William advanced step by step, while the royal guards in front of him retreated protectively with Norton I, treating him as though he were some ferocious, man-eating beast.
Even someone as foolish as Norton I wouldn't blindly believe William's words after he stormed the palace with armed men.
"What are you doing?" William frowned and scolded.
Bang!
Before William's voice had fully faded, a guard suddenly fired a shot at him.
However, William had already sensed the danger the moment the guard discreetly aimed at him. A faint tingling sensation at his brow, a gift from his [Heightened Alertness] feat, made him snap his head toward the direction of the gun barrel.
In that instant, the beast-like instincts from [Heightened Alertness], the rapid response granted by [Lightning Reflexes], and his solid foundation in swordsmanship all came together. The gleam of his blade flashed like a rainbow, and in the blink of an eye, William had drawn his sword, slicing through the incoming bullet with precision.
The other guards, seeing their comrade attack, also opened fire in succession. Yet William remained cold and composed, his blade moving with deadly accuracy. Each swing intercepted a bullet mid-air, the clash of steel and lead ringing out sharply. When the guards had emptied their magazines, William stood unscathed, not a single wound on his body.
The guards, now dumbfounded, instinctively kept pulling their triggers, but the empty clicks of their guns only deepened their despair.
William sneered, raising his sword high. With a single upward slash, a brilliant arc of light cleaved through the roof above them. With a deafening crash, the ceiling was torn apart, and rain poured in relentlessly. However, as the rain touched William, it evaporated instantly with a hissing sound, forming trails of steam that coiled around him.
With a wave of his hand, the swirling steam gathered together. The guards, witnessing the miraculous power of his Devil Fruit, stood frozen in shock, their mouths agape.
In the next moment, the steam condensed into the vague shape of a dragon and surged toward the guards. The scalding vapor, exceeding a hundred degrees Celsius, scalded their skin upon contact, eliciting screams of agony. The steam dragon then exploded violently, releasing a shockwave of heat and force that sent the guards sprawling, their exposed skin blistered and burned.
Although William had restrained his power, the explosion still impacted Norton I, who had been hiding behind the guards. The king fell onto his backside, his plump, pale skin now marred by red burns from the scalding steam. His crown tumbled to the ground, rolling to a stop at William's feet.
William picked up the crown, toying with it as he approached Norton I. Unceremoniously, he yanked the trembling king to his feet and smiled. "Your Majesty, it seems quite a few members of your guard are loyal to Rielde."
Dragging the bewildered Norton I, William led him toward the gathered Morgan Pirates.
Harden, his eyes wide with curiosity, scrutinized the disheveled king. William, however, casually gestured toward the guards lying on the ground, groaning in pain, and ordered, "These men are traitors. Execute them."
These guards, who had rushed to protect Norton I amidst the chaos, were undoubtedly loyalists. William had no intention of sparing them.
Harden let out a sinister chuckle, gripping his blade as he approached the incapacitated guards. Their severe burns and internal injuries from the explosion left them utterly defenseless.
Turning to Aramis, William commanded, "You will 'protect' His Majesty's safety." He emphasized the word "protect," his tone leaving no room for misinterpretation.
Aramis smiled faintly, revealing two sharp canine teeth, and nodded knowingly.
William then addressed Edmond. "You will locate His Majesty's family and deliver them to Aramis for 'protection.'"
"S-Stolt..." Norton I finally found his voice, stammering in panic. "What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Please, call me William, Your Majesty," William replied coldly, casting a sidelong glance at the king. "This rebellion involves a wide network of conspirators. It's a premeditated, collective uprising. I can't say for certain how many nobles and officials are involved. For now, the only way to ensure your safety is to remain under the protection of me and my men."
"That's impossible!" Norton I exclaimed, his voice trembling. It was unclear whether he was denying the notion of a widespread conspiracy or rejecting the idea that only William's protection could guarantee his safety.
"The Director of the Alcohol Smuggling Investigation Bureau, Kuro, holds evidence of Rielde's treachery," William said with a mocking grin. "Rielde launched this rebellion to escape punishment for violating the Prohibition Act and masterminding the underground alcohol trade. Naturally, anyone found hoarding alcohol at home can be considered one of his accomplices. Determining who is innocent will require me and my men to conduct thorough investigations in the days to come."
...
The unrest in Kalmar City persisted for several days before finally subsiding. By then, William had taken full control of the royal palace. The city gates were guarded by his men, and the sea routes connecting the city to the outside world were blockaded by his pirate fleet.
In the blink of an eye, William had seized both the actual control of the city and the symbolic authority of the kingdom. Meanwhile, the Marines stationed in the region turned a blind eye to the chaos, citing an official-sounding excuse: "This is an internal conflict among the people of the Navia Kingdom, beyond our jurisdiction. The Marines cannot intervene."
The rebellion was officially attributed to Rielde, the former Minister of Internal Affairs. While William had not lied about Rielde's actions, the outcome was clear. If Rielde's coup had succeeded, he would have found ways to legitimize his actions. But since he failed, his unauthorized mobilization of troops and attacks on other ministers were undeniably treasonous.
The public readily accepted this narrative. The commoners, who had suffered losses during the unrest, harbored deep hatred for Rielde and his faction of traitorous officials.
Seizing this opportunity, William began a large-scale purge of Kalmar City's military leadership. Only now did the city's nobles truly understand the meaning of persecution. Compared to the investigations led by Arcadio's Alcohol Smuggling Bureau, which merely detained individuals for questioning, William's methods were far more ruthless.
Under the pretext of rooting out traitors, William rebranded the Alcohol Smuggling Bureau as the National Security Bureau. Since Rielde's rebellion was tied to his role as the mastermind behind the underground alcohol trade, any noble involved in the alcohol trade—or simply possessing alcohol at home—could be labeled as one of his accomplices.
But how could any noble household be without alcohol? Kuro, acting on William's prior instructions, had already gathered sufficient evidence. Whether someone was deemed an accomplice of Rielde was entirely up to William's discretion.
Now, the same nobles who had once cursed Arcadio day and night, wishing for his downfall, found themselves longing for his return.
For in Kalmar City today, the man named William wielded absolute control, his power overshadowing all.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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