Magnus's voice thundered like a drum.
Rocks had to admit, when Magnus suggested they could disembark here—
he hesitated.
Because he was no longer just another rookie pirate.
With his current bounty, he could easily start his own crew, build his own name, and grow even stronger using what Magnus had taught him.
But, as Magnus said:
If he backed down today, tomorrow he'd back down again.
Compromise once, and you'll always compromise.
What kind of man would he become then? Could he ever truly surpass Magnus? Could he ever surpass the crew Magnus had built?
Rocks stayed silent, but his heart already knew the answer.
After all—
It wasn't just Ripley who had ties to Elbaf.
He too knew people there! Even if they were just little brats who followed him around, even if one of them always tried to beat him for revenge, during those months he'd left behind more than he realized.
He wanted to run.
His mind told him this was a trap, and he'd surely die.
But his heart roared:
Why should he run?
If even Magnus wasn't retreating, why should he?
If he ran now, even if he survived, even if he spent a lifetime—
he'd never surpass Magnus.
"I'm going too!"
And so, Rocks looked up at Magnus and said it, firm and unwavering.
In the end, Magnus could only apologize to Toki.
"Sorry, Toki-san. We have something we must do. But it's too dangerous to involve someone like you."
He smiled faintly at her.
"If I ever make it to Wano in the future, I'll apologize to you properly then."
No, this isn't right!
Hearing Magnus's words, Toki shook her head, feeling like she'd missed something important.
"Magnus-san, you don't have to apologize. You saved my life and brought me here. I'm already deeply grateful."
It was she who felt sorry.
"I'm sorry, Magnus-san. You saved me, but I can't help you… because I have something I must do."
Eight hundred years ago, Toki had witnessed the destruction of a country. Seeing that tragedy, she swore to carry the prophecy into the future to stop such a fate.
If she didn't carry that prophecy forward, she might never change that future.
Then suddenly, she froze.
She'd come to the future to prevent a country's destruction—
but now another country faced destruction before her very eyes.
Was she just going to stand by?
To save one nation's future but abandon another?
Her breathing quickened.
Just as Magnus was about to leave, Toki grabbed his sleeve.
"Magnus-san, wait!"
In that single instant, she made her choice.
"Magnus-san, please… take me with you!"
She looked up at him, her eyes clear and determined.
"If what you're doing is to save a country from destruction, to keep its people from losing their homes and wandering the seas, then please—let me help!"
She spoke solemnly. "I may not be strong, but I am a Devil Fruit user. I believe my ability can aid you."
Magnus had already guessed she was a Devil Fruit user, but he'd never counted her as part of his fighting strength.
Now, thinking over her ability—
Magnus realized her power wasn't about combat.
It was about escape!
No matter how many enemies surrounded them, she could send them into the future.
But even that wasn't the real value of her ability.
The greatest strength of Toki's power…
was creating an information gap.
Because no matter what the Navy or the World Government thought, they'd never imagine her power was a time-based bug. Even if they suddenly disappeared, the Navy would assume they'd fled.
But in reality—
Toki could send them into the future.
And the Navy couldn't wait forever. Once Magnus returned, he'd see through whatever trap they'd set. Then he could strike from the shadows.
In the meantime—
neither the Navy nor the Government could find them.
Because they wouldn't exist anywhere in the present.
They'd have leapt into the future.
"Excellent!"
Magnus couldn't help but lift Toki right off her feet.
"Toki-san, you've just solved a huge problem for me!"
Only Magnus himself knew his confidence earlier had only been to reassure Ripley. Against two or three equal-level opponents, he couldn't win outright. But he couldn't back down.
Not when Ripley's homeland, his own dignity, the safety of the Lambs' Home children, the old woman, his future crewmates—all were at stake.
The Navy had played this move perfectly.
Even knowing it was a trap, Magnus had no choice but to walk into it.
"M-Magnus-san!"
Flustered by being lifted so suddenly, Toki's face flushed red.
"P-please put me down!"
"Haha, sorry!"
Realizing he'd gotten carried away—like a dying man finding water, like a drowning man finding a rope—he gently set her back down.
The pressure… how could there not be pressure?
Facing an organization that had ruled the world for eight hundred years, even with the system, Magnus knew he still had to build his foundation slowly.
But the World Government hadn't given him that time.
Now, thanks to Toki, Magnus saw hope of breaking this deadlock.
The situation was still dire.
But with Toki's help, he'd found the key to turning the tables.
The World Government had used time against him, separating him and the Giant King to crush Elbaf.
Now, he would return the favor.
Because this time—
Time was on their side!
(End of Chapter)
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