One Piece: The True Codex

Out of habit, William never sat with his back to doors or staircases in public places. Thus, the moment Shanks ascended the stairs, William noticed him immediately.

William's swordsmanship had reached a high level of mastery. Koushirou's Isshin-ryu, like many other sword styles in this world, emphasized spiritual cultivation and the power of the mind. At William's current level, he had already developed the keen perception unique to swordsmen.

From the first glance at Shanks, William's swordsman's intuition told him that this man was no ordinary individual.

That was why, back in the first-floor hall, William had frowned slightly when he looked toward the table where Shanks and his crew were seated.

As William carefully observed Shanks, he quickly identified the source of that feeling.

Shanks' right hand bore large knuckles, calluses across his palm, and distinct marks—all signs of years of wielding a sword.

His left sleeve hung empty, clearly marking him as a one-armed man. Yet, his balance remained impeccable as he carried two glasses of liquor in one hand, the liquid inside barely even trembling.

His steps were steady and composed. From the moment he stepped onto the second floor, not only did William's gaze fall upon him, but most of the Morgan Pirates present also turned their attention toward him. These pirates, known for their ferocity and toughness, scrutinized him from head to toe. Yet, Shanks seemed completely unfazed. Considering that he was a man with a physical disability, this could either be seen as supreme confidence in his own strength or as an extraordinary display of courage.

When Shanks reached William's table, he gently placed the two glasses of liquor down and grinned. "You must be Captain William of the Morgan Pirates. May I offer you a drink?"

William glanced at Shanks. The latter's eyes squinted slightly as he smiled, revealing a set of white teeth. His expression was so sincere and cheerful that it was hard to refuse him.

However, William wasn't someone who would drink anything offered by a stranger just for the sake of appearances. Especially after learning that the nobles of Kalmar City had recently conspired to poison him, he was even less likely to take such risks.

With a smile, William gestured to the glass in front of him. "I already have a drink."

Shanks scratched the back of his head, showing no signs of embarrassment at being politely declined. Nor did he display any anger over a perceived loss of face. Instead, he picked up the glass he had brought for William, gave him a slight nod of acknowledgment, and downed it in one gulp. Then, without hesitation, he plopped down on the sofa opposite William, right next to Edmond, who also had a head of striking red hair.

As Shanks sat down, William took the opportunity to observe him closely. His dark, weathered skin, the scar on his left eye, the faint scent of the sea on him—all of it gave William a sense of familiarity.

After sitting, Shanks noticed Edmond's slight frown and offered an apologetic smile. He then raised the second glass of liquor he had brought, gesturing to Edmond and Sherlock at the table before downing it in one go as well.

The two glasses Shanks had brought were not small, and both were filled to the brim with strong liquor. Drinking them back-to-back without pause made him appear exceptionally bold and forthright. Despite being an unfamiliar face—and one William suspected might also be a pirate—it was hard to harbor any hostility toward him.

Shanks' first words of self-introduction confirmed William's suspicions: "My name is Shanks. I'm a pirate."

William and Sherlock were slightly taken aback. Their surprise wasn't due to Shanks openly declaring his identity in a public setting.

After all, in the East Blue, it was common for the Marines to hunt down pirates. Once discovered, pirates often couldn't escape pursuit, no matter how strong they were. Trouble was inevitable.

Of course, there were always outlaws who didn't care about such things. What truly surprised William and Sherlock was the way this carefree man declared himself a pirate—with his chin slightly raised, his tone and expression brimming with pride.

It was the kind of demeanor that reminded William of children in his previous life, boasting about their titles to others. That sense of pride and satisfaction was genuine and heartfelt.

From William's own experience, most pirates he had encountered had compelling reasons or tragic backstories that drove them to take up the life of piracy. Many were marginalized individuals or oppressed members of society. It was rare to see someone like Shanks, who seemed genuinely proud of his identity as a pirate.

Edmond could barely be considered an exception, which was why his impression of Shanks improved slightly.

"I can tell," William said, raising his glass and downing it in one go as a response to Shanks' earlier gesture.

After setting his glass back on the table, William got straight to the point. "So, what brings you to my village?"

When he said "my village," his tone carried a deliberate emphasis.

"I came specifically for you," Shanks replied, his gaze intense as he looked at William. "Even back in the Goa Kingdom, I'd heard of you and the deeds of your crew. My dream is to gather an extraordinary group of comrades and travel the world as pirates. So, after hearing about you, I've always wanted to share a drink with you and invite you to join my crew."

Sherlock froze upon hearing this, while Edmond's attitude toward Shanks took a sharp turn for the worse. Any initial goodwill he might have had evaporated instantly.

To Edmond and the rest of the Morgan Pirates, William was their soul, their leader both in reality and spirit. For someone to suddenly appear and suggest that William join their crew, effectively lowering himself, was something Edmond found utterly unacceptable.

William raised an eyebrow, picked up a peanut from the table, and slowly chewed it before deliberately asking, "Are you asking me to be the captain?"

Shanks paused for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. "Sorry, but I'll only ever acknowledge one man as my captain, and that man is already dead."

"What a coincidence," William replied with a faint smile as he picked up the bottle to refill both his and Shanks' empty glasses. His tone carried a deeper meaning as he continued, "I'll only ever acknowledge one man as my captain, and he's dead too."

Shanks was, of course, referring to the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. His journey into piracy had started at an incredibly high point, serving under a man like Roger. This experience left Shanks unable to recognize anyone else as his captain after Roger's death, as no one could match the charisma of the Pirate King.

William's path, on the other hand, was entirely different. His first captain, the one who introduced him to piracy, was a useless fool—Danton, a man whose name William could barely remember. The only captain he had reluctantly come to respect was his nemesis, "Red-Beard" Barbarossa. From Barbarossa, William had seen strengths worth acknowledging and had even learned a few things.

However, as William had said, he would only ever recognize one man as his captain, and that man was dead—killed by William's own hand.

~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~

The story isn't over...

🤔 Want to know what happens next to the characters?

🤫 Eager to explore the untold secrets of this world?

✍ Ready to read more of my wildest stories?

✨patreon.com/GoldenLong