One Piece: The True Codex

Danton hadn't lied, at least not about fabricating the stories surrounding himself. Even pirates, it seemed, understood the value of packaging their image. It didn't take much effort for William to break through Danton's facade and extract the truth from the man whose resolve was far weaker than rumors suggested.

The map and notes detailing the location of the hidden treasure island were tucked inside the cover of Gore's journal. After confirming their authenticity, William decisively ended Danton's life.

Night fell on the desolate island, untouched by human presence for countless years. A bonfire crackled to life as Agin, returning to his old skills, caught several fish from the sea. The four men, clueless about proper cooking techniques, haphazardly prepared the fish and roasted them over the fire.

The taste was, unsurprisingly, awful, but it was enough to stave off hunger. William decided to conserve the supplies they had brought from the ship, using them only if absolutely necessary. According to Gore's notes, the island was off the main trade routes, visited only occasionally by small merchant ships transporting goods to remote villages. These ships might pass by once or twice a month, but William knew they had to prepare for the possibility of missing them or encountering unforeseen circumstances that might prevent the ships from docking.

Grabbing a stick, William frowned as he scratched notes into the dirt, planning their next steps. Having experienced the ups and downs of society, he always valued preparation and contingency plans. While dramatic gestures like "burning bridges" or "all-in gambles" might sound inspiring, relying on a single plan was reckless. When unforeseen events disrupted such plans, it became glaringly clear how unreliable it was to put all your eggs in one basket. Though his previous life hadn't reached the life-or-death stakes he faced now, William knew the pain of going hungry. As a leader, failing to prepare didn't just mean personal hunger—it meant letting down those who depended on him. For someone like William, who cared about appearances, that was a bitter pill to swallow.

"William, what's next?" Agin asked, poking at the fire.

Aramis and Vallon also turned their attention to William, waiting for him to make a decision. The three had tied their futures to William, and this trust brought both authority and responsibility.

"This is a good opportunity," William said, glancing at Aramis. "Since we haven't been targeted by the Marines yet, we have the time and energy to learn something useful. Didn't you mention a dojo with a good reputation before? What was it called?"

"Shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo," Aramis replied. Coming from a merchant family, he was the most knowledgeable about local affairs among the four. However, he clearly didn't agree with William's suggestion. "We've already dealt with Danton and got the treasure map. Why bother going to some rundown dojo to suffer? What's there to learn?"

William casually erased the Chinese characters he had written in the dirt—phrases like "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun" and "With soldiers, you can be a king." Tossing the stick aside, he looked at each of the three men in turn. "Let me ask you: do any of you want to go home and live an ordinary life? Right now, we haven't attracted the Marines' attention yet. If we quit, it might still be possible."

The three shook their heads in unison. Though they hadn't yet tasted the thrill of piracy like seasoned pirates, witnessing the helplessness of civilians against marauding pirates had left an impression. Agin, Aramis, and Vallon all understood that in the Great Pirate Era, what seemed like a peaceful and stable life was as fragile as the idyllic scenes inside a snow globe—beautiful but easily shattered.

Each of them had been forced into piracy by cruel circumstances. Agin had been driven to the pirate life by the collusion of tax officials and local fishing bosses. Aramis had been forced aboard after bankruptcy and relentless debt collectors. Vallon's parents had hanged themselves after failing to pay crushing taxes following a poor harvest, leaving him with no choice but to turn to piracy.

Deep down, all three harbored a distrust and resentment toward the so-called "stable life." While being a pirate wasn't as glamorous or joyous as adventure stories made it seem, holding weapons and controlling their own fate offered a peculiar sense of security compared to the shackled existence they had known before.

Joining the Marines might have been an option, but William, having come from the orderly society of 21st-century Earth, knew that such a path was riddled with impossibilities. Criminals with serious charges joining the military was already far-fetched; rising to high ranks was downright absurd. Even passing the initial background checks would be questionable. From the start, William had dismissed the idea of joining the Marines, and Agin and the others, having been chased relentlessly by the Marines, felt a natural aversion to them.

"So, we're going to continue being pirates?" William turned to Aramis, his expression serious, his tone growing heavier with each word. "You ask why we need to learn something useful? Let me ask you: there are countless jobs safer and easier than being a pirate. Why choose piracy? To live a life where every day is uncertain? To enjoy playing cat-and-mouse with the Marines? To endure a life with no guarantee of tomorrow?"

"Maybe, if we're lucky, we can enjoy some fine wine after a successful raid and pocket a share of the loot—after the captain takes the lion's share. But if we're unlucky, you'll find yourself mourning fallen comrades while realizing the ship you just captured is filled with unsellable junk. Then, as you look at your injured and dead crewmates, you might face an irritable pirate captain who could take his frustration out on you at any moment. You might want to save some money, but who's to say you won't be killed tomorrow, leaving your hard-earned savings for someone else to enjoy? If you don't save money, it's even worse. If you're lucky enough to survive, you'll find yourself old, broke, and covered in scars, wishing you were dead. So tell me, Aramis, do you want that kind of life?"

Aramis lowered his head, unable to argue. William then turned his gaze to Agin and Vallon.

"Even in business, people expect returns proportional to their investments. As pirates, we invest our lives—the one thing we only get once—and hope for what kind of return? This?" William spat on the ground. "To hell with that. Are you satisfied? Because I'm not."

Agin asked solemnly, "Then what's your plan?"

William's eyes seemed to glow, whether from the firelight or the spark of ambition. "We'll form our own fleet. If we're going to risk our lives, why should we settle for being insignificant lackeys? Why can't we aim to become great pirates? The East Blue is known as the weakest sea for pirate activity among the four seas. Since Gol D. Roger, there hasn't been a truly remarkable pirate from here. Roger's execution in the East Blue is even seen as a humiliation by many. In the East Blue, countless pirates secretly hope for someone to rise and restore its honor—just like the Pirate King once did. You're all from the East Blue. Now tell me, don't you want to become that kind of legendary pirate?"

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