"One Piece:The True Codex"Chapter 356: The Power of Choice
After finishing his conversation with Edmond, William put down the Transponder Snail and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. His mind raced as he processed the information he had just received.
While William was deep in thought, Gin pushed open the door and stepped into the hallway. "Selkirk's back," he announced.
Noticing William's furrowed brows and the Transponder Snail in his hand, Gin couldn't help but ask, "What news did you get from the East Blue?"
William pondered for a moment before sharing Edmond's earlier words with Gin.
"BIG MOM?!" Gin exclaimed, his face filled with surprise. After a pause, he hesitated and added, "Isn't this... good news? I mean, wasn't this part of your plan?"
Gin knew some of the details of William's current mission.
William nodded slowly. His primary goal in heading to the Sabaody Archipelago wasn't merely to bribe the Celestial Dragons. While that was one potential tactic, he had never placed his hopes on them.
From the memories and experiences of his body's original owner, William knew that with enough money, it was indeed possible to pressure the Celestial Dragons into leaning on the World Government and the Marines to overlook certain crimes.
However, William's true objective was to use the route through the Sabaody Archipelago and Fish-Man Island to enter the New World and meet the Yonko.
If the pirates of the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line were mostly akin to bandits, their relationship with the World Government and the Marines resembled that of rebel forces clashing with an established regime. In contrast, the Yonko's relationship with the World Government and the Marines was more like that of small nations contending with a global superpower during the Warring States period.
The Yonko were fundamentally different from the small-time pirates who roamed the seas. They were more akin to sovereign powers, rooted in the New World, recruiting talent, expanding their forces, dividing territories, and competing for resources.
For any pirate entering the New World, regardless of their fame or status as a "Super Rookie," there were essentially only two choices: join one of the Yonko or be relentlessly hunted by their forces until death—or until they were strong enough to overthrow a Yonko and take their place.
But to defeat and replace a Yonko? Unless the Yonko themselves suffered a significant internal upheaval, the chances of success were virtually zero. The New World was almost entirely under the control of the Yonko. Their power had long surpassed the realm of individual combat, while the pirates wandering the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line were accustomed to operating in small crews.
The Yonko not only possessed immense individual strength but also commanded countless subordinates. How could any newcomer hope to compete against such overwhelming forces?
Each year, the Sabaody Archipelago saw an influx of Super Rookies entering the New World. Many of them were ambitious and talented, each with their own unique opportunities. Yet, their fates were almost always the same: they either died or were absorbed into the Yonko's ranks.
This dynamic allowed the Yonko's power to grow steadily, turning them into formidable armed groups that posed a serious threat to the World Government's dominance.
In this competitive environment, individuals from all walks of life, including pirates, found themselves with more choices.
The creation of the Seven Warlords of the Sea system was, in part, a strategy by the World Government to prevent powerful and renowned pirates from joining the Yonko, thereby maintaining a balance of power.
Just as figures like Gecko Moria and Crocodile chose to align with the World Government and the Marines after failing in their battles against the Yonko, the reverse was also true. If William's negotiations with the World Government broke down and they decided to completely eradicate the Morgan Group, then William's best option, knowing he couldn't stand against the World Government, would naturally be to seek refuge with the Yonko.
In terms of strength, William was a Logia Devil Fruit user, a skilled swordsman, a master of Rokushiki, and possessed Conqueror's Haki.
While his power might not be particularly exceptional in the New World, where strong individuals were as common as grains of sand, the two legendary battles he had fought in the East Blue—against both pirates and Marines—had already revealed his capabilities to the world. And those capabilities extended far beyond mere strength.
Even if William were to lose all his powers in the next moment and become an ordinary man, his strategic acumen and planning, as demonstrated in those two battles, would still earn him a place under one of the Yonko—just like his subordinate, Sherlock.
Moreover, William held a significant technological advantage: the ability to enable ships to safely traverse the Calm Belt.
The Yonko, unlike the World Government and the Marines, were largely confined to the New World. They lacked the global reach that their adversaries enjoyed. If William's technology fell into the hands of the Yonko, it would be a game-changer, allowing them to extend their influence to other seas.
Most importantly, William held a trump card: Garp.
Garp was a symbol of justice, a legendary figure in the Marines, and a counterpart to the Pirate King, Roger. If Garp were to fall into the hands of any of the Yonko, their influence would grow exponentially.
With these assets, William was confident in the success of his mission. The fact that BIG MOM's representatives had proactively reached out to him in the East Blue only bolstered his confidence. However, BIG MOM wasn't William's first choice—Whitebeard was.
Despite the constant emergence of new pirates in the New World, the current maritime order was relatively stable. It was increasingly difficult for newcomers to ascend to the top of the hierarchy. William suspected that the next major upheaval in the Grand Line, one capable of upending this order, would likely involve Whitebeard. He hoped to position himself to benefit from such a shift when it occurred.
After all, allying with a Yonko was William's second-best option. Doing so would mean abandoning much of the foundation he had built over years in the East Blue. In such a scenario, he would need to plan for a way to reclaim his place on the world stage and become a central figure once more.
William was no longer the ordinary office worker he had been when he first arrived in this world. Having tasted the allure of power and the thrill of living on the edge, he had no intention of playing a supporting role on the global stage.
Although Moria had been easily defeated by William, his parting words left a lasting impression. For individuals like Moria and William, failure was merely a prelude to death. And for them, was death truly a threat?
"I've told Edmond to have Aramis stall BIG MOM's people for now," William said, exhaling deeply. "We'll meet with the others first before giving her a response. Still, this is undoubtedly good news for Dampier. At the very least, it shows the World Government and the Marines that if negotiations break down, we have other options."
Having said this, William suddenly seemed to realize something. "Why is Selkirk taking so long to return? He was just fetching someone, and the chapel isn't far."
"I was just about to tell you," Gin replied grimly. "The zombies on the island are rioting!"
(End of Chapter)
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