Oh? You want to know… even if it costs you your life?
The king's face was gloomy as he spoke. He knew that Buggy had probably already uncovered the truth. At this point, there was only one outcome left.
"Yes. I want to know what kind of reason could justify a king treating his people as merchandise to be sold."
There was no more need to pretend — the lines had been drawn. From this moment on, it was a fight to the death.
"What do you know?! Do you have any idea how hard it's been for this kingdom to enjoy the life we have today? Do you know the price we've paid? What right do you have to judge me?!"
The king stood up abruptly, his face twisted in fury as he glared at Buggy, rage plain on his features.
"Oh? Then let's hear it."
Buggy could sense the confrontation was entering its climax. He also had a good idea why the king would resort to selling his people.
The mocking expression on Buggy's face only enraged the king further. He seemed to lose all reason, roaring at the top of his lungs:
"Do you know how much Heavenly Tribute we have to pay every year?!
That number is beyond your imagination!
A decade ago, paying those tributes nearly emptied our entire treasury!
I couldn't keep up!
So, for the sake of peace and prosperity — yes, I made a choice!
Isn't it only fair that some of our people sacrifice for the greater good?
Thanks to them, our kingdom can enjoy peace and happiness!"
After shouting those words, the king looked almost relieved, as though confessing had lifted a burden. He even smiled with a kind of twisted pride as he looked at Buggy and his crew.
"Hah… That's your reason?" Buggy sneered.
"And what makes you think they were happy to sacrifice?
In all these years, how many people have you trafficked?
How many families were destroyed?
Do you think the ones sold could find happiness?
And those left behind — the families, the parents, the children — could they live in peace?
All for your so-called 'peaceful life'… how many lives have you shattered?
How many homes were ruined?
If your citizens ever learned the truth —
Do you think they would still feel peaceful?
And who says you had to pay that tribute?
Couldn't you have strengthened your forces instead?
Built your power and earned peace on your terms?"
"Tch. What does a brat like you know?" the king snapped.
"On this sea, pirates pop up like weeds. One batch after another.
No matter how strong we make our kingdom, without a powerful backer, how long could we hold out?
Without the protection of the World Government, this country would've been overrun by pirates long ago.
We would've ended up just another paradise for outlaws.
As for anything else — I don't have the luxury to care."
"Pfft. If you've never even tried, how would you know whether it's possible?
Hiding under the World Government's wings like that —
You've handed your nation's life and death to someone else.
If one day an enemy comes that doesn't fear the World Government…
Then what?" Buggy asked coldly.
"Enough talk!" the king snapped.
"If you can leave here alive, then you can lecture me.
Otherwise, save it for your next life!"
They had reached an impasse. Neither could convince the other. Both had their beliefs, their convictions. Since words failed, there was only one thing left — battle.
"Fine," Buggy said coldly.
"Let's see what you've prepared for me."
The king raised a hand and gave a sharp wave, then turned and walked toward a stone door without looking back.
At that moment, a shrill signal pierced the air.
Rustling echoed from the woods — heavy footsteps approached in force.
At the same time, the so-called "guests" stood up silently, one after another. Their eyes gleamed with malice as they stared down Buggy and his crew. Some of them drew weapons; others began to emit strange energies, their bodies already starting to shift and change.
From the shadows, a man stepped forward — a face Buggy recognized instantly.
It was none other than Jesse, the former commander of the City Guard.
He held a long sword in his hand and approached with steady steps.
"You're the one who ruined me," Jesse said, his voice cold.
"Surprised to see me alive?"
"Not really," Buggy replied flatly.
"If anything, I should send you back down again."
"Hmph. Then I'll deal with you the same way I dealt with Buro.
I'm guessing you let him escape on purpose, didn't you?"
"Maybe," Buggy said with a smirk.
"Or maybe you'll have a chance to apologize to him in hell."
"Enough. Kill them all. Leave none alive."
With Jesse's command, the surrounding soldiers began to charge — but Buggy didn't wait.
In the same instant Jesse barked his order, Buggy used Soru, vanishing from his position and reappearing at the front of the enemy formation.
Without hesitation, he unsheathed his sword — En'yō (Flame Sun) — and slashed four times in quick succession.
From those slashes burst four sword auras, each over 100 meters long, slicing through the battlefield in two wide arcs. These were not normal slashes — they were imbued with fire, En'yō's elemental enhancement. Buggy called them the Flame Blades.
The flaming sword energy screamed through the air toward the densest groups of enemies.
The soldiers froze in shock, unable to move, let alone run.
As the first wave of slashes reached them, they could only watch in despair.
No miracle saved them. The sword auras passed through them like razors through paper. In the blink of an eye, bodies were cleaved in half — upper torsos separated from legs, corpses collapsing in rows.
Hundreds died in an instant.
Some of the soldiers still alive started to breathe a sigh of relief, but then the second wave of sword auras hit them too. Within seconds, the entire wave of reinforcements that had come from the woods was nearly annihilated. Only four or five dozen remained, scattered and stunned.
Seeing the massacre unfold before their eyes, those survivors lost their nerve and fled in terror, rushing back toward the woods. They had completely forgotten the king's orders.
Buggy had acted decisively. Even though those troops weren't particularly strong, in a chaotic battle, they could still become a dangerous distraction. By eliminating them first, his team could focus fully on the real threats.
Meanwhile, Weevil and the others had entered the fray as well.
The king's elite weren't ordinary soldiers. Many were skilled swordsmen, martial artists, or even Devil Fruit users.
Among them were three Zoan-type Devil Fruit users:
One was covered in brown fur, with tusks protruding from his mouth — a boar-type Zoan user.
Another had a body wrapped in scaly armor and long claws — a pangolin-type Zoan user.
The third had a sharp face and jet-black fur — a monkey-type Zoan user.
All three attacked Weevil simultaneously.
But Weevil showed no fear — in fact, he fought them to a standstill. His monstrous strength, inhuman body, and improving swordsmanship were on full display.