… unfair."
He clapped his hands once, turning his head toward the gate.
"Magellan! Have them bring the supplies in."
To be continued...