An Agreement Reached

The previous chapter had been revised.

"I want you to help me accomplish something," Swain said solemnly.

Shanks frowned. This was hardly the right time for Swain to make a request.

If Swain wanted him to kill one of the Five Elders over some personal grudge, there was no chance he would agree.

He was about to refuse when Swain said slowly, "I need you to buy me half an hour."

"What are you going to do?" Shanks asked without thinking.

"I have to try to kill Imu," Swain replied firmly.

"You..." Shanks stopped himself.

He had wanted to say it was sheer fantasy, but he swallowed the words.

The only person who could decide what an Emperor did was the Emperor himself. When one of them wanted to do something, even his companions could rarely stop him.

That was the difference between a ruthless overlord and a hero.

Ruthless overlords could do as they pleased. They had no need to heed anyone else's opinion when making decisions. They put themselves first and acted decisively, without letting others sway them.

Heroes were different. They carried greater responsibilities and obligations. As a hero of the Marines, Garp had to obey the World Government and follow the Fleet Admiral's orders. Rules constrained his every move; he could not simply do as he pleased.

Heroes often took justice and morality as their guides, and society judged their actions. Their mission was to protect the weak, defend justice, and fight for a higher cause.

Ruthless overlords, by contrast, cared more about their own interests and goals. They would use any means necessary to get what they wanted.

Kaido, for instance, wanted to become the One Piece. He would grind the people of Wano Country beneath his heel to do it.

Such people made swift,