"I don't know what you've seen, but I know what I've seen—the shadow of power, the sickening rule of the nobility, lives treated as worthless grass. The world's rulers are slaughtering the innocent, driven by their selfish desires to create tragedy rather than prevent it..." Rosen recounted everything he had witnessed on this journey, his words cutting deep.

Admiral O'Neill initially had no intention of engaging with Crocodile, but he soon realized that every word spoken touched on the deepest secrets of his own heart. Unlike himself, however, Crocodile had the courage to voice these thoughts aloud. And within those words, O'Neill detected a dangerous ideology—one far more threatening to the World Government than mere piracy.

Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai, harbored such terrifying ideas. Such ideologies had existed in the world before, and precisely because of that, O'Neill knew how dangerous they were. The only person who had ever held similar beliefs had become the World Government's greatest enemy.

"Enough. With just these words of yours, I should kill you at any cost," Admiral O'Neill said, his expression grim. Crocodile's ideology was too dangerous, even frightening.

"Then why don't you act? Because you, too, are just a pawn, a sacrificial lamb. The difference between us is that you choose silence, while I choose resistance. Without resistance, the sacrifices will never end." Rosen pressed further, breaking down O'Neill's mental defenses.

Rosen wasn't particularly skilled at manipulating people, but Admiral O'Neill was like a lost sheep at this moment. All it took was a glimmer of light, and he would take the bait. Like a drowning man desperately grasping at straws, even if that straw couldn't save him.

Admiral O'Neill remained silent. Given his position and duty, he should have immediately apprehended or killed Crocodile. Even if he knew he was no match, he would never have backed down—but that was in the past. Now, he wasn't sure if what he was doing was right or if he was merely aiding tyranny once again.

"What exactly do you want?" O'Neill asked. While he agreed with some of Crocodile's ideas, his long-standing identity and beliefs still held him back.

"Join me in changing or destroying the world, and build a new one—a world where the weak have a place, where human rights and the right to life are respected, where the law isn't manipulated by so-called gods, and where pirates no longer run rampant, but adventurers thrive!" Rosen's eyes burned with fervor. Such a world would be truly fascinating.

Though it might sound like a utopian dream now, who could say what the future held?

"How is that possible? Even if..." Admiral O'Neill was deeply shaken.

A person's will could influence others, especially a fervent one. Observation Haki allowed one to hear the unique "voice" of a person, sometimes helping to discern truth from lies. O'Neill couldn't believe such a world could exist. Pirates and the World Government's rule were constants in this world. This wasn't just about saving or destroying a single nation—it would require overthrowing the World Government and establishing a new order. And yet, such an idea came from a notorious pirate.

And it felt so real. He wanted to refute it, but part of him yearned for it.

"Have you ever sacrificed something precious in this game of power? Do you want to keep sacrificing? Fear won't solve anything, and neither will ignorance. Only action can bring change."

"You don't know what I've done. If I had held onto my principles back then, Lantis Island wouldn't have turned out this way. The Marines wouldn't have suffered constant casualties, the civilians of Lantis could have been saved, and the monsters wouldn't have multiplied. But when faced with a choice between principles and power, I chose power. Hah..." Admiral O'Neill spoke with self-mockery, no longer just questioning or refuting.

At first, he had indeed sought greater power. Later, though partly coerced, he had always regretted his moment of weakness. This was his vulnerability, and Rosen knew it.

"No, even if you hadn't acted, Lantis might have been destroyed. Do you think the World Government would tolerate a scandal spreading? If they couldn't control it, what choice would they have but to destroy it? In that sense, you not only didn't make a mistake, but you also prevented Lantis' destruction. Though the process was difficult and misunderstood, that's the truth."

Admiral O'Neill was stunned. He wasn't at fault? Was that true? For so long, guilt and self-blame had consumed him, nearly driving him to the brink of collapse. And now, someone was telling him he wasn't wrong? Then who was?

The answer seemed obvious. Compared to the World Government, he had always been too insignificant, lacking even the courage to stand against it.

It did seem true. If they hadn't contained Lantis back then, if they hadn't controlled the situation, the Buster Call would have been deployed, wiping Lantis Island off the map. He was certain of that, though he had never allowed himself to think about it.

His hand, gripping his sword, began to tremble. This affirmation felt like redemption.

Rosen had heard the truth about Lantis Island and believed that if the situation hadn't been contained, destruction would have been the only outcome.

"Are you afraid of death?" Rosen lit a cigar and sat down on a nearby rock, adopting a non-threatening posture. In truth, Rosen had no intention of harming O'Neill. Even if he failed to recruit him, it didn't matter.

"Everyone fears death, but death isn't the most frightening thing. What you're determined to do will one day push you into the abyss of destruction," Admiral O'Neill said calmly.

"The worst outcome is death. If you're not afraid of dying, why not help me instead of drifting aimlessly? Even if the world ends up destroyed, it's better than waiting for doom."

"You know I'm a Marine, right?"

"I do. That's precisely why you understand what's right. From your position, if you don't do the right thing, incidents like Lantis will keep happening. You'll face the same choices again. This isn't an isolated case—you know that better than I do."

Rosen said no more. He had done all he needed to. Now, it was up to Admiral O'Neill to make his choice. The words didn't need to be many—just enough to make him realize what following Rosen would entail.

Admiral O'Neill was a seasoned veteran. He had his own judgment and thoughts. If he wasn't willing or moved, no amount of words would sway him. Rosen knew when to stop. He had thrown the lifeline; there was no need to keep watching.

O'Neill remained silent for a long time, his thoughts chaotic yet clear. It was as if he no longer cared about anything. He had never married or had children, spending his life with comrades. He had believed in justice, but at a critical moment, he had faltered. Now, awakened, he was alone.

What did he have to fear? Even if the World Government became his enemy, even if he died in the future, it didn't matter. If his life could at least serve as a protest, he could prove to his comrades that he, O'Neill, no longer slaughtered the innocent or bowed to divine authority. He, too, could uphold justice.

This thought was like a tiny firefly in the darkness—small, but once it appeared, it was unmistakable. And that firefly was Rosen.

Rosen extended his hand.

After a long silence, as Rosen finished his cigar, O'Neill placed his hand in Rosen's. For the first time, he felt an unprecedented calm. "Do I need to become a pirate?"

"No, you don't. Our goal isn't to destroy the nations under the World Government, nor do you need to become a pirate. I need you to stay in the Marines, providing us with intelligence and doing what a Marine should truly do." Rosen was sincere. He was willing to accept Admiral O'Neill, even with his past mistakes.

"Alright."

"But before that, we need to offer a pledge of allegiance—to cut off all retreats and show my resolve, as well as yours."

"How?"

"Take me to Erik's room. We'll take his head."

(End of Chapter)

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