One Piece: Pirate Code

Reis moved toward Zepp, but three of Zepp's subordinates stepped in to block his path.

William led the charge, followed by Hutchinson and another Redbeard pirate named Harden. The three confronted the opposing group without hesitation. Neither side drew weapons, yet their standoff resembled a tense face-off between roosters.

Zepp casually swirled the amber liquid in his glass, paying no mind to the tension. It wasn't until Reis called out, "Captain Zepp?" that he finally set the glass down and issued a short command to his men:

"Stand down. Sit. We're here to make a deal, not to fight."

Without hesitation, the three from the Cook Pirates retreated to Zepp's side. Seeing this, William and the others also returned to their group.

Zepp cast a disdainful glance at William, who had stepped forward first, and sneered, "Kid, do you know that your type is usually the first to die at sea?"

William paused as if to retaliate, but Reis quickly stopped him and led the Redbeard crew to a distant corner to rest.

The two groups sat far apart, sizing each other up. William pretended to sulk and asked Reis, "Why didn't we fight back just now, Vice-Captain?"

Reis patted his shoulder and replied, "Zepp was right—we're here to trade, not to brawl. Besides, there's an unspoken rule among pirates like us."

"What rule?" William asked.

Reis gave a meaningful smile. "Big fish eat small fish first."

In the grand game of dominance over the Eastern Sea, both the Redbeard Pirates and the Cook Pirates were apex predators. Each longed to dominate the territory or expand their influence. Yet neither would rashly start a full-scale war, knowing it would weaken both sides.

Both Bartholomew and Zepp understood that direct conflict would result in heavy casualties among their crews. Instead, they preferred to target weaker enemies or those that posed immediate threats to their positions.

William realized this pattern reflected a broader truth: pirates followed a "survival of the fittest" dynamic. It was impossible to dominate the seas overnight; the experienced veterans weren't just passive obstacles.

The tense silence in the meeting room lingered until the door swung open.

A man in his mid-twenties, clad in a white coat, strode in, followed by a group carrying boxes. The moment he entered, both Reis and Zepp stood up, walking toward him. Intrigued, William observed the newcomer closely.

The man had sharp features, pale skin, and slightly prominent cheekbones, giving him a stern, almost cruel look. His neatly combed golden hair contrasted with the unkempt styles of the pirates.

"Dampier, you're late. That's rare," Zepp remarked.

Dampier, the arms dealer, smiled faintly. His gray eyes darted to his subordinates, signaling them to place the boxes on the long table in the center of the room.

"Something good came out of the lab today," Dampier said. "I guarantee you won't mind the delay once you see it."

He opened a long leather case, revealing two slightly rough-looking flintlock rifles. With the air of a TV infomercial host, he began:

"Based on naval technology, reverse-engineered and optimized by my team. This beauty features a three-shot mechanism, reloading five times faster than the standard single-shot muskets in the Eastern Sea and a firing rate three times higher."

Reis and Zepp each took one of the guns. While Reis examined it himself, Zepp handed it to a more knowledgeable subordinate.

Despite Dampier's claims, neither captain was overly impressed. They asked a few critical questions before losing interest.

The gun was heavier, had more components prone to damage, and required meticulous maintenance—an issue in the humid sea air. More importantly, it was prohibitively expensive, costing seven to eight times more than a standard musket. For the same price, a gunner could be equipped with multiple single-shot muskets, achieving comparable firepower during naval battles.

Additionally, the gun required custom ammunition, meaning the pirates would be reliant on Dampier for supplies—an obvious ploy to secure long-term profits.

Reis and Zepp dismissed the rifle as impractical, but William, intrigued, asked to take a closer look.

From his past life's perspective, the rifle was still primitive. The flintlock mechanism and basic improvements were far from revolutionary. However, it represented a step forward in firearms technology.

Even in a world where individuals possessed extraordinary combat abilities, firearms remained a crucial equalizer. For example, William himself had spent years training in swordsmanship to achieve a modest level of proficiency—a process that required time, effort, money, and talent. Firearms, by contrast, were far cheaper and easier to mass-produce, making them invaluable in lower-tier conflicts.

Dampier, who had largely ignored Reis and Zepp's crews, finally took notice of William's interest. Smiling, he remarked with thinly veiled disdain for the others, "At least one of you has an eye for quality. If you like the gun, consider it a gift."

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