One Piece: The True Codex

Barbarossa's captain's quarters were located beneath the stern deck, making the room dimly lit even during the day. The sunlight could only filter in through a few narrow windows. However, as the living space of the leader of the pirate crew, it was far more spacious and comfortable than the quarters of the ordinary crew, adorned with lavish decorations.

As William stepped into the room, his feet sank into a soft carpet. He noticed a cabinet stocked with fine liquors, a wooden bed draped with a velvet blanket, and, most absurdly, a luxurious bathtub.

The room's owner, Barbarossa, sat behind a large desk, and on the wall behind him hung the fierce head of a brown bear.

This burly man, whose appearance seemed almost like a deliberate cosplay of a pirate captain, still had droplets of water clinging to his beard, indicating he had just finished bathing.

From the extravagant layout of Barbarossa's quarters and the fact that Reis had personally brought William aboard to report to him, it was evident that Barbarossa's authority on the ship was firmly established.

Reis guided William to stand before Barbarossa and recounted the events at the tavern. While Reis described William's combat skills, Barbarossa showed only mild interest, clearly confident in his own strength. However, when Reis mentioned William's navigation skills, Barbarossa's expression turned serious.

William sighed inwardly. It seems that being versatile really does pay off—you never know when a skill might come in handy.

"Navigation, eh? Not bad," Barbarossa said with a hearty laugh. "That way, Hayreddin won't have to work so hard anymore."

He turned to the scarred navigator with the mismatched face and said, "Take him with you tonight for navigation duties. If he performs well, you can split shifts and share the responsibility of guiding the ship."

Hayreddin scrutinized William from head to toe and asked a few basic navigation questions. After William answered them all satisfactorily, he nodded in agreement.

Barbarossa then asked William the same question Reis had posed earlier—why he had chosen to join a pirate crew. William, well-practiced in his performance, repeated the fabricated story he had told Reis. Barbarossa didn't suspect a thing and called for an old pirate named Hatcheson to show William around the ship. Barbarossa then stayed behind with Reis and Hayreddin to discuss matters.

That night, William accompanied Hayreddin to navigate the ship under the stars. For William, this task was not difficult. Once Hayreddin confirmed William's genuine skills, he irresponsibly left William alone to manage the star chart, retreating to sleep.

Nighttime navigation was monotonous, and William endured the long hours until dawn, when Hayreddin returned to relieve him. Exhausted, William returned to his assigned quarters, collapsed onto the hammock, and fell into a deep sleep.

In his slumber, he once again found himself in the Plaza of Fate. The space hadn't changed much recently, except for the addition of a new path. A stone tablet at the entrance of the path now bore new inscriptions.

William, familiar with the routine, approached the tablet and read its contents:

[Avenger]: The taste of vengeance is like the fragrance of fine wine. The fire of hatred in your heart can only be extinguished by blood. Conceal your identity, locate the masterminds who oppose you, and kill them.

Mastermind: "Red-Beard" Barbarossa (Alive). Other Masterminds: Unknown. Reward: Special feat "Heightened Alertness."

William realized that the paths of fate seemed to be growing increasingly difficult, requiring more time and effort. The earlier paths he had encountered were relatively straightforward, like becoming the captain of a small pirate crew. But now, killing a notorious pirate in the East Blue was merely a part of the task.

Furthermore, it wasn't just the difficulty that had changed. In the past, paths would appear with just a thought, but now they required the Threads of Fate to form a stone tablet. It seemed that William also needed to trigger some sort of opportunity in reality for the path and its tasks to manifest.

The "trigger" for this path's appearance was likely William infiltrating the ranks of one of the masterminds.

The initial protective "requirements" had vanished, and considering all these changes, it seemed that choosing a path aligned with his desires had become even more challenging.

However, as William looked at the path before him, he noticed it appeared broader than those he had seen before. Perhaps this was a metaphor for his future?

As William strode confidently onto the path, the plaza behind him was once again engulfed in darkness. Who knew how long it would take for the Plaza of Fate to reappear, or what new surprises it might hold?

When William woke up, it was because his roommate, Kuro, had made a racket.

Kuro, who had risen early, was noisily tending to his personal hygiene in the cramped quarters. The clattering sounds were clearly intentional. William, upon waking, immediately understood Kuro's motives.

Kuro had originally enjoyed the privilege of a private room—a rare luxury on a ship with limited space. Now, that privilege had been disrupted. Coupled with his disdain for pirates, it was no surprise that he showed William no kindness.

Unfortunately for Kuro, the "Stolt" persona William had adopted was not one to tolerate such behavior.

Smack!

William grabbed a hefty wooden cup and hurled it at Kuro's back. Kuro reacted quickly, dodging the cup, but it still struck the edge of the washbasin, flipping it over and splashing water all over Kuro.

"You!" Kuro turned angrily, only to see William leap from his hammock, gripping the curved blade he had never parted with, and glare at him with fury. His posture made it clear he was ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

If William had acted according to his true nature, he wouldn't have handled the situation this way. He would have schemed quietly and sought revenge later without anyone knowing. But the character he was playing—"Stolt"—was a greenhorn pirate, inexperienced and brash, not a calculating mastermind.

Based on Ward's descriptions and a day of observation aboard the ship, William had discerned that Barbarossa disliked and distrusted anyone who interacted too closely with Kuro's backers.

During his chats with veteran pirates the previous night, William learned that Kuro was unpopular among the crew. While not outright hated, he was certainly viewed with disdain. If William were to tolerate Kuro's antics and try to befriend him, it would raise suspicions.

From the intelligence he had gathered, it was clear that Barbarossa and his brothers—except for the sadistic Hayreddin—were not foolish. Barbarossa, with his connections to various factions, thrived in the East Blue, and Reis, the ship's steward, managed its affairs competently. William, being in enemy territory, had to tread carefully.

"You're so obsessed with cleanliness—how about I toss you into the sea for a bath?" William kicked the overturned basin aside and stormed up to Kuro, shouting angrily.

Kuro stepped back, glaring at William with a grim expression. William, however, maintained his defiant stance, locking eyes with him.

After a tense stare-down, Kuro finally gritted his teeth, turned, and stormed out of the room in frustration.

It wasn't fear that drove Kuro away, and William knew it. Kuro was wary of Barbarossa.

Barbarossa was the undisputed king of this lawless realm, and even Kuro had to comply with his rules. Despite the preferential treatment Barbarossa might afford Kuro due to his sensitive status, when it came to conflicts with his own crew, Barbarossa wouldn't offer much protection.

William's behavior as a reckless rookie pirate was convincing enough to deter Kuro, who didn't want to risk unnecessary punishment.

Once Kuro left, William's angry facade vanished. He smirked, climbed back into the hammock, and muttered under his breath, "All bark and no bite—no wonder you're stuck where you are."

~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~

Explore More Amazing Fanfiction on My Patreon!

Unlock 30+ Advance Chapters and Enjoy Exclusive Stories Early!

👉 patreon.com/GoldenLong