#121 - Chapter 121 Xiliu's Decision
Shiliew's pupils suddenly dilated, like those of a startled cheetah, alert and bewildered.
A flicker of almost imperceptible loss flashed in his eyes.
Like a child facing sudden condemnation from their parents.
The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, as if wanting to explain, yet unsure where to begin.
"If there's anything I've done wrong, I'll change it."
His voice was filled with sincerity, brimming with a desire to be accepted.
The person before him was his only hope of escaping this place.
No one else would give him this promise.
Could it be that this rising star of the Marines couldn't offer him a new path either?
In the dim light, his tense figure appeared somewhat lonely and helpless.
"As long as I can leave this place, I'll do anything!"
His hands clenched unconsciously.
The young Shiliew had not yet been completely changed by this environment.
He wished to escape this dark and sunless place.
He yearned to face the sunlight pouring down from the sky.
He longed to roam the seas once more.
"......"
Jin An turned around to face Shiliew.
His gaze was like a torch, sharp enough to pierce through the hypocrisy and sophistry in people's hearts.
"You don't abide by the rules here."
His tone was calm, yet stated a simple fact.
He took a step forward, closing in on Shiliew, almost able to feel the warmth of each other's breath.
"How do I know if you'll... disobey my orders in the future?"
Jin An's words were filled with doubt.
He wouldn't allow his subordinates to kill indiscriminately, even if this man had great potential.
In this silent prison.
Each word spoken by Jin An felt like a heavy hammer blow to Shiliew's heart.
He couldn't help but question himself inwardly.
Was he really so worthless, so insignificant in this person's eyes?
Shiliew's body trembled slightly, his heart feeling the pressure from the other man, a pressure that made him doubt himself.
His eyes were filled with confusion and a desire for answers.
The atmosphere in the room became even more tense.
Everyone was waiting to see how things would unfold.
Shiliew was like a defeated rooster.
Under the impact of Jin An's words, he instantly lost his support.
The posture he had been tensely maintaining began to relax.
His shoulders slumped powerlessly, and he stood there blankly.
His eyes became dim, his lips pressed tightly together, and a hint of pain and unwillingness flashed in his eyes.
He took a breath.
The lines of his face appeared particularly firm in the dim light.
This time, he decided to abandon his inner pride.
"As long as I can leave this place, I will absolutely obey your orders."
His voice was low and hoarse, carrying an indescribable weight.
He looked directly at Jin An.
After making the decision, he felt a sense of relief instead.
He would rather throw his life away at sea than stay here a million times over.
His hands clenched tightly, but this time not out of anger.
Instead, they contained a sense of anticipation for the future, a desire for freedom.
At this moment, he put his honor and self-esteem in second place, yielding to the adversity of reality.
"......"
The surrounding air became even more heavy, and the focus of every gaze shifted back and forth between the two men, as if searching for a way to capture this historic moment.
Jin An faced Shiliew's gaze, which combined submission and expectation.
A complex emotion flashed through his heart, perhaps it was gratification.
"The fact that you can make this choice shows that you have not yet been dominated by inner bloodlust and frenzy."
"You're still a diamond in the rough."
After Shiliew's resolute declaration, a faint smile appeared on Jin An's face.
His nod was as light as a falling leaf, imperceptible, but enough for Shiliew to feel a sense of stability.
"You mean...?"
Shiliew looked up, his eyes fixed on Jin An.
"Your potential is good, I agree to your request."
Jin An understood that Shiliew was a double-edged sword.
However, he was confident that he could keep this sword pointed at the enemy forever.
He would treat everyone who worked under him equally, and now it was up to Shiliew to prove himself.
"Let me make it clear, I won't make you do things you don't want to do."
"However, I also have some rules here."
"You must abide by them when you come here."
"Otherwise, I don't mind personally sending you back here."
Shiliew nodded, he had learned about the other man and knew the rules he had set.
"I will strictly abide by them."
Then, Jin An shifted his gaze to Magellan.
Since Shiliew was still a member of Impel Down, he needed to get the opinion of the person in charge here before he decided to take him in.
Magellan simply nodded slightly, the movement slow and powerful.
He actually knew that Shiliew was not suitable for this place, but transfers from Impel Down were not easy.
"I will communicate with the higher-ups."
Magellan's voice was calm and full of confidence.
Although he didn't get along with Shiliew, it was just a difference in ideals.
He still thought highly of Shiliew as a person.
His next words carried a hint of uncertainty:
"As for whether those above will agree, I can't guarantee that."
His sober understanding of reality was also an honest expression of his influence.
Nevertheless, his eyes conveyed approval of Shiliew's decision.
He approved of the other man's choice to pursue his own life.
"Thank you, Magellan," Shiliew said dryly.
A moment of silence fell in the room.
The interaction between the three men brought a subtle warmth to this cold space.
Impel Down was not only a prison for pirates, but also a 'prison' that trapped the jailers.
"......"
Toki stood quietly to the side, her eyes moving between the three men, reflecting every scene before her.
Her gaze seemed to be able to penetrate the surface and see into everyone's heart.
In this complex and subtle confrontation, she saw the seemingly simple but treacherous psychological game between Jin An and Shiliew.
She knew that Jin An was testing Shiliew with a combination of soft and hard tactics.
First, he gave him a glimmer of hope, like a lighthouse in the fog, guiding the way for those lost at sea.
Then, the moment Shiliew's defenses relaxed, he extinguished the lighthouse, plunging him into even deeper confusion.
But this was a necessary process.
Because what Jin An needed was a comrade who could entrust his life to him.
As Shiliew slowly yielded under Jin An's test.
Everything proceeded step by step towards the predetermined ending, like a carefully choreographed drama.
Now, Shiliew needed to prove with his future actions whether Jin An was wise in his judgment of people.
Toki's face did not change much, she always maintained that peace and calmness.
She would not interfere with Jin An's decision.
But her bright eyes took a deep look at Shiliew.
She knew that as long as the other man did not betray Jin An.
His name would appear in the history books of later generations.
Because the person he chose to follow would one day become famous throughout the world.
...
