Luffy's jaw dropped. "So that strange old man used to be a God too?"
The Old Knight clearly didn't want to talk about it, but Rubick asked, "Uncle, if I drive Enel out, does that mean I can be the God here?"
The Old Knight pondered for a long time without answering. Enel had driven him from his position because he couldn't defeat him. If Rubick beat Enel and wanted to become the God here, he had no way to stop him.
Sanji asked, puzzled, "Mister, do you want to be the God here?"
Rubick waved a hand. "I'm considering it. We'll see after I beat Enel. There's something here I want, and I won't give it up easily. Besides..."
Rubick pointed toward God's Island in the distance. "That island is Jaya Island, which was blasted into the sky centuries ago. So the Skypieans took someone else's land."
The Old Knight lowered his head. He knew that history and felt guilty about it. But he wouldn't agree to give up the land his people had inherited, either.
Rubick went on, "That's beside the point, though. The Skypieans of the past drove the people of Jaya Island out to survive. What they did wasn't right, but today's Skypieans can understand why their ancestors did it—and be grateful to them."
Luffy frowned. "Uncle, that doesn't sound right."
Rubick explained, "The people here can live so comfortably now because their ancestors seized those resources. Others can curse them for it, but the Skypieans have to be grateful."
"If it were me," Rubick said seriously, "I'd destroy a few countries if that was what it took to bring them under my rule and secure my country's future."
Luffy and the others fell silent. For the first time, they saw this side of Rubick.
"Come