Buggy's legs trembled like jelly. The Navy's impending assault loomed over him like a tidal wave.
"Maybe… we should run?" he squeaked, already mentally packing his bags.
Fleeing had worked for Whitebeard's crew in the past. Why not now?
Staying here to fight the Marines was pointless; better to grab his men and run.
"Run? Why the hell would we run?" Crocodile scoffed.
"What, are we really going to fight the Marines?! They're sending Garp, Fujitora, and two near-Admiral monsters! We've only got three real fighters here, I'll die in one hit!" Buggy screamed.
In his mind, staying here only meant certain death. If he had to face even one of them, he wouldn't last a second.
The best plan was to run away, avoid the Marines' offensive, and play hide-and-seek with them.
"That's right, we're going to fight the Navy. Since things have already reached this point, there's no other path left. To truly become an Emperor crew, we need to make a statement. Only then will more people respond to our call, join us, and the Whitebeard Pirates won't look down on us," Mihawk said coldly.
"Damn, I thought this guy was strong," Kuzan mused, eyeing the hyperventilating Buggy. "Guess I overestimated you. That raises the real question: how exactly are you planning to deal with the Navy?"
"The Navy may be powerful, but we're not without reinforcements," Crocodile replied.
"They're here."
Mihawk suddenly flashed forward, and in the spot where he had been sitting, a ghostly figure appeared.
Crocodile and Kuzan also moved instantly, dodging the attack.
"A ghost?" Crocodile frowned, biting his cigar.
"A Devil Fruit user?" Kuzan exhaled frost, chilling the room.
Only Mihawk stood still, completely unfazed.
Buggy, however, didn't react in time, and the ghost passed right through his body.
"AAAAH! I'M GONNA DIE—!!"
Crocodile and Kuzan watched with curiosity. They wanted to see what would happen to someone attacked by the ghost.
"I'm worthless… I belong in a ditch… I should've been born as maggot poop…"
Buggy collapsed to his knees, radiating visible despair. His spirit seemed utterly crushed.
Seeing Buggy's pitiful state, both Crocodile and Kuzan immediately made a mental note: "Don't get hit by that."
The sheer humiliation was unbearable.
"Pffffft, KISHISHISHI!" Four giggling ghosts materialized, pointing at the groveling 'Emperor.' "This is the mighty Buggy? Pathetic!"
"Enough playing around. Since you're here, come in," Mihawk said flatly.
"Kishishishi." A familiar, shrill laugh echoed as a shadow emerged from the floor, forming a familiar figure.
Gecko Moria.
"Kishishi, long time no see, everyone. Didn't expect to run into a former Marine Admiral here. But this guy, is he really an Emperor? At this level?" Gecko Moria said, staring curiously at Buggy, who was still sulking and drawing circles on the floor.
In Moria's mind, a true Emperor's aura should've blasted away Perona's negative ghosts instantly. Yet Buggy had been stuck in despair for so long?
He had once witnessed Roger's execution, seen Red-Haired Shanks.
Those were overwhelming presences, true kings of the sea.
But Buggy, once Roger's companion and Shanks' brother-in-arms, was nothing like that. He fell into despair in an instant, with no sign of Emperor-level strength.
"Ignore him. He's just a figurehead," Mihawk said.
"A Figurehead?" Moria muttered, confused.
"We'll explain later. Strictly speaking, the real core of Cross Guild is just us four," Crocodile clarified.
The four of them stood in formation, with Buggy kneeling in the center. From above, the arrangement looked like the World Government's flag, a cross.
Perona's ghostly form drifted down from the ceiling, and she caught sight of the scene. Under the glow of the four chandeliers, Buggy's shadow stretched out, connecting to each of the four, forming a four-pointed star.
It seemed symbolic, maybe even fate.
"Kishishi, looks like we don't need to care about the so-called Emperor anymore. Perona already told me what the Cross Guild's real purpose is. Crocodile, Mihawk, Kuzan…" Moria said.
"Our goal is to create a safe nation, one free from the world's threats, with independent military power. A country like Elbaf, the land of giants," Crocodile declared.
"A safe nation, free from influence? Can such a thing exist?" Moria laughed.
"If we join forces, we can build it. But to succeed, we'll need Pluton," Crocodile said.
"The ancient weapon Pluton, huh?. Just recently, I received intel about another of the three ancient weapons: Uranus," Moria said.
"We've heard as well," Crocodile nodded.
"The news was leaked by Roy," Mihawk added.
"Uranus destroyed the Lulusia Kingdom, wiped it off the map. Such power… Even if we build our nation, can we really resist that? Or will we need Poseidon to counter it?" Moria asked.
"Roy has already made contact with Pluton. Most likely, he has it now. Which means our next target is…" Crocodile said.
Moria's eyes lit up as he caught on. "The Whitebeard Pirates!"
He remembered Egghead, two years ago, how he was crushed in a single encounter, almost killed. He had thought no one could be that powerful.
Then he learned Kaido was defeated as well.
At that moment, he felt strangely comforted.
Even Garp, Big Mom, Kaido, and a Marine Admiral had fallen. Such a man, Roy, was their true future rival.
Just the thought made Moria tremble with excitement.
"So first, we take down the Marines. Then, our next target is…"
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu