"My apologies, I don't understand," Issho said honestly.
He then faced Cyrus, seemingly waiting for an explanation.
"Guess big or small, and then guess whether your bet was correct!" Cyrus explained.
"This?"
Issho faced Cyrus, actually wanting to say, isn't that just stating the obvious?
Robin, who had been watching quietly, now looked thoughtful.
"The strong make the rules, and the weak follow them!" Cyrus stated.
'Have I become the weak one here?' Issho was stunned, then shook his head and chuckled in amusement.
"You're trying to say something?"
Issho knew Cyrus had implied meanings in his words.
"This world is complex—not simply black and white, but potentially chaotic. It doesn't change according to your will."
"An individual's influence on the world is truly too small."
After a moment of silence, Issho responded.
"But one can still try."
Cyrus looked at Issho and spoke with a serious expression.
Before becoming an admiral, Issho had no reputation whatsoever, which seemed somewhat unreasonable.
Someone with such strength couldn't have appeared out of nowhere.
Perhaps it was due to his personality or other reasons.
From the fact that he gouged out his own eyes, it was clear he was also a person without direction.
However, for some unknown reason, the original Issho was stimulated to join the Navy during the Great Navy Recruitment and insisted on abolishing the Shichibukai system.
Perhaps during that time, a certain Shichibukai did something that Issho found unacceptable.
But Cyrus didn't care about these details.
"If you can't stand it, then try to see if you can change it."
"So, this is what you wanted to say to me!" Issho said in a deep voice.
"With your strength, you can change many things through your own abilities."
"Then what about you? What exactly do you plan to do? What kind of organization do you want to establish?"
Issho could understand Cyrus's meaning.
But understanding was one thing; his doubts about Cyrus were another.
What exactly did someone like Cyrus intend to do?
"Of course, to do something significant enough to influence this world. But it's not me who will do it—it's you, or rather, all of you."
After saying this, Cyrus didn't continue. Instead, he tapped his fingers on the dice cup in front of him.
"I guess big. I bet you'll win!"
Issho watched Cyrus's movements and spoke up.
Hearing this, Cyrus opened the dice cup.
"One, three, four—small. You guessed wrong, but also right." Cyrus said with a smile.
"Alright, anyway, this old man has no particular goals for now. But if you're looking for a mere enforcer, I'm not suitable for it."
"No need to worry about that. I prefer to take action myself. And next, in Paradise and the New World, don't be too surprised by what I do."
Cyrus laughed lightly and spoke in a relaxed tone.
Footsteps sounded again as a disheveled Crocodile returned.
He looked at Cyrus, Issho, and the others sitting at the gambling table, walked over, and took a seat at the table.
"Want to stir up some big trouble?"
After sitting down, Crocodile remained silent, clearly still recovering from the beating he had taken and lacking energy.
So, Cyrus gave him a stimulus.
"Is it the organization you mentioned?"
Crocodile looked at Cyrus.
"With your abilities, it should be easy, right?" Crocodile seemed puzzled.
"I have my own matters to attend to and no time to handle these things, so I need someone to help manage them." Cyrus gave his reply.
"Then, what is your goal?"
Crocodile felt that the organization Cyrus wanted to establish must be anything but ordinary.
"I said it—stir up some big trouble." Cyrus replied.
This left Crocodile speechless.
Wasn't that stating the obvious?
"Robin!"
Cyrus turned to Robin, requesting her to speak on his behalf.
Robin smiled, stood up, and began explaining Cyrus's concept of the Hunter Association.
Crocodile and Issho listened quietly.
Then, their expressions grew increasingly peculiar.
After Robin finished giving a general overview of the Hunter Association and sat down, Crocodile frowned in contemplation, then looked toward Cyrus.
"What kind of organization is this supposed to be?"
That was Crocodile's first remark.
"It seems you weren't beaten hard enough earlier." Cyrus spoke expressionlessly.
Crocodile paused, then fell speechless for a moment.
"This isn't an organization at all—at most, it's something like... well, a club."
Crocodile seemed at a loss for words.
"I agree!" Issho suddenly spoke up.
"Perhaps, at some point in the future, the title of 'Pirate' will disappear."
Issho turned his white-eyed gaze toward the three of them and voiced his speculation.
"You can continue searching for your Pluton, after all. Hmm, you could be considered a relic hunter—no, an Ancient Weapon hunter?"
Cyrus stroked his chin, trying to come up with a title for Crocodile.
"Wait, you know about my plans?"
When Cyrus mentioned Pluton, Crocodile jolted, staring at him in shock.
"I guessed, but Pluton isn't here!" Cyrus rapped on the table in front of him.
"Pluton is hidden in Wano Country!"
At these words, Crocodile instinctively stood up, staring at Cyrus in astonishment.
"You know where it was?" Crocodile pressed further.
"But can you really build your dream nation just by finding one Ancient Weapon? Crocodile-chan, you're being a bit too naive. So, grow up and be more rational. Even if you find Pluton and master its manufacturing method, you won't be able to hold onto it."
Cyrus's words made Crocodile sit back down.
His face shifted through a range of colors, alternating between green and white.
"It seems Whitebeard beat some sense into you. So, handle the preliminary work for the Hunter Association for me. When we run into Whitebeard later, I'll help you settle the score."
Cyrus's words left Crocodile speechless.
"According to what you're saying, I can still pursue my own goals."
"Exactly!" Cyrus nodded.
"Then you could have just told me directly!" Crocodile felt utterly exasperated.
'Look at the beating I took!'
"Some people won't come to their senses without a good thrashing." Cyrus shook his head.
"See, now that you've been beaten, you're finally talking sense."
"I feel like you're insulting me." Crocodile's lips trembled as he forced out the words.
"No need to feel it!"
Cyrus confirmed Crocodile's suspicion.
This made Crocodile's expression turn sour.
But after glancing at Issho beside him and then at Cyrus, who might be even stronger than Issho, he fell silent.
Might makes right.
Crocodile lowered his head, thinking about how to build the Hunter Association as Cyrus had described.
The difficulty wasn't particularly high.
The most important thing was how to gain people's recognition.
'So, is this your task?'
After a brief reflection, Crocodile had already understood what Cyrus intended to do.
"Set the headquarters at Sabaody Archipelago."
Just as Crocodile was deep in thought, Cyrus voiced his demand.
"WHAT? Sabaody Archipelago? Are you insane?"