At the dock of Maple Village, a group of weathered dockworkers and sailors, their faces lined with age and hard work, surrounded William. They sat or squatted, listening intently as he told his own pirated version of Water Margin.
This rascal altered the names and settings, turning it into a story about a pirate captain and his 108 crew members roaming the seas. Of course, he added his own flair, spicing it up with tales of the "Royal Nobles" and the "World Government" oppressing the innocent, forcing them into piracy.
The smuggling business was running smoothly. One group in Maple Village brewed alcohol and other beverages, while Sherlock used his connections in the Golden Guild to organize transport fleets. Sometimes, they even operated under the guild's banner to transport the goods to local apothecaries. Using money and the high prices created by prohibition laws, they bribed local officials—corrupt and susceptible to both wealth and drink. With this system, they established a local trade network.
When goods traveled by sea, William, Aramis, Gin, Valon, and Edmond took turns escorting the shipments, protecting them from pirates or rival competitors.
William was never idle. A natural at socializing, his identity and skills made it easy to mingle with people from all walks of life on the ships and docks, from captains to dockworkers and sailors. He made it a point to know everyone and kept mental notes on those worth nurturing.
This was how William built his network.
The smuggling profits had already earned William a substantial sum, and with the connections he'd made over the year, he could gather a crew and buy a large ship at any time. However, he prioritized honing his swordsmanship at the dojo to further enhance his skills.
Among the ship and dock workers, dockhands and sailors liked William the most. Despite his strength and status, he didn't act superior like the captains and merchants, who often stayed in their private cabins. Instead, he mingled with them, sharing cigarettes and chatting.
William, who came from humble origins in his previous life, found it easy to bond with these laborers.
Most of the dockworkers and sailors were uneducated, with many being illiterate. They enjoyed listening to William's stories and learning about things they hadn't encountered before.
Some listened out of curiosity, while others hoped to leave a favorable impression on their boss.
After finishing his retelling of the Lin Chong's Night Escape story, the audience shared their opinions:
One sailor, annoyed, said, "That Navy officer, Wood, is too pathetic! He couldn't even protect his own wife. If it weren't for overhearing the conspiracy, he'd still be dreaming of redemption!"
A companion argued, "Don't talk so smugly. He was dealing with Celestial Dragons! If one stood before you, you'd probably be kneeling in fear!"
The first sailor retorted, "I'm just an ordinary man. But he's a Vice Admiral and the Chief Instructor of the Navy Headquarters! If I were that strong, I'd punch that Dragon to death, then storm out of the Navy and become a freewheeling pirate!"
The others scoffed at his fantasy, dismissing it as mere bravado.
Another sailor, lost in thought, asked, "With all the power the Celestial Dragons have, what would happen if a Navy hero like Garp accidentally provoked them? Would he end up like Wood?"
The group launched into a heated debate. William, however, didn't join in. He had already noticed Gin and the others approaching from the dock's far end.
"Why are you late?" William called out, standing up from a crate.
The ship's cargo had been unloaded, and if not for waiting on the relief crew, they wouldn't have lingered. William wouldn't have had the time to chat idly on the docks.
As Gin's group drew closer, William saw the reason for their delay: a petite girl with short, neat black hair was piggybacking on Valon.
The girl, around ten years old, looked frail and thin. She clutched a katana that seemed oversized for her small frame. Upon seeing William, she lifted her head from Valon's back and shouted with fiery determination, "William!"
"Kuina, what are you doing here?" William's initial warm smile faded into a frown as his eyes landed on the katana she was holding. His tone turned stern, "And why did you bring Wado Ichimonji with you?"
Kuina was the daughter of Koushirou, the master of Isshin Dojo. Despite being his only child, Koushirou treated her the same as any other student in training and guidance.
While Wado Ichimonji technically belonged to Koushirou and would one day pass to Kuina, carrying such a treasure on the journey from Frost Moon Village to Maple Village—dangerous even for adults—was reckless. William understood its value to a swordsman and the risks of theft or robbery.
"I've come to challenge you!" Kuina exclaimed as she struggled to climb down from Valon's back, only to cry out in pain as she fell on her rear.
Gin explained, "She twisted her ankle on the way here. I wanted to take her back to the dojo, but she made such a fuss that Valon, being too soft-hearted, carried her here."
Kuina pouted, "Gin is mean! Valon isn't soft-hearted; he's a good person."
Valon scratched his head sheepishly and tried to help Kuina up, but she refused.
Resolutely, Kuina used her sword to prop herself up. With a determined expression, she declared to William, "I'm here to challenge you again! If I beat you, I'll be the dojo's strongest disciple!"
"Nonsense!" William shook his head.
Unfazed, Kuina retorted, "I even brought Wado Ichimonji to defeat you—"
Before she could finish, William swiftly unsheathed his own sword and struck the Wado Ichimonji she was using as a crutch.
Caught off guard and overpowered, Kuina lost her grip, and the katana flew out of her hand. She tumbled hard onto the dock's solid surface.
Though only ten years old, Kuina was much tougher than most kids her age. Despite scraping her arms and knees, she ignored the pain and glared at William. "You cheated!"
"In real combat, do you expect your opponent to wait for you to finish talking?" William tilted his head slightly. "Do you even realize what you're doing? You're overestimating yourself! You weren't my match before, and now you're injured, yet you still challenge me. If I were your enemy, this behavior would be no different from suicide."
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