If Luffy were present to hear this, he would undoubtedly curse Joy Boy without hesitation. To anyone listening, the phrase "for freedom" sounded hollow and shameless, especially when that so called freedom demanded the loss of one's own consciousness.
Yet to Joy Boy, it was entirely natural.
After silently repeating those words to himself, he straightened his posture, puffed out his chest, and declared with unwavering confidence,
"All you need to know is this, I am Joy Boy, the man who will become the Pirate King and liberate the entire world once again."
Carrot remained unconvinced. Her nose twitched slightly as she muttered under her breath,
"What empty talk."
Joy Boy paid her no mind. Compared to Nami, who had loudly berated him moments earlier, Carrot's quiet complaint barely registered. She was not worth his attention.
Among the Mink Tribe gathered there, only two individuals held any real significance in his eyes, Pedro and Sicilian. From his observations, both clearly possessed influence and authority within the tribe.
However, Pedro was the one who intrigued him the most.
The deep hatred Pedro harbored toward the Celestial Dragons was unmistakable, and to Joy Boy, that was a valuable trait.
Composing himself, Joy Boy spoke,
"Pedro, I have already told you about myself. Now it is your turn. Tell me about your connection to the Celestial Dragons."
A shadow of hatred immediately darkened Pedro's expression. His voice dropped as he replied,
"In truth, I have never even met a Celestial Dragon…"
Joy Boy gave a slight nod. Despite Pedro's strength, he was insignificant compared to them. If Pedro had ever truly crossed paths with a Celestial Dragon while harboring such hatred, he would have been eliminated without question.
Joy Boy understood their nature well. Tyrannical, ruthless, and intolerant of dissent. Anyone like Pedro would not be allowed to exist if discovered.
Pedro inhaled deeply, his teeth clenched as he continued,
"But he killed the person I respected most… Master Cat Viper!"
In this timeline, Cat Viper and Inuarashi had already perished during their time aboard Whitebeard's ship. They never returned to Zou, and thus never became its rulers.
Even so, Pedro still addressed Cat Viper with deep reverence.
The older members of the Mink Tribe present had also been cared for by Cat Viper and Inuarashi in their youth. Though their grief was less intense than Pedro's, they still felt a quiet sorrow.
As for the younger ones like Carrot, they felt little. They had never met them.
Joy Boy narrowed his eyes slightly, then said,
"I see. Cat Viper and Inuarashi valued loyalty and honor. They were worthy of respect."
Pedro froze for a moment before quickly asking,
"You knew Master Cat Viper?"
Joy Boy nodded. Through Luffy's memories, Kozuki Toki had once mentioned both Cat Viper and Inuarashi. He had not expected that knowledge to prove useful now.
After a brief pause, he added,
"I have a companion named Kozuki Toki. Her husband is Kozuki Oden. Are you familiar with them?"
Pedro's eyes widened in shock. He nodded vigorously.
"Yes! Kozuki Oden was Master Cat Viper's benefactor, the person he respected above all others! When Master Cat Viper sailed the seas, he sent letters back, and he spoke of him often!"
Pedro clenched his fists tightly, his voice trembling with anger.
"But Lord Kozuki Oden also died tragically at the hands of the Celestial Dragons… and his son, Momonosuke… That monster did not even spare a child!"
Joy Boy let out a measured sigh.
"You already understand their cruelty. In their eyes, there is no distinction between the elderly, the weak, women, or children. Anyone who opposes them is mercilessly destroyed. Over the years, countless innocent lives have been taken, far more than just a single child like Momonosuke."
"That's right!" Pedro's voice rose with emotion. "Their sins are unforgivable! I even read in the newspapers that one of them holds immense power within the Navy. If such scum controls the seas, then this world is truly doomed!"
His agitation grew, his breathing uneven as he began to cough.
Joy Boy reached out and gently patted his back. His tone softened.
"I understand your anger. A world ruled by the Celestial Dragons has long since lost its way."
At that moment, Pedro's hostility eased, replaced by a sense of gratitude. He looked at Joy Boy and said sincerely,
"Thank you… Oh, right, you mentioned Lady Kozuki Toki earlier. May I ask… is she still alive?"
Joy Boy did not answer immediately. Instead, he furrowed his brows.
Pedro misread the silence.
He suddenly dropped to his knees, his fist slamming into the ground.
"Damn them! Damn those Celestial Dragons!"
Joy Boy quickly crouched and pulled him back up.
"Do not jump to conclusions. Lady Kozuki Toki is still alive. I simply do not know whether she has awakened yet."
At the time, the unconscious Kozuki Toki had not boarded the submarine with Lindbergh and the others. Instead, she had been secretly relocated to a remote, unremarkable island.
Joy Boy briefly explained the situation.
After listening, Pedro finally exhaled in relief.
"That is… good to hear."
Sensing the moment was right, Joy Boy spoke again, his tone turning resolute.
"Pedro, are you willing to join me in overthrowing this world swallowed by darkness?"
Pedro's body trembled.
"What… did you say?"
Joy Boy's eyes sharpened, and a rhythmic pounding echoed from his chest. He extended his hand toward Pedro.
"Become my nakama, Pedro."
Pedro instinctively grasped his hand, though hesitation lingered in his voice.
"But… can just the two of us really stand against someone like that? He commands the entire Navy…"
Joy Boy's expression turned grave.
"If you lose faith so easily, then this world truly has no hope left. And who said it would only be us? Anyone whose heart yearns for freedom can become our nakama."
Pedro fell silent.
"Freedom…" he murmured.
As he repeated the word, something stirred within him. A faint longing surfaced in his eyes as he slowly turned to look at the other members of the Mink Tribe behind him.
At that very moment, Carrot suddenly leapt forward from the crowd, her voice filled with anger.
"You're a terrible person! Are you trying to drag Pedro-senpai to his death?"
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