One Piece: The True Codex

Two days later, at a private port in Kalmar City, William and Dampier stood by the shore, waiting for an "old friend" they hadn't seen in some time.

After more than twenty minutes, a warship finally appeared on the horizon. The three-masted vessel bore a rather amusing pirate flag: the head of a duck wearing a chef's hat, its expression stoic, with a knife and a trident crossed behind it.

This distinctive flag belonged to the Cook Pirates, led by "Red-Leg" Zeff, a pirate captain who had risen to prominence as a chef.

Half a month ago, William and Dampier had received word through intermediaries that Zeff wished to purchase weapons. After some investigation, they had uncovered the reason: Zeff intended to lead the Cook Pirates into the Grand Line.

As a pirate captain with a background in cooking, Zeff deeply understood the importance of logistics. Facing the Grand Line—a mysterious and unfamiliar sea to him—he knew that no amount of preparation would be too much.

The weapons developed by William and Dampier's company had gradually gained popularity across the East Blue, earning a reputation for their superior performance. Before leaving the East Blue, Zeff clearly wanted to arm his crew further and enhance the firepower of his ship.

The Cook Pirates' warship soon docked at the private port. Before the ship even came to a complete stop, Zeff led a few of his officers and leapt down from the bow, landing on the shore. He stood there, watching William and Dampier with a wary gaze.

Dampier frowned at Zeff's cautious demeanor, but William, ever thick-skinned, behaved as though there had never been any conflict or bad blood between them. With a wide smile, he greeted Zeff as if welcoming an old friend. "Captain Zeff, long time no see! I'm truly delighted to see you again!"

Zeff glanced at William but said nothing. Only after his crew had secured the ship at the dock did he finally turn to the still-smiling William and respond coldly, "Captain Stolt—or should I call you Sir William? It's a pleasure to see you too."

William paid no mind to Zeff's chilly tone and continued with his warm demeanor. "Why not meet at our usual spot? Why insist on conducting the transaction here?"

"That place is practically your territory now that you've partnered with Dampier," Zeff replied with a hint of sarcasm. "If I went there to buy weapons, I'd be worried you'd arrest me and my crew as criminals."

"How could I do such a thing?" William said, dropping his smile and adopting a serious tone. "I heard you're heading to the Grand Line. I admire your courage. The East Blue is known as the weakest of the four seas. Regardless of any past conflicts, your journey to the Grand Line represents the pride of the East Blue, and I'll do everything in my power to support you."

Zeff smirked skeptically, clearly doubting William's sincerity. However, William walked over to a nearby carriage, pulled back the canvas covering it, and revealed several wooden crates beneath.

"Eighty bolt-action rifles, one hundred revolvers, and ten of our company's newly developed shotguns and submachine guns. Additionally, to ensure you're not left without supplies in the Grand Line, I've prepared thirty brand-new flintlock muskets for you."

William then unveiled another carriage and pulled back its covering. "These are the matching bullets. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this should last you a long time in the Grand Line."

Zeff gestured for two of his crew members to inspect the firearms. William didn't interfere, stepping aside to give them space. Even the coachman standing nearby retreated nervously.

While his men opened the crates, Zeff turned to William and asked, "I didn't order this much."

"The extra items are gifts," William replied with a wave of his hand. "As I said, once you leave the East Blue, you'll represent our sea's reputation. I don't want others to look down on you."

Zeff snorted, but his expression softened. Meanwhile, his crew had finished inspecting the weapons and ammunition. William even demonstrated how to use them, allowing the crew to test-fire a few rounds. Finding no issues, Zeff couldn't help but feel puzzled. Could William's earlier words have been genuine?

...

After seeing Zeff and his crew off, William and Dampier returned to their underground tavern by carriage.

Inside a private booth, Nezumi and Gin were drinking. As soon as William entered, he unceremoniously plopped down next to Nezumi, throwing an arm around the now-Lieutenant Commander's shoulders. With a smile, he asked, "Lieutenant Commander, as a friend, tell me honestly—without Roy, could you become the commanding officer of the 16th Branch?"

Nezumi wiped his mouth and replied, "It shouldn't be a problem. I'm currently the highest-ranking officer at the base after Roy. Normally, if Roy were reassigned, I'd take over. But Roy isn't easy to get rid of."

"I don't want 'should' or 'normally.' I want a definitive answer," William said, his smile fading. "If something were to happen to Roy, and you had a recent achievement on your record, how likely is it that you'd be appointed as acting commander?"

Nezumi stared blankly at William, then asked in a trembling voice, "Roy... something happens to him?"

"I thought you wanted to work with me to get him reassigned," Nezumi muttered.

"Reassigned?" William chuckled. "He hurt my brother. Do you think I'd let him leave peacefully?"

Nezumi thought William was referring to himself. He touched the bridge of his nose, where a small scar still lingered. Despite this, Nezumi couldn't help but feel a shadow of fear at Roy's domineering presence. He instinctively objected, "It was just a minor injury. There's no need to hold a grudge. Roy is a captain, after all. Even though I'd love to see him dead, his death would cause a lot of trouble."

"How much trouble?"

"The Marines Headquarters would likely focus their attention on the 16th Branch's jurisdiction. Our relationship might even be exposed," Nezumi said worriedly.

William asked, "And if the person who killed Captain Roy fled to the Grand Line?"

Nezumi gave him a puzzled look. "Are you going to the Grand Line?"

"No," William replied, shaking his head. "But the person who kills Roy will."

"You mean...?"

"'Red-Leg' Zeff, once a pirate as renowned as Barbarossa, is about to enter the Grand Line. If he were to kill Roy before leaving, where do you think the Marines' attention would go—East Blue or the Grand Line?"

"Probably the Grand Line," Nezumi admitted, sensing that William already had a complete plan. "But what about the subsequent investigation...?"

"Do you remember a few months ago when I asked you to procure thirty Marine flintlock rifles for me?" William asked with a sly smile.

"I remember," Nezumi sighed. "Roy chewed me out for an entire day because of that."

"Those rifles are now aboard Zeff's ship," William said to the wide-eyed Nezumi. "I removed the markings from the obvious spots. Who knows if other Marines will recognize them?"

Nezumi's expression shifted between fear and desire. After a long pause, he asked, "And what about everything Roy leaves behind...?"

William patted Nezumi's shoulder again, his voice calm but firm.

"The 16th Branch base will be yours. Everything Roy leaves behind will be yours as well, Lieutenant Commander."

~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~

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