One Piece: Pirate Code

William's swift actions were completed in the blink of an eye. Before anyone could react, the burly man, who had been yelling aggressively moments ago, was already clutching his throat, blood trickling from his mouth as he crumpled lifelessly to the ground.

The two companions in front of him heard the commotion and turned around, only to see their comrade collapse. They immediately reached for their swords, but in front of William, their movements were child's play. He grabbed the scabbard of the nearest one on his right, who hadn't fully turned around yet. As the man drew his blade, William had already seized the scabbard. With a sharp and preemptive move, he struck the opponent's wrist with the scabbard.

William's strength was astonishing. With just one blow, a sickening crack of bones breaking could be heard. The man's wrist bent at an unnatural angle, and the curved blade slipped from his grasp, conveniently landing in William's hand.

At that moment, the leader, who had been talking to Res, was already swinging his sword down at William. As William caught the dropped blade, he sidestepped, raising the scabbard in his right hand to block at an angle while turning the curved blade in his left hand. In one fluid motion, he slashed across the original owner's abdomen.

Shing!

The leader's curved blade sliced off a chunk of the wooden scabbard, leaving a sharp spike at the front. However, the deflection redirected the blade enough for William to dodge the attack by tilting his head slightly.

In the blink of an eye, William, now facing the leader directly, stepped forward and drove the jagged scabbard into the man's throat.

The leader dropped his sword, his eyes widening as he clutched the wound at his neck, staggering back several steps before crashing into a nearby table occupied by other pirates and collapsing onto the floor.

A series of thuds echoed through the tavern.

As the leader toppled over, William had already plunged the curved blade into the chest of the man writhing in agony from the abdominal wound. Leaving the blade embedded, William watched as two bodies hit the ground almost simultaneously. His own curved blade remained sheathed at his waist the entire time.

Within mere moments, three lifeless bodies lay on the ground. The pirates whose table had been overturned and those who had been lounging in their chairs moments ago were now all on their feet, expressions wary. Two had already drawn pistols, aiming their black barrels directly at William.

At some point, Res had turned to face the scene as well.

William grinned at him, spreading his empty hands wide. "Am I qualified to sit in that now-vacant seat?"

Res glanced at the corpses on the floor, then at William's nonchalant expression. After downing his drink in one gulp, he ordered his men, "Put the guns away."

The two pirates holstered their weapons, and the others also lowered theirs. Only then did Res smile at William, signaling the barkeep to pour another drink. Pointing to a nearby high stool, he said, "Come, have a seat."

William walked over confidently and sat down. By then, the barkeep had poured a fresh drink. Res pushed the glass toward William and remarked, "You've got skills. What's your name?"

"Stolte," William replied without hesitation, giving a fake name with a straight face. He even feigned boldness, asking, "Do I call you Vice Captain now?"

"Of course. I said there was a spot on the crew. Inviting you for a drink means it's yours now," Res said, clinking his glass against William's before downing his drink.

William mimicked his enthusiasm, draining his own glass.

Res's quick acceptance of William wasn't just because he kept his word but also because of William's earlier display—killing three people so decisively was a clear show of allegiance to the pirate code.

Moreover, many pirates were former fishermen or sailors who had fallen on hard times. Some, like petty thieves, were driven to piracy after being fired or blacklisted. Most were not born warriors and lacked formal training, leading to widely varying levels of skill.

In the age of great pirates, what was most valuable? Talent!

In a world where individual strength could vary dramatically, natural aptitude became crucial. The Navy had structured training to identify and cultivate talent, but pirates often relied on luck, hoping to recruit skilled individuals who happened to choose their crew.

Though the Redbeard Pirates were notorious in the East Blue, not every crew member was an expert. From Res's perspective, William's earlier performance already marked him as exceptional within the crew, so he wasted no time in making the offer.

Having lived among the Danton Pirates, William understood pirate psychology and survival rules aboard their ships, which informed his actions.

For most pirates, strength was the ultimate currency, even more valuable than Beli.

Res casually probed William for more information. Playing the role of "Stolte," William feigned carelessness but remained alert.

"You know navigation?" Res raised an eyebrow. "Someone like you, with both strength and navigational skills, could easily join a merchant ship instead of turning to piracy."

William gestured to the three corpses on the ground, now surrounded by pools of blood. "What merchant ship would hire a murderer?"

Taking a swig of the strong liquor, William's face flushed as he glared at the barkeep, clenching his teeth. "My family's merchant ship got caught in a storm. We suffered heavy casualties. My mother died, and my father was gravely injured. When we docked at a small island for fresh water, the crew mutinied over the compensation my father offered. They tricked me off the ship, stole all the cargo, and killed my father."

William's expression turned terrifying, scaring the oblivious barkeep into hiding. Res and the others, unaware of William's impeccable acting, assumed he was genuinely recalling a painful past. "I spent days stranded on that island until a passing merchant ship rescued me and dropped me at a town. I hunted down the ringleader of those mutineers and killed him to avenge my father."

"Now I'm a killer. My father borrowed heavily for that business, leaving behind massive debts. I can't repay them and don't want to. My only option is piracy."

Of course, this story was entirely fabricated. William had borrowed it from a real event he'd heard from Sherlock, replacing the protagonist with himself.

The Academy owes me an Oscar! William thought, his eyes glistening with mock tears. Res, mistaking it for sorrow, dismissed it as weakness but still patted William's shoulder perfunctorily.

"So you're looking to join our crew?"

"Of course. If I'm going to be a pirate, I'll join the best crew in the East Blue," William said, feigning arrogance.

Res wasn't easily flattered, but he still appreciated the compliment. Grinning, he said, "Good. Very good. Stick with me, and I'll personally take you aboard later."

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