One Piece: Pirate Code

William whispered softly into Zeff's ear, "How about having your men put down their guns?"

Zeff chuckled mockingly, "Do you think I'm so scared of dying that I'd lose my mind? Either let me go, or we both die together."

"Looks like you're set on taking a nobody like me down with you?" William's tone carried a hint of menace as he mentally calculated the time it would take for Damper, the restaurant owner, to arrive.

"As pirates, we don't get to choose how we die," Zeff declared, his sharp gaze sweeping over his three subordinates. His words weren't just aimed at William but also at his own crew. "The only choice we have is whether we die like real men."

William felt a chill run through him. He could sense Zeff's killing intent. The demeanor of this chef-turned-pirate captain momentarily altered William's otherwise negative perception of pirates.

At least some of them weren't cowards who bullied the weak and cowered in fear.

Just as Zeff and his men prepared to act, a group of people hurried toward the scene from inside the restaurant.

Damper, still clad in his white lab coat, walked briskly to where the tense standoff was unfolding. He hadn't even found time to change clothes since leaving his lab. His expression betrayed barely contained anger. Sword in hand, he surveyed the two opposing groups: the Redfoot Pirate crew and William's faction, locked in a dangerous stalemate. Taking a deep breath, he spoke coldly.

"Do you all plan to kill each other right here? In the royal capital? In front of my restaurant?"

"If any of you make the first move, I guarantee you'll never get anything from me again. On the other hand, your opponents will get whatever they want," Damper warned. He rested a hand on the hilt of his rapier, and the armed guards behind him raised their guns, aiming at both groups. "And don't think you'll walk out of here unscathed either."

As Damper's ultimatum settled over the scene, Zeff was the first to act. He addressed his crew. "You three, lower your guns."

Once his men complied, Zeff turned to Damper and said, "I'll give you face, Damper. If I die here, I trust you'll help my crew fulfill their unfinished obligations."

Zeff's cleverly worded statement painted him as someone willing to show respect, while also implying that any harm to him would provoke Damper's wrath.

Raising an eyebrow, Damper shifted his gaze to the Redfoot Pirates' adversaries. Reluctantly, Reis, the deputy captain of the Redbeard Pirates, finally gave in. "Let him go, Stoll."

William shrugged and removed the blade from Zeff's neck, stepping cautiously backward toward his comrades.

Zeff turned without any sign of anger or humiliation. Instead, he smirked at William. "Kid, I won't forget this. You're in trouble now because I'm just as petty and vengeful as you are!"

William ignored the seasoned pirate's threat, walking past Damper. Their eyes met briefly, and Damper seemed lost in thought.

In the distance, a commotion arose from the far end of the street. Damper shot a cold glance at both groups. "It's likely the Royal Guard. I know some of you have connections to influential figures in the capital, but I don't want pirates publicly associated with my restaurant."

Reis forced a stiff smile, and his crewmates patted William on the shoulder as they left. Laughing loudly, they acted as if he had just triumphed in a grand battle.

Before the Royal Guard arrived, the two groups of pirates quickly and clearly dispersed.

Carlma City, the Finance Minister's Mansion

After seeing off Redbeard and Kuro, Arkatio, the finance minister, entered a small meeting room. His business partner, Navy Captain Roy, was examining a nude painting hanging on the wall with apparent interest.

Although Roy, Arkatio, and Redbeard had formed a de facto alliance, Roy deliberately avoided meeting Redbeard. While associating with a royal noble like Arkatio could be rationalized if discovered, being caught consorting with a pirate was a crime that left no room for excuses.

Arkatio handed Roy his share of the spoils from Redbeard's plundering. However, the pirates themselves weren't privy to this arrangement, which often led to grumbling among the crew about their leaders' greed.

"These empty-headed pirates," Arkatio sighed, "don't realize they owe their freedom to the intelligence and protection we provide. Yet, they obsess over trivial gains."

Kuro had privately shared Redbeard's latest instance of hoarding loot with Arkatio, likely embellishing the story.

"Ignorance is why they turned to piracy," Roy commented, puffing on his cigar with a condescending smirk.

Arkatio chuckled but was interrupted by the sudden ringing of a Den Den Mushi. He stepped away to answer it, his expression souring as the call progressed.

"What's wrong?" Roy asked after Arkatio ended the call.

"The fools have done it again," Arkatio muttered, referring to the armed standoff involving Reis, William, and Zeff. "These dogs can't stop causing trouble. If I had better options, I'd cut ties with them."

"Plenty of pirates out there," Roy replied, exhaling smoke nonchalantly.

Meanwhile, William, escorted by his crewmates, returned to the ship. Along the way, the older pirates exaggerated the story, spinning tales of how William had subdued "Redfoot" Zeff and faced down three guns with casual ease.

Once alone in his cabin, William sat up on his cot, his expression no longer pale and weak.

Though Zeff's leg strength was formidable, his attacks during their scuffle had lacked full power due to constant interruptions. Moreover, William's improved resilience from his Toughness trait meant he had exaggerated his injuries to manipulate the situation.

After ensuring no one was nearby, William pulled out a Den Den Mushi and dialed a number.

When the line connected, he spoke in a low voice, "The bait is set. Time to start skinning."

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