One Piece: The True Codex

William paid little attention to Dennis, the noble-born sheriff who had been visibly nervous ever since they entered the slums. It seemed Dampier was right—Dennis only displayed courage in fleeting moments of gambling, but otherwise was as timid as a mouse.

After inspecting the confiscated goods from the underground distillery, William led his crew out of the slums. He selected a few men and brought along some of the liquor and workers as evidence and witnesses, heading straight for the estate of Arcadio, the Minister of Finance.

Arcadio had been waiting at home for news from William. When William arrived, Arcadio quickly examined the evidence and witnesses he had brought, discussed their statements with him, and then hurriedly set off with the group to the royal palace to seek an audience with Norton I.

By now, the sky had already darkened. If Arcadio weren't a trusted confidant of Norton I and a key figure in the kingdom, it would have been impossible to secure an audience with the king at this hour.

Even so, when the two of them finally stood before Norton I, they noticed that the king's expression was far from pleasant.

And when Arcadio presented the items he had brought to Norton I, the king's face darkened even further.

The items were contraband—alcohol, which Norton I despised and had banned from being sold in the kingdom.

"Your Majesty!" Arcadio exclaimed, his acting skills rivaling William's. With a look of alarm, he said, "Stolt and his men uncovered something shocking while apprehending criminals in the slums."

"Some lawless criminals have been secretly brewing and selling alcoholic beverages right under your nose. Your prohibition decree has been reduced to mere words in the royal capital!" Arcadio lamented loudly, "Where is the dignity of the state? Where is the majesty of the king?"

Norton I's expression grew even darker as he turned to William, who had remained silent. "Is this true?"

William glanced at the seasoned actor Arcadio, who was still feigning grief, but he wasn't one to be outdone. With a serious expression, he solemnly replied:

"It is true. My men and I destroyed multiple criminal hideouts in the slums and discovered several underground distilleries among them. It appears that your prohibition decree has not only failed to achieve its intended purpose but has also become a means for these criminal groups to profit. Furthermore, due to the unsanitary conditions and questionable materials used in these underground distilleries, the safety of the alcohol they produce is highly concerning."

Norton I had already left his throne and was pacing slowly on the elevated platform. As William described the situation, the king's face grew increasingly grim. He felt his authority had been undermined.

Norton I then summoned the workers that Arcadio and William had brought, who were being held outside the palace gates. From their testimonies, he confirmed that Arcadio and William's claims were indeed true.

This revelation enraged Norton I. As the supreme ruler of the kingdom, he had issued the prohibition decree for the health of his subjects, yet there were still lowly criminals defying his orders and breaking the law.

In a fit of fury, Norton I ordered the workers who had been interrogated to be taken out and hanged. Neither Arcadio nor William spared a glance at the hapless workers being dragged out of the palace like dead dogs.

Seeing the storm brewing on Norton I's face, Arcadio subtly signaled to William with his eyes. Understanding the cue, William stepped forward, bowed, and reported:

"Your Majesty, based on the current situation, it seems that the underground distilleries in the slums are not just isolated cases but are numerous and well-hidden within various buildings. Furthermore..."

William paused, adopting a hesitant expression.

"And furthermore?" Norton I asked in a deep voice.

Arcadio stepped forward at this moment. "I believe Stolt was about to say that these underground distilleries may have protectors. Otherwise, how could they dare to so brazenly defy your decree?"

Seeing Norton I's astonished and furious reaction, Arcadio continued, "Your Majesty, based on the evidence we have, it is unrealistic to rely solely on Stolt and his men to investigate this matter. They excel in combat but are not skilled in conducting investigations. Therefore, I propose establishing a specialized police department to investigate the prohibition violations, uphold your authority, and uncover the audacious individuals who dare to defy your benevolence and grace by violating the prohibition law!"

Norton I pondered for a moment before asking Arcadio, "Do you have any suggestions for the leadership of this new department?"

William glanced at Arcadio upon hearing this, only to see the latter pause briefly before replying:

"If there are protectors within the royal capital shielding these criminals, then the new department's leadership should ideally have minimal ties to the existing police force."

"Can't Stolt assemble and lead this department?" Norton I suggested, sounding somewhat reluctant to deal with the hassle.

"No," Arcadio replied firmly. "The two departments must be kept separate."

After speaking, Arcadio noticed William's expression falter momentarily. Though William quickly masked his reaction, a trace of displeasure still showed.

This was not what William and Arcadio had originally agreed upon. William's initial plan was to lead this prohibition police department, with Arcadio providing intelligence on competitors for William to investigate, target, and even frame—just as they had done on the seas.

However, Arcadio's sharp political instincts quickly made him realize that this time was different from their previous dealings on the seas. This new investigative department was of great importance—not only could it be used to suppress economic and commercial rivals, but it could also serve as a tool to strike at political enemies.

Thus, Arcadio had no intention of allowing William to control this department. Instead, he decided to insert his own people into its leadership. Moreover, the individual he proposed as the leader would barely be enough to keep William from objecting.

"This department must remain independent to ensure impartial law enforcement," Arcadio continued. "As for the department's head, I have an excellent candidate in mind."

"Who?"

"Kuro!"

William pressed his lips together, his expression visibly sour.

...

While Norton I was meeting with William and Arcadio, Dennis was at Dampier's underground bar.

Dennis didn't know the exact nature of the relationship between Dampier and William; he only knew that the two were acquainted. Hoping to glean some insight, Dennis sought out Dampier to learn more about what kind of person William truly was.

Dennis was desperate to understand why William had killed Andre—a mystery that had been troubling him deeply. Even more pressing was the question of what William would do if he discovered that Dennis knew the truth.

Would he deal with Dennis as ruthlessly as he had with Andre?

~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~

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