White Pine Town was a place of bitter memories for "Clown" Buggy.
The free trade zone had transformed into a massive military encampment. Armed pirates crowded the streets, while gunfire and cannon blasts echoed from newly constructed shooting ranges at the town's edge—the sounds of pirates familiarizing themselves with unfamiliar weapons.
Buggy had roamed the East Blue and even the Grand Line for years, yet never imagined he would meet his downfall before a bank in White Pine Town. Not only had he been forced into servitude, but his crew had also been scattered—some injured, others fled entirely.
Buggy had always relied on two trusted officers: his Chief of Staff, Cabaji, and his Vice-Captain, Mohji, known as the "Beast Tamer." During the "catastrophe" in White Pine Town, Mohji had mysteriously vanished.
Initially, Buggy believed Mohji had perished and even shed bitter tears for him. However, through his work under Dampier—which technically placed him within William's organization—Buggy inadvertently overheard information from participants in the White Pine Town incident.
It emerged that the Buggy Pirates had infiltrated the town disguised as a circus troupe, with Mohji posing as an animal trainer. When William blanketed the settlement in steam, causing most residents to collapse from dehydration, Mohji had exploited his cover identity to deceive the security guards and escape alone from the terrifying town. What infuriated Buggy most was that Mohji had never resurfaced afterward.
Buggy ground his teeth in rage. To this day, he continued searching for the "Beast Tamer," vowing to demonstrate the iron fist of "Captain Buggy" to the ungrateful traitor at the first opportunity.
Cabaji approached quietly and reported in a hushed tone: "Captain, I've gathered intelligence. A shipment of weapons and personnel arrived this morning. Based on descriptions, it's almost certainly the chemical unit."
"Have you determined which airship they'll board?" Buggy asked urgently.
Cabaji shook his head.
"Find out immediately!" Buggy commanded in a low voice. "Golden Lion Shiki possesses the Float-Float Fruit. The sky is his domain, and these cumbersome airships are nothing but stationary targets for him. I refuse to share an airship with toxic gas bombs—I'd have no escape route if disaster struck."
Having worked under Dampier developing the Buggy Ball, Buggy was familiar with other projects under Dampier's supervision. The completed M.H.5 and the developmental M.H.6 were genuinely hazardous weapons. The thought of being confined in the same space with such volatile materials made Buggy shudder.
Cabaji acknowledged the order and departed swiftly, leaving Buggy to his troubled thoughts. Momentarily setting aside his fixation on Mohji, Buggy focused on the immediate crisis.
Why did it have to be Golden Lion Shiki again?
The naval battle from eighteen years prior remained vivid in Buggy's memory. Even Captain Roger would likely have fallen to Shiki without the sudden, fortuitous storm. The image of that domineering, lion-like figure had left an indelible impression on Buggy. If possible, he would never willingly face Shiki again.
But what choice did Buggy have? His situation was utterly desperate!
William still possessed Buggy's heart. During his laboratory work developing the Buggy Ball, Buggy had contemplated various escape plans—he was, after all, a pirate who cherished freedom. Yet every attempt ended in excruciating failure. Although his Chop-Chop Fruit allowed him to separate his body parts, he couldn't escape the sensations inflicted upon his heart. Any damage William inflicted on that vital organ transmitted directly to Buggy's consciousness.
This time, William had promised Buggy freedom after defeating Golden Lion Shiki. However, Buggy harbored little faith in their victory prospects. His mind remained consumed with schemes to survive the battle and reclaim his heart.
...
Three days later, the meteorological department reported an imminent storm.
Outside Kalmar City, a fleet of airships awaited deployment. Elite members of the Royal Guard and militia boarded the gondolas systematically. After William and his entourage entered the final gondola, the airships began their ascent.
Nearly forty airships rose majestically into the sky, casting enormous shadows over the city. The citizens of Kalmar City emerged from their homes en masse, gazing upward in awe as their governor led his forces to challenge the heavens.
Among the crowd stood Nami, blending inconspicuously with the onlookers. With her exceptional talent, she detected subtle changes in atmospheric pressure—unmistakable harbingers of the approaching storm. Unfamiliar with Shiki's vulnerabilities, her concern for the airship fleet's safety intensified.
From within his gondola, William observed the crowd below. After thoughtful consideration, he instructed his aide: "Signal the other airships to moderate their ascent. Allow those aboard to witness the crowds below—those praying and cheering for our success. Remind everyone that this battle transcends personal interests—we carry the hopes of the entire East Blue."
The aide acknowledged and relayed William's directive. The airships' ascent visibly slowed as the fleet of nearly forty vessels traversed the city, their massive shadows sweeping across the urban landscape.
At the royal palace, Norton I and his family stood transfixed at the entrance, mouths agape as they beheld the spectacle above. Even now, they struggled to comprehend that these magnificent flying machines had been constructed in the city they once governed.
The Kalmar City airship contingent soon rendezvoused with the White Pine Town fleet, forming an even more imposing armada. By this point, even at considerable altitude, the airship formation remained visible to ground observers.
In the Goa Kingdom, atop Mt. Colubo, Luffy suddenly stood on a tree branch, pointing excitedly skyward: "Ace, look! What's that?"
Ace glanced upward. In the distance, dozens of oval-shaped objects drifted across the heavens. His expression grew serious. "Airships?"
"Are those the airships Sabo mentioned?" Luffy's eyes sparkled with wonderment. "They really can fly! And there are so many!"
Ace pressed his lips together, remaining silent. In truth, the Dadan Family had been following developments through newspapers and were well aware of the situation with Golden Lion Shiki. Ace had also learned details from Sabo's letters. However, they had collectively decided to shield Luffy from this knowledge, unwilling to burden such a young boy with these grave concerns.
Recently, Dadan had taken to drinking herself into oblivion almost daily, cursing Garp for his apparent heartlessness and neglect of his grandsons. She lamented that if Garp were present, the chances of defeating Golden Lion Shiki would increase substantially.
The Marines' response in the East Blue had been woefully inadequate. By the time news reached the Grand Line and reinforcements from Marine Headquarters arrived, Shiki could potentially devastate the East Blue beyond recognition.
For now, the East Blue's inhabitants could only rely on themselves. That impressive aerial armada had become their sole beacon of hope.
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