Although Jinbe already understood Shirogai's thoughts, he could not bring himself to give up. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to continue.
"But if that happens, this world will probably fall into endless slaughter. Shirogai, can you really bear to watch those innocent people…"
Shirogai showed no displeasure at Jinbe's persistence. He maintained a faint smile, calmly sipping his wine before speaking.
"Jinbe, do not assume that this world will fall into complete darkness simply because we step away from it. That way of thinking is a bit too arrogant."
Shirogai had always been patient with his companions.
"Tell me something. If the former Pirate King had never made his declaration at his execution, do you really believe this world would never have entered the Great Pirate Era?"
Shirogai swirled the wine in his glass.
"And if the Celestial Dragons had never appeared in this world, do you truly believe that there would not be Earth Dragons, Sea Dragons, or even Divine Dragons rising in their place?"
Jinbe frowned slightly, unsure of what Shirogai was implying.
Shirogai continued calmly.
"If I had never appeared in this world, if I had never arrived, do you think the current situation would not have fractured the balance and caused change across the seas?"
He looked directly at Jinbe.
"Or perhaps you believe that if you, Jinbe, had never appeared among the Fish-Men, they would not have survived until now. That humanity would have wiped them out completely."
Shirogai lifted his glass slightly toward Jinbe, then poured himself another drink.
"Do not overestimate yourself. And do not underestimate this world."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Are the powers of the Four Emperors truly that overwhelming? Is the title of God King truly that formidable?"
He gave a small chuckle.
"Even so, compared to this world itself, we are still insignificant."
"We cannot represent the will of the entire world. The most I have done in the past year is simply give this world more choices."
Jinbe's expression shifted slightly.
"You mean…"
He began to realize that Shirogai's thoughts were far more calculated than he had first believed.
"I dislike others making choices for me," Shirogai said. "And I dislike making choices for others."
His gaze moved across his companions before settling briefly on King Neptune of the Fish-Man Kingdom.
"Jinbe, since you are already a companion, I will give you a piece of advice."
He spoke slowly.
"You may believe your choice is correct. You may believe the world itself is wrong. But in the end, these are still the choices of the world."
"And we can never truly change the will of the majority."
Shirogai rested his elbow on the table.
"The reason you want to change this world is because you once witnessed its darkness. You saw things that felt wrong, so you wished for that wrong to disappear."
"But that idea itself is unrealistic."
He took another sip of wine.
"I have seen the world's desire for change. I have also seen its numbness under the rule of hegemony."
His tone remained calm.
"So should I change the entire state of the world simply because I feel moved by it?"
He shook his head lightly.
"That would be laughable."
"If this world truly changed because of my personal thoughts, then I would inevitably be dragged along by it and forced to do many things I do not wish to do."
Shirogai narrowed his eyes slightly. A cold glint flashed within them.
"Perhaps in the future, when the world becomes peaceful and prosperous, my former pirate companions will become unstable elements that need to be eliminated."
His voice remained calm, but the meaning behind it was heavy.
"If that day comes, swept along by the will of the world, should I execute them with cold rationality?"
"Or should I release them because of my own selfish feelings?"
Jinbe froze.
"This…"
He wanted to say that such a thing would never happen.
But Jinbe had seen too much of the darkness within people's hearts. After hesitating several times, he ultimately remained silent.
Shirogai refilled his glass and sighed softly.
"If that day truly arrives, then no matter what choice I make, it will still be wrong."
He looked out toward the distant sea.
"If there comes a time when the world believes something is wrong, yet I believe it is right, should I force the entire world to bow and accept my ideas?"
He smiled faintly.
"At that point, who decides what is right or wrong?"
"I, the so called savior of the world?"
"Or the majority of the world's people?"
"If I reject the world's choice and insist on following my own path, then how would that be any different from the Celestial Dragons and their rule of absolute power?"
Jinbe fell silent in deep thought.
If the world truly relied on Shirogai alone to save it, then when Shirogai's beliefs eventually clashed with the will of the people, who would have the final say?
Perhaps the world never needed a single savior in the first place.
Perhaps everyone should become their own savior.
Shirogai continued calmly.
"There are very few truly correct choices in this world."
"Between different paths, it is simply a matter of how much is gained and how much is lost."
"If you choose the people, then you cannot prioritize personal feelings."
"If you choose personal feelings, then do not pretend to act in the name of the people."
He leaned back slightly.
"I could save this world. I could do it for my companions, for the safety of their families, and for the good people I know."
"But if I did that, I would become the greatest outcast of this entire era."
"It would bring me countless unnecessary troubles and bind me with endless karmic ties."
He slowly set the wine bottle on the table, causing the wine inside his glass to ripple.
"This world can be saved by me."
"But I simply do not wish to do it."
"I have no interest in dividing the spoils after defeating the Celestial Dragons."
His smile carried a hint of amusement.
"Anyone who wants those benefits must also pay the corresponding price."
He glanced at Jinbe.
"Those people eagerly waiting for the rewards cannot expect me to charge into battle while they quietly collect the profits afterward."
Shirogai raised his glass with a relaxed smile.
"So I freely choose to become an observer."
"I have no desire to actively interfere with the direction of this world."
"Of course, if some short sighted fools come looking for trouble, I will not show mercy."
He took another sip.
"The choices of this world belong to you."
"How you act and what future you create will be your own decisions."
"If Luffy wants to change the world, let him try."
"If you want to save the world, I will lend a hand when necessary."
"But I will never guarantee success."
He looked toward the distant horizon.
"I will simply watch the show I want to see and fulfill my duty as a companion. Nothing more."
The worry on Jinbe's face slowly faded.
He raised his cup with solemn respect.
"My apologies, Shirogai. I was mistaken earlier."
"I failed to realize that your position is actually the greatest protection you can offer this world."
At that moment, Jinbe finally understood.
With Shirogai's strength and the massive Sky Island Alliance he had created, if the Celestial Dragons and the World Government were truly defeated, what would happen next?
Would the world not simply change rulers?
From the plaything of the Celestial Dragons to the plaything of Shirogai?
Jinbe sighed deeply.
"You are right."
"Anyone who wants benefits must pay a price."
"Whether they are ordinary people or powerful forces."
He shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Expecting to gain something without paying anything in return was a naive thought."
The title of Sea Knight Jinbe carried the word knight within it.
Yet when he hoped for Shirogai to sacrifice himself to save the world, there had been no true chivalry in that thought.
A knight could sacrifice himself willingly.
But he could never force others to do the same.
"However…"
A sly smile appeared on Jinbe's rugged Fish-Man face.
"Shirogai, from now on I will try to change your view of this world through my actions."
"There are still many good people in this world."
Shirogai looked at him with a calm smile.
"I look forward to seeing that."
---
Far away, on a grassy hillside near the sea, a pale skeleton lay lazily on the ground.
He wore ragged farmer's clothes and a worn Straw Hat. His black curly hair fluttered gently in the sea breeze as he sang softly to himself.
"Yohohoho, yohohoho."
"Yohohoho, yohohoho."
His pleasant voice drifted through the air, blending with the cries of seabirds and the distant roar of waves.
"Binks' Brew, delivering it to you."
"Sailing across the sea as the tides rise."
"The sunset stirs, the birds sing."
"Breaking through the sky as we depart from the port."
"Memories of home linger in my heart…"
Suddenly, the singing stopped.
The skeleton sniffed the air.
"Huh? What is that smell?"
He tilted his head.
"It smells like something burning."
He paused for a moment.
"Although I do not even have a nose anymore, yohohoho."
Then realization struck.
"Wait… is something on fire?"
He quickly sat up and looked toward the distant village that had once taken him in.
Thick black smoke was rising from several places.
"Oh no."
His empty eye sockets widened.
"Little Laboon."
The skeleton scrambled to his feet and rushed toward the burning village as fast as he could.
===
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