The officers under William were a diverse group, with varied personalities, lifestyles, and backgrounds. It was only natural that conflicts and disputes arose among them due to differences in ideals, interests, and values.
William once told Koushirou, "Finding a group of like-minded individuals to be your companions is just luck. But bringing together people with vastly different personalities and uniting them—that's skill." This was a genuine sentiment. As his organization grew larger and its composition became increasingly complex, the ability to lead such a diverse group forward together became a true test of leadership.
Managing human resources was a profound discipline, far from something that could be accomplished with a few slogans. Perhaps some people could manage large groups with just a few words, but that was likely sheer luck—like winning the lottery. Extraordinary events couldn't be treated as the norm. William wasn't the type to rely on wishful thinking.
Interests, ideals, status, power, reputation, ambition… When faced with officers who pursued different goals, William always managed to find what suited each individual's needs. However, he could never completely eliminate the fundamental differences between them. One could even say that without William as the central figure, the Morgan Pirates, composed of individuals with such disparate personalities and values, might not only fail to fight side by side but could even end up as enemies.
The differences in personality and values between Yasopp and Dampier were a prime example.
Dampier was ambitious and unwilling to settle for mediocrity. His greatest goal was to assist William in achieving a monumental legacy. What made him even more formidable was his intelligence and rationality. These traits often made him appear cold and calculating. He could send dozens of East Blue pirate crews to their deaths without blinking an eye, develop weapons of mass destruction without a shred of guilt, and even carry out planned massacres with no hesitation.
Yasopp, on the other hand, was carefree by nature. While he also aspired to make a name for himself and showcase his talents, he lacked Dampier's ruthless determination to achieve those goals at any cost. What drew Yasopp to William and his crew was largely the good reputation that the Morgan Pirates had built in the past.
While Harden and Dampier could slaughter unarmed civilians without a second thought on William's orders, Yasopp found such actions utterly unacceptable.
"What do you think William will say when he finds out you're leading his men to do something like this? The reputation that the Morgan Pirates have painstakingly built in the East Blue over the years—are you really going to squander it all like this?" Yasopp angrily demanded.
Harden, upon hearing this, let out a loud laugh and said, "If we don't kill these people, then the reputation we've built in the East Blue and this country will truly be squandered. Yasopp, back when we were on the pirate ship, I thought you were a real man. Turns out, you're soft-hearted—like a woman."
Yasopp's anger flared, but before he could respond, Dampier quickly interrupted Harden to prevent him from further provoking Yasopp or saying too much. "Harden isn't entirely wrong, Yasopp. You've heard what these people have been up to while William was imprisoned. They even threw the factory manager into jail. And now, we're about to leave. Who can guarantee that once we're gone, these nobles won't retaliate against the people left in this city, with the Marines' help?"
Dampier gestured toward the direction Yasopp had come from—the slums. "Don't forget, the commoners risked their lives to help free William. We can't take all of them with us. Shouldn't we at least help them by getting rid of these ticking time bombs? We're not killing for money. Anyone who dares to pocket the spoils will be the first to die by my or Harden's hand. We're doing this to prevent future tragedies after we leave."
Yasopp pressed his lips together, glancing at the corpses scattered around. His voice was heavy as he said, "The tragedy has already happened. William would never approve of this."
"I'm William's chief strategist. It's my job to fill in the gaps and offer advice. Besides, the establishment of the Flash Gold Bank, the industrial district, and the improvements to this city over the years weren't solely William's efforts. We all worked hard for this. These fools, who only know destruction and not creation, have turned the industrial district into a mess. This isn't just about William—it's about all of us and our shared cause," Dampier said firmly. "These nobles are a threat, and they must be eradicated!"
Harden glanced at the Morgan Pirates member still pinned under Yasopp's foot and said, "You'd better not get in our way, Yasopp. We're brothers, and I don't want to end up fighting you because of a bunch of pests."
At that moment, Yasopp noticed Aramis emerging from one of the mansions. Gritting his teeth, he finally lifted his foot, allowing the pirate beneath him to scramble away in a panic.
Harden smirked, thinking Yasopp had been convinced. But Yasopp's expression remained cold as he said, "I'm going to inform William. He's the captain of the Morgan Pirates and the leader of the militia. He should know what's happening here. Don't even think about stopping me!"
Harden froze, turning to Dampier, who simply smiled and gestured for Yasopp to proceed. "Whatever punishment William decides for Harden and me, we'll accept it. But it won't change our convictions."
Without another word, Yasopp took off, using Moonwalk to travel in a straight line through the air, heading directly to the slums where William was.
"Will this be okay?" Harden asked, watching Yasopp's retreating figure.
Dampier had already turned away, heading toward another mansion. "Just remember that this was our decision alone."
"William is never wrong." His final words echoed faintly in Harden's ears, eerily similar to what Sherlock had once said to Edmond during the establishment of the Flash Gold Bank.
Yasopp quickly found William and reported everything happening in the noble district.
Though Yasopp disagreed with and even despised Harden and Dampier's actions, he wasn't foolish enough to broadcast it. He only told William and a few trusted confidants who were with him.
The officers who had once been pirates were largely indifferent, with some even expressing approval of Dampier's methods. But those with personalities like Edmond's looked visibly uncomfortable.
William's expression darkened. He said to Yasopp, "It's not too late. Take me there immediately."
Seeing William's reaction, Yasopp felt an inexplicable sense of relief. As he prepared to lead the way, William didn't wait for him. Using Moonwalk and Shave, William moved even faster than Yasopp had on his way there.
William's attitude dispelled Yasopp's last lingering doubts. Feeling a pang of guilt, he quickly followed.
(End of Chapter)
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