A person's courage is often influenced by their environment.
When William first bribed Nezumi, the Marine captain still displayed an uneasy demeanor, his heart often racing with guilt. In his mind, the discipline of the Marines was like a sword hanging above him, ready to fall at any moment.
Back then, William had to employ numerous tactics to put Nezumi at ease.
But now, after years of unchecked corruption and receiving bribes without facing any consequences, the once timid Nezumi had grown "fearless," openly collaborating with William in various settings. He even took the initiative to expand William's bribery network.
A year ago, with William's financial backing, Nezumi established an exclusive high-end club catering to Marine officers in the East Blue. Initially, William had considered moving the club to Baratie, the floating restaurant owned by Zeff, but Zeff adamantly refused, forcing William to abandon the idea.
This members-only club offered a variety of luxurious entertainment options, specifically designed to host Marine officers invited by Nezumi.
Apart from Nezumi of the 16th Marine Branch, many officers from other branches in the East Blue, including some of the highest-ranking leaders, had become members of the club. While these officers weren't as deeply entangled in corruption as Nezumi, they had formed a relationship with William where their fates were tied—his success was their success, and his downfall would be theirs as well. At critical moments, they were willing to exchange information about policies and movements within their jurisdictions.
As this habit continued, it was only a matter of time before these officers became deeply entrenched. Signs of this were already evident. Most of the Marines frequenting the club were aware of Nezumi's connections with the Arlong Pirates, and they often coordinated with him regarding requests for aid from the Faraise Kingdom.
"Once, a Marine branch attempted to capture the Arlong Pirates. Knowing they were criminals from the Grand Line, they even dispatched five warships. Yet, the Arlong Pirates easily crushed them," Nezumi said with a frown. "Now, most branch Marines understand that we're no match for Arlong and his crew. No one wants to deal with this headache, so they've been ignoring the Faraise Kingdom's cries for help."
Nezumi glanced at William. "Besides, after I explained the situation, they realized that if Marine Headquarters got involved, none of the club members would come out unscathed. Worse, Headquarters might use us branch officers as cannon fodder and hold us accountable for negligence. So, everyone's been trying to keep this under wraps."
"Simply hiding the truth won't work," William said as he walked. His steps were measured, each one seemingly calculated to be identical in speed and distance. Since entering the garden, his upper body barely moved, maintaining an eerily steady posture. To an untrained observer, it might appear as though he were floating just above the ground.
After some time, even Nezumi and Antonio, who weren't particularly skilled, noticed something unusual.
But for William, this was routine. With his Zen Sword Arts expertise, he had integrated his training into every aspect of his daily life. His mastery of Life Return, the footwork of Isshin-Ryū, and the balance of Fish-Man Karate combined seamlessly, resulting in his unique way of walking.
Ignoring the astonished looks from Nezumi and Antonio, William continued at his unhurried pace. "Arlong was only released because Jinbe became a Warlord of the Sea. The World Government knew exactly where Arlong went. They also knew that with his strength, there aren't many in the East Blue who can challenge him."
"The East Blue was sacrificed by the World Government and the Marines from the very beginning," William said with a faint smile. "But that's fine. The problems of the East Blue should be solved by its own people, without relying on outsiders."
He paused for a moment before turning to Nezumi. "So it's natural for Arlong to make waves in the East Blue. If you keep hiding the truth, you risk raising suspicion from Headquarters and the higher-ups in the World Government."
Nezumi forced an awkward smile and tried to cover his embarrassment. "I've actually thought of something."
After a moment of silence, his eyes lit up as if he had just remembered an idea. "Since that's the case, I might have a solution."
"There's a Marine captain from the 77th Branch named Brin-Brin," Nezumi said, his face twisting into a grimace of disgust as he mentioned the name. Clearly, he held a strong dislike for this individual. "He's a self-righteous fool. Despite being weak, he has no self-awareness and constantly meddles in others' business under the guise of upholding justice. Ever since he heard about the Marine club, he's been trying to report it. The only reason he hasn't succeeded is that he lacks evidence."
Nezumi's club operated on a membership basis and maintained a certain level of secrecy. However, no secret is ever completely safe. If Captain Brin-Brin had indeed set his sights on the club and Nezumi, it was only a matter of time before he uncovered evidence of bribery. With multiple high-ranking Marine officers involved and a branch captain ready to testify, the fallout could be catastrophic. Nezumi couldn't afford to take that risk.
"You want to use the Arlong Pirates to get rid of him?" William asked, seeing through Nezumi's intentions before he could finish.
"Can we?" Nezumi asked nervously.
Nezumi knew that the Arlong Pirates were essentially William's "attack dogs." William had encouraged them to occupy villages in the Faraise Kingdom, enslaving its citizens to further his own agenda. Without William's approval, Nezumi's plan would be impossible to execute.
"Why not?" William replied with a rhetorical question. "Anything that enhances the Arlong Pirates' image as a terrifying force has my support."
At that moment, a commotion erupted near the garden's entrance. Norton II, the crown prince of the Navia Kingdom, was trembling with rage as he pointed furiously at the guards blocking his path.
"Your Highness, the Governor is inside discussing state affairs. Please come back another day," one of the guards said with a slight bow. Though his tone seemed respectful, his attitude was clearly dismissive.
Norton II's face turned red with anger. "This is the royal palace! I am the crown prince of the Navia Kingdom! Do I not even have the right to stroll through the palace gardens?"
The guards remained silent and stood their ground. Without any attendants to back him up, Norton II eventually stormed off in frustration after a brief standoff.
Watching the farce unfold from a distance, William chuckled and turned back to Antonio and Nezumi. "Now, where were we? Oh, right. If the Arlong Pirates can't make people fear them, how will they ever realize just how much they need the protection of a strong leader?"
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