Faced with Namur's plea...
Sephiroth looked down at him. He did not tell him to rise, merely spoke in an even tone.
"All right. Speak."
Namur did not lift his head, remaining bowed with his forehead pressed to the floor.
"I beg you to help Ace and the others overcome their 'current' predicament."
He spoke without beating around the bush, deliberately stressing "current" for fear it might be mistaken for a request for long-term support.
"In return-I... and every member of the Eighth Division will voluntarily leave the Whitebeard Pirates and pledge our loyalty to you."
This was the solution Namur had come up with. He had already "betrayed" his homeland. Now he was choosing to "betray" his comrades as well.
It was the best solution he could think of.
When Namur offered this "payment," Sephiroth rubbed his temples.
Fish-men made up a substantial portion of the Eighth Division. They were a rare, naturally suited underwater force. Under normal circumstances, that was certainly appealing.
But this scene...
...Come to think of it, Whitebeard was his adoptive father.
The sheer Lü Bu energy of it almost made Sephiroth lose his composure.
-What, are you another three-house... Three-Surname Servant?
Sephiroth snarked inwardly, almost hearing that mocking "deaf three times over" pun ringing in his ears.
The brief silence made Namur's heart gradually sink.
Then Sephiroth gave his answer.
"I can help you."
Namur's body trembled slightly. He raised his head, his sharklike face showing a complicated mixture of guilt, gratitude, and other emotions.
"But."
Sephiroth raised his right hand and held up one finger.
"There's one additional condition. Give me Murakumogiri."
Namur's gaze froze for a moment. He remained silent for several seconds. Deep down, he understood that, objectively speaking, this was a very modest demand.
"...That's a keepsake Pops left behind.