Devil's Luck Pirates

While William and Verona boringly listen to the adventures of a random marine, the rest of the crew, and Pearl, are collecting supplies for the rest of their journey.

Duros and Pearl focus on collecting berries since Ragnar can't distinguish what is edible from what could kill you in a minute. Instead, he spends his time hunting some rather aggressive boars and collecting freshwater.

About 30 minutes go by until Pearl notices the absence of the captain and navigator.

-Hey, what are those two idiots doing this whole time? – She asks after tying a now full sack of berries.

-They said they'd check the shack near the coast-line. – Duros responds – But they sure are taking a long time... I'm starting to get a bit worried.

Pearl decides to go check on them. She goes back to the shore where the boat is to start looking for them with a rather quick pace. She may treat them badly – especially William, but it appears that she still cares about them a little bit.

Meanwhile, William and Verona are still in the first year of this said Arthur's career.

With the old man's poor eyesight and constant interruptions to remember them how glad he is to have his "son" back and don't wanting him to leave, they made little to no progress in gathering substantial information about the Navy blockade around the area.

-…And at the end of your first year, you sent me this letter telling me how you got promoted to Warrant Officer. I was so proud of you…

-Yes father… – William responds with no enthusiasm. Barely listening to what the old man says.

William signals to Verona to come closer as the old man starts reading another letter.

-Can't we just kill him and read the letters ourselves? – He whispers nonchalantly.

Verona gets a little bit concerned after his captain's suggestion but he vaguely remembers a conversation he had with their deceased crewmate, Rick. Something about the captain not liking old people for some reason.

Now, taken by a sudden feeling of benevolence, he decides to save this poor old soul.

-Umm, could you read some of Arthur's more recent letters? I'm a bit more interested in his more… Recent achievements. – Verona asks the old man, playing the role of Arthur's friend that William put him in.

-More recent? Oh… this one right here is one of my favorites, but ok…

He starts to go through the letters a bit more quickly. Taking only a glance at them to check if the content on them is worthy of reading to his "son's friend".

-Let me see… Oh! This one… Ah, this one is really sad. It's about how you killed one of your friends… A fellow Marine officer.

William and Verona look at each other, rather concerned about Arthur's… Personality.

-It says here that you lit his house on fire. Kinda fucked up shit son. Let's hope you don't do the same with this one…

-D-don't worry about that father. The bastard deserved it! – William promptly responds.

After hearing the method of execution chosen by Arthur, William notices an interesting reaction from Verona. It was as if the gears on his brain started turning and he was about to reach a conclusion. But he quickly lets it go. At least for now.

Nonetheless, the old man keeps going through the letters until he reaches the most recent ones.

-Hmm, this one says something about a Navy blockade. It seems you put this Lieutenant Hubris in charge of taking tools. And that I shouldn't leave this island because they would take money from me.

-Yes father, do not leave this island. You should stay here until your last breath. – William declares.

-Oh, I also separated this one because it gave me some mixed feelings. – The old man says paying no attention to William's demand – It says that you found a Devil Fruit!

William and Verona's interest was picked with this information.

-You got it after raiding some big-name pirate crew here in the South Blue. And after that, you got a promotion to Captain! – The old man continues with great enthusiasm.

Looks like this Arthur fella has come pretty far in life huh…

-But it also says that you legally changed your name to Marrow after that. Stupid name... You'll always be Arthur to me!

-Y-yes, don't worry about it, father, that's only my business name, you know how it is…

As they continue their conversation, a voice comes from outside.

-Hey William! Verona! What the fuck are you two doing? – It's Pearl. Screaming while walking towards the shack through the beach – How much time you idiots pretend to waste over there?!

They both look at the old man. Concerned with the idea of having to explain Pearl's role in their act.

But it seems that the old man didn't hear a thing. They look at each other and agree on getting out of there.

-So… Father, me and my friend here will go get some firewood for tonight. So – William says as he stands up, but the old man cuts him off

-No. Please… don't leave again!

He starts to cling to William's arm with a surprising amount of force.

Meanwhile, Pearl gets closer and closer to the old cabin.

-Hey! Are you guys ignoring me?! Or… Did something bad happened?... N-not that I'd care about you idiots!

Verona stands up as he looks at his captain. Not sure of what to do in this situation.

William looks back at him with the same expression. But he quickly comes to a solution to this predicament.

William takes out his gun. Now, this surely sounds bad, but even William knows that killing this sad and confused old man in cold blood is a horrible thing to do.

He holds his flintlock by the barrel and knocks the old man's head with the handle.

The senile man falls to the floor letting out a perturbing sound of pain.

William and Verona stand there in silence for a moment. Looking at the now immobile man on the floor as blood comes out of his temple.

-Did… Did you kill him? – Verona asks concerned.

-No I didn't! I just wanted to knock him unconscious so he'd let go of me… Although, That's a lot of blood coming out of his head. – William says as he looks at the old man's corpse on the ground.

-Hey, what are you guys do- WHAT THE FUCK?!

While these two idiots just stand there looking at the old man's dead body, Pearl swings open the shack's door and witnesses this horrendous murder scene.

They both look at Pearl. Her face of surprise and horror was covered with her hands.

-Now look. I know this seems bad, but let me explain-

-What the fuck is there to explain?! You monsters just killed this old man in cold blood! – She says in horror pointing at the man on the floor.

-It was his idea. I have nothing to do with it. – Verona says throwing his captain under the bus.

-Hey! I don't remember you suggesting any ideas on how to get rid of him! – William days trying to defend himself.

-Oh my fucking god! Why did I decide to come with you psychopaths in this journey… – Pear says desperately as she leans on the wall covering her face with her hood.

-Look, this guy was getting a bit clingy, so I just wanted to knock him out so we could leave! – William explains while waving his gun – I didn't expect him to die with just that!

-Of course a man this old would die with a hit on the head. Look at him! He looks like he's a hundred years old!

As they discuss the matter of William's innocence, a young man walks towards the shack without anyone noticing.

-Cranstin, I've got your mail here for you. Looks like your son has written you again…

A rather young man, dressed very similarly to a marine. But with a different type of hat and a big messenger bag over his shoulder. He walks to the door that lays open allowing him to see the old man Cranstin lay dead on the floor and, presumably, the culprits of this crime.

The entire world stops as they look at each other. The only thing they can think about is how bad this day can get…