Watching Nelson closely, Bill realized that he was not using this technique.
Thinking about this, Bill opened his mind's eye, and Nelson screamed as Bill's eyes turned black. Then Bill spoke:
"The Sheriff's Noose" is an interesting way to call a gallows.
As he said this, he saw Nelson's mouth moving in one direction, but his inner voice was screaming, "Damn it!"
Bill didn't let that interrupt him and continued speaking through the noise:
- But let me explain something to you, my friend. I will never hang myself for anything that happens here. You call yourself a nobleman, but your status as a local nobleman does not give you any legal privileges once you enter service.
Even if that were true," Bill shook his head, "no one would take up your case against me...
After a short pause, he looked Nelson in the eye and said:
- You know, if I hadn't taken you with me, you would have spent the next nine years in that room where you were kept.
When your contract was up and you left Loachtown, you would be given your damaged ship back and sent on your way.
You think I'm a "collar-face", huh? Well, that's all you've got.
By this time the entire top of Bill's head and face had turned black, and through the "Wh..." and "T..." sounds Nelson was making, Bill heard him begin to viciously refute his words.
"No more objections," Bill said firmly, and Nelson fell silent.
- You think that having access to a snail-communicator will solve your problems. Well, how about this: go right now and use the snail in my office. I won't stop you.
Raising his left hand, Bill stepped aside, pretending to clear the way for Nelson to what he considered his salvation.
"What, you don't want it?" Bill said, and continued, "Well, the offer still stands. All you have to do is get there yourself and get it. I won't stop you." Then, shaking his head, he added, "But no one on this ship will bring it to you."
As Bill turned to leave the tent, his eyes and the top of his head returned to their normal color, and before he left, he said out loud that he would be back in a couple of hours.
Hearing the groan and curse, Bill didn't bother to find out what came out of Nelson's mouth.
Walking out onto the main deck of the ship, Bill saw an old engineer setting up a couple of tables and two girls exploring the area.
Turning towards Loachtown, he saw that the docks were still visible, but were gradually getting smaller. Bill jumped onto the crow's nest.
Inside was Denny, speaking into his glass, giving orders to Danny, who was at the wheel. At the bow of the ship was Donny, watching the waves, ready to give instructions for turning if necessary.
Denny: - Oh, captain?!
Apparently surprised, Danny shouted into his glass, and Bill heard Danny respond:
- I already told you that I'm not a captain yet!
After hearing this, Danny seemed to forget about Bill and continued talking about how they planned to become captains together, causing Bill to roll his eyes.
Interrupting him, Bill walked over and picked up the glass. Turning to Danny, he asked:
- How does she behave?
Danny: - It's all right, Captain! - His voice sounded rough due to the primitive communication device: - "Bluebird" is light enough, I think we can call at any port!
Bill nodded and told them both to call Donny and meet him on deck when they were out to sea. He had already set the locking device on the ship's wheel.
Although the helm was never left unattended, this locking device freed the helmsman's hands, eliminating the need to constantly hold the course.
After talking with the two men for a while, Bill jumped down and went to his office.
This voyage was to last several months, and he planned to return to Loachtown only when Rance and the others returned.
It was to be a very busy time as Bill took on the responsibility of investigating the 16th Marine Corps.
Due to the circumstances, he couldn't go there himself, but he was able to call Captain Maynard and ask for a favor. Bill was originally going to ask Smoker, but after seeing his condition, he decided against it.
According to Captain Maynard, it was highly unusual for a captain from Headquarters to interfere in Blue Sea matters involving corruption, but considering that it involved Garp's grandson, he couldn't refuse.
In addition, he received regular reports from Rance and Sasha, including one particularly disturbing one stating that they had encountered the Kuga pirates on the Belt of Silence and had been rescued by Miss Angie, who was returning to Amazon Lily with his little twin sisters.
Bill knew his mother and nanny were from that island where only women lived, but he never thought his sisters would be sent there.
He was worried that this might mean his mother would rejoin the Marines, and he decided he would contact her soon. He knew his mother was a strong woman who had reached the rank of captain, but she was also a mother of three and no longer young, and he couldn't help but worry.
Thinking of names like "Boa Hancock," Bill pulled out a few files he had on the Seven Lords of the Sea. He had already memorized the information, but he still reread the lines as if he had forgotten something.
After sitting for some time organizing his affairs, he heard a knock at the door.
Looking up, Yoko and Carol entered at the same time, the former adjusting her sailor hat and asking enthusiastically if Bill could lift them into the sky so they could see the island again.
Bill told them he would be finished in a minute, adding that Carol needed permission from her father. As the girls left the office, he began putting the papers back in the desk.
Bill stood up and sighed heavily, knowing that he had many months ahead of him.
Unfortunately, his plans were not only wrong, they were changed forever.