"What are you trying to say?" Crocodile asked.
"How about joining the Whitebeard Pirates? My goal is to build a nation, too," Roy said.
"Hah. After all that talk, you just want us to be your underlings." Crocodile replied.
"Unless you think you can lead instead? Do you have the strength for that?" Roy smirked
Crocodile fell silent. Strength dictated everything. He couldn't claim equality with Roy.
Sure, he had wealth and the Buggy Pirates under him, but running a nation required more than just thugs. He needed infrastructure, control, and legitimacy.
Pirates could help with construction, but to truly have a nation-sized operation, he needed to seize control of an existing one, just like Doflamingo did.
Crocodile was good at that. He had almost succeeded in Alabasta.
If he had, Alabasta would've beco his territory, his nation.
Now that he was cooperating with Mihawk, if he could find a few more allies, they really could unite into a powerful force.
"I choose to do it on my own," Crocodile said.
"And you? Want to co with ? All you want is a quiet place to live in peace. If that's all you want, I think it's simple. If you joined the Whitebeard Pirates, no one would dare bother you," Roy invited Mihawk.
Crocodile looked uneasy. Roy could hear the change in his heartbeat, as if Crocodile noticed Roy was probing him, and let out a cold snort, ignoring him.
Mihawk was silent for a mont before looking up at Roy. "I'll pass. The Whitebeard Pirates are indeed strong right now, but the tallest tree catches the wind. You're too big a target."
"You may have dodged the World Governnt and Marines' pursuit last year, but that doesn't an you'll escape again. I believe you intend to achieve your goal through war. Joining now would only drag into that conflict."
"You're not wrong. But have you heard this saying? Sending charcoal in the snow is more valuable than adding flowers to brocade."
"Yes, we're a target right now. But if you join us now and go through war and hardship together, only then will you earn a share of the victory. If you join later, you won't get the sa treatnt."
"I understand your point, but I just want a safe place to live. I don't have big ambitions. All that talk of high rank and wealth doesn't interest ," Mihawk replied.
"Alright then. Consider it as owing you a al. If you ever find yourself in trouble, co find ," Roy said.
Buggy seed like he wanted to speak, but Crocodile turned and gave him a sharp glare. Buggy imdiately shut his mouth. Crocodile's eyes were murderous; he'd clearly seen through Buggy's thoughts and crushed them.
Seeing this, Roy chuckled and left Karai Bari Island.
He returned directly to White Whale Island.
anwhile, the World Governnt's campaign against the Seven Warlords of the Sea had officially begun. Buggy had been rescued by Crocodile, Mihawk carved a bloody path out, and tead up with Crocodile; three forr Warlords were now united.
As for the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, the Marines had a hard ti against her, and the appearance of Dark King Rayleigh caused them to fail.
The only success ca from Admiral Ryokogyu, who personally defeated and captured Weevil.
When Roy returned to Moby Dick Island, he found that Miss Bakkin was there too.
It was hard to imagine , thirty-eight years ago in God Valley, she looked just like Stussy does now.
"Big bro's back!"
"This ti you did great, big bro!"
"We're ready to swallow up the New World!"
Roy hadn't even landed when he heard the cheering below.
Clearly, morale was boiling over to a dangerous extent. People had forgotten the past.
Atmos landed on the ground, and Roy jumped off its back. Miro and Atmos followed behind him.
The thousands of Whitebeard Pirates made way for Roy.
They were cheering at first, but when they saw Roy's cold face and indifferent eyes, they suddenly rembered the old Roy.
Especially the division commanders and the older crew mbers, they had known Roy the longest.
Whenever he looked like this, it ant he was in a terrible mood.
His presence alone made them tremble.
"Big bro…"
Soone tried to speak to Roy but was pulled back by soone else, a silent gesture to keep quiet.
Everyone fell dead silent.
Roy didn't even glance at them. The once joyful scene instantly turned cold.
"Two-faced brats," Marco muttered with a wry smile, hands in his pockets. "They used to look down on big bro, but now that he's here, they're scared stiff."
Ever since the Phoenix Fruit had been cloned, not only had commanders received one, but many strong mbers had gotten one too.
Marco, once the only phoenix in the crew, had lost his uniqueness. So even began to think they could replace him.
They claid to be a family, but when personal interests and power started growing, people wanted more.
But seeing Roy like this, seeing the true source of their power, they suddenly realized sothing:
Everything they had ca from Roy. And in front of Roy, all their strength was aningless. One glare from him could erase them completely.
That forced them to calm down. The crowd turned deathly quiet.
Looking at these forr companions and family, now behaving like this, Marco and the others couldn't help but feel disheartened.
Maybe Blackbeard wasn't the only traitor. Others had just hidden it better.
Of course, not all were like this. But hearts do change.
"The Whitebeard Pirates are not just a pirate crew. We're a family!"
Roy's voice suddenly rang out to everyone.
"We were once people abandoned by the world, orphans without parents, without food or clothing. To the world, we were trash. If, after gaining power, we forget to protect the weak, and they, filled with the sa hatred, one day stand before us. Then what makes us any different from the Celestial Dragons?"
"The Whitebeard Pirates are a family. We are not blood brothers, but closer than blood. I hope you all rember this: You were once weak. Don't turn your suffering into soone else's. The people you protect now... were once who you used to be, before you joined the Whitebeard Pirates."
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu
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