"One Piece:The True Codex"Chapter 378: Stockholm Syndrome
After resolving the matter with Laura Louise, William departed. He didn't return to the Starlight, but instead, alongside Dampier, began investigating the coating industry of the Sabaody Archipelago. Previously, when the Starlight underwent coating, William had casually chatted with the craftsmen and gained some insight into the trade. However, due to being preoccupied with his mission and wary of drawing the attention of the Marines, he hadn't conducted an in-depth investigation. Now, with no such concerns, William's boundless energy led him to wander the streets and alleys, gathering intelligence firsthand.
Meanwhile, back aboard the Starlight, the prisoners had grown increasingly confused over the past few days. Suddenly, the once tight yet seemingly casual supervision by William's crew had disappeared entirely.
Previously, William had relied on his charisma and cunning to win over some of the sailors who had lost hope after having their shadows stolen, turning them into informants. He also cleverly sowed discord among Hogback, Perona, and other former subordinates of Moria, pitting them against the civilians aboard the Starlight and encouraging them to report on one another.
Despite these tactics, William had always ensured that when he, Gin, and Selkirk left the ship for business, at least one or two crew members remained to guard the prisoners.
But now, not only had William's crew stopped leaving guards behind, but they had also shed their previously disheveled disguises—originally adopted for concealment—and returned to their true appearances, as if unafraid of being discovered by the Marines or the World Government.
Karslana couldn't help but admit that William looked quite handsome once he cleaned up his attire and appearance. Unfortunately, he was still a pirate hunted by the government and the Marines.
She tried to persuade Portia and the others to escape with her, but even when William, Gin, and Selkirk were absent from the ship, no one dared to join her.
Most of the people aboard had already witnessed the terrifying strength of William and his crew during their time on the Thriller Bark. Moreover, during their journey to the Sabaody Archipelago and even the New World, pirates had repeatedly targeted the Starlight, but every single attempt had been effortlessly thwarted by William and Gin. None of the attackers had even come close to damaging the ship.
William's Steam-Steam Fruit, a Logia Devil Fruit, was notorious for its wide-scale destruction and overwhelming presence. When he unleashed its power on a large scale, the sky would be covered in steam, plunging vast stretches of the sea into darkness. It was as if the heavens themselves were collapsing.
Gin's Kilo-Kilo Fruit, while less visually dramatic, was equally horrifying in its lethality. The gruesome aftermath of his attacks left a deep impression on the crew. Some sailors, after seeing pirates reduced to nothing but bloody pulp by Gin, were haunted by nightmares for several nights.
For the ordinary sailors and civilians aboard the Starlight, who had previously only worked on merchant ships, the sheer power and brutality of William and Gin left an indelible mark. They were so terrified of these two that the thought of escaping seemed futile. The fear of being caught and punished far outweighed any desire to flee.
At the very least, William had never mistreated them. In fact, he often appeared kind and approachable, far better than some merchants or captains who would scold them or deduct their wages for trivial reasons.
Moreover, for the first time in their lives, these sailors experienced a sense of safety and ease while sailing through the Grand Line. Not only had they journeyed to the Sabaody Archipelago, but they had even ventured into the New World, with all dangers along the way being effortlessly handled by William and Gin.
Occasionally, William would even engage the sailors in conversation, just as he had done back in the East Blue. As was his habit, he would speak ill of the Marines and the World Government, portraying them as enablers of evil. He would recount how he had no choice but to confront villains like Golden Lion Shiki, which ultimately drew the ire of the government and the Marines.
For the sailors who had endured the horrors of Moria's hunts, William's tales of battling Shiki resonated deeply. Both stories shared a common thread: the World Government and the Marines, for various reasons, had knowingly allowed notorious pirates to roam free, resulting in the suffering of innocent civilians. Whether it was Golden Lion Shiki or Shichibukai Moria, the government's inaction had led to widespread harm. And in both cases, it was William who had defeated these truly heinous criminals, saving the people of the East Blue and everyone aboard the ship.
Because of this, some sailors began to exhibit signs of Stockholm Syndrome—a psychological phenomenon where hostages develop emotional attachments to their captors. They started sympathizing with William, the very person who had essentially kidnapped them. Not only did they refuse to support Karslana's escape plans, but some even threatened to report her to William. This forced Karslana to restrain herself, discussing her escape plans only with Portia and a few trusted crew members.
Portia advised Karslana that, even though William, Gin, and Selkirk were often absent from the ship, Perona, Hogback, and others were still aboard. Moreover, the Sabaody Archipelago was far from safe, teeming with ruthless slave traders. She believed that escaping under such circumstances was not a wise decision.
Despite this, Karslana refused to give up. She set her sights on Brook, the ship's third most powerful individual after William, Gin, and Selkirk. If she could convince him to join her, it would significantly increase their chances of escaping William's pursuit and navigating the dangers of the island.
In the ship's dining hall, Brook lounged with his legs propped up on the table, a pile of empty plates at his feet. Reclining against the chair, he leisurely picked his teeth with a toothpick, occasionally clicking his tongue in satisfaction. He looked like a carefree, gluttonous aristocrat.
"I don't feel like leaving just yet," Brook said, spitting out a piece of food and ignoring Karslana's look of disgust. "You have no idea how long it's been since I've enjoyed such a comfortable life. Every day, there's plenty of delicious food, lively conversations with other living people, and even opportunities to spar with others in swordsmanship."
Patting his stomach, Brook added, "I feel like I've gained weight recently, even though I'm just a pile of bones. Yohohoho!"
As Brook let out a high-pitched laugh, Karslana's expression grew increasingly agitated. "Don't you love adventure? What kind of adventure is this?"
"Even adventurers need to rest," Brook replied with a satisfied burp. "Right now, I'm on vacation. Once I've regained my strength and found the right companions, I'll set off on a new adventure."
"What if William decides to kill you?" Karslana asked angrily.
"William-san already said he'd let us go once his business is done. I trust he'll keep his word," Brook said nonchalantly.
"You actually trust him?" Karslana exclaimed in disbelief.
"I don't understand why you're so fixated on escaping, Karslana-san," Brook replied, still calmly picking his teeth. "If William-san really wanted us dead, we wouldn't have survived the Thriller Bark."
Brook's indifferent demeanor made Karslana grit her teeth in frustration.
(End of Chapter)
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