12

In the video, Robert smiled gently at little Luffy.

"Do you want to become an excellent Marine soldier in the future?"

"(Present) Tashigi: Ah, Commissar Robert is so gentle. I really envy Admiral Luffy. I wish I could have been personally invited by Commissar Robert to become a Marine."

"(Present) Yamato: Haha, but I was invited by Commissar Robert!"

"(Present) Hina: I'm really jealous."

"(Original) Kaido: WHAT?! Yamato, you unfilial brat, you actually ran off to be a Marine?! I'M FURIOUS!"

"(Present) Kaido: Speak politely to my daughter, or I'll beat you up!"

The original Kaido was stunned. "Daughter? Since when did I start calling Yamato that?"

Something must have happened in the other world.

Little Luffy hesitated.

No one had ever asked him that question before.

His grandfather was a Marine.

But seeing how Garp acted…

It made the Marines seem unappealing.

Strict rules, annoying responsibilities.

And then, he had met Shanks.

The freedom that pirates had—sailing the world, laughing with friends, going on adventures…

It was exciting.

Before today, if anyone had asked, Luffy would have answered immediately:

"I don't want to be a Marine!"

But after watching Robert, something felt… different.

Robert was a Marine, but he wasn't like his grandfather.

He was strong, respected, and… cool.

For the first time, Luffy felt uncertain.

Still, he shook his head and puffed out his chest.

With confidence, he declared:

"No! I don't want to be a Marine! I want to be a Pirate! I want to be the King of Pirates!"

"(Present) Akainu: Luffy Admiral, I didn't expect you used to say such things! Hahaha!"

"(Present) Luffy: Ugh… Everyone has embarrassing moments. I was young and stupid. Watching this makes me want to dig a hole and hide."

"(Original) Luffy: I AM GOING TO BE THE PIRATE KING!"

"(Present) Luffy: See? I was an idiot! I yelled that nonsense every day like a child!"

"(Original) Luffy: It's an awesome dream!"

"(Present) Luffy: No, it's embarrassing. I ran around shouting it like a fool. Now, looking back… I cringe so hard."

"(Original) Garp: See? You expect me to believe this kid could ever become a Marine?!"

"(Present) Garp: Don't be so sure. Keep watching."

In the video.

Hearing Luffy's words, Garp exploded in anger.

He stormed into the tavern, fists clenched.

"You disobedient little brat! You still want to be the Pirate King?! I'm gonna beat you until you learn some sense!"

Luffy yelped and immediately ran behind Robert.

"GRANDPA?! Why are you here?!"

Robert calmly spoke.

"Garp."

His voice alone made Garp freeze.

"Commissar Robert, this kid is stubborn! He needs a beating!"

Garp's fists tightened, his frustration clear.

How dare Luffy say such a thing in front of Commissar Robert?!

Robert's stern gaze locked onto Garp.

"A gentleman uses his mouth, not his fists. Is this how you educate a child?"

Garp flinched.

Then… sighed in shame.

"Commissar Robert is right… I was too impulsive."

"(Original) Sengoku: WHAT?! Garp, why are you so obedient?!"

"(Present) Garp: I've always been like this. Any problem?"

"(Original) Sengoku: Do you think this is my first day knowing you?!"

Robert turned his gaze toward little Luffy.

"Tell me… why do you want to be a pirate?"

Without hesitation, Luffy grinned.

"I want to be the freest person in the ocean!"

Robert nodded.

"So, you believe that being a pirate is the most free?"

"Of course!"

"Then… do you see those pirates outside?"

Robert gestured toward the Red Hair Pirates.

One by one, they were being led away in handcuffs.

Luffy blinked.

He hesitated.

"This…"

"Are they free?"

Luffy's confidence wavered.

"(Present) Shanks: Wait, wait, wait! It's not that we're not strong enough, it's just that Robert is too strong!"

Luffy frowned.

"That's only because they aren't strong enough!"

"Then, tell me… who is the strongest?"

Luffy brightened up.

"Roger! The Pirate King!"

Robert's smile remained calm.

"And what happened to him?"

Luffy froze.

"He… was executed."

The confidence in his voice disappeared.

For the first time, Luffy was unsure.

"(Original) Roger: HEY! I TURNED MYSELF IN! The Marines didn't catch me!"

"(Present) Roger: Actually… in this world, I was caught by Robert."

"(Present) Garp: As expected of Commissar Robert. He made Luffy question everything with just a few words."

Robert continued.

"You want to adventure with your friends, right?"

Luffy nodded.

"You want to find the Pirate King's treasure, right?"

Luffy nodded again.

"You also want to protect the people you care about, right?"

Luffy nodded even harder.

Robert leaned in slightly.

"Then tell me… besides being a pirate, is there another path that lets you do all of that—while being even more free?"

Luffy opened his mouth.

And then—

He froze.

His mind went blank.

Before he could stop himself, he blurted out—

"Marine?"

Silence.

Robert didn't say anything.

He simply smiled.

The original world's audience gasped.

"(Original) Sengoku: Wait… what just happened?!"

"(Original) Kaido: What kind of brainwashing technique is this?!"

"(Original) Whitebeard: He didn't even mention the Marines once. He just asked questions… and Luffy convinced himself."

Shanks facepalmed.

Robert finally spoke.

"You never really wanted to be a pirate, did you?"

Luffy flinched.

"You just wanted adventure, freedom, friends, and treasure."

"You only thought that being a pirate was the way to do that… because Shanks told you so."

Luffy's eyes widened.

Yes…

That was true.

He never actually cared about being a pirate.

He just wanted everything Shanks had.

And Shanks had told him—

"Only pirates can do that."

But…

Was that actually true?

Luffy's head spun.

Something inside him shifted.

He felt like…

He was on the verge of realizing something huge.

In the original world—

Silence.

Then—

"What kind of sorcery is this?"

For the first time, even Sengoku was stunned.

Was this…

The power of a political commissar?

End of the Chapter.