Ch. 261William Gets Beaten Up
Chapter Summary: “William Gets Beaten Up”
Key Plot Points and Events
- William and Baozi search the captured warship and discover a valuable shipment, including:
- A crate of rare Seastone Bullets.
- Advanced firearms and other weapons.
- Eight briefcases containing approximately 800 million Beli.
- William questions why Doflamingo’s organization possesses so many Seastone Bullets, while Baozi focuses on the fact that the goods now belong to them as pirates.
- They store the weapons, money, and bullets in William’s Castle Space. William takes special care with the Seastone Bullets because, as a Devil Fruit user, accidental contact could instantly weaken him.
- William decides to sink the damaged warship to destroy evidence of the robbery and prevent Doflamingo from discovering their involvement. He punches a hole through the hull, allowing the ship—and the unconscious enemies aboard—to sink into the Calm Belt.
- Baozi then remembers that Doctor Stark is locked in the basement and may have been frightened unconscious or even to death by William’s earlier uncontrolled power.
- Fortunately, most of the crew members have begun waking up, and Stark is apparently still alive.
- Before William can organize their departure, the recovered crew attacks and beats him severely in retaliation for causing them to lose consciousness and relive their fears.
Character Developments
- William shows caution and strategic thinking by preserving the valuable weapons, carefully handling Seastone, and sinking the ship to conceal the robbery. However, his lack of control over his abilities creates serious consequences for his allies.
- Baozi remains carefree, opportunistic, and blunt, immediately treating the stolen cargo as pirate spoils. His superior Observation Haki also allows him to notice that the crew is recovering before William does.
- William and Baozi’s relationship is characterized by teasing and familiarity. William jokes about Baozi’s former 800-million-Beli bounty, while Baozi dismisses it as ancient history.
- The crew responds to William’s actions with anger and fear but also uses the incident as an opportunity to confront the psychological trauma they carry.
Significant Themes
- The danger of uncontrolled power: William’s abilities cause unintended harm, showing that strength without control can endanger allies as much as enemies.
- Piracy and morality: Although William and Baozi steal valuable cargo, William avoids deliberately killing the incapacitated enemies, even while accepting that many will likely die when the ship sinks.
- Trauma and fear: Many crew members are former slaves or survivors of painful childhood experiences. William’s power forces them to confront those fears, and their beating of him becomes both an outlet for anger and a reaction to psychological distress.
- Secrecy and political danger: William is careful to hide evidence of the robbery because provoking Doflamingo could create a powerful new enemy.
- Value and practicality: The chapter contrasts the enormous monetary value of the cargo with its limited usefulness to William’s group, especially the weapons they may eventually need to sell or repurpose.
Character Interactions
- William and Baozi inspect the cargo together, debate its value, and joke about Baozi’s former bounty.
- They cooperate in concealing the robbery by storing the goods and sinking the ship.
- Baozi criticizes William for frightening Doctor Stark and causing the crew’s suffering.
- Once the crew awakens, they collectively turn on William, beating him despite his physical strength. William accepts the punishment because he recognizes that his actions caused the incident.