Luffy stood there, his small face scrunched up in thought.
"Yeah, I don't want to be a pirate. Everything I want can be achieved without being a pirate."
"Shanks never told me that I could be a Marine."
"Why can't I be a Marine?"
Little Luffy felt like his brain was about to explode. He stood there, muttering to himself, struggling to process this realization.
For the first time, he was thinking about his dream in a different way. He had always assumed that pirates were the only ones who could live freely, explore the world, and search for treasure. But Ron's words made him question everything.
He was already considering the Marines as an option.
And that was the brilliance of Ron's conversation.
Most people resisted persuasion. If you tried to force an answer onto them, they would instinctively doubt and reject it.
But if you guided them toward the answer…
They would believe they had figured it out themselves.
They would accept it willingly.
They might even brag about how clever they were.
In the original world, everyone watching was stunned by Ron's methods.
Previously, they had been wondering—how could a mere Political Commissar have changed the Marines so drastically?
But now, they understood.
They had underestimated this man.
Ron's words were like a gentle breeze, subtly planting a seed in Luffy's mind. The transformation happened naturally, leaving no trace of forcefulness behind.
Even the pirates watching the video felt shaken.
"Wait a minute… how did I even end up becoming a pirate in the first place?"
"It must be because we never met a mentor like Ron! If we had, we'd be respected members of society by now!"
"Yeah, I went down the wrong path… If someone like Ron had enlightened me, I wouldn't have become a pirate. I never wanted to be one—I just needed a way to make a living."
"I just wanted to travel and see the world… I never thought I'd end up on a pirate ship."
The chat was flooded with messages of regret.
In the original world, Sengoku sucked in a sharp breath.
This man… was terrifying.
Political Commissar Ron wasn't just some ordinary Marine officer. He wasn't bluffing. His ability to influence others was real.
This conversation had given Sengoku a new perspective.
People weren't born as pirates.
Most of them had simply never known any other way.
The Marines' Reaction
"(Original) Sengoku: Garp, wasn't it easy to get your grandson to become a Marine? How the hell did you mess this up so badly?! The Marines lost a talent for no reason!"
"(Original) Garp: Hey, don't blame me! I spent years trying to raise this brat right, and he still ran off to be a pirate! But Ron? He changes Luffy's mind in just a few minutes?!"
"(Original) Sengoku: How did you even try to educate him?"
"(Original) Garp: I beat him up until he listened!"
"(Original) Sengoku: …No wonder Luffy didn't want to be a Marine. You forced him into rebellion!"
"(Current) Garp: See? This is why Ron is so brilliant! He taught me that you can't solve problems with kids by using fists! That only makes them resist more."
"(Original) Garp: Impossible! There's nothing wrong with my parenting!"
"(Original) Luffy: Nope! I still choose to be the King of the Pirates!"
"(Current) Luffy: Ugh, you're beyond saving."
"(Current) Garp: I was a genius to invite Ron! If I had been even one day late, Shanks would have already poisoned Luffy's mind. It would have been too late!"
"(Original) Garp: Hey! Who are you calling poisoned?!"
"(Current) Garp: I mean, look at the other me! My grandson turned into an idiot running around yelling about being Pirate King! I would have no face left if my Luffy had turned out like that!"
Garp in the current world gave himself a proud thumbs-up.
Yes, he was far-sighted.
It turned out that ideological awareness determined the future generations!
Before, he had never compared himself to another version of himself.
But now that he had?
The original world was unbearable to watch.
A Vice Admiral with no ambition.
A son who was an anti-government revolutionary.
A grandson who became a pirate.
It was a miserable life!
Thank god Ron had changed everything.
Luffy's Decision
Little Luffy continued to think, his tiny fists clenched in concentration.
And then—
Suddenly, he got it.
A huge grin spread across his face.
"I figured it out!" he shouted.
"I don't want to be a pirate!"
"I just want to go on adventures with my friends! I want freedom! I want to find the world's greatest treasure!"
"And I can do all of that as a Marine!"
"As a Marine, I don't even have to hide!"
Luffy was overjoyed.
He thought he had come up with this answer all by himself.
"I'm a genius!"
Of course, he had no idea that Ron had been leading him the entire time.
Then, remembering Ron's earlier invitation, Luffy couldn't hold back his excitement.
"Brother Ron! I want to be a Marine!"
Garp was so happy he could cry.
His grandson had finally chosen the right path!
But then—
Unexpectedly—
Ron shook his head.
"You already rejected my invitation," he said calmly.
"I can't let you join the Marines now."
Luffy froze.
"…Huh?"
Garp's smile disappeared.
"Huh?!"
The entire tavern went silent.
Luffy immediately panicked.
He had rejected Ron before… but that was before he understood!
What was he supposed to do now?!
Even Garp was confused.
What was going on?
Hadn't they come all this way to convince Luffy to become a Marine?
Why was Ron refusing now?
Garp frantically signaled Ron with his eyes—What are you doing?! Just say yes!
Even in the original world, everyone was baffled.
"(Original) Garp: We finally got him to change his mind! Why are you rejecting him?!"
"(Original) Sengoku: You don't understand. This is Ron's genius at work. Kids are like this—the more you tell them no, the more they want it. Just wait. Luffy is about to start begging to become a Marine."
"(Original) Garp: …Wait. That's the same trick Shanks used! The more he refused to let Luffy join his pirate crew, the more Luffy wanted to be a pirate!"
Just as Sengoku predicted—
The more Luffy thought about it, the more frustrated he became.
"I want to be a Marine!"
"Brother Ron, let me join!"
"No."
"Please! I really want to be a Marine!"
"No."
Luffy turned to his grandfather.
"Grandpa, help me!"
The little hands grabbed onto Garp's pants and shook them.
Garp nearly burst into tears.
This was the first time his grandson had ever asked to be a Marine.
Garp in the original world nearly died of jealousy.
"I never thought I'd live to see this… What a beautiful family moment!"
And so—
Little Luffy continued begging.
Ron just smiled.
And the entire Marine Corps watched in awe—