Chapter 196 The First Dream
"Do you want to understand the true meaning behind the boss's words?"
Under the sunlight, the bald man smiled, holding a small booklet in his hand as he looked at Gilman and Kuro standing before him.
"Yes, the boss suddenly gave me such a heavy responsibility. I'm under a lot of pressure."
Gilman was still troubled, frowning deeply.
Kuro stood nearby, arms crossed, listening intently.
This matter didn't originally concern Kuro, but he had come to listen for a specific purpose.
"Feeling pressure? Worried that you can't handle the responsibility? That's exactly right."
"That's why the boss chose you."
Kuro was slightly taken aback, his expression growing more serious as he listened to the bald man continue:
"Feeling pressure means you have a strong sense of responsibility."
"Worrying about whether you can handle the responsibility means you'll actively strive to become stronger, someone who won't let the boss down."
The bald man spoke calmly, a smile in his eyes.
Educating his fellow mountain bandits was one of his favorite pastimes.
"Then why didn't the boss choose Kuro?"
Gilman was still puzzled.
The bald man sighed softly:
"This matter... I'm still trying to figure it out myself. I can't claim to fully understand the boss's true intentions..."
Hearing this, Kuro felt a bit disappointed.
He had thought that the bald man, who knew Sig best, would have some unique insights. That's why he had come to listen. But now...
Just as Kuro was feeling let down, the bald man continued:
"I've only managed to grasp one or two layers of the boss's true meaning."
"From what I can tell, the boss's words usually have about five layers of meaning. I've only figured out two or three, so I'm still far from fully understanding him."
"After all, a man like the boss... I doubt there's anyone in this world who truly understands him."
At this, the bald man sighed deeply.
Kuro's eyes widened slightly.
Five layers of meaning?
He held his breath and continued listening.
"Gilman, whether you feel pressure or not is your problem. But if you doubt the boss's judgment, that's your mistake."
"The boss's insight is razor-sharp! Do you remember what Morgan was like back then?"
"A complete rookie Marine on the battlefield! He couldn't even swing an axe properly."
"But the boss saw through his potential at a glance, calling him the Axe Emperor, capable of cutting down Marine Admirals!"
"What happened later, you already know..."
Gilman and Kuro pondered for a moment, their expressions growing more serious.
It was true. They couldn't deny it.
Kuro, who excelled in speed and mastered the technique of Silent Steps, had done his fair share of sneak attacks.
But even Kuro was deeply impressed by Morgan's elusive movements.
For example, during the recent incident where Morgan struck Miron, an 80-million-berry pirate, with the back of his axe, even Kuro had almost failed to react in time.
The bald man continued:
"It's not just the Axe Emperor. There's also Sword God Yosaku and Sword Saint Johnny."
"Those two are still weak now, but I'd bet anything that one day, they'll make a name for themselves... or lose their heads."
"So, Gilman, it's the same for you."
The bald man smiled.
"Believe in yourself, and believe in the boss's judgment."
"As for why the boss didn't choose Kuro..."
"In my opinion, there's one difference between the two of you."
Kuro and Gilman instinctively held their breath.
"And that is... ambition."
Kuro's heart shook violently, and he quickly lowered his head to hide his reaction.
Had his ambition to leave Sig's mountain bandit group and become a wealthy man been discovered?
But then he realized he might have misunderstood. These words were directed at Gilman.
"Gilman, do you remember your original dream? Do you remember what the boss said when he first met you?"
The bald man's words struck Gilman like a thunderclap, causing the burly man to tremble.
"I... I wanted to become the Mountain Bandit King of the East Blue."
"Back then, the boss said he would cheer me on and help me achieve my dream..."
He seemed to wake up from a dream.
Seeing this, the bald man smiled with satisfaction.
"The boss has already given you a stage far larger than the East Blue, where you can freely showcase your abilities. The rest is up to you."
Beside them, Kuro frowned as he watched the deeply moved Gilman.
For some reason, he felt something was off and couldn't help but speak up:
"But the boss specifically mentioned two things: staying low-key and not misinterpreting his words."
"If Gilman really does this, wouldn't it directly contradict what the boss said?"
The bald man glanced at Kuro and smiled:
"Kuro, why do you think the boss ignored your initiative?"
"Those two sentences weren't just for Gilman."
"Staying low-key means exactly that—keep a low profile even when causing trouble."
"Not misinterpreting his words is also straightforward. It means you need to deeply understand the boss's intentions and not be misled by surface-level meanings."
"As for the deeper three layers of meaning... you'll have to figure those out yourself."
With that, the bald man quietly walked away.
Sometimes, it wasn't necessary to spell everything out. Leaving room for independent thought was also a good approach.
This was something the bald man had learned from Sig's teachings over the years.
Kuro stood in place, deep in thought.
There was no denying it—the bald man truly was the one who understood Sig best.
The way he spoke and acted was completely different from the other ordinary mountain bandits.
After pondering for a while, Kuro's expression shifted. He noticed Gilman laughing heartily, his entire demeanor transformed.
The burly man, who had previously been anxious and troubled, now exuded confidence, his eyes shining with determination.
"I really have to thank the bald brother for his guidance, and you, Kuro, for pointing the way."
"Although I still don't fully understand, the boss wouldn't just casually hand such a heavy responsibility to me. I choose to believe in the boss's judgment..."
"And in my own... ambition."
Gilman smiled, his eyes burning with a fiery determination.
Kuro narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharpening.
He still couldn't fully grasp Sig's intentions...
But the change in Gilman was undeniable.
"What a masterful way of handling people."
Kuro sighed inwardly. He had once been a pirate captain, but he had never truly cared about his crew.
The scene before him left a deep impression.
...
Meanwhile.
Sig, who had left earlier, was meeting with a craftsman named Erwin.
This was the craftsman who had created the hidden blade from the auction, originally under the Shipping King's command.
"Your name is Erwin? I have a great idea, and I just need a craftsman to make it happen."
Sig smiled, showing the sketches on the table.