Nightfall came swiftly, cloaking the city in a thick darkness that seemed to seethe with hidden danger.
The ship anchored at a concealed location near the shore, and Buggy's group disembarked, entering the capital city of Barks without any trouble.
The guards at the city gates had returned to their usual shifts, and the masses of heavily armed soldiers from earlier were nowhere to be seen. Tonight, the defenses felt strangely relaxed — almost no one was checking the people coming and going.
Inside the city, the streets remained bustling with life. Normally, by this hour, pedestrians would be scarce. Yet tonight, the crowd was just as dense as during the day — perhaps even happier than before.
Smiles bloomed on every face, far more than what Buggy had seen just days ago. The reason for this festive mood was likely twofold: the destruction of the human trafficking ring and the royal banquet being thrown to honor the so-called heroes who had resolved the crisis.
Buggy didn't linger on the thought. Sometimes, ignorance truly is bliss. Without delay, he led his crew straight toward the royal palace.
At the palace gates, a team of guards was visibly anxious. They were waiting for the guests of honor — the very ones the king had specifically instructed them to escort.
The captain of the guards noticed Buggy and his crew approaching and quickly realized this was likely the group they had been assigned to receive.
It was obvious — the other guests had already arrived. At this hour, only one group would dare approach the palace, and it wasn't the common folk. There could be no mistake.
As Buggy and his crew neared, the guard captain stepped forward with his men.
"Are you the heroes who helped the kingdom eliminate the human trafficking organization?"
He spoke with utmost respect while confirming their identity — a necessary formality, in case they were mistaken.
"Yes, that's us. You're here to lead us inside, I presume?"
Buggy immediately understood their purpose. No one could simply wander into the royal palace, and with its labyrinthine halls and sprawling layout, any outsider without a guide would likely get lost.
Besides, this captain likely had other duties, such as monitoring their movement. After all, the palace housed the kingdom's most important figures — not just anyone could roam freely.
Soon, they were led to the banquet venue — the royal garden.
It was vast, with a large open plaza at its center. The surroundings were filled with lush greenery, ornamental rocks, flowing water, and patches of carefully cultivated forest.
The moment Buggy arrived, his Observation Haki flared — the surrounding woods radiated faint but unmistakable killing intent. It didn't take a genius to guess what the king was planning.
Upon entering the central space, all eyes turned toward Buggy's group. Many were appraising, some openly hostile, others carrying a glint of disdain.
Buggy scanned the guests — all were young, strong men. Aside from the king, there wasn't a single elder among them.
This stood out like a sore thumb. If this were truly a state banquet to honor heroes, there should've been high-ranking nobles, ministers, generals — people of influence. Not a bunch of fighters.
The implication was clear.
These weren't nobles. These were soldiers. Assassins, perhaps. Carefully arranged by the king.
"So these are the heroes who helped us eliminate the kingdom's tumor?
Such impressive young warriors — truly, heroes arise in their youth!
On behalf of the kingdom, I welcome you all!"
The king greeted them warmly, his voice full of admiration. He had learned of their strength and was genuinely impressed by their abilities.
If circumstances had been different, if their paths hadn't clashed, he might have nurtured such talents himself.
He gestured for them to sit at a row of empty seats prepared just for them.
Once seated, the king spoke again:
"Young heroes, may I ask where you're from?
And how did you come by such strength at such a young age?
Who trained you to become so powerful?"
This was a subtle probe. Before making his move, the king wanted to understand who he was dealing with — where they came from, and more importantly, whether they had any powerful backers.
"We're from the East Blue.
We weren't trained by anyone in particular — just self-taught."
Buggy saw right through the king's questioning. It was a standard tactic — probe the opponent's origins, and see if there's any looming threat behind them.
Of course, Buggy had no intention of being truthful. He said nothing about Rayleigh, his real mentor — if he had, the king might've been too afraid to make a move at all.
"That's quite remarkable — to have reached such strength on your own!
And not only that, you risked yourselves to help our kingdom in its time of need.
Truly, you are heroes of the highest order."
"May I ask what brought you to the West Blue?
If there's anything I can help with, do not hesitate to say so.
In the West Blue, my influence might prove useful — unless, of course, it's a private matter."
"We came here searching for someone.
And we've already found them. So there's no need to trouble Your Majesty."
"I see. That's good.
But if you ever need anything in this sea, don't hesitate to ask."
"Your kindness is appreciated, Your Majesty.
If anything comes up, I'll be sure to ask."
"Wonderful. Now, I imagine you're all hungry.
I've had a lavish feast prepared for you.
Once you've eaten your fill, I shall present you with the First-Class Medal and your rewards."
The king had finished his round of probing — now it was time to see if his trap would spring.
As time passed, the supposed nobles and ministers began feasting and drinking merrily. The king led the way, casually enjoying the food while keeping a close eye on Buggy's crew.
But after some time, he noticed something disturbing — Buggy's group hadn't touched a thing. Not even picked up their chopsticks.
A flicker of anger passed through the king's eyes, though he quickly composed himself and spoke with a smile:
"My dear heroes, is the food not to your taste?
Or have I failed in my hospitality somehow? Why haven't you eaten?"
Buggy looked at him, his expression unreadable, and replied:
"Before eating, I have one question for Your Majesty.
If I don't get an answer... I'm afraid I won't have the appetite."
"Oh? Ask away.
If it's within my knowledge, I'll surely answer."
Buggy stood up slowly. The rest of his crew followed, their movements calm but deliberate.
The surrounding nobles paused mid-bite, eyes turning toward them.
"Your Majesty," Buggy said, his voice cold and clear,
"You rule over a vast and powerful nation.
Why would someone like you be involved in human trafficking?
What could be your motive?"
The moment those words left Buggy's lips, the king's expression darkened. His kindly demeanor vanished, replaced by an aura of murderous intensity.
He slowly set down his bowl and chopsticks, and the killing intent in the air surged.