"Ha ha ha..."
Moke burst out laughing. "The position of Shichibukai has never meant much to me. And you... you're worth it. Both your strength and your character are worth it. After all, everyone in my pirate crew is a Devil Fruit user..."
Jinbe's expression froze at those words. Then he looked at Moke with a trace of gratitude, because Moke's meaning could not have been clearer: he was entrusting his life to him.
Not everyone could offer that kind of trust.
Many Pirate Crews had Fish-Men among their ranks, but most of them were peripheral members. Take Aladdin of the Big Mom Pirates, for example. He had once been the Sun Pirates' ship doctor and vice-captain, and was now their captain.
Even though he had married Big Mom's daughter, Praline, and become Big Mom's son-in-law, he still had not become part of that great pirate crew's core.
"Phew..."
Jinbe took a deep breath, then said to Moke, "Can I ask you for something?"
Moke instantly understood what he meant. "Ace and Whitebeard, right?"
Jinbe was slightly stunned, shocked by how quick Moke was. Just one sentence, and he had immediately understood his intention.
Moke smiled. "Don't worry. Even without you, I would still stand with Whitebeard this time."
"Huh?"
Jinbe looked utterly surprised. He truly could not understand why Moke would do that.
Moke spoke frankly. "Because I received reliable information. The World Government and Marine Headquarters have already decided that... once the war with the Whitebeard Pirates ends, they'll move against me and keep me at Marine Headquarters forever."
At that, he shrugged. "Since that's the case, why shouldn't I stab the Marines hard in the back while they're fighting the Whitebeard Pirates?"
Jinbe finally understood. "That's true. This way, you'll not only remove the threat to yourself,