Once Harden had stabilized beyond critical condition, William returned to Kalmar City with his entourage. With Golden Lion Shiki already present in the East Blue and potentially striking at any moment, William needed to command operations from his headquarters while maintaining public confidence.
Curiously, despite the imminent threat, Shiki had yet to make his appearance. Though puzzled by this delay, William seized the opportunity, ordering his textile factories to accelerate production of hot air balloons and airships.
Simultaneously, he invited journalists from the East Blue News and other media outlets to conduct comprehensive interviews regarding the Shiki situation. Given her exceptional performance during the previous profile interview, Laura Louise was once again dispatched by the East Blue News.
The assembled journalists and editors visibly trembled at the mere mention of Golden Lion Shiki's name. This was a figure who had once stood as an equal to the Pirate King Roger and Whitebeard Edward Newgate—a living legend whose reputation transcended time. Even after years of obscurity, for those raised in the East Blue—historically the weakest sea for pirate activity—Shiki remained a name that inspired both awe and terror.
Now, this legendary figure had not only surfaced in the East Blue but threatened its very existence.
Not one journalist questioned William's claims. After all, what purpose would such fabrication serve? William's reputation throughout the Navia Kingdom and across the East Blue was impeccable. Why would someone of his standing risk everything on a lie that would be exposed within days? What possible advantage could he gain?
After the press contingent departed—some vibrating with journalistic excitement, others pale with apprehension—Laura Louise found herself intercepted by one of William's aides.
Though her expression remained neutral, her heart hammered against her ribs as the aide closed the door behind him. Turning around, she saw William gesturing toward a chair directly opposite his own, inviting her to sit.
Laura settled herself with feigned composure, but William's opening question shattered her carefully constructed facade.
"Did Usorin Heller approach you personally, or did he employ an intermediary?" William asked, his tone casual yet penetrating.
Laura's expression faltered momentarily. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you're referring to."
"This continued pretense is disappointing," William sighed, shaking his head. "You'd be better served asking, 'How did you discover my identity?'"
Laura's lips parted, but no words emerged.
"Did you truly believe my influence confined to the East Blue? That I remain ignorant of Grand Line affairs?" William leaned forward slightly. "Did you imagine I wouldn't learn that Usorin Heller had engaged a World Economy News reporter to investigate me?"
As he spoke, William retrieved a bottle of whiskey and two glasses from beneath his desk, pouring a measure for each of them.
In truth, William had pieced together Laura's involvement through intelligence from Gin and his own network. Gin had been monitoring Usorin Heller since their earlier encounter. After thorough investigation, Gin discovered that Heller—notorious for filing frequent complaints to his superiors—had abruptly ceased this behavior.
Within the closed environment of a military installation, few secrets remained buried for long. With his superior rank, Gin accessed information more readily than Heller. Eventually, he uncovered a critical detail: Heller had been observed dispatching correspondence to the World Economy News offices.
Gin immediately relayed this intelligence to William, who swiftly narrowed his focus to Laura Louise.
Had Kuro still directed the National Security Bureau, Laura's infiltration would have been detected without Gin's assistance. However, since Tony had assumed leadership, the bureau had degenerated into a battleground of internal politics and power struggles, its efficiency plummeting compared to Kuro's meticulous administration.
This deterioration infuriated William. His original intention had been to reinstate Kuro immediately upon his return. However, with Kuro's disappearance and Shiki's sudden emergence, this plan had been temporarily shelved.
Despite uncovering Laura's true identity, William had refrained from immediate action. He had initially planned to leverage her position to his advantage.
However, Shiki's unexpected arrival had disrupted William's carefully laid strategies.
Defeating Golden Lion Shiki would not remain an isolated incident. The World Government and Marine Headquarters would never permit William to peacefully develop his enterprises in the East Blue after such a victory. The unusual relationship between the Morgan Pirates and the Navia Kingdom would inevitably attract official scrutiny and thorough investigation.
William harbored no illusions about the numerous illegal activities that had fueled his rise to power: his service aboard pirate vessels, systematic bribery of Marine officers, collection of protection fees throughout the East Blue, and his direct or indirect role in the deaths of two Marine base commanders.
Moreover, World Government jurisprudence often functioned more as rule by decree than rule of law. The definition of piracy remained deliberately ambiguous, frequently dependent on the arbitrary judgment of Marine officers or government officials.
William likened his situation to private enterprises in his previous life: early-stage growth often necessitated legal compromises. For William, however, these weren't mere compromises but outright violations. Regardless of his future achievements, the government could always excavate his past transgressions if motivated to do so. The only variable was whether they possessed sufficient incentive.
Based on his analysis of World Government and Marine operations, William believed they would never ignore a force capable of defeating Golden Lion Shiki, particularly in the traditionally docile East Blue.
William had no desire to grant the World Government or Marines the luxury of methodical investigation, detailed planning, and thorough preparation before they moved against him. He wanted to force their hand, compelling hasty, poorly coordinated action.
Two major developments this year worked to William's advantage. First, former Admiral Zephyr, known as "Black Arm," had suffered a devastating attack, losing one of his prized limbs. This incident had sent shockwaves through the Marine hierarchy, as Zephyr represented not only formidable combat strength but also served as mentor to countless Marine officers. The Marines now diverted additional resources to maintaining order in the Grand Line, where news of Zephyr's injury had emboldened numerous pirate factions.
Second, the Revolutionary Army had begun to emerge on the world stage, actively seizing control of national governments. Though still in its nascent phase, this movement had already captured the attention of perceptive observers. William felt certain that within the World Government and Marines, astute minds would recognize the Revolutionary Army as fundamentally different from pirate threats—a direct challenge to governmental legitimacy itself.
Unknown to William, the Revolutionary Army and its enigmatic leader, Monkey D. Dragon, would become central topics at next year's World Government summit, with certain monarchs proposing coordinated action against Dragon's growing movement.
The Grand Line—indeed, the entire world—seethed with complex tensions. With the Marines and World Government already stretched thin, William recognized, as he had told his subordinates, that this presented the optimal moment to strike.
Compared to the World Government and Marines, William's forces resembled an adolescent facing fully matured adversaries. Their only path to victory lay in exploiting their opponents' current distractions and limitations.
Should the Marines and World Government resolve their immediate crises and allocate time for comprehensive investigation into William's operations—particularly his revolutionary steamship technology and connections to Water 7—his prospects would diminish dramatically.
To accelerate their response, William required a catalyst. Like Usorin Heller, he immediately recognized the power of public opinion.
Through strategic use of the World Economy News, William intended to generate sufficient media pressure to force the World Government and Marines into precipitous action. Rather than allowing them investigative latitude, he planned to control the narrative through deliberate self-exposure.
Laura Louise couldn't fathom William's true strategic calculus, but her professional instincts sensed danger.
As her investigation had deepened, so too had her understanding of William's formidable nature. Intellectually brilliant, politically astute, physically powerful, and disarmingly charismatic, he exuded undeniable magnetism. Yet Laura remained acutely aware of his ruthlessness—his capacity to end lives without hesitation when necessary.
The laws governing journalism in the Navia Kingdom revealed William's sophisticated understanding of media influence and propaganda. Laura's mission—essentially to expose William's operations—would, if published in a major international newspaper, produce predictably devastating consequences. She couldn't imagine William failing to grasp these implications.
Laura's eyes darted involuntarily toward the windows, briefly contemplating escape. She abandoned the thought almost immediately, recognizing the futility of attempting to flee from someone of William's capabilities.
Contrary to her expectations, William placed a glass of whiskey before her and spoke reassuringly: "You needn't worry. I have no intention of harming you."
Laura accepted the glass, taking a tentative sip. "Why not?"
"You came here to investigate me, correct?" William moved from behind his desk, positioning himself casually against its edge, mere feet from Laura. He held his glass with relaxed confidence. "How has your investigation progressed?"
Though initially tense at William's proximity, Laura relaxed slightly when he made no threatening movements. After a moment's hesitation, she replied: "I've gathered substantial information about your governance since assuming control of Navia. Regarding your activities before that period, I've mostly relied on local legends and folklore, which lack clarity on many crucial details."
"Such as?" William prompted.
"For instance, despite operating as a pirate for a considerable period with significant influence, you never received a bounty—a prerequisite for your eventual aristocratic status," Laura explained, growing more comfortable as the conversation shifted to her investigative work. After another sip of whiskey, she continued with increasing animation: "Additionally, your systematic collection of fees from passing vessels in national waters raises questions about why the local Marine Base 16 remained conspicuously inactive."
"Because both successive commanders of Marine Base 16 were complicit in my operations," William replied with a disarming smile. "During my pirate days, Colonel Roy served as my official shield, while I facilitated certain financial arrangements beneficial to him."
Laura's eyes widened, her lips parting in astonishment. The critical intelligence she had struggled to uncover through painstaking investigation was now being freely offered by the subject himself.
William's matter-of-fact delivery suggested these revelations were trivial, yet they documented collusion between a Marine base commander and the very pirates he was tasked with apprehending—a scandal of monumental proportions.
"Wait," Laura's cheeks flushed, either from mounting excitement at this journalistic goldmine or the whiskey's effects. Her investigative instincts overrode her earlier caution. "Colonel Roy was your protector? Would he have permitted your ascension to governmental authority? Such a position would potentially place you beyond his control."
"He most certainly objected," William chuckled with disturbing lightness. "Which is why I eliminated him and subsequently installed a more accommodating commander."
"Oh..." The color drained from Laura's face as though doused with ice water. William's casual admission yanked her back to reality, a stark reminder that beneath his affable exterior lurked a man who had ordered numerous deaths.
Laura lowered her gaze, mind racing. Why was William suddenly so forthcoming? Was he planning to silence her permanently? No—based on her assessment, William wasn't one to waste time on theatrical revelations before an execution, especially with the Shiki situation demanding his attention.
Shiki! That had to be the key.
Just as this realization dawned, Laura felt gentle fingers lifting her chin. William's expression remained pleasant as he studied her wide eyes. "Why do you think I'm sharing these details with you?"
Laura whispered the answer: "Golden Lion Shiki."
"Brilliant!" William withdrew his hand, his approval evident.
"Golden Lion Shiki intends to destroy the East Blue, but your entire empire is rooted here," Laura analyzed, emboldened by William's encouragement. "Conflict between you is inevitable. If you lose, you lose everything. If you win, your name—previously known only within the East Blue—will echo across all seas, exposing your operations to World Government and Marine scrutiny."
Taking another sip of whiskey, her face flushing deeper, Laura continued her analysis: "You're telling me all this because you believe exposure is inevitable, so you might as well leverage the World Economy News to amplify your reputation and influence?"
"Excellent reasoning, though unfortunate that you represent the World Economy News specifically," William replied with feigned regret.
Observing William's unwavering confidence and recalling her observations throughout Kalmar City—particularly the citizens who had benefited from his policies—Laura finally voiced her concerns: "Why are you so composed, so self-assured? I recognize your extraordinary accomplishments—rising from piracy to your current position at such a young age is remarkable—but you're confronting Golden Lion Shiki! You cannot possibly defeat him! Why face this alone? Why not alert Marine Headquarters and the World Government?"
William laughed heartily, draining his whiskey in a single fluid motion before setting the glass down with quiet finality:
"Because turning the tide against impossible odds—that is what defines a hero!"
🔥 Want to read the next 20 chapters RIGHT NOW?
💎 Patreon members get instant access!
⚡ Limited-time offer currently running...
👉 [Join on - patreon.com/GoldenLong]