For everyone present except Gin, this was the first time hearing about the Rokushiki techniques. The idea of using one's body to directly block bullets made even William frown.
"It's not the power of a Devil Fruit?" Edmond asked in disbelief.
"It's not!" Gin replied firmly. "However, with William's current Devil Fruit ability, he might be able to counter Roy's Tekkai (Iron Body). What I'm worried about is his Soru (Shave). It's an explosive movement technique. I could barely track his movements with my eyes. Before seeing him use it, I never thought anyone could move so fast. For a Devil Fruit user, Seastone is a major weakness. If he wields Seastone and combines it with Soru, as long as you can't keep up with his speed, he could still harm you, William."
"Damn it," Tony cursed. "Why would someone that powerful come to the East Blue?"
"Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix..." William murmured to himself. He could somewhat guess Roy's reasoning.
In the Grand Line, a place teeming with monsters, Roy's mastery of two of the Six Powers would hardly make him stand out.
But in the East Blue, he was a guest of honor to the kingdom's ministers, a trusted ally, and the undisputed ruler of the Marine division base.
Here, he drove pirate crews like herding dogs. In the East Blue waters, he was a true big shot, one of the apex predators in the food chain!
The news about Roy somewhat dampened the group's earlier excitement. Unlike Edmond and the others, who wore their disappointment openly, William remained composed. He had never planned to abandon his original strategy just because he had eaten a Logia-type Devil Fruit. Learning about Roy's strength now was better than finding out when they were already at odds.
Glancing at the group, who had fallen into deep thought, William smiled and said, "It seems the move I made was the right one. At least it's shown us how vast the world truly is, so we won't end up as frogs in a well."
Aramis grumbled, "I'd rather stay a frog in a well. If just one Roy is this strong, how terrifying must the monsters at Marine Headquarters be? Using their bodies to block bullets—do they have to be that exaggerated?"
William ignored him and clapped his hands lightly. The crisp sound echoed through the bathhouse, breaking everyone's train of thought. "How long have we been at sea? Back then, Barbarossa seemed like an insurmountable obstacle, but isn't he dead now? His pirate crew has even been rebranded under our flag."
"Is your resolve really that fragile?" William teased with a smile. "Or are you saying you have no confidence in me as your captain?"
Aramis scratched his head awkwardly. "Of course not. It's just that thinking about how many monsters might be lurking in the Marines is a bit overwhelming."
"Facing challenges head-on—that's what it means to be a man," William said calmly.
Aramis clenched his fists, and the others, after a brief moment of hesitation, also regained their determination.
"This meeting isn't just to talk about Roy," William said, observing the expressions of those around him. "It's also to discuss our future roles. If anyone has objections, now is the time to speak up."
"Aramis, you'll come aboard the pirate ship with me," William said, turning to the surprised swordsman. "Right now, the first mate on the ship is an old pirate from Barbarossa's era. I've just ordered him to kill all the former first mate's loyalists, which has created some resentment among the older crew members. The second mate is someone I recruited from elsewhere—a former prisoner who strangled the previous first mate to death. The veteran crew definitely won't accept him either. When you join the ship, focus on winning over the old crew. I'll arrange a few battles soon. With your swordsmanship, you'll quickly make a name for yourself. Once you've established your footing, I'll promote you to an officer position."
Aramis, true to form, grumbled, "Why not just promote me to an officer right away?"
"You're new to the ship and don't even know everyone's names yet. If I promote you immediately, will they respect you? Will you command authority?" William's tone grew stern. "And once you're on the pirate ship, curb your clever tricks and slick tongue. You're no longer a rookie from the Danton Pirates. You're about to become an officer. Don't let those old hands look down on you."
After Aramis reluctantly acknowledged the advice, William continued, "Tony, you'll be in charge of liaising with the Marines. Gin, introduce him to your corrupt superior, Nezumi, when you get the chance."
Tony asked, "Why not just use Gin?"
"Gin has other tasks and won't be directly involved in dealing with the Marines anymore," William replied with a smile, pointing at Tony. "Your job is both easy and important. Eat, drink, and have fun. Get Nezumi on our side. I'm about to meet Roy soon. Once I start working with him, it won't be appropriate for me to personally win over his subordinates. You'll be acting as my direct representative."
Sherlock pretended to wipe sweat from his face with a towel, hiding the smirk that crept onto his lips.
Tony's uncle, Omar, was the village chief of Maple Village, and Tony himself had significant local influence. If William planned to increase his investments and development in Maple Village, Tony's sway in the area would become disproportionately large.
If Tony were as steady as Gin, as loyal and honest as Edmond, or as self-aware as Sherlock, William wouldn't have minded his influence. But even Sherlock could see through Tony's character at a glance. How could William not?
Tony's influence might not be enough to cause major disruptions, but it could certainly create trouble.
By assigning Tony to act as a liaison with Nezumi, William was subtly removing him from the local scene, reducing his influence in Maple Village.
However, William didn't make it seem like a demotion. That would only alienate his subordinates. The liaison role was indeed a cushy job and an important one, ensuring Tony wouldn't feel slighted or disrespected. Given Tony's experience as a small-time gang leader and his dealings with various shady figures at the docks, he was actually well-suited for the role.
As expected, Tony accepted the assignment happily, showing no signs of dissatisfaction.
Sherlock, though fully aware of William's intentions, felt no resentment. His father, Sassarian, had once told him that the best way to solve a problem was to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Preventing issues before they arose was far better than patching things up afterward.
William's approach only made Sherlock respect him more, boosting his confidence in William's leadership and vision.
After discussing Tony's role, William turned to Sherlock. "Sherlock, you'll stay on land to manage the business. I've mentioned before about producing honey wine to enter the health and gift markets. How are the formula and brewing processes coming along?"
"The formula and brewing are fine," Sherlock replied, shrugging. "But according to your plan, the formula isn't the most important part. Marketing and promotion are."
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