Talent and aptitude are invisible, intangible, yet real.
Some excel at piano, others at Rubik's Cubes. Some are natural businessmen; others have a keen sense for finance.
Modern society is a platform, providing comfort and allowing people to showcase their talents. It hides cruelty behind a veneer of comfort.
But in the One Piece world, cruelty is more direct.
Those who can't sword fight are worthless; those who can't use firearms are worthless; those who can't sail are worthless…
This world's values are straightforward.
Swordsmanship allows you to kill, protect yourself, and plunder. Sailing enables exploration. Artists, physicists, and archaeologists can't survive.
Talented individuals thrive.
Zoro, a swordsman, found a master at a young age; Nami, a navigator, protected her sister and village; Usopp, Van Augur, and Mihar, skilled snipers, instinctively understood firearms, using them to kill stronger opponents.
If One Piece weren't a shonen manga, if Usopp weren't a main character, and if he had a firearm early on, killing Kuro would have been easy.
But for the untalented, a musket was little better than a stick.
They couldn't aim; they lacked firepower; and One Piece's inhabitants were incredibly strong. Even thin individuals possessed superior physiques.
Many survived multiple gunshot wounds, continuing to fight. Pekoms, a Mink, riddled with bullet holes from Capone Bege, survived after being bandaged…
One Piece's inhabitants defy common sense.
This meant firearms had to be advanced—precise enough for headshots, or with overwhelming firepower—or used by skilled snipers like Van Augur, Mihar, and Ben Beckman, hitting vital points. Otherwise, snipers were in an awkward position.
But Alistair changed their perspective.
The battles with the Marines and in Mock Town showed them that even the weak could fight strong opponents with concentrated firepower.
Many conveniently forgot that Bellamy and Van Augur were rescued by the Special Forces; otherwise, the victory would have been costly.
But this was the time to build their confidence; a little deception was beneficial.
Alistair, having witnessed Marineford and the world's strongest fighters, still believed in the power of the people, believing increased productivity could overthrow the strong—a rare belief.
Most people surrender to natural disasters.
But those from New Oriental held the belief in self-reliance. Alistair currently needed strong Devil Fruit users.
But one day, they would create tanks, planes, cannons, and missiles.
One day, they would develop nuclear weapons…
He believed in the power of the people.
So, it was time for their first lesson.
Mihar and Van Augur weren't being deliberately unhelpful.
Alistair knew this.
Talented individuals were naturally adept with guns; their guns were extensions of themselves.
Asking them to explain why their "limbs" were so large and powerful…
They could only say it was innate.
Asking them how to use their "limbs" so well…
How could they answer?
Alistair sighed; he didn't want to do everything himself, but his subordinates were lacking…
He gestured to William.
The five-meter-tall William carried a massive blackboard.
Numerous arms emerged from the ground, placing lit oil lamps at everyone's feet. Having an assistant was beneficial; Alistair didn't need to do everything himself.
Thanks to Nico Robin, everyone could see the blackboard.
It was large, but sufficient for the five hundred people. Alistair, holding a thick piece of chalk, began drawing.
He couldn't rely on their literacy skills, so he used pictures.
He drew a cross-section of a gun barrel, explaining, "You're familiar with gunpowder explosions. Muskets use contained explosions. The expanding gases, blocked by the barrel, are forced in one direction, propelling the bullet."
"This is the firing principle."
"But!"
"Why are muskets inaccurate?"
Not only the pirates, but Van Augur and Mihar listened intently.
They knew how to aim accurately, but the reasons for inaccuracy were new to them.
"This involves the musket's dimensions."
Alistair drew a small circle inside the barrel, showing the gas expanding outwards.
He drew the trajectory of this ball—spinning randomly inside the barrel before flying out erratically…
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