“I’m asking you, Nereus—do you not believe in your own strength, or do you think I’m not strong enough?
Harald may have peace on the brain, but no one can question his power.
“If the three of us joined forces, that would be the first step toward conquering the entire world!”
On these seas, conviction was everything.
Those whose beliefs wavered rarely made it far.
Even for the same person, abandoning their ideals could completely alter both their future and, in some cases, even their appearance.
The people who ultimately stood at the summit of the world all shared one trait:
Unshakable faith in their own convictions.
To Rocks, there was nothing wrong with his plan.
The problem was simply that no one else was willing to cooperate.
“I never said you were weak,” Nereus replied.
“But neither is the World Government.”
“Think about the Holy Knights—the Celestial Dragons’ elite force.
The Marine Headquarters Admirals.
CP0’s covert agents.
Those are all military assets the Government can mobilize directly.”
“More importantly, whenever necessary, they can replenish their forces almost immediately through the World Military Draft.”
“So tell me, Rocks…
what do you actually have?”
“Those ‘loyal’ crewmates you won through Davy Back Fights?”
“To the world at large, pirates are still monsters.
Most people—even now—choose to believe in the World Government.”
“They believe in an institution that may be rotten to the core, but one that still maintains the appearance of order.”
The World Military Draft was indeed one of the Government’s greatest advantages.
It didn’t merely replenish ordinary soldiers.
It could also uncover hidden monsters from among the civilian population—people powerful enough to rival Marine Admirals.
Fujitora and Ryokugyu were prime examples.
Regardless of later reputations, either of them possessed overwhelming strength by ordinary standards.
And people like them generally trusted the established order represented by the World Government.
As for the Davy Back Fight Nereus mentioned, it was a pirate tradition in which rival crews competed in various contests to claim each other’s crew members—or even steal their pirate flag.
Within the Rocks Pirates, many members were united only by ambition and self-interest.
The rest had been forcibly recruited through Davy Back victories.
When true disaster struck…
Could Rocks really count on any of them?
“The overwhelming majority of the world still supports the Government,” Nereus continued.
“Even if your ideals somehow succeeded in taking the first step, endless resistance would follow.”
Rocks snorted.
“What does it matter if those weaklings outnumber us?”
“I’ll become King of the World!”
“Whether they resist or not has nothing to do with me!”
“So that’s what you’re worried about?”
Their conversation never interrupted the battle.
Every exchange of fists and blades was accompanied by another clash of ideals.
“That’s exactly why I said our beliefs are fundamentally different.”
Rocks frowned.
“You’re still branded a pirate by both the Celestial Dragons and ordinary people.”
“Do you have the things you’re talking about?”
“We’ve known each other long enough,” Nereus answered.
“You know exactly what I’ve been doing all these years.”
The seawater that had earlier been blasted away by their collision now came rushing back.
Towering waves surged toward the battlefield like an approaching tsunami.
Yet under Nereus’s Fish-Man Jujutsu, the monstrous tide became perfectly controlled.
The enormous wave bent to his will, descending upon Rocks like a giant hand.
“Hmph.”
“You mean those slaves you’ve been freeing?”
“They can’t even protect themselves.”
“They’re weak.”
“What use are they?”
With one slash, Rocks split the tsunami apart before charging straight through it.
To him, weakness had no value.
“No,” Nereus said calmly.
“I never expected them to fight.”
“Think carefully.”
“Are there more nobles in this world…
or more ordinary people?”
“Even citizens of World Government member nations fall victim to slave traders.”
“Is that really uncommon?”
Across the countless islands scattered throughout the seas, non-member nations vastly outnumbered Government-affiliated ones.
To the World Government, those countries effectively existed outside the protection of law.
Massacres.
Slave raids.
Entire populations carried off.
Under the Government’s legal framework, all of it was permissible.
And once someone fell into the hands of slave traders, nobody cared whether they had originally come from an allied nation or not.
No one even bothered to check.
“All I need,” Nereus continued,
“…is for the people I rescue to tell others who gave them their freedom.”
“One person tells another.”
“Then another.”
“Over time, people’s perception changes.”
“Isn’t Harald living proof?”
“More and more people already believe that the fearsome-looking Giants are actually honorable and kind.”
Rocks paused.
“…Actually…”
“On some islands we’ve passed…
I have heard people talking about your Fish-Man Pirates freeing slaves.”
“I’ve even met someone you rescued yourself.”
“I hope,” Nereus said with a faint smile,
“…you didn’t rob someone who had only just regained their freedom.”
There was obvious teasing in his voice.
He knew Rocks well.
“Bastard!”
“What do you take me for?”
“Those penniless fools didn’t have anything worth stealing!”
“Exactly.”
Nereus smiled.
“So you’ve already seen the results.”
“You know whether what I’ve been doing has meaning.”
“Meanwhile…”
“The two legendary Devil Fruits you’ve been chasing…”
“You haven’t actually obtained even one of them.”
“…”
Rocks fell silent.
He had argued against Nereus’s ideals.
He had argued against his methods.
But this…
This was an undeniable fact.
His progress toward his dream was effectively zero.
Harald’s loyalties clearly leaned toward the World Government.
Convincing him would be even harder than convincing Nereus.
If words no longer worked…
Then they would settle it with another fight.
Just as Rocks prepared to attack again—
A figure with striking golden hair burst through the violent shockwaves generated by their battle, forcing his way toward them.
“You two…
stop fighting!”
“Forget the duel!”
“We’ve got news…”
“…about Hachinosu’s ‘treasure.'”