Seaman First Class Tashigi successfully secured the Seastone handcuffs around Buggy the Clown's wrists with practiced efficiency. The moment the sea-forged metal made contact, his Bara Bara no Mi abilities vanished completely, forcing his segmented body parts to reassemble into his natural form—a diminutive figure barely reaching 192 centimeters in height. The dramatic reduction from his floating, threatening presence to this pathetic, bound prisoner would have been almost comical if not for the tension filling the air.
As Buggy slumped in defeat, the Sky Screen above began to shimmer and change once again. The mysterious broadcast resumed with its authoritative narration, accompanied by dynamic visual presentations that made previous revelations seem almost mundane by comparison. What the world was about to witness would recontextualize everything they thought they understood about the day's events.
"Buggy's primary objective was never the meaningless conflicts of East Blue," the Sky Screen announced with dramatic authority. "His true goal was infiltrating the underwater fortress of Impel Down to locate Douglas Bullet—former crew member of the Pirate King, currently imprisoned in Level 6's Infinite Hell."
The revelation hit the assembled Marines like a physical blow. Impel Down represented the World Government's most secure facility, housing the world's most dangerous criminals in conditions designed to break even the strongest spirits. The idea that someone would deliberately seek imprisonment there seemed insane—unless they possessed the power to escape at will.
"To conceal his true intentions, Buggy formed a temporary alliance with Alvida, user of the Sube Sube no Mi, and waited for Straw Hat Luffy's arrival in Loguetown. This encounter served a dual purpose: testing whether the young pirate could truly carry Pirate King Roger's will, while simultaneously providing the perfect cover for his own capture."
Images flashed across the Sky Screen showing Buggy and Alvida in private discussion, their expressions serious and calculating rather than the drunken celebration everyone had witnessed. The contrast was startling—these were clearly the faces of conspirators, not the defeated pirates currently in Marine custody.
"The plan proceeded flawlessly. They successfully lured Straw Hat Luffy to the execution platform—the very site where Pirate King Roger met his end twenty years ago. Using Seastone restraints to neutralize the Young pirate powers, Buggy prepared to execute a young man who had boldly declared his intention to become the next Pirate King."
The Sky Screen displayed vivid footage of Luffy bound on the execution platform, his characteristic grin undimmed despite facing certain death. The parallel to Roger's final moments was unmistakable, sending chills through every viewer who remembered that historic day.
"Faced with the ultimate test of character, Luffy actually laughed in the face of death itself. Such unshakeable resolve deeply impressed Buggy during that lightning storm. Straw Hat Luffy had truly inherited Captain Roger's indomitable spirit. Had the boy shown even a moment of cowardice or begged for mercy on that platform, Buggy would have executed him immediately without regard for Shanks' feelings. Such weakness would have proven him unworthy of carrying Roger's legacy. However, this young man demonstrated he might genuinely become the next Pirate King."
The footage showed Buggy's hidden expressions during the execution attempt—not the theatrical rage he'd displayed publicly, but quiet approval and even pride as he witnessed Luffy's courage. The master actor had been performing for everyone except himself.
"Buggy the Clown possesses an exceptional ability to judge character. This young man and his companions have indeed set forth on a journey toward the former Pirate King's legendary treasure. They encountered numerous powerful enemies along their path, but ultimately, all such obstacles fell before their determination."
"Rather than catalog every confrontation, let us return to Buggy's masterful deception."
A rapid montage played across the Sky Screen, showing various defeated enemies from Luffy's future adventures—pirates, Marines, Shichibukai and monsters alike, all lying unconscious or broken. The presentation carried absolute credibility, allowing the entire world to witness the humiliating defeats of opponents who had once seemed insurmountable.
The Sky Screen then displayed the moment when lightning struck during the execution. Without Armament Haki for protection, Buggy had somehow withstood the devastating electrical attack that should have killed any normal person. The plan had proceeded perfectly, with Captain Smoker arriving at precisely the right moment to provide the distraction Luffy needed to escape.
"However, Buggy underestimated the White Hunter's priorities. Captain Smoker showed more interest in capturing Luffy, who carried a thirty million berry bounty, than in apprehending a supposedly weak clown. This deviation forced Buggy to improvise, as he couldn't allow Luffy's journey to end in East Blue. Such a failure would dishonor both Shanks and the memory of Captain Roger."
"Buggy's original strategy required Captain Smoker to capture him personally. The Marines would inevitably transfer any Devil Fruit user to Impel Down for secure imprisonment. While the plan was strategically sound, its execution faced numerous unpredictable variables—including a mysterious powerful individual who could manipulate weather itself."
Back in Loguetown's damaged tavern, the captured Buggy Pirates watched their captain's supposed masterstroke unfold with renewed amazement. Their morale, which had plummeted during Smoker's overwhelming assault, suddenly soared to unprecedented heights as they realized they'd been witnessing genius-level strategic planning rather than humiliating defeat.
"Captain Buggy, you're absolutely incredible!" Mohji exclaimed, his eyes shining with worship. "This was all part of your grand design from the beginning!"
"Boss Buggy is so brilliant!" another crew member shouted. "I want to follow you to the underwater prison!"
"Count me in!" Alvida declared with renewed enthusiasm, her beauty radiating confidence as she realized her role in the larger scheme.
Meanwhile, Buggy himself lay pinned beneath Captain Smoker's boot, the Seastone handcuffs draining every ounce of his strength. The Marine captain's full weight pressed down on his spine as Smoker's fury reached dangerous levels.
"What is your real purpose, you damned pirate?" Smoker snarled, increasing the pressure until floor tiles cracked beneath Buggy's face. "If you don't start talking immediately, I'll execute you right here!"
Seaman First Class Tashigi maintained a defensive stance with her sword drawn, ready to strike if Buggy made any sudden movements. The revelation that everything might have been an elaborate performance had shaken her confidence in her ability to distinguish truth from deception. How could anyone tell what was real when dealing with such a master manipulator?
"Please, Marine Lord!" Buggy begged pathetically, blood streaming from his crushed features. "I'm just a weak pirate! Everything the Sky Screen is saying—it's all lies! I have no hidden agenda!"
He could feel the murderous intent radiating from Captain Smoker like heat from a furnace. The White Hunter's reputation had been earned through decades of killing pirates throughout East Blue, and his patience was clearly reaching its limit.
"That answer doesn't satisfy me," Smoker growled, pouring more strength into his right foot. The pressure drove Buggy's face deeper into the shattered floor tiles, distorting his features and reducing his pleas to barely audible whispers. "Are you going to tell me the truth, or should I save everyone the trouble and kill you now?"
The White Hunter's control was slipping rapidly. He couldn't wait for Admiral Sakazuki's arrival—every instinct demanded that he end this deception immediately, regardless of potential consequences.
"The mysterious powerful individual who controlled the storm winds easily defeated Captain Smoker with a single technique," the broadcast continued relentlessly. "His goal was rescuing Luffy's crew, but his intervention inadvertently assisted Buggy's plan as well."
"This unknown figure personally escorted the Straw Hat Pirates safely out to sea. Captain Smoker, unable to defeat such overwhelming power, was forced to settle for capturing the remaining pirates in Loguetown. He used his Smoke technique to trap the Buggy Pirates attempting to flee, considering this a reasonable compromise that served justice for the townspeople."
The Sky Screen's tone grew ominous as it shifted to discussing future consequences.
"Captain Smoker was destined to become one of the Marine's future Admirals. Years later, he described this incident in his personal memoirs, calling his decision to capture Buggy the Clown and facilitate his entry to Impel Down 'the stupidest mistake of my entire career.' He spent the remainder of his life consumed by guilt over the consequences of this choice."
"To be entirely fair, the future Admiral Smoker bears no true responsibility for what followed. If Buggy hadn't entered the underwater prison through him, another Marine officer would have provided the same service. Nothing could have prevented Buggy from seeking Douglas Bullet."
The presentation took on an increasingly dark tone as it detailed the horrific aftermath of Buggy's eventual prison break.
"After Buggy completed his plan and obtained the power he sought, he demonstrated his true capabilities by slaughtering countless Marine personnel in future conflicts. His battle record exceeded the combined achievements of all other Yonko, driving Captain Smoker to spend most of his later years drowning his guilt in alcohol."
"In one particular engagement where Buggy revealed his full strength, he single-handedly destroyed twenty Marine warships, resulting in the deaths of three thousand elite Marines in a matter of hours."
The casualty list that followed sent chills through every Marine watching worldwide.
"Among the victims were several officers connected to Captain Smoker: future Rear Admiral Tashigi, his longtime subordinate; future Vice Admiral Hina, his closest friend; Vice Admirals Onigumo and Doberman, and numerous Marines who had served under him in East Blue. All perished in this one-sided massacre. Had Admiral Smoker been present during the battle, he might have saved many lives through his intervention."
"This engagement dealt a devastating blow to Marine morale and capabilities. Because the battle occurred near Iron Island, Marine historians later designated it 'The Iron and Blood Massacre.'"
The Sky Screen's final presentation showed the battle's gruesome aftermath in unflinching detail. Marine warships lay broken and scattered across Iron Island's beaches like discarded toys, their hulls split open and masts snapped. Not a single ship remained intact.
The surrounding waters had been transformed into a crimson sea, stained with the blood of thousands of fallen Marines. The ocean surface was littered with debris that had once been human beings—fragments of uniforms, pieces of equipment, and worse remnants that defied easy description.
Bodies that retained any semblance of human form were the fortunate ones. Most casualties had been so thoroughly destroyed that identification became impossible. The Iron Island coastline had been transformed into a slaughterhouse, evidence of power so overwhelming that conventional military force proved utterly meaningless against it.
The images burned themselves into the minds of every viewer, creating a stark contrast between the pathetic figure currently pinned beneath Captain Smoker's boot and the unstoppable force of destruction he was supposedly destined to become.
As the Sky Screen's presentation concluded, one question echoed through the minds of everyone watching: How could such a weak, cowardly pirate be capable of such horrific devastation? And more importantly—was there any way to prevent such a future from coming to pass?
The captured Buggy Pirates looked at their captain with even greater awe, while Buggy himself continued his desperate pleas for mercy, apparently unaware that his performance was no longer convincing anyone of his supposed weakness.
Captain Smoker found himself facing an impossible decision: execute a seemingly helpless prisoner based on future predictions, or risk being responsible for the deaths of thousands of fellow Marines through misplaced mercy.
The weight of the choice pressed down on him like the entire ocean, and time was running out to make a decision that would echo through history.