Jinbe's expression changed drastically after hearing Uchiha Hiko's words. He knew Aokiji's strength well. Even if Luo and Urouge joined forces, they would never be able to defeat Aokiji. Although Aokiji had now left the Marines, who knew whether he still retained even a trace of his desire to punish evil and uphold justice against Pirates?
"I'll go back and help them!" The moment the thought arose, Jinbe turned to leave.
"Hey, hey!" Hiko grabbed Jinbe. "Show some awareness, will you? Are you planning to defy my arrangements? And aren't I your eldest brother? The person you're supposed to protect is me, right?"
Jinbe scratched his head and said incredulously, "I always feel that even against an Admiral, you wouldn't need my help. Compared to those two, you're the one who puts me at ease."
"Heh." Hiko chuckled softly. "It's only natural for you to trust my strength, but you should trust my judgment even more, without condition."
Hiko's tone was neither stern nor heavy, but Jinbe could feel the weight behind those words.
No matter what plans Hiko had in mind, as a subordinate, the first thing Jinbe needed was unconditional trust in and obedience to his leader. He could not simply act however he pleased according to his own wishes. That was not a quality a qualified subordinate should possess.
Even if there were a pit of fire ahead, if Uchiha Hiko told Jinbe to jump into it, then as long as Jinbe acknowledged Uchiha Hiko as his eldest brother, he had to obey and trust that command without condition.
That was the absolute hierarchy and trust between master and subordinate.
"I understand." Jinbe slowly nodded. From that moment onward, Jinbe's mindset began to undergo a major change. The Sea Knight Jinbe, who had once devoted himself wholeheartedly