"Everyone, the great Captain Buggy has spoken!"
"That's just a ship from the Dragon Hunter Pirates!"
"As long as they co over—rob them!"
Before anyone could even process the information, one of Buggy's crewmates burst forward, practically foaming at the mouth with excitent, and shouted the "good news" to the rest of the crew.
"The great Captain Buggy!"
"We'll follow you to the ends of the Grand Line!"
"Captain Buggy, just say the word—we'll kill them all!"
"It's just the Dragon Hunter Pirates! What's the worst that could happen?!"
"Great… glorious… magnificent... CAPTAIN BUGGY!"
…
Within seconds, every pirate on deck had transford into a loyal lapdog, barking praises at their flamboyant, red-nosed leader. The flattery was so thick, you could spread it on toast. And Buggy, oh Buggy, was absolutely eating it up.
Normally, he'd be puffing up his chest and floating away on cloud nine, drunk on the praise. But today… today was different.
Because now, looming in front of them like a floating mountain of doom, was the ship of the Dragon Hunter Pirates—massive, intimidating, and more terrifying than any sea king. It wasn't that Buggy didn't want to act smug… it was that he couldn't.
Instead, he stood stiffly on deck, forcing an awkward grin and trying not to sweat through his makeup.
"BOOM!"
Just as Buggy was contemplating whether to bluff, run, or pass out, a shadow dropped onto the deck with a resounding thud.
It was none other than Ryuunosuke, Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.
"Yo, Buggy," Ryuunosuke said casually, like bumping into an old drinking buddy at the bar. "Didn't expect to see you here in the New World. Thought you'd be back in the East Blue after becoming a Shichibukai. Taking a stroll down mory lane?"
He smiled warmly, but Buggy's face twitched. Anyone else might've been fooled by the friendly tone. But Buggy wasn't "anyone else." He knew very well that he had no relationship with Ryuunosuke—none. Zilch.
At best, they were both pirates from the East Blue. That's it.
So what the hell was this?!
Could it be… that Ryuunosuke had a soft spot for fellow East Blue pirates? That maybe, just maybe, out of sentintality, he wouldn't murder them for their earlier threats?
Swallowing his panic like a bitter pill, Buggy flashed a forced grin and replied, "Captain Ryuunosuke! What a surprise! Heading sowhere special? Perhaps I could be of assistance?"
His crew blinked in shock. Even Buggy's most delusional lackeys had never heard their captain speak with such—dare they say—respect.
Ryuunosuke raised an eyebrow. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
Then a thought struck him.
Could Buggy know sothing about the Valley of the Gods?
After all, Buggy had been on Roger's ship. And although Ryuunosuke knew Buggy was just a brat during the legendary God Valley Incident, maybe he had stumbled across sothing?
"You guys heading to the Valley of the Gods too?" Ryuunosuke asked, curious.
Buggy paused, his face contorting in thought. Then, dramatically, he reached into his coat and pulled out a worn treasure map.
Marked on it—plain as day—was the location of the Valley of the Gods.
Ryuunosuke's eyes narrowed slightly.
"As I thought…" he muttered. "You're after the sa place."
He then looked up at Buggy, smiling again. "Well then, how about joining us for a chat? Co aboard my ship for a while."
The words dropped like a bomb on Buggy's crew.
Their great Captain Buggy… had just been invited onto the ship of the infamous Dragon Hunter Pirates? Not as a prisoner… but as a guest?
Was this the recognition of their captain's true greatness?! Were they witnessing destiny itself?
Even Mr. 3 looked like he'd swallowed a cactus.
There was just no way this clown survived everything purely through skill. No. Buggy had to have eaten two Devil Fruits: one for being a walking disaster, and the other for god-tier luck.
"Alright then!" Buggy shouted with his usual bravado. "I shall accept your invitation!"
He jumped onto Ryuunosuke's ship with exaggerated flair. But beneath the theatrics, there was no denying it—Buggy wasn't the weakling he used to be. He now possessed both Armant Haki and Observation Haki. Say what you want, but he had been on Roger's ship, after all.
The mont Buggy landed, all eyes on the God Ship turned to him.
"So that's the Shichibukai, huh?"
Chrollo tilted his head, unimpressed. "Why does his aura feel so… underwhelming?"
Even the fishes in the surrounding sea popped out of the water to stare, as if judging him.
"The Seven Warlords really have low standards," soone muttered.
"I feel like I've been scamd out of my own Shichibukai title," Enel muttered bitterly. "This guy made it in?"
Another crewmber chid in, "Captain, isn't he the one rumored to have punched Shanks and kicked Whitebeard?"
"Doesn't look the part," said Najenda, arms crossed. "Not even close."
Buggy trembled under their honest stares. He wanted to scream, "Those rumors were exaggerated!!" but no words ca out. Because deep down… every word they said was true.
Ryuunosuke chuckled, finally stepping forward.
"Buggy's from the East Blue, like . He's a fellow countryman—and now, a friend."
He raised his hand and motioned for everyone to relax. "Alright, enough gawking. Everyone back to training."
The crew nodded and dispersed imdiately.
Even Buggy noticed the discipline here was leagues above any pirate crew he'd ever seen. From top to bottom, everyone on this ship was battle-hardened, trained, and terrifying.
Even the cleaners probably knew how to kill with a mop.
No wonder they were the Dragon Hunter Pirates.
"By the way, Buggy," Ryuunosuke said, walking beside him. "You ntioned heading to the Valley of the Gods. What kind of treasure are you expecting?"
Ryuunosuke already had an Eternal Pose that led to the Valley of the Gods. But that only brought them to the location—finding the actual treasure was a different matter.
He'd glanced at Buggy's map earlier. It was not the sa as his.
Which could only an one thing: there was more than one treasure in the Valley of the Gods.
Buggy scratched his head and replied, "Honestly? I found this treasure map by pure chance. I don't know what's there exactly. But since that's where my forr captain once fought… there's no way it's just an ordinary treasure."
Then he looked Ryuunosuke dead in the eye.
"You want to team up?"
"I just want the treasure. I'm not interested in history or secrets or power. Just give so gold, and I'll be on my way."
For a split second, Ryuunosuke saw sothing gleaming in Buggy's eyes—a rare mont of sincerity… and maybe even courage.
This man who fumbled and stumbled his way through legend...
He really might be special after all.
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Pâtreon /Fanficlord03
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