What was William thinking as he stood at the bow of the ship?
Psychologist Maslow categorized human needs into five levels: physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs.
For William, his physiological needs were fully met—he lacked nothing in terms of food, clothing, or shelter. Were it not for his strong self-discipline, his current status and power in the East Blue would easily attract countless admirers with just a wave of his hand.
As for social needs, he had the guidance of his teacher, Koushirou, and the camaraderie of loyal companions like Gin, Aramis, and others who had shared trials and tribulations with him.
In terms of esteem needs, William had already become a Pivotal Figure in the East Blue. Even someone like Darwil, the mayor of a small town, approached him with utmost caution.
What occupied William's mind now were his safety needs and his pursuit of self-actualization.
At first, William's disdain for the bandit-like nature of pirates stemmed from his mindset in his previous life. But even now, after gaining a deeper understanding of this world, that disdain not only persisted but had grown stronger.
The pinnacle of such banditry was undoubtedly the Pirate King Gol D. Roger. But what became of him?
Judging from the events following the start of the Great Pirate Era, it was possible that Roger's capture had more to it than met the eye—perhaps even orchestrated by the World Government. However, the fates of those associated with Roger after his death served as a warning to William.
William had always been attentive to news about the sea train. When he first read about it in the newspapers, he recognized it as a groundbreaking invention. This led him to learn more about its designer, the fish-man shipwright Tom.
The East Blue Daily once ran a series of articles about Tom's life, though they reportedly didn't sell well. Natives of the East Blue, like Vallon, Edmond, and Aramis, showed little interest in a shipwright from faraway Water 7, even if he was somewhat connected to the Pirate King. Upon learning that Tom wasn't a crew member but merely a shipbuilder, their interest waned entirely.
But William was different. When he saw how such a brilliant designer and shipwright could be so easily manipulated by the World Government due to his connection to the Pirate King, it left a deep impression on him. Many others around the world suffered similar fates simply because of their ties to Roger.
How could someone like William, who valued control and independence, ever aspire to follow in Roger's footsteps and become a mere bandit?
There was no way he would accept seeing Gin, Aramis, Sherlock, or even Tony—his trusted companions—become pawns for the World Government to toy with, especially not after his death.
Moreover, William had once been a slave to the Celestial Dragons, and he had even killed one. Though the incident had long passed and there were no witnesses, it remained a hidden danger, a thorn in his heart.
As someone who had experienced life in a modern society, William found it emotionally difficult to align himself with a regime like the World Government.
To him, the Celestial Dragons were like maggots—disgusting to even think about, let alone tolerate as overlords. The fact that such creatures could live in luxury and arrogance, protected by laws and violence, was utterly revolting.
From his background, emotions, and rational perspective, the mere existence of the World Government was an obstacle for William. It was the source of his insecurity and a target of his innate hostility.
William was also a power-hungry individual, an ambitious man who always sought more authority and influence. His life's purpose was to climb higher on the pyramid of power. Naturally, this led him to entertain thoughts of overthrowing the World Government and taking its place.
Ever since William had crossed into this world, his options had been limited. He could either live as a small, insignificant figure, drifting aimlessly in this chaotic era until he was swallowed by its tides and died a silent death. Or he could face the challenges head-on, climbing toward the summit without retreating, knowing that any hesitation could lead to a fatal fall.
William chose the latter. Thus, smuggling operations, corrupting low-level Marines, drafting the Morgan Code, and protecting local villages and towns—everything he did was part of his strategic groundwork. But it wasn't enough.
Looking at the broader picture, the World Government and the Marines bore some resemblance to the decaying regimes of history, such as the late Yuan Dynasty—corrupt, oppressive, yet still possessing significant military power. The various pirate factions, on the other hand, were like the scattered rebel forces that emerged under oppressive policies. However, most pirates were far less competent than historical rebels; over 80% lacked even the semblance of political ambition.
From this perspective, Gol D. Roger's initiation of the Great Pirate Era gave these aimless rebel forces a common goal. Yet, in William's eyes, they remained a disorganized mess.
At the same time, the Great Pirate Era provided the World Government and the Marines with a unifying cause. The civilians tormented by the influx of pirates began to regain some faith in the oppressive regime.
In Darwil, William saw a glimpse of the kind of ideology and purpose that could elevate his faction beyond the level of mere banditry. It was the key to ensuring his group wouldn't fall into the same category as aimless pirates.
At the grassroots level, a unifying ideology could inspire people to endure hardships and rigorous training, transforming them into stronger individuals.
At the mid-to-high levels, it served as a mental anchor and a set of constraints. Humans are social creatures; with consistent indoctrination, even those with great strength could be influenced to follow discipline and leadership, rallying under a common banner. These ideologically aligned elites could also keep dissenters in check, much like the relationship between the Marines and their powerful officers.
To truly command respect, one needed not just strength but also ideas.
Nationalism, statism—it didn't matter to William what the ideology was, as long as it helped him climb to the pinnacle of power and rid himself of the burdens weighing on him.
For now, ending this chaotic era and restoring order seemed like a promising rallying cry. Even if it wasn't everyone's goal, William would make it so. And he would become the one destined to bring it all to an end—the one everyone looked up to.
The Morgan Pirates stayed in Black Reef Town for a week. The townsfolk remained wary of them, with most choosing not to return to their homes, instead hiding in the mountains outside the town.
However, as days passed, they noticed that the pirates indeed kept to their word, refraining from disturbing or harming the residents. Gradually, people began returning to their homes, cleaning up the wreckage left by the raid.
During this time, William invited Mayor Darwil and several other local leaders aboard his ship to discuss future arrangements.
William stationed two retired pirates with disabilities at the town's dock. These men, no longer fit for combat, would promote his brewery's products to passing ships and act as liaisons, reporting any unusual occurrences to William.
The Morgan Pirates would also patrol the surrounding seas regularly, bringing the town under their protection.
In return, the pirates would occasionally dock at the town, which would be required to provide supplies. William promised to pay fair prices for these goods. Additionally, the town would pay a small "security tax" to the pirates each month.
The amount was minimal, far below Darwil and the others' expectations. For William, the money itself wasn't important—it was the symbolism of taxation that mattered. It represented governance and would take root in the minds of the townsfolk.
When Darwil and the others suggested offering additional tributes to ensure the pirates' goodwill, William politely declined.
Throughout the week, Darwil and the town's leaders tread carefully, doing their best to meet the pirates' demands, fearing that any misstep might provoke them into plundering the town like other pirate crews.
When the townsfolk heard that William and his crew were leaving, they organized a farewell at the dock.
Some pirates were busy unloading goods from the ship, wrapping them in pirate flags before placing them on the dock.
Curious, Darwil asked, "Captain Stolt, what is all this?"
"Some supplies," William replied calmly. "The town has just been raided and needs these items."
Darwil and the other local leaders exchanged surprised glances. After a moment, Darwil grasped William's hand.
"You once said that you and your crew are different from other pirates. Now, I truly believe it," the old man said sincerely for the first time, his usual flattery replaced by genuine respect. "You won't just be another Gol D. Roger. You'll be greater than him—a true pride of the East Blue!"
The other leaders echoed his sentiment.
In truth, what William had given was of little value—mostly bulky, low-cost items taken from Guy's pirate crew. But the fact that they were given under the banner of pirates created a stark contrast, leaving a deep impression on Darwil and the others.
Among the crowd behind Darwil stood Mary, the innkeeper, and her daughter, Isha. They had narrowly escaped Guy's raid and remained safe until now.
As William finished speaking with Darwil and prepared to leave, Isha suddenly ran out from the crowd, clutching a wildflower she had picked along the way.
Under the surprised, confused, and worried gazes of those behind her, the little girl approached William and held out the simple flower.
"Thank you for saving us," Isha said, tilting her head back to look up at him. She stood on her tiptoes, stretching her arm as high as she could to offer the flower.
Some townsfolk looked on anxiously. Despite the pirates' behavior over the past week, their deeply ingrained perception of pirates as ruthless criminals made them fear that Isha might anger William.
The pirates on the dock gradually stopped their work, their expressions complicated as they watched the scene unfold.
William looked down at Isha, feeling a sense of familiarity. He scanned the crowd and quickly spotted Mary, smiling at him from the front row.
William smiled back. He recognized the mother and daughter as the people he had saved from the wine cellar during the raid.
"You're welcome," William said, bending down to accept the flower. Carefully, he tucked it into his chest and added sincerely, "And thank you for the flower."
Isha smiled shyly, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
William patted her head gently before turning to board his ship. The pirates resumed their work, but their occasional glances toward the townsfolk were no longer tinged with resentment from William's discipline. Instead, they seemed friendlier.
"One Piece:The True Codex"Volume Two: Demon of the East Blue, Complete.
Next Volume: The Thief Who Stole a Nation
"Let the rain pour; I shall sit and rule the kingdom!"
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