Staring at the photo in his hand—especially at the fluttering green banknotes in the background—Nao's expression turned slightly strange.
Five years ago—
The "Bubble Queen," Sofia, had allowed her subordinates to massacre a village. By sheer coincidence, Nao had passed by and executed her on the spot. To avoid unnecessary trouble afterward, he casually pushed the blame onto Buggy.
That single move made Buggy a thorn in the World Government's side. He was slapped with a 450 million Berries bounty, and the Government dispatched numerous CP agents to hunt him down.
Nao had heard the news at the time and even took a moment of silence for Buggy, assuming the poor clown was destined to rot in Impel Down.
But to his utter surprise, Buggy somehow survived again and again, escaping death each time by a hair's breadth.
Not only did he make the CP agents look like fools after repeated failures, but he also became famous in the process—so much so that the World Government was forced to negotiate, eventually signing a Warlord (Shichibukai) treaty with him.
After obtaining a seat among the Seven Warlords, Buggy—through some miracle of insight—didn't engage in the usual legalized plundering like his peers. Instead, he founded Buggy's Delivery Service.
Using his Warlord title and enormous bounty as leverage, his business grew explosively. Before long, he had unified nearly all of East Blue's shipping and mercenary industries, becoming a powerhouse in both the legal and underground worlds—a tycoon with wealth rivaling nations.
When Nao first heard this, he had been completely dumbfounded.
He could only say one thing—
That man truly lived up to the title of a "Luck-Luck Fruit user"… the ultimate "child of destiny."
"Buggy the Clown..."
Nao tapped the photo lightly with his fingertip, smiling faintly.
"I did you quite the favor back then.
Now it's about time you return it… by helping me with something small."
East Blue was now being called the "Strongest of the Four Blues," but truth be told, that was only because the other three seas had already been personally purged by him. Among midgets, someone had to be tallest.
Other than Buggy's inflated bounty, the next highest bounty among East Blue pirates barely exceeded 20 million Berries.
After two and a half years of relentless travel and fighting, Nao had basically achieved what he set out to do. The so-called Great Pirate Era was, in most parts of the world, already becoming a thing of the past.
The time to end it completely was nearly at hand, and he had no intention of wasting several more months slogging through East Blue.
As for how to wipe out every pirate here as efficiently as possible—
He already had a plan.
And to execute that plan, the now-wealthy, widely respected Buggy—business magnate and hero of East Blue—was going to be an indispensable part of it.
...
Two days later — East Blue, Cocoyasi Village
Once a small, remote village, Cocoyasi had lived in modest but peaceful simplicity.
But five years ago, everything changed—
because of a kindhearted young girl who, by sheer chance, rescued an unconscious, wounded fugitive being hunted by the CP agents.
That fugitive was Buggy.
After he rose to power as a Warlord of the Sea, Buggy, ignoring all protests from his subordinates, decided to show his gratitude by establishing the headquarters of Buggy's Delivery Service right here in Cocoyasi Village.
The result was astonishing.
Within just a few months, the once-sleepy village transformed into one of East Blue's busiest commercial hubs.
Every day, countless shipments were processed here. The port bustled with activity—cargo vessels and passenger ships coming and going nonstop, sails filling the harbor horizon.
"What a sight… this scale is insane."
Nao, dressed in a white hooded cloak reminiscent of Altaïr's, walked from the docks down the bustling main street, hands tucked in his pockets. The dazzling variety of goods on both sides nearly made his eyes spin.
He couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
This was, after all, Bell-mère's hometown—and should have been the place where his two daughters, Nami and Nojiko, grew up.
Because of the enormous butterfly effect his actions had caused, Bell-mère and her girls had been spared their tragic fate.
And now, the once-struggling Cocoyasi Village had also, thanks to Buggy's influence, taken a completely different path.
Fate… really is a mysterious thing.
...
Meanwhile…
"This is really over the top…"
In the most luxurious villa at the center of the island's city district, Buggy was just as dazzled, staring at the mountain of lavish gifts piled across the floor with an expression of pure amazement.
"Blood-red agates… fist-sized natural diamonds… fifty-year-aged North Blue sherry wine…"
The more he looked, the happier he became. Finally, he couldn't help but burst into delighted laughter.
"Hey, hey, hey—look at this! Not a single cheap or half-hearted gift in the bunch! All of it's top-grade stuff!
Tell me, Mohji, when have you ever seen those tightfisted old fossils from the noble families fork over gifts this extravagant?!"
"Never, Boss Buggy! This is a first!"
Across from him, lounging on the sofa, sat Mohji, one of his earliest followers from his pirate days and now the Vice President of Buggy's Delivery Company. Life had treated him well—too well. He was so fat he looked like a ball, wheezing loudly even as he gnawed on a chicken leg.
But the moment he heard Buggy's words, he quickly tossed the chicken aside, forced himself to his feet, and began flattering with practiced enthusiasm:
"Those stingy old bastards! Back when we first tried to do business with them, they looked down their noses at us.
Now that they see all the families who sided with us raking in profit—well, suddenly they're tripping over themselves to curry favor with you!"
"If you ask me, Boss, you shouldn't even give them the time of day! You should just send these gifts back outright—oh, I'd love to see the looks on their faces!"
"Send them back?"
Buggy snorted.
"Are you stupid? They've already delivered them right to my doorstep—of course I'm keeping them!
As for cooperation…"
He curled his lip with mock disdain.
"Tch. Just looking at their wrinkled old faces makes me sick. Let them wait! When I'm in a really good mood, maybe I'll toss them some scraps to fight over."
"Boss Buggy, your wisdom knows no bounds!"
Mohji immediately chimed in with more flattery. He was just about to sit back down when he noticed his chicken leg was gone.
Turning his head, he saw his big, chubby lion Richie happily gnawing on it. Mohji's face turned red with fury.
"Hey! You stupid Richie! That wasn't for you! Give it back!"
He lunged at the lion, wrestling with the beast in a ridiculous scuffle.
The noisy chaos gave Buggy a headache. He couldn't be bothered to intervene and was just about to haul his treasure upstairs when—
Knock, knock.
The door suddenly opened, and the butler poked his head in respectfully.
"Sir, there's a man outside dressed in white. He claims to be a Marine and specifically asked to see you by name."
"A Marine?"'
Mohji froze mid–wrestle with the lion and turned his head in confusion.
"Someone from the 16th Branch's Captain Samor? That guy finally wised up and wants to work with us now?"
"Who cares who it is — I'm not seeing him!"
Buggy waved his hand impatiently.
"I've been busy for days, and I finally get some time to rest! I'm one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea — I don't care if it's someone Samor sent, or the Captain himself, they can all scram and come back tomorrow!"
"But, sir, that man is already—"
The old butler tried to continue, but Buggy didn't even bother to listen.
Grumbling, he hefted a crate of sherry and started up the stairs toward his bedroom. But as he rounded the landing, he caught a glimpse of something white outside the window — a faint silhouette standing still beyond the glass.
That guy's still here? I told him to get lost, and he has the nerve to trespass into my yard and stand by my door?
Unbelievable!
Buggy turned around angrily, ready to blow up at the intruder. But just as he did, the white figure outside the glass lowered its hood.
For a brief moment, their eyes met through the window — and the instant Buggy saw the man's face, all his fury vanished.
Crash!
The crate of sherry slipped from his arms, tumbling down the stairs and shattering into a puddle of wine and glass.
But Buggy didn't even notice. He just stood there, frozen, staring at the man outside the window — a faint, knowing smile on his lips.
Buggy's expression stiffened completely, and two shining trails of snot slid down his big red nose straight into his mouth.
...
Five minutes later.
Inside the now–empty, lavishly decorated room — everyone else dismissed — Buggy was on his knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Lord White Dragon! I beg you, please spare my life!"
"I— I mean, yes, I used to be a pirate, and sure, I had a big bounty, but I've gone straight these past few years! I swear, I haven't done a single illegal thing!"
"It's true! I swear on my clown nose! The delivery business is way more profitable than robbery! I just sit at home and count money all day — why would I risk my neck pirating again?!"
"If— if you're willing to spare me, I'll hand over a third— no, half of all the profits from Buggy's Delivery Company to you!"
He was a mess of tears and snot — a truly pitiful sight, enough to move anyone to tears.
On the sofa across from him, Nao (White Dragon) sipped his tea, watching the clown–nosed man grovel and kowtow repeatedly, his expression twitching with speechless disbelief.
Was this really necessary? He'd only shown his face, and the man had immediately started bawling. He wasn't here to collect souls — what was this melodrama?
For crying out loud, the man was nearly thirty, a successful businessman with a reputation across the seas — and he was crying like a toddler!
"Alright, enough."
Seeing that Buggy's wailing was only getting louder, Nao kicked him lightly in the shoulder.
"I'm not here to cause you trouble. I just need a small favor, that's all."
Buggy tumbled backward from the kick, rolling several times before sitting up. Instead of getting angry, he looked up with teary eyes full of hope.
"Y– you're serious?"
"Of course."
Nao took a calm sip of his red tea.
"I may have left the Marines, but my allegiance hasn't changed. You're one of the Seven Warlords — half an ally, in a sense. Why would I hurt one of my own?"
"It's just… because I am one of the Seven Warlords that I'm scared out of my mind…"
Buggy muttered nervously.
"You've already taken out more than a few Warlords — William, Arc, Garust… a– and Sofia…"
Nao raised an eyebrow.
Right. He'd almost forgotten.
He hadn't managed to get the World Government to abolish the Warlord system yet, but in his two years wandering the seas, he'd "accidentally" killed two of the more despicable Warlords — the very ones Buggy had just mentioned, Arc and Garust.
The World Government had been furious, but in the end, they'd swallowed their pride and quietly filled the two vacant positions with Sengoku's recommended replacements.
They were, respectively, the increasingly famous master swordsman Dracule "Hawkeye" Mihawk, and the newly crowned Empress Boa Hancock, who had just held her coronation ceremony in Amazon Lily.
The news had dominated the front pages of newspapers for several days, stirring up huge commotion across the seas. It wasn't surprising that Buggy knew about it — but the fact that he also brought up Sofia…
"Interesting."
Nao took a slow sip of his tea, his expression amused as he looked at Buggy.
"So, it seems you've done your homework quite thoroughly… Hmm, you don't still blame me for dumping the blame on you back then, do you?"
If even Buggy had figured out the full story, then that high–ranking World Government official who had dealings with Sofia must also know by now. Still, considering Nao's current influence, none of them dared to come looking for trouble.
"W–what? Of course not!"
Buggy frantically shook his head like a rattle drum, stammering as he spoke:
"If—if it weren't for you, Lord White Dragon, I'd still be out there scraping by, chasing treasure! Everything I have today is thanks to you! I wouldn't dare to blame you — I can't thank you enough!"
"Oh, right!"
Suddenly remembering something, he perked up.
"You said you came here because you need a favor? Please, whatever it is, just say the word! To repay your kindness, no matter how difficult it is, I'll give it my all — I won't back down!"
"Really?"
"Of course!"
"That's good to hear."
Nao smiled faintly.
"Actually, my request is quite simple. If I remember correctly, at the end of this month, you're holding a celebration for the fourth anniversary of Buggy's Delivery Company, right?"
"That's right! I've been busy preparing for it these past few days."
Buggy nodded rapidly, eager to please.
"A lot of our business partners will be attending. The celebration's going to last a full week — easily the biggest event the East Blue has seen in years! It's going to be incredible!"
Then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, he added quickly:
"Lord White Dragon, why don't you honor us with your presence? I'll give the order right now — the best VIP seat will be reserved just for you!"
...
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