Jinbe's distrust of Shiryu was plainly evident. Jazz was a future successor Ronglin had been grooming with special care, yet Shiryu, a vicious man who had once served Blackbeard, was being assigned to protect him. Jinbe could not rest easy at all.
Ronglin shook his head and rejected Jinbe's suggestion. He looked sternly at Shiryu and said, "I've kept you on the sidelines all this time. If you don't want to be a team leader, I won't force the issue, but everyone seems to distrust you. I feel somewhat sorry for you because of that. The situation in the New World is changing too quickly. We'll soon face even harsher challenges, and at a time like this, we need to trust one another."
Shiryu remained silent. He could sense his standing within the Alliance himself, but he did not care.
"I'm giving you this opportunity to let everyone know that you're worthy of my trust, worthy of the trust of everyone in the Alliance." Ronglin spoke slowly. "This time, in the New World, you'll serve as Jazz's personal bodyguard and protect him as he carries out his mission. I believe that once you return successfully, no one will have any doubts about you anymore."
Shiryu said expressionlessly, "Your way of showing that you trust me is a little too radical. Aren't you afraid I'll kill him, take his head, and return to the Blackbeard Pirates?"
Ronglin fixed Shiryu with a piercing stare. "That would probably hurt me deeply. But if one successor dies, I can train a second. You, however, probably won't get a second chance to choose. No matter whether you flee to the heavens or burrow into the earth, I'll dig you out, tear you to pieces, and grind your bones to dust!"
Shiryu laughed coldly. "What an