@Galaxy:
Not really? He doesn't want the Minks to call him Caesar, presumably to protect his reputation in the underworld.
Then he says something along the lines of "how can I be making medicine that heals people!" He's still the same to me.
I believe he was worried word would get to BM that he was in Zou, not about his reputation.
And, yes, he is still the same, I didn't say he changed, but that the chapter may point we'll be going that way.
The line you quoted is Oda acknowledging and making the reader aware that Caesar's actions have changed even though it's not because he wanted to. And that Caesar himself is aware of that. This kind of line usually leads to something, especially in a manga like OP because Oda keeps things tight.
As I said in the post that I quoted myself, if Oda wants to go that way, it will have to be a slow and gradual way and not "hey, I woke up this day and I regret drugging kids". What I say is that this chapter may be the first step… even less: just the sight of the stair.
First thing: look, guys, Ceasar is doing good things, but he is a bad guy so he is only doing so because he has no choice in it.
Then: look, guys, Caesar is finally getting the recognition he wanted for so long now that he is doing good things.
I don't need to point out where this could lead, it should be obvious by now.
I am not agreeing that he may join the SH (and I personally wouldn't want it. I think he is too much of a clone of Buggy and that annoys me), he is also a doctor after all and that overlaps too much with Chopper, but after this chapter I am starting to agree that Oda may be planning to make Caesar have a change of heart.