"Join your crew?" Yasopp paused mid-sip of his drink, the rumors circulating in the village flashing through his mind.
Hearing this, Banchina also stopped stirring the pot, her expression complicated as she looked toward William.
"You've probably heard by now—I'm the captain of a pirate crew," William said calmly. "The Morgan Pirates. I wonder if you've heard of us."
"You're the captain of the Morgan Pirates?" Yasopp was momentarily stunned.
"I've heard of some of the things your crew has done," Yasopp said, setting his glass down with a serious expression. "You don't plunder civilians, and sometimes you even leave supplies, wrapped in your pirate flag, at the docks of villages that have been raided by other pirates. I greatly admire what you've done."
William had always placed great importance on public relations. Stories of the Morgan Pirates' actions were not only spread because of their unique approach but also due to promotions orchestrated by Sherlock and his Four Seas Trading Company.
William continued, "Since you've heard of us, you should also know that we're not like other pirate crews. Those weak and cowardly pirate crews prey on the defenseless, but we target the wicked among our own kind. They'll take anyone as a crew member, but I'm different…"
Yasopp chuckled at William's blunt critique, but his laughter stopped when William suddenly pointed at him and said, "On my ship, I only want the best. And by the way, the revolver used in today's competition? That was developed by my company. If you join my crew, you'll be the first to access all kinds of new weaponry in the future."
Being valued by someone is always gratifying, especially when that someone is the leader of a rising "Robin Hood" organization like the Morgan Pirates. For someone like Yasopp, the label of "pirate" was of little concern. He grinned, ready to respond, but his gaze fell on Banchina and Usopp, who were both looking at him. His smile gradually faded, and after a moment of silence, he finally said, "I'm sorry. I have a wife and child at home. I can't just leave them behind."
"On my ship, the families of my crew are my family too. Even if you were willing to abandon them, I wouldn't allow it as your captain," William said with a light laugh. But seeing that Yasopp remained silent, he added, "As long as I draw breath, I will ensure the safety of my crew's families. So, if you're worried about danger—"
"I'm not afraid of danger!" Yasopp interrupted firmly.
William, though polite and humble since stepping into Yasopp's home, was still the leader of a well-known pirate crew and the owner of the Four Seas Trading Company. Yasopp, on the other hand, was just a farmer in a remote village. The difference in their statuses was immense.
Yasopp, despite his carefree nature and pride in his shooting talent, didn't want William to think of him as a coward.
But words alone weren't enough to convince everyone. Edmond, skeptical, let out a derisive snort.
"I misspoke," William said, glancing at Banchina and Usopp before patting Edmond on the shoulder. Smiling at Yasopp, he added, "You're not afraid of danger; you just have something more important to protect. I understand. Let's not talk about this anymore."
True to his word, William didn't bring up the invitation again. Even when Dampier "took the liberty" of inviting Yasopp to work at his weapons company—only to help with data collection, not as a pirate—William quickly changed the subject.
Despite the simple food and the cheap, homemade alcohol, the dinner was lively and enjoyable. William animatedly recounted tales of the sea to young Usopp, describing the strange phenomena of the Calm Belt, the primitive tribes on isolated islands, the enslaved workers of the Bridge Kingdom, and how the Morgan Pirates had saved village after village from marauding pirates.
Usopp was enthralled, refusing to go to bed even when Banchina tried to coax him. He clung to William, loudly declaring his desire to join the Morgan Pirates and protect the people of the East Blue.
"Now that's the spirit! That's how a man should be," William said with a hearty laugh, lifting Usopp onto his lap. "When you grow up and become as remarkable as your father, I'll personally invite you to join my crew."
"Promise?" Usopp, though young, was sharp enough to doubt whether William was just humoring him. He looked at William with skeptical eyes.
"I never joke about inviting people to my crew," William replied seriously. "But remember, I said you have to become as remarkable as your father first. Only then will I invite you aboard."
With that, William removed a silver necklace from around his neck—a gift from the mayor of a village he had once saved—and placed it around Usopp's neck. "When you've become a man, bring this necklace to me. I'll keep my word."
Banchina hesitated, as if wanting to say something, while Yasopp spoke up directly: "That necklace seems too valuable. Besides, Usopp is just a child. You don't have to take this so seriously."
Usopp glared at his father, and William chuckled, playfully tweaking Usopp's nose. "So what if he's a child? Even children can have big dreams."
In the end, Banchina had to drag a reluctant Usopp off to bed. With the boy gone, the remaining men—primarily William and Yasopp—chatted for a while longer. It wasn't until Edmond began yawning that William decided it was time to leave, despite Yasopp's efforts to get them to stay.
After Yasopp had declined William's invitation, William never brought it up again. As they prepared to leave, Yasopp half-expected William to make one last attempt to recruit him. But William stayed true to his word, merely saying he'd visit again for a drink sometime. He didn't mention the invitation again, leaving Yasopp feeling both relieved and a little disappointed.
William, however, knew that Yasopp wasn't someone content with an ordinary life. The longing on Yasopp's face as he listened to tales of the sea was unmistakable. The only thing holding him back was his family. It was clear that Yasopp and Banchina were deeply in love.
Though the Morgan Pirates were currently based in the East Blue, life at sea was unpredictable. Pirate voyages were especially erratic. Yasopp couldn't bring himself to leave his family behind, forcing Banchina to shoulder the burden of raising their young son alone.
Yasopp stood at his doorstep, watching William and his crew disappear into the distance. He remained there, motionless, for a long time.
He had wanted to say yes to William.
Eight years ago, Shanks had come to him, drawn by his reputation, and invited him to join the Red-Haired Pirates. Yasopp had refused back then because he couldn't bear to leave Banchina behind. At the very least, he had wanted them to have a child, so she wouldn't feel lonely after he was gone.
But after Usopp was born, Yasopp couldn't bring himself to leave either. The thought of abandoning his son and leaving Banchina to raise him alone was too cruel.
Family bound Yasopp to this remote village—a place so insignificant that even pirates ignored it. The ties were so tight that they sometimes left Yasopp feeling suffocated. There were moments when he wanted to throw it all away, to leave without looking back. But then he would think about young Usopp growing up without a father's guidance or about Banchina struggling to keep the household running, and he couldn't bring himself to do it.
With a heavy sigh, Yasopp finally turned back toward the house, only to find Banchina standing in the living room, holding a cup of warm tea to sober him up. She looked at him with a gentle smile.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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