One Piece: The True Codex

The sounds of battle outside grew more intense, but they had little to do with the three people inside the cabin.

William leaned against the wall, arms crossed, staring unblinkingly at the grim-faced Kuro. Beside him, Hatcheson didn't seem as reckless as usual; he sipped his drink while attempting to make idle conversation with Kuro, though his efforts were mostly in vain.

Kuro maintained his usual cold demeanor, responding with only a few perfunctory words.

This wasn't the first time Kuro had been "secured for his safety" by Red-Beard Barbarossa during such situations. Whenever the crew stumbled upon prey like today, Barbarossa rarely handed over the spoils without taking his share first.

Kuro casually brushed off Hatcheson's chatter, but he couldn't ignore William's unrelenting gaze. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he snapped with a trace of anger, "Why do you keep staring at me?"

"What can I do? The captain ordered me to keep an eye on you and ensure your safety. With how fragile you look, I'm worried that if I take my eyes off you for even a second, you'll end up battered and bloody. How would I explain that to the captain?" William replied mockingly, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

He was deliberately provoking Kuro, and it seemed to be working. Kuro shot to his feet, stepping right up to William. William straightened as well, one hand resting on the hilt of his cutlass, looking ready for a fight.

But there was still Hatcheson in the room. He clearly wasn't about to let a physical altercation break out under his watch. Quickly stepping between the two, he spent quite some effort calming them down.

Time dragged on in the cabin, with Hatcheson practically sitting on pins and needles. Finally, the sounds of fighting outside began to fade. It was a long while after the battle had ended that heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor, approaching the cabin.

Although the Red-Beard Pirates, renowned across the East Blue, were unlikely to meet their end in some minor skirmish, the three inside the cabin still couldn't help but feel a tinge of unease.

Only when Hayreddin's scarred, bald head appeared through the doorway did the tension in the room dissipate.

Hayreddin, his curved blade still dripping with blood, stepped into the cabin. He shot a brief glance at William and Hatcheson before turning his attention to the visibly displeased Kuro. "The fight's over," he said casually. "You can go tally the loot now."

William's earlier taunts had already angered Kuro, and Hayreddin's dismissive tone only added fuel to the fire.

In a moment of impulse, Kuro sneered with resentment, "It's 'finally' over, huh? I wonder how much loot will actually be left this time."

Hayreddin didn't know what had transpired in the cabin earlier, but he was not the forgiving type, nor someone who let slights slide. On the contrary, he was known for being petty and vindictive.

Though Kuro's comment was more about tone than content, Hayreddin's eyes narrowed dangerously. His lips curled into a menacing smile as he asked, "What's that supposed to mean? Got a problem?"

Kuro regretted his words almost immediately. Anyone who spent time aboard the Red-Beard Pirates' ship knew that while Hayreddin might be the weakest of the Red-Beard Brothers, he was also the most difficult to deal with.

Perhaps it was because he was the youngest and spoiled, or perhaps it was due to the disfigurement he had suffered in the past. Whatever the reason, Hayreddin had developed a cruel and volatile temperament, prone to punishing or even killing over the smallest provocations.

When Hayreddin got angry, he didn't care about Kuro's status.

Kuro wanted to back down, but he could feel William's mocking gaze on him. His pride wouldn't let him admit defeat so easily. His lips twitched as if to say something, but his hesitation only deepened Hayreddin's suspicion.

"So, you really do have a problem, huh?" Hayreddin's smile became even more sinister.

He tilted his head, scrutinizing Kuro for a moment before suddenly turning to William and Hatcheson. "Hold him down for me!"

Hatcheson didn't hesitate. He immediately stepped forward and grabbed one of Kuro's arms. William, though a beat slower, followed suit, pinning Kuro's other arm from behind.

Kuro instinctively struggled, and William was surprised to find that, despite his frail appearance, Kuro's strength wasn't insignificant. When Kuro's fingers reflexively clamped down on William's arm, the grip was so strong it caused William genuine pain. It seemed Kuro had specifically trained his finger strength.

However, Kuro only resisted briefly before going limp. He knew that Hayreddin, despite his limited strength and abilities, represented the will of Barbarossa. And on the Red-Beard Pirates' ship, there was no democracy or freedom. Defying Barbarossa's authority could only lead to one outcome: death.

Even Count Arcadio, Kuro's master, had to tread carefully during his dealings with Barbarossa, despite the protection afforded by Seastone. Kuro had no illusions about his own chances.

Realizing he had no way of escaping from William, Hatcheson, and Hayreddin, Kuro stopped resisting. Any further struggle would only escalate the situation beyond repair.

Under Hayreddin's orders, William and Hatcheson forced Kuro to his knees. Kuro, now thoroughly humiliated, looked up at Hayreddin and tried to steady his voice. "Mr. Hayreddin, you know who I am. You can't kill me."

"Of course I know who you are," Hayreddin sneered. "I'm not going to kill you. But it seems you've forgotten who you are, so I'll just have to remind you."

With that, Hayreddin swung his curved blade, striking Kuro across the face with the flat of the blade.

A loud smack echoed through the cabin. Kuro's head jerked to the side, and the force of the blow sent his glasses flying. The spot where the blade had struck began to swell visibly.

"You're a pirate now," Hayreddin growled. "Stop putting on airs like some nobleman. Remember your place and show some respect when you speak to me!"

Another swing of the blade, and Kuro spat out a mouthful of blood, several teeth mixed in.

"You're the ship's quartermaster. While the captain and the rest of the crew are out there risking their lives, you're back here complaining about the loot?"

A third strike landed, leaving Kuro's face a swollen, bloody mess. Only then did Hayreddin gesture for William and Hatcheson to release him.

Kuro collapsed onto the floor, supporting himself with trembling hands as he gasped for breath. He didn't dare look up, knowing full well that his eyes would betray the seething hatred within.

The physical pain was nothing compared to the humiliation. The psychological wound cut far deeper, leaving an indelible mark on Kuro's soul. Yet, no matter how much venom he harbored in his heart, he had no choice but to endure.

William and Hatcheson exchanged glances before turning their eyes back to Hayreddin.

The scarred, bald officer didn't seem satisfied yet. He cast a disdainful look at Kuro and sneered, "Since he's so concerned about tallying the loot, why don't you two carry him over there to finish his 'work'?"

The word "work" dripped with sarcasm.

Hatcheson shrugged at William, his expression hinting at schadenfreude. Kuro's humiliation was complete.

But William wasn't paying attention to that. As he crouched down to lift Kuro by the shoulders, he noticed the man's clenched fists. Kuro's fingers were so tightly curled that his knuckles had turned white, and his nails seemed ready to pierce his own flesh.

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