One Piece: The True Codex

The pockmarked pirate leader led William toward the captain's cabin. Along the way, four burly pirates flanked him with drawn swords, ensuring he wouldn't try anything reckless.

William followed obediently, showing no resistance even when one of the pirates gave him a shove as he entered the cabin. He merely brushed it off without a word.

Inside the captain's cabin, there were only two people. One was a burly man with a face full of scars and dreadlocks—clearly a pirate. William immediately dismissed him from his focus and turned his attention to the other individual, whose appearance matched Tony's description of Sherlock.

This was the first time William and Sherlock had met. They appeared to be of similar age, but in contrast to William, who had grown rugged and composed from his pirate life and years of sword training, Sherlock's complexion was pale, and his frame slightly frail.

Sherlock's short black hair was disheveled, though it was unclear whether that was his natural state or the result of his captivity. His high-quality suit, which was clearly made from expensive fabric, was carelessly unbuttoned, with the sleeves rolled up, leaving it wrinkled and unkempt.

As William scrutinized Sherlock, the latter was also sizing him up. Sherlock's nervous expression brought a faint smile to William's lips.

The pirate leader, who had been seated behind the captain's desk, stood up and wasted no time. "Where's the money?" he demanded bluntly.

William smirked and raised the leather cases in his hands.

"You've already seen the man," said the pockmarked pirate who had led William there. He glanced at the unharmed Sherlock before glaring at William. Then, he reached out to snatch the cases from William.

But William was quicker. With a swift motion, he tossed both cases onto the captain's desk.

Thud! Thud!

The two heavy cases, filled to the brim, landed on the desk with a dull thud, one stacked atop the other. The top case, the one William had previously opened to reveal the cash, was placed directly in front of the pirate leader.

The leader, visibly excited, ran a hand through his dreadlocks before eagerly opening the top case.

Inside, bundles of Beli, neatly stacked and tightly packed, filled the case to the brim. To the pirate leader, it seemed as if golden light was reflecting off the money. He knew it was just an illusion, but it didn't stop him from whistling in delight. He grabbed a few bundles to inspect them before pushing the top case aside to open the second one.

It was as if the money had cast a spell on everyone in the room. The pirates' eyes were glued to the bundles of cash.

As the pirate leader placed his hands on the second case, William quietly placed his hands on the wrist of the pirate who had shoved him earlier—the one still holding a sword.

The pirate leader's eyes gleamed as he opened the second case. However, what greeted him was not the same sight as before. This case, too, was packed to the brim, but instead of money, it was filled with stacks of freshly printed newspapers, their ink still faintly fragrant.

For a moment, the pirate leader froze, dumbfounded. Then, his face contorted with rage. Realizing he had been tricked, he slammed the open case shut with a loud bang and roared, "Kill him!"

But William had already made his move. While the pirates were distracted by the money, he had seized the wrist of the pirate beside him. In one fluid motion, he executed a technique known as "Disarming Without a Blade."

Bang! The sound of the case being slammed shut echoed through the room.

Thud! The sound of the pirate hitting the floor followed immediately after.

The pirate lay sprawled on the ground, dazed and disoriented. Meanwhile, the curved sword he had been holding was now in William's hand, as if by magic.

William glanced down at the fallen pirate with disdain. "You can't even hold onto your weapon. And you call yourself a pirate?"

At that moment, the pirate leader's furious roar filled the room. The three remaining pirates surrounding William snapped out of their daze and charged at him with their swords raised.

But William, with his Lightning Reflexes, was far faster. Combined with the techniques he had painstakingly learned at Koushirou's Isshin Dojo, the pirates' movements seemed agonizingly slow in his eyes. Their attacks were riddled with flaws, their techniques crude and inefficient. They relied solely on brute strength, barely utilizing even a fraction of their potential power.

To William, facing these three pirates was like a modern army equipped with tanks and artillery going up against untrained militia wielding outdated rifles. The outcome was predetermined.

With a slight shift in his stance, William sidestepped their attacks. His blade moved with precision, blocking all three swords in a single upward motion. His timing was impeccable, and his movements flowed seamlessly, a testament to his rigorous training and real-world combat experience.

In a world where individuals could possess extraordinary strength, the knowledge imparted by Koushirou's Isshin-ryu was akin to advanced military technology in William's previous life. Against these pirates, William's mastery of technique was overwhelming.

He deflected their strikes with minimal effort, using their own momentum against them. In a series of fluid movements, he executed precise attacks: a thrust, a flick, and a slash. Bloodlines appeared on the pirates' bodies almost simultaneously—one on the chest, one on the chin, and one on the throat.

Even Koushirou himself would have applauded William's performance—not because his strength had reached an astonishing level, but because of the flawless execution of his actions. There was no wasted movement, no unnecessary exertion. His technique was a testament to his dedication and discipline.

William's hands were steady, and so was his heart.

With a crouch and a burst of speed, William launched himself toward the pirate leader. As he moved, the three pirates collapsed to the floor behind him, their bodies hitting the ground with a dull thud.

The pockmarked pirate who had escorted William finally fumbled to draw his weapon, but William barely spared him a glance. As he passed by, his blade flicked out in a feint, forcing the pirate to attempt a block. In the same instant, William shifted his angle and thrust the blade into a vital point.

The pockmarked pirate didn't even have the strength to delay William for a second.

The pirate leader, now pale with fear, watched in disbelief as four of his subordinates were taken down in the blink of an eye. It felt like a nightmare—a nightmare where the tables had turned entirely against him.

As William charged toward him, the pirate leader panicked. He grabbed the case filled with newspapers and hurled it at William, retreating two steps as he pulled a flintlock pistol from his coat.

With a flash of steel, William sliced through the flying case, cutting it cleanly in half. The newspapers inside scattered into the air, fluttering around him like falling leaves.

The pirate leader took aim, his pistol leveled at William's forehead.

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