"I say, why force it?"
Rowan suddenly blurted out.
To the clone soldiers around, the remark seemed out of the blue, making it hard to understand.
But Vinsmoke Judge, sitting before Rowan, understood perfectly.
After all, he had already experienced Rowan's uncanny "foresight" regarding the direction of negotiations.
Predicting the opponent's next words was already standard practice for him.
This ability wasn't "mind reading" – though it certainly seemed like it. It was actually an extreme form of deduction and interpretation of others' psychology.
Being at the same negotiation table with such a person was truly terrifying.
But fortunately, Judge and Rowan were not sitting as adversaries. This allowed Judge to selectively ignore the oppressive feeling Rowan projected.
Since Rowan already knew the fact that "no one would willingly go with him to cut down a tree," Judge was very curious to hear what Rowan meant by "why force it."
"Like right now."
Rowan lightly tapped the deck beneath him, indicating he was referring to the present moment.
"Germa 66 originally tried to force the Aden Kingdom to continue its unfair trade contract, but now they have no intention of doing so."
"Is that 'voluntary'?"
As soon as he said this, the clone soldiers could clearly feel the atmosphere on the deck change.
Judge's face became extremely grim.
"You think... I'm 'forced'?"
It was evident from his voice that Judge was very angry.
The reason? It was simple, of course.
Some things, even if they are facts, should ultimately not be said out loud.
Just like now.
Rowan's Sand Envoy had indeed displayed a terrifying power beyond Judge's imagination, making Judge realize that a hasty confrontation with the Four Seas Alliance – or rather, Ryan Rowan behind it – would be a losing proposition.
This was…
Yes, Judge had backed down.
This was an undeniable fact, but it was a fact that could not be spoken openly.
This was a consensus among all rulers of the powers.
…
There were many powers on this sea, some strong and some weak.
Powerful forces would naturally dominate weaker ones and exert a certain degree of intimidation over forces with less strength, thereby gaining more benefits.
But within this, there was an unwritten rule.
Such matters must never be openly discussed!
Because weaker forces were still, after all, "forces."
As long as they continued to exist on this sea, they would inevitably give rise to forces even weaker than themselves.
It was a chain reaction, a cycle.
If a so-called "weak force" were to lose face completely, it would be utterly excluded from this sea and perish.
To put it another way.
"Two" is a larger number than "one," and "three" is a larger number than "two."
Normally, "three" constantly ruled "two," and "two" ruled "one."
But what if one day, the number "one" completely disappeared from the world?
Yes, if that day came, then "two" would be the smallest number.
With no one left under its command, it would be at the mercy of "three."
And if "two" perished, then "three" would face the same situation.
Therefore, so-called "cutting off the roots early" or "doing things to the extreme" were merely jokes in the political arena of this sea.
There would always be someone weaker than you.
And once you used your strength to eliminate everyone weaker than you, you would become the weakest.
Such individuals would not survive long at sea.
…
Initially, Judge thought Ryan Rowan understood this principle, but it seemed that was not the case.
This emperor from eight hundred years ago was "conceited" beyond Judge's expectations!
Saying those words at the Germa 66 base was no different than slapping Judge in the face in front of his own people!
This act forced Judge, who had already retreated, back to Rowan's opposing side.
"I know, of course I know your vision is far-reaching, and you want to resolve the threat of that tree – whatever your motives."
"But, Ryan Rowan…"
Judge narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on the thunder spear beside him.
"If you're trying to force me to join your ranks, then you are gravely mistaken!"
…
"If you're trying to force him to join your ranks, then you are gravely mistaken."
On the Sky Island, in a Seastone-lined secret room.
Crocodile, with rare leisure, had come to observe Nico Robin's work progress and Ryan Rowan, who had been sitting there for a long time.
Rowan opened his eyes, somewhat surprised.
"If you want to talk to me, just talk to my sand clone."
"Talking to a big toy that only holds signs is pointless."
Crocodile was smoking a cigar.
"Rather, why don't you let me study your 'Envoy' technique?"
As a Logia-type Devil Fruit user himself, Crocodile was clearly interested in Rowan's technique.
However, Crocodile himself did not possess Conqueror's Haki, which was necessary to use the Envoy. Therefore, he needed to find a substitute to mimic the essence of the technique.
But Crocodile's primary concern wasn't that at the moment; it was what Rowan was currently doing.
He actually wanted to persuade Germa 66 and the Four Seas Alliance to join forces to cut down that tree!
No, not just persuade Germa 66.
What Ryan Rowan was doing now was, in fact, to persuade everyone capable and all the powers on this sea to join him and cut down that tree together!
The same evaluation that Judge had before surfaced in Crocodile's mind –
A dreamer.
Rowan's actions could indeed be described as those of a "dreamer."
Because it was an impossible task, something that couldn't even be accomplished through individual strategy!
…
Both Crocodile and Judge wanted to know how Rowan would persuade them "without their voluntary consent"!
But soon, both of them regretted it.
Crocodile regretted it first.
He had been in contact with Rowan the longest and thus had some understanding of Ryan Rowan's personality.
He was an exceptionally "absurd" man!
His thinking was beyond ordinary people!
And after Crocodile, Judge also noticed something amiss.
The aura radiating from Ryan Rowan had clearly changed.
He was no longer the smiling emperor; his eyes revealed a sharp, chilling madness!
He grinned and slowly said:
"When I start cutting down the tree."
"When the branches of that tree grow into your homes."
"Whether you want to or not, you will have to cut it down!"
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