Using Seastone cuffs, Tashigi successfully restrained Buggy's hands.
His Chop-Chop powers were instantly nullified, and his scattered body snapped back together—returning him to a short, unimpressive figure under two meters tall.
At that moment, the heavenly screen began playing new content.
A voice narrated over still images, with motion only appearing during key moments.
[Buggy's first goal after setting sail…
was to infiltrate Impel Down.]
[Specifically, to reach Level 6—Infinite Hell—
to find a former crewmate of the Pirate King: Barrett.]
[To avoid suspicion, he teamed up with Alvida.
He waited in Loguetown for Monkey D. Luffy's crew—]
[And along the way, helped his old friend Shanks test whether Luffy could inherit Gol D. Roger's will.]
[Everything went smoothly.
Using a trick, Buggy lured Luffy to the execution platform—
the very place where the Pirate King was executed.]
[With Seastone, he suppressed Luffy's Devil Fruit powers…
and attempted to execute a boy who shouted he would become Pirate King—
in the same place, twenty years later.]
[But facing death—
Luffy, not yet twenty years old, smiled.]
[Buggy, standing in the storm, felt a rare sense of admiration.]
[Luffy had truly inherited Roger's spirit.]
[If Luffy had begged for mercy…
Buggy would have killed him without hesitation.]
[A coward unworthy of even carrying Roger's shoes—
would never deserve that dream.]
[But this boy…
might truly become the next Pirate King.]
The screen then showed Luffy's journey—
Enemies falling one after another:
Crocodile in Alabasta
Enel in Skypiea
Rob Lucci at Enies Lobby
Each was defeated by Luffy.
The scenes were vivid, undeniable—
Leaving the entire world in shock.
[Then—a bolt of lightning struck Buggy.]
[Without Armament Haki, he endured the attack head-on.]
[The plan was perfect.]
[Smoker, waiting below the platform, became part of the plan—]
[Buggy deliberately ran toward him…
to help Luffy escape.]
[But Buggy underestimated Smoker's priorities.]
[Compared to Buggy—
Smoker was far more interested in Luffy's 30 million bounty.]
[Buggy knew—
Luffy, who couldn't use Haki, stood no chance against Smoker.]
[He couldn't let the boy's journey end here.]
[Not for Shanks…
and not for Roger.]
[So from the very beginning—
Buggy's goal was to be captured.]
[Because any Devil Fruit user captured by the Marines
would inevitably be sent to Impel Down.]
[But even the perfect plan had variables—]
[A mysterious powerhouse appeared…
one capable of controlling storms.]
At this point—
Marine reinforcements had already arrived.
And seeing the screen—
They realized something shocking.
The current situation…
matched Buggy's "plan" perfectly.
The Buggy Pirates, who had been completely demoralized earlier—
suddenly regained their spirit.
"Captain Buggy is incredible! This was all part of your plan?!"
"Boss Buggy is amazing!!"
"I want to go to Impel Down with you!!"
Alvida raised her hand.
"Count me in!"
Meanwhile—
Buggy, restrained by Seastone and unable to move, was being stepped on by Smoker.
"What exactly is your goal?"
Smoker growled.
"Talk—or I'll kill you right here."
Tashigi gripped her sword tightly.
She didn't dare relax.
What if…
Buggy really had been acting all along?
Buggy, however, was on the verge of tears.
"Please believe me!!"
"I'm just a weak pirate!!"
"I have no grand plan!!"
"That screen is lying!!"
But Smoker could feel it—
The killing intent in his own chest was rising.
The title "White Hunter" wasn't given lightly.
It was earned through slaughtering pirates across the East Blue.
"I'm not satisfied with that answer."
"Speak."
Smoker's foot slammed down—
Crushing Buggy into the ground.
Blood spilled from his head.
Even his voice grew faint.
Smoker was losing patience.
If Admiral Sakazuki didn't arrive soon—
He would kill Buggy himself.
But then—
The screen changed again.
[A mysterious powerhouse appeared—]
[With a single move, he easily defeated Smoker.]
[His goal was to save Luffy.]
[Other pirates didn't matter to him—]
[But in doing so…
he unintentionally helped Buggy tremendously.]
[Afterward, he personally sent the Straw Hat crew out to sea.]
[Smoker, unable to defeat him,
settled for capturing the remaining pirates in Loguetown.]
[Including Buggy.]
[In the future, Smoker would recall this moment—]
[Capturing Buggy…
was the greatest mistake of his life.]
[Because once Buggy completed his plan…]
[He would reveal his true strength—]
[Killing countless Marines.]
[In terms of achievements—
even the other Emperors combined
would not surpass Buggy alone.]
[One battle—
Buggy single-handedly destroyed 20 Marine warships
and killed 3,000 elite soldiers.]
[This battle—
later known as the "Ironblood War"]
The screen showed the final scene—
A shattered coastline.
Not a single intact warship remained.
The sea—
dyed red with blood.
Broken bodies floated everywhere.
Marine uniforms soaked in crimson.
Severed limbs, shattered corpses—
Countless lifeless eyes staring into nothingness.
Iron Island—
had become a slaughterhouse.