Bill: - Okay, now I want you to try using your ability the same way you did a second ago.
Smoker stuck his finger out and slammed his palm down on the table, shouting:
- What have you done to me? I... I can't...
Bill: - That's right, you can't use your ability now.
After saying this, his eyes darkened for a moment, and he was convinced that the devil was still suppressed.
Then Bill continued:
- But you remember how it felt, right? You remember using that devil ability as naturally as breathing, right?
By this time, Smoker's hair was wet with sweat, and Bill decided to stop limiting the reality around him. After all, Bill wasn't going to hurt the captain he'd spent so much time with.
But while the devil's presence was returning, the two men continued their conversation.
After about an hour, Smoker's ability was fully restored and Bill stood up, but before leaving, he said:
"I can't teach you how I use Haki. I suppose it's impossible, but I hope that after what I've shown you, you understand that Haki is a spiritual power, no matter how it manifests itself.
Nodding, Smoker didn't smoke his cigar for the entire conversation after Bill blocked his ability.
Lighting one, the man said:
- I think I understand a little more now. Thank you, Black Stone. The caravel is in the trading dock, you can take it. My name is written on the sails, so you won't miss.
Then, taking a drag, Smoker continued:
- Don't worry about it. I'm going to ask for a transfer, and the caravel is not suitable for where I'm going. I'm too used to this place, I've lost my grip.
Taking another long drag, Smoker looked up at Bill and stared him straight in the eyes.
- Thank you, Bill. If you hadn't been there, I really don't know what the Dragon could have done.
Then, rising from the table, Smoker saluted Bill and remained standing.
As he left the room, Bill himself didn't know why, but he stopped and turned around.
- One more thing, Captain. When I fought the Dragon, the being behind it was much more distinct. If yours is a misty mirage shadow, then his is a clear figure. I don't know what it means, but I also felt that his manifestation ability was stronger... keep that in mind, perhaps you can still become stronger in more ways than one.
After that, Bill didn't wait for Smoker's dark look and immediately left the room.
He heard conversations from below and realized that Masterson had returned with the girls, but Bill walked past several offices and opened the door.
Inside he saw the fattest man he had ever met, and it seemed that this man had even gained weight in the last six weeks.
- Eww?! - The man who was eating a chicken leg began to choke.
Bill walked into the room and saw two irritated women in medical gowns and, thinking that only God knew what they had been through, said:
- Thank you for taking care of my partner, ladies.
Then, shaking hands with one of the stunned women, Bill said:
- I know it wasn't easy. Tell me, how many assistants went through Nelson... - "How dare you... - SILENCE!"
Turning his head away from the nurses, Bill looked at Nelson and said,
- I am your commander. You will speak only when spoken to, understood, Second Mate?
The fat man looked at Bill with hatred, clearly forgetting the lesson he had already received. And as soon as he started to say something, Bill came up and slapped him hard three times on his huge belly.
- Eww!
Nelson drooled and stared at Bill, but said nothing more as he listened to the response from the two nurses.
It turned out that Nelson had gone through eight nurses in six weeks. Fortunately, the man was so fat that he posed no threat in terms of sexual or physical harassment, but his tongue was completely out of control.
Nodding, Bill said he understood and asked the two nurses to gather the others and head to the warehouse where the refugees from Clock Island were staying, where they could get an extra 500,000 beli for their efforts.
The women were stunned, but then they became delighted and began thanking Bill over and over again. At this point, they even seemed to forget Nelson's nastiness when they heard about such a bonus.
500,000 belli was roughly equivalent to a year's pay for a private in the Marine Corps, and for these nurses it was probably two years' work.
It was a modest expense, Bill thought, and credited the money to Nelson's account.
After letting the women go, Bill walked back to Nelson and saw the lift installed.
It was necessary so that the orderlies could wash and clean the man, but Bill looked at it and shook his head.
"This is simply a disgrace," he said.
"What?" Nelson replied, and then, realizing what Bill meant, he added sharply, "What's so shameful about that? It's an honor for them to serve me!"
Bill shook his head again, looking not at Nelson but at the lift as he replied,