"Didn't expect it. After your training, she's become interesting," In the main hall, Gion sat casually beside Rosse, gazing out at the courtyard scene.
Amatsuki Toki was holding Hiyori, smiling as she chatted with Olvia, with no trace of the earlier tension.
"People, sometimes you just have to push them," Rosse smiled.
In truth, Toki's thinking wasn't wrong. He didn't enjoy watching dull plays.
But what he found dull wasn't protagonists who chose to die with unyielding pride. It was when everyone dropped to their knees begging for mercy the moment they saw him.
No resistance, that, to him, was boring.
As long as someone had the will to resist, it could become quite a show.
Especially when cowardice and courage clashed.
"In your hands, even an ordinary woman gets forced to grow," Gion crossed her arms, pouting.
She'd noticed long ago. When Rosse chose women, looks and figure were only the first step.
Once chosen, it was a long process of molding. Even someone like Moa had been forced to grow.
"Or maybe, anyone I pick was never ordinary to begin with," Rosse laughed freely.
If they really were ordinary, he wouldn't bother to keep them in mind. At most they'd serve as an occasional substitute meal, and he wouldn't even remember their names.
"They can't all have potential," Gion's eyes fell on Toki and Olvia, carrying a touch of contemplation.
She knew Rosse's judgment was sharp. But if every woman he picked happened to be one with hidden potential, wasn't that going too far?
"As long as it's a person, there's no such thing as ordinary. Potential doesn't always lie in strength, but everyone has some field where they can shine. If they haven't walked that road yet, it's only because they've never tried," Rosse smiled lightly, speaking with ease.
Though, truth be told, he was leaning on hindsight.
Either they were descendants with notable bloodlines, or they had some unique talent. He just happened to know ahead of time.
"Easy to say. But not everyone has the soil to grow in. Without your help, even after twenty years, my strength would probably be no different from today," Gion shook her head softly.
She believed the line about everyone having potential.
But those who could actually realize that potential. Only a handful out of millions.
Only by walking this path did she learn just how harsh it was.
Once, she had high ambitions, confident she could become a top-class powerhouse on her own.
But when she actually reached the threshold, she realized how far she still was from crossing it.
Without Rosse's help, she would likely have remained stuck outside forever.
Rosse had given her a Devil Fruit, sparring, and training experience. That was why she could reach the threshold at such a young age.
It looked like just one more step to join the ranks of the very strongest.
But that one step, she had no idea how long it would take.
If even she felt this way, what about the others?
Without Rosse, all their dreams would have stayed as fantasies.
"Enough about that. You really won't help her? With her current ability, it's hard to see how she can break out and fight against us," Gion tilted her head onto Rosse's shoulder, her lips curved faintly, as the two quietly watched the mother and daughter's warmth not far away.
"If she manages it, I'll be glad. If she doesn't, that's fine too. The moment we set foot in Wano, her fate was already sealed," Rosse smiled.
"You still believe in fate?", Gion let out a laugh.
"To me, fate is just a fixed outcome woven by countless coincidences and schemes. Rather than say we meet fate, it's better to say our own actions create what we call fate."
Rosse had never believed in destiny. At most, it was the embodiment of certain rules.
Even if the so-called Child of Destiny really did grow up… Who lived, who died, that was still undecided.
"That I agree with. If the future isn't the future you want, then I'll cut it apart with my sword," Gion spoke softly. She didn't understand lofty ideas. She could only use the most direct words to show her thoughts.
"Then your sword needs to be sharp enough," Rosse smiled.
Most of the time, he was more partial to Gion.
This time was no different.
He wanted to see a grand play unfold in Wano. But at the same time, he wanted to use the pressure here to give Gion a chance to break through.
This time, they had only four real fighting forces in total.
If Toki really rose to the occasion, linking the opposing sides together, their strength could genuinely threaten them.
At that point, the decider wouldn't be the top fighters of either side. It would depend on whether Gion could take that step forward.
The moment she became a true top-class powerhouse. That would also mark the end of the play.
"I will…", Gion's voice was quiet, but carried unmatched conviction.
The stage had already been built. If she couldn't break through herself here, then what right did she have to receive his favor?
"By the way," Rosse suddenly shifted the topic, speaking with a faint, amused smile, "Your old classmate has been getting close with Kuzan lately."
"Who? Tokikake?", Gion asked, puzzled.
After parting back then, she'd never paid attention to Tokikake again. Though she'd heard Rosse hadn't been too harsh with him.
"Yeah. He's serving as governor in the East Blue now," Rosse chuckled.
He hadn't rushed to deal with Kuzan or Garp, so naturally, he hadn't hurried with Tokikake either.
Seeing those people gather together, that was actually something he wanted.
"Why bring him up now?", Gion rolled her eyes.
If Rosse hadn't mentioned him, she would have almost forgotten he even existed.
Her days in the Marine already felt like a distant memory.
The past two years of her life had been more exciting than the twenty-plus years before combined.
"Dragon's reappeared in the East Blue lately, calling himself the God of Storms. Because of him, Garp and Kuzan are tasked with capturing him, they've all gathered in the East Blue now," Rosse said with a smile.
Even though he wasn't in the Holy Land or Marine HQ, his information never stopped.
Strictly speaking, those Celestial Dragons and Marines scattered outside were all tied to him by countless threads.
"They've been wavering this long and still haven't defected?", Gion curled her lip, showing her doubt about her fellow Marines' resolve.
For months. Over a year, even. They'd been restless. They'd gone through countless incidents, even Sakazuki becoming Fleet Admiral, yet still made no move.
In some ways, it was really disappointing.
"After all, it's a serious choice. For those rule-abiding powerhouses, unless forced by outside pressure, they'll probably hesitate a long time yet," Rosse smiled.
"What are you planning?"
Gion knew from his tone. Those people were finished.
As Rosse's most trusted confidante, she had long known his plans for them.
From the beginning, those people had been discarded, nothing but pawns to balance both sides' power.
The messier the sea became, the faster their rise would be.
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