At the center of Orange Town, atop a tall building, a group of pirates stood on the roof, waving their long blades and shouting down at an old man with four eyes.
"Damn you, old geezer! Get lost already!"
"You're just some wrinkled fossil! How are you gonna protect this town?"
"Before our great Captain Buggy gets angry, hurry up and scram!"
Their arrogant jeers echoed across the square. The old man below trembled with fury, gripping his staff so tightly his knuckles whitened.
"Buggy! Get out here!!"
"Hahaha! You trying to die, old man?"
A mocking voice came from inside the colorful circus tent above. A figure dressed like a clown, sporting a bright red nose and twirling throwing knives, stepped into view.
Just then, a pirate came running from afar, shouting excitedly,
"Captain Buggy! A ship is heading this way! The lookout says it's a big fat target!"
The scene quieted instantly.
"A big fat target?"
Buggy's grin widened. "Another sheep to slaughter. Boys, bring out Buggy Ball! We'll butcher them—and while we're at it, we'll blow this town sky-high! Wahahaha!"
"Buggy! Buggy!"
The pirates roared with excitement as the old man below clenched his teeth so hard his jaw shook.
…
At the port.
Following Luffy's orders, Zoro had just taken down the pirates guarding the dock—three strikes, done.
Nami, standing beside Luffy, frowned in worry.
"With all this noise, Buggy is definitely going to notice us."
"Notice? Let him," Luffy replied casually. "Doesn't matter—after today, he'll be joining my crew anyway."
"Huh?"
Nami stared at him wide-eyed. "That's Buggy the Clown! He's worth fifteen million, and rumor says he's immortal! Why would someone like him work under you?"
Zoro's brows twitched. "Fifteen million? Immortal?"
He didn't believe that nonsense for a second.
Immortal? That only means you haven't cut deep enough.
"Don't doubt it," Luffy chuckled, patting Zoro's shoulder. "You can cut him all you like and he won't die. He's a Chop-Chop Fruit user."
He could already tell what Zoro was thinking.
"But Buggy's fruit is top-tier. If he ever awakened it… it'd be terrifying. Still, right now he's—hmm?"
Luffy stopped mid-sentence as something ahead grabbed his attention.
A large group of pirates was approaching, the leader dragging an unconscious four-eyed old man by the collar.
Hmm.
So the mayor had already gone to confront Buggy in this timeline.
Must be because executing Morgan in Shells Town delayed their arrival.
"Hey-hey-hey…"
The pirates grinned wickedly, long blades in hand.
Zoro frowned and quietly drew his swords.
Nami—despite already knowing Soru, which made these thugs no threat—instinctively hid behind Luffy, still not quite aware of her own strength.
"Hahaha!"
A familiar laugh rang out from the front of the group.
Buggy the Clown.
"You brats sure have guts, barging into my territory. You've got two choices. One—hand over your treasure and crawl away. Two—die here, and we'll find your treasure ourselves."
Watching him pose and flourish dramatically, Luffy couldn't help laughing.
This guy… He actually managed to bluff his way into becoming a Yonko one day.
Well, to be fair—he was strong.
"Buggy~ come join my crew," Luffy said lightly.
"Hah!? What did you just say, you little punk? You want me to join your crew? You've got some nerve!"
Only then did Buggy truly notice Luffy—and the straw hat on his head.
Instantly, memories he wanted to forget resurfaced. His expression twisted, and he exploded in rage.
"Just seeing that damn hat makes me want to kill someone! Brat, go die!"
He hurled his throwing knife with all his strength.
But Zoro simply raised his blade and knocked it aside.
Only then did the pirates realize these newcomers weren't just random troublemakers.
"These guys… are dangerous!"
One pirate suddenly shouted, horrified,
"Captain Buggy! T-that green-haired guy—he's Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro!"
Rorono—what? Zolo—Zol—
Buggy didn't care about the name. He glanced back and barked,
"Cabaji! Take him out!"
"Yes, sir!"
A man on a unicycle—the circus performer Cabaji—rolled forward, grinning at Zoro.
"Just a mere pirate hunter. Watch me slice you apart!"
"Mm?"
Zoro shot him a cold glare, murderous intent so thick it made Cabaji's heart skip.
It was almost like facing the early form of Conqueror's Haki.
Cabaji forced himself to smirk. "I—I, Cabaji, will kill you here and now!"
"I'm done being a pirate hunter," Zoro said calmly. "But since you said you're going to kill me… I can't pretend I didn't hear that."
He placed his third sword between his teeth.
"You ready to die?"
Cabaji opened his mouth, but—
Zoro vanished.
He had already mastered the basic form of Soru, taught by Luffy in the simplest way possible.
"Three-Sword Style… Tiger Hunt!"
His blades crossed like the jaws of a beast as he appeared right in front of Cabaji.
"W-wait—!" Cabaji's face twisted in panic.
Zoro didn't give him the chance.
A flash of steel—
A scream—
And Cabaji crashed to the ground, bleeding but alive.
"Cabaji!?"
Buggy's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Hahaha~ don't worry, he's not dead," Luffy said cheerfully. "Anyway, Buggy~ you should still join my crew."
Buggy clenched his teeth so hard his jaw trembled.
"Mohji! You're up!"
Mohji, riding his huge lion Richie, visibly flinched.
Me? Me!? To go die!?
But the captain had spoken. He forced himself forward.
Then—
"Three-Sword Style… Crab Cutter!"
One move.
Mohji was sent flying.
He crashed to the ground, blood pouring from his chest.
Buggy's expression finally turned serious, his eyes sharpening.
"You bastard… how dare you hurt my crew…"
"Your opponent is me, Buggy~"
Luffy stepped forward with a grin.
…
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T/N:
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