"This man," William declared, drawing his sword and slicing through the rope that held Barbarossa's severed head by its hair. The head tumbled twice on the deck before William stomped on it with his foot. His voice grew louder, evolving into a low roar that silenced the crowd, which had grown restless again after his earlier speech. "He failed to give you and me the rewards we deserved! He could no longer lead us back to glory. Therefore, he is unworthy of being the captain of this ship!"
"But from now on, you will no longer risk your lives for a greedy and foolish captain. Instead, you will march toward a great purpose," William proclaimed loudly. "Because starting today, I am your new captain! I will not only make you wealthy and strong, but I will also lead you to become legends of the East Blue alongside me!"
Hatcheson swallowed hard. Even as a seasoned pirate, he couldn't deny the impact of William's momentum. Backed by the slaying of Barbarossa, his prior reputation, and this fiery speech, William's words carried a powerful, almost hypnotic influence.
"From now on, this ship has a new pirate crew and a new captain. So I'm giving you a choice—a chance for fair challenge," William said, flaring his nostrils as he pointed the tip of his sword toward the crowd. His face still bore a smile, but unlike his usual approachable demeanor, this smile was filled with murderous intent. "Right here, right now! If anyone has objections to me becoming the captain, step forward. I'll give you a chance to challenge me. If you can kill me, everything I just said will be null and void."
The deck fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the sound of the sea breeze sweeping across the ship. No one spoke. More accurately, no one dared to speak, fearing William might mistake them for challengers.
William's smile deepened as he slowly scanned the crowd. He repeated, "I've said what I needed to say. From today onward, I am your new captain. Is there anyone who disagrees?"
While not everyone present was entirely convinced, it was clear that no one had the courage to oppose him at this moment. This man had single-handedly slain Barbarossa, a Devil Fruit user, and was a skilled swordsman with considerable influence among the crew.
The young Nadal, his youthful face flushed with excitement, was the first to respond. Stirred by William's speech, he shouted eagerly, "Captain!"
William's influence over the younger and less experienced pirates was particularly strong. With Nadal taking the lead, the older, more seasoned pirates and the newer recruits couldn't help but follow suit, shouting in unison.
In no time, the deck resounded with cries of "Captain!"
Below deck, the prisoners and the pirates guarding them exchanged confused glances, unsure of what was happening above.
On the deck, William allowed the crew to cheer for a while, basking in the moment. When the cries began to subside, he raised his hand to signal for silence.
"I've heard your voices," William said loudly. "I gave you all a chance, but no one dared to step forward! I'll take that as a sign that no one objects to me becoming the captain. From now on, anyone who dares to disobey my orders will have no one to blame but themselves."
William's tone turned cold as his gaze swept over Felton and his group. Felton, unable to meet William's eyes, reluctantly lowered his head, his expression a mix of resentment and frustration.
"I won't be like Barbarossa, cruelly hanging you alive at the bow of the ship," William said in a chilling voice. "I'll be merciful. I'll personally cut off the heads of those who defy me and toss their bodies into the sea to feed the fish. We are 'men of the sea,' and even in death, we should rest in the ocean."
Hearing this, the ship's doctor, Wood, uneasily touched his thinning hair and shrank back in fear.
William then dismissed the crowd, letting them disperse with their mixed emotions. Only Klo remained by his side.
As Felton left, he cast a venomous glance at William. Seeing that William had returned with nothing but Barbarossa's head, Felton was almost certain that William had consumed the Devil Fruit from the Swordfish Pirates' ship.
To be fair, if Felton had been in William's position, he would have eaten the Devil Fruit without hesitation. Barbarossa's ferocity and prestige as a Devil Fruit user had long been the envy of every pirate on the ship. But this only made Felton feel even more bitter, as if the fruit had rightfully belonged to him.
Still, Felton didn't have the courage to challenge William—not now, and certainly not after William had likely gained a Devil Fruit ability.
He decided it was time to leave. Felton's position as first mate had been secured by clinging to Barbarossa's favor, and Barbarossa had used Felton's rivalry with William to dilute the ship's leadership. Now that Barbarossa was dead, and given his past conflicts with William, Felton doubted he could retain his position under William's command.
Felton resolved to act before William's authority was fully established and his role as captain became unshakable. He planned to rally some loyal crew members and leave the pirate crew once they reached shore.
With enough strength and manpower, and perhaps a few skilled officers, Felton believed he could thrive in another pirate crew—or even start his own and set sail under a new flag.
William watched Felton and his group retreat, his gaze cold and calculating. Once they were out of sight, he allowed himself a moment to savor his victory.
Although William had been a high-ranking professional in his previous life, managing a team of subordinates comparable in number to the current crew, the two experiences were worlds apart.
This ship was like a small, independent kingdom. From today onward, the futures—and even the lives—of everyone aboard were in William's hands. A pirate captain wasn't just the ship's keel, holding everything together; he was also the sails driving it forward, the rudder steering its course, and the anchor providing stability.
This was his ship now, and these were his crew.
Nearly a hundred ruthless pirates, all under his command—a force that would be pivotal in the East Blue.
"No man should go a single day without power," William murmured, his eyes narrowing as he ran his fingers along the ship's railing. For someone intoxicated by power, nothing compared to the thrill of gaining even more.
Klo, ever perceptive, remained silent, allowing William to enjoy this moment of triumph.
After a while, William opened his eyes and glanced at Klo. "Preserve Barbarossa's head. It'll be my gift to Roy and Arcadio when we meet."
(Bonus chapter for reaching 30,000 recommendations. Two chapters released together.)
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