"It seems the Marine is serious this time..."
Rayleigh glanced at the screen. "You and Akainu didn't plan this together, did you?"
Just as Buggy started cleaning up the pirates here, Akainu immediately took action over there.
"How could that be?" Buggy picked up the drink in front of him and downed it in one gulp. "I have nothing in common with that middle-aged man. He's not some spirited young Marine girl."
However, Akainu still isn't extreme enough. If he had found Emporio Ivankov back then and given every high-ranking Marine officer a Sex-Change Hormone shot, the effect of the World Military Draft would have been ten times better.
"If this continues, the Sabaody Archipelago will become deserted in the future," Shakky said.
Because it is a necessary route to the New World, the Sabaody Archipelago has gathered many pirates. Now, Shakky could hear the commotion outside.
With the Fleet Admiral personally leading the expedition, these guys naturally didn't dare to stay here any longer.
"No, they won't. Even without pirates, there will be others sailing the seas."
Buggy said, "Perhaps this is the only benefit of the Pirate Era: letting people know how vast the outside world is..."
As long as there is profit, people will set sail.
"Can your plan really succeed? Sabaody Archipelago doesn't seem to have any unique specialty goods! Rayleigh asked.
"It's not only specialty goods that can be traded. Bulk commodities like grain, spices, sugar, and fish can also be traded," Buggy explained.
"For example, fish can fetch a high price when brought to Alabasta."
Buggy suddenly noticed Shakky staring at him. "Sister Shakky, what is it?"
"Your information is very well-informed! You already know about something that happened not long ago," Shakky said.
"What news?" Buggy asked, confused.
"Human trafficking. Recently, Sabaody Archipelago has seen many Slave Capture Teams, catching Fishmen and Merfolk, and then transporting them to Alabasta..."
Shakky, as an Information Broker, had only recently obtained this intelligence.
Hey, I wasn't talking about that kind of fish... Buggy had thought human trafficking had disappeared from the Stheabaody Archipelago, but he didn't expect it to still exist.
Buggy lightly tapped the table. "Isn't anyone managing this? I remember Fish-Man Island is a World Government-affiliated country."
Originally, Islands 1 through 29 of the Sabaody Archipelago were all Human Trafficking Shops and Slave Auctions.
But since the "Celestial Dragons Incident," such occurrences have significantly decreased.
After Doflamingo's downfall, the Human Trafficking Shops that lost their backing basically all went bankrupt.
Buggy didn't expect this behavior to resurface.
"Who is going to manage it? Most of the Slave Capture Teams are Alabasta's Official Military Forces. Although these slaves are said to be sold to Alabasta, the real buyers are someone else."
Shakky said mockingly, "Fish-Man Island and Alabasta are still Friendly Nations. Fish-Man Island even wanted to establish a land Base of Operations in Alabasta, but everything changed after Cobra died."
"Those Merfolk who came ashore were all captured, and now Slave Capture Teams have been organized to come and seize slaves."
"Did Fish-Man Island not ask Luffy for help? Aren't they protected by the Straw Hat Pirates?" Buggy asked.
"You know the situation with the Straw Hat Pirates. They simply don't have time to deal with these matters. Unless they stay on Fish-Man Island permanently, this kind of thing cannot be stopped."
Rayleigh said, "In other words, the Straw Hat Pirates simply don't have the Deterrent Power of the other Four Emperors' Crews."
When the Whitebeard Pirates or the Big Mom Pirates were protecting Fish-Man Island, other forces only dared to secretly capture Merfolk.
But now that Fish-Man Island is flying the Straw Hat Pirates' flag, Alabasta is openly capturing Merfolk, prompting other forces to become restless,s too.
"It's because they don't have enough blood on their hands, right?" Buggy naturally understood. "That's why good people tend to suffer losses!"
Even though they are strong enough to crush others, just because they are good people, some insects dare to jump around.
"Aren't you planning to do anything?" Rayleigh asked.
"I'm not some overly good person. Unless Fish-Man Island joins us, why should I go save them?"
Buggy found it both funny and exasperating. "Besides, it's not like they have no power to resist..."
"Poseidon, the Sea King?" Rayleigh had known about this matter for 10 years before Shirahoshi was born. "If the Merfolk really use this power, setting aside whether it will destroy the world, it would at least affect your plan..."
That actually makes some sense... Seeing Buggy deep in thought, Rayleigh continued, "Neptune and our Roger Pirates have some history. Just do me a favor and let Fish-Man Island fly your flag."
"Alright, I agree. Consider it tuition for those three guys."
Buggy still agreed. Rayleigh had promised to help teach Mr. 3 and the others, so Buggy owed him a favor.
Since he spoke up, Buggy naturally had to give him face.
"In that case, I'll go inform Neptune right away." Rayleigh smiled.
"Sister Shakky, the first mate is so enthusiastic, could he have a sweetheart on Fish-Man Island..."
Buggy saw Rayleigh rushing out impatiently and joked.
"Don't worry, he doesn't have the energy for that." Shakky glanced disdainfully at Rayleigh's retreating figure.
Buggy decided to bring Rayleigh some supplements next time. Standing next to Shakky, he no longer looked like he belonged to the same era as her.
"If Fish-Man Island flies your flag, what if Alabasta still refuses to stop?" Shakky asked.
"What is the current situation in Alabasta? Who is in power?"
Buggy only knew that Cobra had been assassinated and was unclear about the other circumstances.
"The military is controlled by a Collateral Branch of the Royal Family. Although the Legitimate Heir, Nefertari Vivi, wants to return and reclaim power, there shouldn't be much hope," Shakky said.
"I see... If they don't know what's good for them..." Buggy paused. "Old Sand, then let you tell them the price of offending us!"
Crocodile was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.
Now, he only hoped that those people in Alabasta would be foolish enough to give him a chance to return.
"I will let them know what a true Desert Emperor is!" Crocodile sneered.
Originally, out of consideration for the attitudes of the World Government and the Marine, he chose to gradually encroach upon Alabasta.
But now, with the support of the Buggy Pirates behind him, he is fully capable of taking down Alabasta by himself.
But what Buggy didn't know was that on Fish-Man Island, beneath the sea, his people had already clashed with Alabasta's Slave Capture Teams.
Inside the Barrier of Fish-Man Island, Alabasta's Slave Capture Teams looked fearfully at the man before them.
The two Shotel swords in his hands were still dripping blood, and the two tusk-like decorations on his head and shoulders indicated his identity.
"Jack the Drought? Why are you here!"
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A/N: 40+ Advance Chapter Has Been Uploaded.
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