The evening air in Shakky's Rip-Off Bar was still, the golden hue of the setting sun casting long shadows through the windows. William and the Boa sisters sat around the table in silence. The atmosphere was calm.
The door to the bar creaked open, and in walked a silver-haired man with an aura that demanded respect. Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King, had returned from his errands outside. His sharp eyes scanned the room, and he nodded a greeting to Shakky before turning to the four younger occupants of the bar.
William's gaze locked onto Rayleigh, narrowing with suspicion. Rayleigh noticed the change in William's demeanor immediately, but he didn't comment as he made his way to the bar and sat down with a heavy sigh.
The silence stretched for a few moments before William, never one to hold back, broke it.
"So... are you going to tell us now who you are, old timer?" William asked, his voice cool, but there was an edge to it that hadn't been there before.
Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, amused by the audacity but not surprised. He had met countless people with this kind of fire, but something about William was different. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest.
"I suppose you deserve to know," Rayleigh began, his voice calm but weighted with years of experience. "My name is Silvers Rayleigh, former first mate of the Roger Pirates."
The room went silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold exchanged glances, their eyes widening in recognition. But William's expression darkened.
Rayleigh noticed the change and gave him a curious look. "What's with the look, kid?"
William leaned forward, his arms crossed over the table, his eyes sharp with accusation. "You, the Roger Pirates... you might be heroes to some people, and you may have been good people back then. But what Roger said before he died—what he started—was terrible."
Rayleigh's calm demeanor faltered slightly, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"
William's voice grew harder as he continued, his words laced with anger. "I get that Roger wanted people to seek freedom, to resist the World Government. But the Golden Age of Pirates he started... it was a sin like no other. The world became a worse place because of him."
Hancock, who had been quietly listening, placed a hand on William's arm, sensing the deep resentment boiling within him. But William wasn't done.
"Not all the pirates who went to sea after Roger's words are good people seeking adventure. No, no, no. Ninety-nine percent of them are murderers, rapists, and thieves. They destroy islands, they massacre, enslave, and ruin the lives of innocent people," William spat, his voice filled with disgust. "So you see, Rayleigh, why I don't hold your captain in the highest regard."
The air in the room grew heavy, and even the Boa sisters could sense the tension between the two men. Shakky, who had been silently cleaning glasses behind the bar, paused, her eyes flicking between William and Rayleigh.
Rayleigh remained silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he took in William's words. Then, with a deep sigh, he leaned forward, placing his hands on the table in front of him.
"I didn't know he was going to do that," Rayleigh admitted, his voice lower and more serious than before. "I didn't even know he was going to surrender to the Marines. None of us did. If I had known, I might have tried to stop him, but... Roger was stubborn. Once he made up his mind, there was no changing it."
William's expression didn't soften. "And what about after? You watched as the world burned because of his so-called 'freedom.' How do you justify that?"
Rayleigh's eyes darkened with regret, and he glanced away for a moment. "We all have regrets, William. I won't pretend that everything that came after Roger's death was good. The Golden Age of Pirates turned into something far darker than any of us could have imagined."
He took a deep breath before continuing. "But you have to understand something about Roger. He was sick. He knew he was dying, long before he turned himself in. That's why he disbanded the crew. He didn't want us to get caught up in his final act."
William's eyes flickered with a brief moment of curiosity, but the anger remained. "Sick?"
Rayleigh nodded. "Roger had an incurable disease. By the time we reached the end of the Grand Line, he didn't have much time left. He made the decision to turn himself in... to go out on his own terms. And I believe, even now, that he wanted to inspire people to live freely, to break the chains of oppression."
"But that's not what happened," William said bitterly. "Instead, it inspired a generation of monsters."
Rayleigh sighed, rubbing his temples. "Believe me, kid, if I could have stopped it, I would have. But Roger didn't want our interference. He wanted the world to move forward on its own."
There was a long pause as William stared at Rayleigh, weighing his words. He could sense the honesty in Rayleigh's voice, the regret that lingered in his eyes. But it didn't erase the pain and destruction that Roger's words had caused.
Hancock, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up, her voice soft but firm. "William... Roger's dream might have been twisted by some, but that doesn't mean it was wrong to dream of freedom."
William turned to her, his eyes softening slightly at her words. "Freedom shouldn't come at the cost of innocent lives, Hancock."
Hancock nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "I agree. But we can't blame one man for the actions of the entire world. Roger's dream was just that—a dream. It's the people who took advantage of it who should be blamed."
Rayleigh watched the exchange between the two, his eyes softening. "You've got a good head on your shoulders, kid," he said, looking at William. "But don't think for a second that I don't understand your anger. I've seen firsthand what this world can do. That's why I'm still here, waiting for the right time to act."
William raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "And what's your plan, then? To sit in a bar and wait for the world to change?"
Rayleigh chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. "No, not quite. But I've learned that sometimes, you have to wait for the right moment to make your move. And when that time comes... I'll be ready."
William narrowed his eyes, not fully convinced but intrigued nonetheless. "I'm not waiting for anything. The time to act is now. The World Government needs to be brought down."
Rayleigh's smile faded slightly, and he studied William carefully. "You've got fire in you, kid. But don't let it burn you out before you've even begun."
The tension between them finally eased, though the air still crackled with the weight of their conversation. William leaned back in his chair, his eyes still wary but less hostile than before. He wasn't ready to forgive the past, but perhaps he could understand it a little more now.
Rayleigh, sensing the shift, stood up from the table. "I think it's time I got some rest. We'll talk more in the morning."
William watched as Rayleigh made his way upstairs, his mind still turning over their conversation. The Roger Pirates, Roger's dream... it wasn't as simple as he had thought. But one thing was clear: the world needed change, and he wasn't going to wait around for it.
As the evening wore on, the bar grew quieter, and the Boa sisters began to relax once more. William remained thoughtful, his eyes fixed on the horizon beyond the windows.
The Golden Age of Pirates... it was both a blessing and a curse. But one way or another, William would carve his own path in this world.
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