Chapter 37: Is This Possible? After Ten Sentences, You Want to Be a Marine? Far From the Truth!

> (Former) Sengoku: See? This is the art of negotiation! I used to think that the position of political commissar was unnecessary, but now I realize that the Marines should indeed have one.

(Former) Garp: Haha, I am willing to take on this position!

(Former) Sengoku: Are you kidding me? Garp, I created this position to educate people like you, and now you're saying you want to take it? What, so you can educate yourself?

Sengoku from the original world was speechless.

Ever since the comparison video had appeared, Sengoku had felt that the most common expressions on his face were either shock or frustration.

As a result, he had gained a few extra wrinkles.

However, at this moment, he truly wished his world had a political commissar like Ron.

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In the Present World—

Luffy and Sabo watched the scene unfold, and suddenly, the questions they had buried in their hearts for years were finally answered.

> (Present) Luffy: Ace?! Didn't you say you never talked to Commissar Ron?

(Present) Sabo: No wonder that morning, when we woke up, you seemed… different.

(Present) Ace: Hahahaha! The video has exposed me again!

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In the Video—

> "Want to talk?" Ron asked warmly.

Ace hesitated at the door.

For some reason, this man in front of him gave off a strange feeling—like he was someone he could trust, someone to whom he could open his heart.

He nodded subconsciously.

> "Yeah..."

> "Come on. Let's go on deck," Ron suggested.

"It's a nice night. Let's look at the stars together."

Ron closed the book he had been reading, slipped his pen into his pocket, and stepped out first.

Ace followed behind him.

It had been a long time since he had looked at the stars.

The two lay on the deck, gazing up at the vast, twinkling sky.

Ron didn't say a word.

The night sky was the best tool for unlocking a person's heart.

He knew Ace would speak first.

Unlike Luffy, Ace was more thoughtful. He carried a heavier burden—a deep sense of guilt and an unhappy childhood shaped by his lineage.

And just as expected—

> "Did you... really help Sabo find the meaning of his existence?" Ace finally asked, cautiously, still wary.

Ron's response, however, caught him off guard.

> "No."

Ace was startled. He had expected Ron to proudly claim responsibility.

> "He found it himself."

"I just gave him a little push."

Ace put his hands behind his head and fell silent for a long while.

Then, he spoke again.

> "Does everyone have a purpose in life?"

"Or are some people just… born without one?"

That was the core of Ace's struggle.

Because he was the son of the Pirate King, he had suffered relentless hatred, indifference, and fear since birth.

This had left him questioning—

> Did I ever deserve to be born?

Just then, Momousagi appeared, holding a blanket.

> "Political Commissar, it's cold. Cover yourself with this."

> "No need," Ron said with a smile.

> "Neither do I," Ace quickly added.

Momousagi frowned.

> "I wasn't talking to you, brat."

Ace's mouth twitched.

Beautiful women are troublesome…

The heavy atmosphere cracked under the weight of that small, ridiculous moment.

Ron suddenly burst into laughter.

> "Kid, you spend every day asking yourself if life has meaning… but the question itself is meaningless."

> "You're just mad that people call you the 'Son of the Devil,' right? That you inherited Roger's blood?"

Ace's eyes widened.

He had only spoken two sentences—yet this Marine had completely seen through him.

> "Yeah! I hate Roger! Everyone says I'm cursed because of him!"

> (Original) Roger: Eh? Garp, are you trying to sow discord between us father and son?

(Original) Garp: Don't slander me! I worked hard to raise your kid, and this is the thanks I get?!

(Original) Roger: You?! Raising my son? It was the bandits who did all the work!

Ron remained calm.

> "So, you want to prove what 'devil blood' really means by becoming a pirate?"

Ace was stunned.

He hadn't expected Ron to see right through him again.

> "Y-Yeah! So what?"

> "Let me ask you something."

> "What if one day, you have a child of your own?"

> "Do you want your child to suffer the same way you did? To be branded with a name he never chose?"

Ace was speechless.

The thought had never even crossed his mind.

Marriage? Kids? That was too far away.

But…

Ace had a strong desire to protect those he cared about.

He was willing to sacrifice everything for his loved ones.

So if his child had to suffer the same way he did…

> "Of course not!"

> (Former) Sengoku: Wow. That's brutal! Using his future kid against him? That's a master move!

(Former) Garp: What's so special about that? Why can't I see it?

(Former) Sengoku: You?! You're the reason he turned into a problem child in the first place!

Ron smiled.

> "Do you know why Roger had you?"

Ace shook his head.

He had always wondered about that.

Why would that man—just before turning himself in—choose to bring a child into the world?

It was like… fulfilling a mission.

> "When Roger reached Raftel, he discovered something. He had arrived twenty years too early."

"He wasn't the 'chosen one' of destiny."

"But his time was running out, so he made a bet. He had a child."

"Because he believed his son would be the one to fulfill his will."

> (Original) Roger: How the hell does this guy know so much?!

(Former) Ace: ???

Ace sucked in a breath.

Was that really… the reason he was born?

> So it really was like a mission…?

> "That guy isn't worthy of being a father!" Ace clenched his fists.

"Just for that reason, he ruined my mother's life! He's so selfish!"

Ron nodded.

> "So let me ask you this."

"If you become a pirate and search for One Piece… aren't you doing exactly what he wanted?"

"You're fulfilling his will."

Ace sat up suddenly.

> "No way!"

> "He wants me to be a pirate, so I won't!"

> "Can I join the Marines instead?"

> (Former) Sengoku: ... Damn. That was too clean. Too perfect!

(Original) Roger: I—!!!

(Former) Garp: Outrageous! I taught him for TEN YEARS, and he never became a Marine. This guy did it in TEN SENTENCES?!

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End of Chapter 37

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