One Piece: The True Codex

Over the Den Den Mushi, William extended an invitation to Nezumi and Gin to come to Kalmar City. He explained that during their crackdown on criminals in the slums, they had captured some pirates with bounties on their heads. Since keeping the credit for themselves was of no use, they might as well gift it to their "closest friends" in the Marines.

In his subsequent conversation with Gin, the two exchanged veiled information. Once William confirmed that Roy had shown no unusual behavior recently, he ended the call.

The reason for William's meticulous planning and extreme caution was simple: he fully understood the gravity of what he was about to undertake. Rebellion—whether in his past life or this world—was a concept that struck fear into the hearts of men.

The Navia Kingdom's feudal system was endorsed and upheld by the World Government, as the very existence of the Celestial Dragons represented the extreme embodiment of such a system. To threaten or undermine this order was to challenge the very foundation of the World Government's rule. This was why William proceeded with such caution, ensuring that any potential threats were quashed before they could even take root.

After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, William turned to Dampier, who had remained silent throughout. "To be honest, I'm a bit flattered. You went so far as to imprison an old acquaintance, the city's sheriff, just to tip me off. If this escalates, you might find it hard to survive in this city—or even this kingdom."

Dampier chuckled. "Dennis doesn't have much going for him, but his gambling spirit is something to admire. He has the resolve and courage to stake his life and fortune on a bet. It's just that... his judgment is lacking."

"Whether it was going straight to Arcadio after discovering your secret, or confronting you directly to reveal Arcadio's instructions, either would have been a gamble. But he failed to see the bigger picture," Dampier said, shaking his head as if pitying Dennis. "Perhaps the main reason is that he didn't grasp the significance of Andre's death. He couldn't see how helping or betraying you would benefit him."

"And you? Do you see it clearly?"

"Andre's death has already made the nobles' distrust of the commoners blatantly obvious. I've heard they're planning to impose additional taxes on the commoners and build walls. Such actions will only escalate tensions. Combined with the fear instilled by Andre's death, the nobles will come to rely even more on the strength you and your men possess. Moreover, by walling themselves off, these fools are essentially ceding control of everything outside the noble district. The only thing maintaining their authority and status is the presence of the World Government."

Dampier gestured toward the Den Den Mushi. "But now, the representative of the World Government in this region—the 16th Marine Branch—is infiltrated by your people. Let me guess: you're grooming a commander who is aligned with you? Bold and visionary!"

"If this plan succeeds, who in this kingdom could stand against you? The areas outside the noble district will be your domain. You could even incite the populace to force the king to abdicate. Without your name on the World Government's bounty list, and with the Marines of the 16th Branch refusing to report your pirate activities, you, as a noble of Navia Kingdom, would appear to be acting entirely within the rules of the World Government. They'd have no grounds to intervene."

Leaning forward, Dampier emphasized his point. "A year ago, you were a nobody in my eyes. Now, I call you Captain. And in the future? Will I have to address you as Your Majesty the King?"

William listened quietly as Dampier spoke, his expression unreadable.

Dampier had guessed much of his plan but lacked the full picture due to limited information—such as the role of the prohibition police.

It wasn't until Dampier finished speaking that William asked, "A king? Don't you think such an idea is overly ambitious for a pirate?"

"Daydreaming without preparation or action—that's overly ambitious. But achieving everything you've accomplished so far? That's not a dream," Dampier countered. "The World Government has existed for 800 years, maintaining the Celestial Dragons' status and preserving this rigid social hierarchy. Its member nations are inevitably affected by this system, benefiting a group of pigs fattened by the status quo. In the past, few dared to think or act otherwise. But if someone were to break free and open their eyes, how could the low fences of this pigsty stop them?"

William exhaled deeply. Dampier's sharp and scornful words caught him off guard. As a transmigrator and a modern man, William inherently despised the feudal systems and aristocratic ways of this world. Yet he hadn't expected Dampier, a native of this world, to harbor such "treasonous" thoughts.

"Did you come to these conclusions gradually? Why didn't you consider turning me in?"

Dampier was silent for a moment before replying, "There's little about Dennis that I admire, but I do respect his unwillingness to settle for mediocrity."

"I believe..." Dampier leaned back into the sofa, tilting his head to watch a small bug scuttling aimlessly on the floor. "Life is short. But if you choose to live it humbly, it can feel unbearably long."

William mulled over this statement before saying, "I'm planning to propose a military reorganization plan in the near future. Before Andre died, he criticized the military system after losing a competition at the palace. His death has given his complaints unexpected weight, which I can use as a pretext. When the time comes, I'll establish a General Staff Department and invite you to join."

A faint smile appeared on Dampier's lips. "Then I'll present my first token of loyalty. I'll handle Dennis. Having the city's sheriff on your side will only benefit your plans."

...

At Arcadio's estate, Kuro sat in the reception room, his demeanor one of utmost humility and obedience as he listened to Arcadio's instructions.

Arcadio had appointed Kuro as the head of the new police department to keep it firmly under his control. The department would serve as his attack dog, biting whoever he commanded.

"You must understand," Arcadio said casually, "that just as I can place you in this position, I can replace you. You're not a noble yet, so your position is unstable and lacks legitimacy. But as long as you perform well, work diligently, and follow orders, I'll propose to His Majesty that you be granted the title you deserve."

Hearing this, Kuro immediately set down his teacup, stood up from the sofa, and replied respectfully, "Understood. I will follow your orders and carry out your tasks to the best of my ability."

Arcadio smiled in satisfaction. Kuro's response had not disappointed him.

Kuro was quite tall, and as he stood, he happened to glance out the reception room window. His eyes caught sight of a familiar figure with fluffy hair passing by in the distance, causing him to pause.

"What is it?" Arcadio asked, noticing Kuro's expression as he sipped his tea.

Though puzzled, Kuro quickly masked his thoughts and smiled obsequiously at Arcadio. "I was just imagining the possibility of moving to the noble district in the future. It feels almost unreal."

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