Rumors: Gai's Utter Double Standards

"BOSS, aren't we being way too cowardly?"

Everyone found it hard to accept.

They'd been acting high and mighty for so many years that this sudden change was hard to get used to.

After all, they hadn't even seen the enemy.

What if this Im person didn't even exist?

Besides, everyone here had two types of powers. Their combat strength was nothing like before. Even if their opponent was a god, they could hold their own—or even pull one down from the heavens. There was no need to run before they'd even fought.

This was just too cowardly!

It went against their group's principles.

Put simply,

they'd all gotten too full of themselves!

"Where there's life, there's hope. Backing down for now is just a way to build up our strength. We're biding our time and enduring hardship. How can you call that cowardice?"

Chaos blew a smoke ring, his expression perfectly calm.

"BOSS, that's way too hypocritical. It completely goes against our group's principles!"

"Old Sand, this concerns your truth. Bite him."

Betty shot Chaos a look of disdain, then egged Crocodile on.

The others didn't say anything, but most of them felt a little uncomfortable.

Because their BOSS really did seem awfully hypocritical.

But—

why didn't it feel surprising? In fact, it seemed only natural.

The impression BOSS had left on them over the years clearly hadn't been all that positive.

"This Emperor agrees with BOSS."

Crocodile didn't side with Betty, despite her goading. Instead, he puffed on his cigar and sternly surveyed the group. He felt they still hadn't fully grasped the group's principles.

It seemed they'd only ever pretended to understand.

"This Emperor thinks it's necessary to go over the group's principles again right now. I get the feeling you've only ever understood the basics, and