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"Him?" A faint smile played at the corners of Ian's lips.
"Setting aside his strength, his reputation alone is enough to intimidate quite a few people. After all, one of his fellow apprentice crewmates became a Yonko, ruling the New World!"
"But why hasn't Crocus, also a ship doctor, come out to greet him? Shouldn't it be a heartwarming reunion of old friends?"
"You're right. I'm curious too." Garp and Ian exchanged remarks, their conversation leaving Tashigi utterly bewildered.
She couldn't understand a word they were saying. Garp, too, harbored a hint of puzzlement.
This kid, how did he seem to know everything?
"Vice Admirals, what are you talking about?" She finally blurted out, unable to contain her curiosity any longer.
"It's nothing. I'm just taking you to see something interesting." Ian chuckled, rising to his feet and heading towards the mess hall, followed by Garp, Tashigi, and the giant white dog.
"Oh, this is going to be good! Is Vice Admiral Ian planning to take down all the Warlords?" The Marines who knew the reason for their visit erupted in excitement. Garp added, "I'd like to see if this guy possesses strength comparable to Shanks."
Ian thought, So you brought him to Marine Headquarters without even testing his strength? Still, his reputation alone would be enough to deter many.
"Damn it! Who do you think I am?! Not only is there no sake, but there's not even enough meat!"
Buggy's distinctive, enraged bellow echoed from beyond the doorway. As the door swung open, he burst into the room, half of his body levitating thanks to the Chop-Chop Fruit, his hand gripping the collar of the Marine cook.
"That's right! Our Captain Buggy has been chosen to inherit Gecko Moria's position as a Warlord of the Sea! He's a formidable pirate who Fighted Kaido! But even that pales in comparison to Captain Buggy's true greatness! He's a former crewmate of Gol D. Roger, and Shanks is his sworn brother! How dare you treat him with such disrespect!"
Mohji, the lion tamer, dressed in his characteristic flamboyant attire, chimed in, his pet lion, Richie, letting out a supportive roar before resuming its feast on a massive bone, likely salvaged from some unfortunate Sea King. Buggy chuckled, trying to appear humble.
"Now, now, I'm not that impressive."
Inwardly, however, he was panicking. This charade was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. He had initially planned to settle down in the weakest sea, the East Blue, Roger's birthplace, and enjoy a peaceful life as a local kingpin. But then Garp had appeared, exposing his true identity and offering him a position as a Warlord.
He had intended to refuse, but his two newly recruited subordinates…
They had been showering him with praise, declaring their unwavering loyalty, convinced of his immense power.
Refusing now would make him appear cowardly and weak. How could he maintain his reputation as a fearsome pirate captain?
"We've already rationed the food according to regulations. With three extra mouths to feed, including your pet, it's going to be tight. We need to conserve our supplies until we reach the next town. Yelling won't change anything."
The Marine cook, though intimidated, stood his ground. After all, there were two powerful Vice Admirals just outside.
One had chased Buggy's former captain across the globe, while the other had defeated two Warlords and fought the world's greatest swordsman to a draw. Buggy, despite his claims of being a former Roger Pirate and a Warlord, couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear.
Was he next? How could he still be so conceited? The Marines weren't like pirates, devoid of loyalty and compassion.
"Is that my concern? It just shows how incompetent you Marines are! You expect us Warlords to fight the Yonko, but you can't even provide us with a decent meal?!" He clutched his stomach dramatically, feigning weakness.
"Damn it! He's at it again!"
Mohji, Cabaji the acrobat, and Richie the lion erupted in laughter.
Whoosh! A dark object whizzed past Buggy's head. He instinctively reached out and caught it.
"Which one of you threw this?! There is sake! And you said Marines weren't allowed to drink! But it's empty! Are you mocking me?!"
Buggy roared, holding the empty sake bottle Ian had shared with Garp.
"Black Winged Devil… Hero Garp…"
Their bravado vanished as they saw Ian and Garp standing there, their expressions grim. Tashigi, her gaze fixed on Cabaji, gripped Shigure. This guy was also a swordsman, and likely quite skilled.
Richie, the lion, prepared to pounce, but then it saw the giant white dog, growing several times its size, staring down at it. It whimpered and retreated, tail between its legs.
Panic set in. Even the Warlords were no match for these two.
The Marines breathed a sigh of relief. The real powerhouses had arrived. Let's see how long Buggy's conceit lasted.
Scared now? Pretty pathetic for a Warlord.
"Wait a minute! I'm a Warlord of the Sea! Why should I be afraid of them?!" Buggy snapped out of his momentary fear, realizing he couldn't lose face in front of his crew.
"Black Winged Devil! You dare mock me?!" Buggy's clown face floated towards Ian, but the sight of his pale green eyes and deathly white skin sent a shiver down his spine.
This guy… he was the real deal.
What to do? He couldn't keep up this act any longer.
"Just a friendly greeting. I've heard tales of you Captain Buggy. You're the chosen one, blessed by Great Luck." Ian said.
Tashigi and Garp exchanged puzzled glances. What was Ian doing? This playful banter wasn't his style. Shouldn't he just punch Buggy already?
"You'd better know your place! But what the hell is 'Great Luck'? Though I admit, I am quite lucky."
Buggy cackled, his crew cheering him on. Even the Black Winged Devil had been subdued by his charisma!
"I'm not here to cause trouble. I've just developed a bit of an addiction to challenging Warlords lately. I thought I'd test my skills against the newest member, Captain Buggy…"
Buggy's face paled. This guy was definitely looking for a fight. What to do?
"Go get him, Captain Buggy! Show us your strength!!" Mohji and Cabaji shouted, eager to witness a clash of titans.
What loyal subordinates.
"Idiots! Vice Admiral Ian just fought Mihawk to a draw! He sent two Warlords to prison! Do you want your precious Captain Buggy to join them?" A Marine roared.
"Warlords are nothing special! Even Mihawk couldn't defeat Shanks, our captain's friend! Who says Buggy's weaker than him?" Buggy wanted to cry. Would these two just shut up?!
Richie roared again, only to be swiftly subdued by the giant white dog.
"But a simple fight is so boring. We're both men of status. We need to raise the stakes. Since you challenged me, I won't offer a wager."
Buggy tried to maintain his composure. Marines were known for their strict adherence to rules and regulations. They probably didn't have anything of value to offer. And even if they did, he could always refuse with a dramatic flourish, maintaining his image as a discerning pirate captain.
"Of course, we can't have Captain Buggy losing face. Sake is a must. As for the wager…"
"How about Captain John's treasure?"
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Word Count [1292]
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To Be Continued..
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