@SeaOfHope:
That's the argument. Because Oda did it in the past, he'll do it again. And you all say it with utmost certainty. Sure, we can believe by previous convention Oda can bring him back, sure.
So at least we can come to this agreement? That there is a possibility, and that you acknowledge it based on Oda's own record, rather than simply adhering to the narrative.
But then what was the point of telling Carrot anything if Oda was gonna write him back into the story and finish what he started? Why tell Carrot anything if it was already guaranteed that the Straw Hats were gonna do it? It basically removes the purpose of Carrot needing to know why he sacrificed his life and why she should know about the dawn of the world.
So let me clarify what I am about to respond, because any time I do you start jumping to the conclusion that I'm using headcanon when you are the one asking for answers in the first place.
You as asking what the point is for Pedro to tell the crew information.
- This is exposition. We need a character to convey new information that we were not privvy to before. Pedro happens to be that character, and the information we get (Strawhats and the Dawn) are purposefully tied into his own history, including him meeting Roger as a child and forming the Nox pirates to search for Poneglyphs they can't read. This is all exposition to tell the reader that the Straw Hats are important to some unforeseen event in the near future.
- This is a dramatization towards his sacrifice. Oda knows how to pull on heart-strings, and I'd say this was incredibly effective in illustrating his sacrifice. Stakes needed to be made for this arc to show that there was some consequence to it, and to show it's not all light-hearted rescue attempts in the New World with nothing to lose. However, the dramatization we get in the series is consistently shown to be non-permanent and non-lasting either way.
Pell, Pound, Sodom, Bon Clay, even Jinbe… the list goes on for all the heart-felt words given by characters before they 'sacrifice' themselves, all the characters that cried over their sacrifice. All of if serves the purpose of creating an emotional response from the reader. This should not be considered evidence to a confirmation of permanent death, since it is not.
It basically removes the purpose of Carrot needing to know why he sacrificed his life and why she should know about the dawn of the world.
It needs to be restated that Carrot didn't need to be on the adventure at all. She didn't need to know anything. Consider that Pedro set out with the Straw Hats to ensure their safety, KNOWINGLY that he could be sacrificing himself for them, regardless of Carrot being there on the ship. If he didn't pass off this information beforehand, then I do not think the purpose is as great as you regard it to be.
It happens to be said to Carrot because she's the only Mink present. It's said to Carrot because she doesn't know his personal reasons to leaving with the Straw Hats. It happens to Carrot because she's the only one present who would understand the stakes he had. But it was not in service to her needing to know this information, it serves to tell the readers why he needed to sacrifice himself.
If Carrot needed to know this information, then it could have been explained well before Pedro left Zou. I'm not saying this as head-canon, I'm saying this rationally in regards to Carrot needing information. Carrot did not set off on this journey for the sake of helping the Straw Hats. Carrot did not set off on the journey to learn information from Pedro. We don't know her motivation for stowing away at all. By all means, Pedro telling Carrot this information was a surprise to the readers to know that Pedro/the Minks have any deeper connection to the Straw Hats beyond saving Zou from Jack. Carrot may not have known why he chose to sacrifice himself in the moment, so his words to her would be an explanation and why she should not consider his death in vain. The fact is that Pedro did not plan to have a Mink witness his sacrifice. Carrot witnessing what he'd already planned is a reason why he needed to say something at that moment. He needed to explain to Carrot his own reasons to sacrifice himself. That is one way to interpret the speech.
Aside from all that I've said…. Pedro coming back would not remove any purpose for Carrot at all. For one, Carrot was never motivated to help the Straw Hats because of 'the Dawn', she stowed away without any reason at all. And two, if Pedro's words motivated her to join the crew and protect them, then Pedro coming back wouldn't stop that at all. Just like Sabo coming back to the story doesn't stop Luffy's motivation for becoming stronger to protect his Nakama. It supports the story just as easily as if he were to stay dead. There's nothing mutually exclusive about this.
You are somehow equating his return to her purpose, without fully regarding that Carrot herself is a blank slate with no clear motivations, dreams or purpose to begin with.
