Assuming Keaton survived the dock shootout and learned Verbal's true identity. Do you think he would seek revenge or disappear, knowing he could never defeat this devil?

This question is fascinating—it's one of the biggest mind-bending puzzles The Usual Suspects leaves its audience with. In my view, these two choices (revenge vs. disappearing) perfectly represent the two core traits of Keaton's character: his pride and his cunning.

I believe he would choose to disappear immediately, but the thought of revenge would haunt him like a ghost forever.

Let me break it down for you.

Why I Think He Would Choose to "Disappear"

This is mainly based on three reasons:

Absolute Awareness of the Enemy's Power
Think about what Keaton witnessed at the dock. He saw his crew—a group of hardened criminals—slaughtered like paper dolls by an invisible killer. If he survived, he'd be the only one who truly witnessed the real power of "Keyser Söze." That wasn't a gang war; it was myth made real, the devil walking the earth.

When he connects this to Verbal—the seemingly meek, crippled, cowardly man who cowered before him—the terror becomes shattering. He’d realize he wasn’t facing a "man," but a monster whose capacity for planning, cruelty, and mystique defied comprehension. Keaton may be arrogant, but he’s also a seasoned veteran of the underworld. He understands what "invincible" means. A head-on fight? That’s suicide.
His Greatest Weakness: Edie Finneran
The film repeatedly emphasizes that Keaton wanted to go straight largely for his lawyer girlfriend, Edie. Keyser Söze was able to control him precisely because Söze's people had already contacted and threatened Edie.

If Keaton survived, his first thought wouldn’t be "How do I get revenge?" It would be "What about Edie?" He knows Söze is everywhere. If he dares to surface, Edie would be the first target. Söze didn’t hesitate to kill his own family; what would stop him from harming an enemy’s woman? To protect the only person he cares about, Keaton’s only choice is to vanish from the world completely, taking her with him.
Utterly Shattered Pride
Keaton always believed he was the mastermind, the one in control. Yet in the end, he discovered he was merely a pawn on someone else’s chessboard—manipulated by the very "weakling" he despised the most. This dual humiliation of his intellect and dignity would breed massive self-doubt. Someone who starts doubting himself cannot instantly muster the courage to challenge the devil. He needs time to digest this brutal truth.

However, the Flame of "Revenge" Would Never Die Out

Alright, the above explains his rational choice. But emotionally, this couldn’t just end here.

Keaton’s nature is proud: He’s a former dirty cop, a leader of hardened criminals, inherently aggressive and controlling. How could he possibly swallow being deceived and humiliated by a "weakling" like Verbal? He might hide, but he’d watch from the shadows, waiting for an opportunity.
His approach to revenge would change: He wouldn’t try to gather a crew for a shootout like before. He’s seen Söze’s power. If he sought revenge, it would be in a "smarter" way. For instance, he might emulate Söze, operating from the shadows, trying to expose Söze’s true identity—forcing this "nonexistent devil" into the light. That would be the ultimate counter to Söze’s "greatest trick": making the world believe he doesn’t exist. He’d try to beat Söze at his own game.

Final Speculation: A Survivor Forever in the Shadows

Therefore, my conclusion is:

Keaton would survive, but he would immediately vanish without a trace with Edie, more completely than any previous attempt to "go straight." He would choose survival.

Yet, for the rest of his life, he would become a paranoid ghost. By day, an ordinary recluse protecting his love; by night, replaying the dock shootout endlessly in his mind, researching everything behind the name "Keyser Söze." He would live suspended between fear and the desire for revenge, forever restless.

He would survive, but the identity of "Dean Keaton" would be dead. He would become a true ghost—a ghost forever haunted by the legend of the devil.