A few hours later, Selkirk realized that there was indeed something worse than dying of hunger and thirst on a deserted island—dying hungry and thirsty, covered in wounds, aboard a pirate ship.
The abandoned members of the Swordfish Pirates stood no chance against the lively Barbarossa, who quickly subdued them using his abilities. He bound them with iron chains and tossed them onto the deck.
Selkirk and his group, already harboring resentment toward Crusoe for abandoning them, confessed everything after some "persuasion."
Hearing about the Devil Fruit made Barbarossa breathe heavily. After navigating the seas for so long, his confidence had begun to waver, but it seemed fate favored him. Just when he was about to give up, a new glimmer of hope appeared.
The Redbeard Pirates' ship set off immediately in the direction pointed out by Selkirk and his crew. Agile pirates climbed the masts to search the surrounding seas with telescopes, leaving no detail unchecked.
While the ship was bustling, William returned to his cabin and retrieved a katana from a corner. Klok, who shared the room, tensed at the sight. William smiled and reassured him, "Not yet. Just making necessary preparations."
With that, William carried the katana and avoided the crowd, heading straight to the kitchen. Nadal, overseeing supplies there, hesitated when William whispered instructions in his ear but eventually nodded firmly. He took the katana, unsheathed it, and carefully placed the blade into the roaring flames of the kitchen furnace. Then, Nadal moved a table to block the view of the blade.
Once satisfied, William patted Nadal's shoulder, offered some comfort, and returned to the deck.
The Redbeard Pirates, being local to the East Blue, were far more familiar with the environment than Crusoe's group of outsiders. More importantly, their ship was in perfect condition. After sailing for a while, the lookout atop the mast spotted the battered Swordfish Pirates' ship.
The Swordfish Pirates seemed to have noticed the Redbeard Pirates as well. The latter's hostile intent was plain as day.
The Swordfish Pirates tried to speed up and lose the Redbeard ship, but realizing their efforts were futile, they gave up.
As the gap closed, the Swordfish's chaotic deck became visible through the telescope, indicating they were preparing for battle.
The best tactic for the Redbeard Pirates would have been to use their ship's superior condition to bombard the Swordfish Pirates' damaged vessel from a safe distance, sinking it and ensuring victory.
However, Barbarossa, concerned about the Devil Fruit's safety, ordered the helmsman to head straight for the Swordfish Pirates for a quick boarding action.
As they neared, Barbarossa stood at the bow, his head swaying. With his movements, his red hair and beard twisted unnaturally, transforming into thick, snake-like tendrils that lashed out toward the Swordfish Pirates' ship.
Cries of alarm came from the opposing deck. It was clearly the first time Crusoe and his men had seen Barbarossa's abilities. However, being from the Grand Line, they quickly recognized the power of a Devil Fruit. While startled, they did not succumb to fear.
Unfortunately for the Swordfish Pirates, having just crossed the Calm Belt, their ship—reliant on rowing in windless seas—had left their crew severely fatigued. Without proper rest, they were far from peak performance.
Barbarossa, having learned this from Selkirk, was unfazed despite facing pirates from the Grand Line.
His hair tendrils coiled around the Swordfish Pirates' mast. With a sharp, commanding gaze at his crew, he ordered, "No one is to come aboard without my permission!"
With that, Barbarossa kicked off, launching himself like a cannonball toward the enemy ship, his abilities pulling him across.
He planned to handle the entire enemy ship alone.
As the distance was still too far for grappling hooks, the Redbeard Pirates could only watch as their captain hurtled forward, unable to assist.
"Does he trust us that little?" William muttered, observing the scene.
Nearby, the ship's officers—Second Mate Hardin, ship doctor Wood, and even First Mate Felton—looked displeased.
Devil Fruits only grant abilities to the first person who consumes them—a fact well known among pirates. While Selkirk had mentioned the fruit was locked in a chest and Barbarossa had the key, no one could guarantee that chaos during the battle wouldn't result in unforeseen events.
What if the chest was already opened? What if it wasn't as secure as Selkirk claimed?
While the Devil Fruit was key to enlisting Arcadio and Roy to help them seek revenge—and crucial for the crew to reclaim their wealth—there was no guarantee that every member of the Redbeard Pirates shared a united goal.
After all, Barbarossa's success with his Devil Fruit was a living example of the immense power such fruits could grant. Strength was everything to a pirate—it brought fame, wealth, and authority. The Devil Fruit offered a shortcut to that power, making its value immeasurable.
Although Barbarossa's precautions were reasonable, William's calculated remarks cast doubt, making his actions seem petty and sowing unease among the crew.
The crew might have had fleeting thoughts of seizing the fruit for themselves, but being openly suspected by their captain left a bitter taste.
On the Swordfish ship, despite being alone, Barbarossa began gaining the upper hand against the exhausted enemies. His tendrils moved menacingly as he worked his way from the deck to the cabin.
William flicked away his cigarette, turned, and headed for the kitchen.
When he returned to the deck, he was holding the katana, now heated until it glowed red. The sight startled First Mate Felton, Second Mate Hardin, and others, but William calmly instructed Klok by the ship's side, "Lower the lifeboat."
Recalling the events during the raid on Rays, Klok obeyed without hesitation.
The others, however, were taken aback. Not only had William blatantly disobeyed Barbarossa's orders, but they also wondered when he and Klok had started working together.
______________________________________________
If you want 20 chapters ahead, check out my Patreon:
patreon.com/PureParadox