บท 157: Chapter 157: Buggy Becomes a Yonko!
In the vast and ornately decorated conference room, the heavy atmosphere from earlier had dissipated, leaving only Ace and the women of the Entei Pirates behind. The tension of the upcoming war had been temporarily replaced by a more intimate and relaxed mood among those who remained.
Ace turned his attention to Vivi, his expression softening into a smile. "Vivi, how's Alabasta holding up?" he asked, his tone warm and reassuring.
Vivi returned his smile, a sense of pride in her eyes. Thanks to Ace's Space-Space Fruit ability, she could effortlessly travel between Alabasta and Wanokuni, ensuring that her homeland was never neglected despite her duties as a member of the Entei Pirates. Although she spent most of her time by Ace's side in Wanokuni, her love and responsibility for Alabasta remained strong, and she would occasionally return to visit her father, King Cobra.
"It's doing well, Ace," Vivi replied with a smile that reflected her satisfaction. "Thanks to your power, the water shortage in Alabasta has been completely resolved. The people are thriving, and we're preparing for the final war as you instructed."
Alabasta's allegiance had subtly shifted, even though it remained publicly aligned with the World Government. In reality, the kingdom was already under the protection and influence of the Entei Pirates. Ace had made a calculated decision to keep Alabasta's official status unchanged, understanding the kingdom's unique position. The connection between the former queen of Alabasta, Lily, and the enigmatic Imu of the World Government suggested a deeper, more intricate history that Ace was not yet ready to expose. Publicly withdrawing from the World Government could have triggered unwanted attention and accelerated the conflict before Ace was fully prepared.
The senior officials of Alabasta were already sworn to the Entei Pirates, their loyalty firmly secured. Ace had positioned Alabasta strategically, knowing it could play a crucial role in the final battle.
Ace's gaze sharpened as he inquired further, "How is the investigation into that matter? The queen from eight hundred years ago, Lily?"
Vivi's expression became serious, tinged with a slight disappointment. "It's difficult, Ace. It seems like any information about that ancestor has been meticulously erased by some mysterious force. We've only managed to find scattered fragments of information."
She paused before continuing, "But there's one thing we've uncovered: it appears that the queen bore a striking resemblance to me."
Ace's smile returned, though it was laced with contemplation. He had known about this resemblance from the original story before his rebirth into this world, but hearing it confirmed in this reality brought a sense of unease. He felt like he was on the verge of uncovering a critical piece of information, yet it remained just out of reach, elusive and frustrating.
He frowned slightly, lost in thought. What am I missing?
"Is everything okay, Ace?" Vivi's voice pulled him from his musings, her concern evident.
Ace shook his head, waving off her worry. "It's nothing," he reassured her, though his mind was still churning. He then turned his attention to Yamato, who had been tasked with a mission of great importance. "Yamato, have you made any progress in locating Pluton?"
Yamato's expression brightened, a confident smile playing on her lips. "There's a clue," she said, her excitement barely contained.
Ace's eyes sparkled with interest, the thought of acquiring another Ancient Weapon invigorating him. "Oh?" he prompted, leaning forward slightly.
If Pluton, the legendary warship said to possess unparalleled destructive power, were to fall into his hands, it would mean he controlled two of the three Ancient Weapons. Poseidon, through Shirahoshi, was already within his grasp, leaving only Uranus still under the World Government's control.
"Let's go and find Pluton," Ace declared, his voice brimming with determination. The time had come to secure another piece in the game of thrones that was the world's future. With Pluton in his arsenal, the balance of power would tip even further in his favor, bringing him closer to the ultimate showdown with the World Government.
Yamato nodded, her resolve matching his. Together, they would uncover the ancient weapon hidden beneath Wanokuni, a relic from a bygone era that would help shape the world's destiny once more.
East Blue, Orange Town
Buggy had been defeated by Ace's younger brother, Luffy, in a battle that left him humiliated and bruised. But despite this setback, fate had more in store for the clownish pirate. Word of Buggy's past had reached the highest echelons of power, where the Five Elders, the shadowy rulers of the world, learned of his surprising connection to the legendary Roger Pirates. They saw an opportunity in Buggy, an unexpected pawn that could be used to their advantage. And so, they decided to offer him a position in the Seven Warlords of the Sea—on one specific condition.
Meanwhile, within the dark corridors of a government stronghold, the CP7 chief stood tense and anxious. His fingers twitched slightly, betraying his eagerness to complete the task assigned to him. His mind was already racing ahead, filled with thoughts of tracking down and eliminating the troublesome Straw Hat Luffy, the new pirate who is the Sworn brother of The Flame Emperor who had embarrassed the government more than once.
A subordinate approached with a small box, carefully wrapped in black cloth, cradling it as if it contained something sacred. The CP7 chief barely acknowledged the gesture as the box was placed before him. With a swift motion, he pulled away the cloth, revealing an old, weathered Den Den Mushi resting inside.
The snail's eyes slowly opened, and the familiar sound of its connection echoed through the room.
"Bulu Bulu Bulu~ Gaga~"
The Den Den Mushi connected, its expression morphing into one of stern authority, mirroring the voice that soon emerged from the other end.
"Too slow, CP7!" The voice was cold, authoritative, and laced with an edge that sent a shiver down the CP7 chief's spine.
He straightened immediately, recognizing the speaker as one of the Five Elders, the highest authority in the world. "No, Master Five Elders, it's all—"
"Enough! I don't want to hear your excuses," the voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and unforgiving. The speaker was Nusjuro, the Financial God of War among the Five Elders. His tone was filled with impatience, a rare display of irritation from someone who usually remained calm and composed.
The CP7 chief swallowed hard, knowing he had no room for error. The Five Elders were not known for their tolerance of failure or delays. "Buggy should be here now!" Nusjuro's command was absolute, leaving no room for debate or further explanation.
It was easy to understand the frustration in Nusjuro's voice. The CP7 had reported their arrival at Buggy's location over an hour ago, and yet the promised communication had been delayed. For the Five Elders, who were accustomed to having the world bend to their will, this was an unforgivable breach of protocol. They were the pinnacle of power, the unseen rulers who orchestrated the fate of nations, and they did not tolerate being kept waiting.
To make the world's most powerful men wait was not just an inconvenience—it was an insult. And the CP7 chief knew it. He could feel the cold sweat beginning to form on his brow as he quickly tried to regain control of the situation.
Buggy's connection to the Roger Pirates was his golden ticket, and the Five Elders intended to use it. They needed someone with a semblance of legitimacy to maintain the balance of power within the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and Buggy, despite his many flaws, fit the bill. But this offer of power came with strings attached, strings that would bind Buggy to the will of the World Government, forcing him to serve their interests.
As the CP7 chief stood there, the Den Den Mushi's cold, intimidating gaze fixed on him, he knew that the clock was ticking. Buggy's acceptance of the offer wasn't just a formality—it was a directive that had to be carried out with precision and speed. There was no room for failure, not when the Five Elders themselves had taken an interest.
"Buggy will be brought before you immediately, Master Nusjuro," the CP7 chief finally managed to say, his voice steady despite the pressure.
He knew that once Buggy agreed to the terms, the clown would become a pawn in a game far more dangerous than he could ever imagine. The position of a Warlord would elevate him in the eyes of the world, but it would also place him under the ever-watchful gaze of the Five Elders, who would not hesitate to eliminate him if he ever stepped out of line.
As the Den Den Mushi clicked off, the CP7 chief exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of his task pressing down on him. The offer had been made, but the true challenge was just beginning. Buggy's fate now hung in the balance, and whether he realized it or not, his acceptance would draw him into the web of the World Government, where every move was monitored, and every mistake could be his last.
"The man named Buggy should be here by now. Call him over immediately. We will grant him the honor of becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and in return, he will have the chance to eliminate Monkey D. Luffy!"
The voice of Saturn, one of the Five Elders, reverberated through the room, carrying with it the weight of authority and the cold precision of a command that brooked no defiance.
Buggy, despite the fear gnawing at his insides, allowed a sneer to curl his lips. His heart pounded in his chest, but outwardly, he maintained the bravado he was known for. "Hey, Five Elders, is this the attitude you take when you're asking someone to do something for you? Who do you think you're talking to?"
The room fell into an immediate and stunned silence. Buggy's audacity was unheard of, especially in the presence of the highest powers in the world. The mere thought of speaking to the Five Elders with anything less than reverence was unimaginable, and yet here was Buggy, a man who had just recently been humiliated in battle, daring to challenge them with words that bordered on insolence.
For a moment, the tension in the air was so thick it was almost suffocating. Those present could only gape in shock, wondering if Buggy had just signed his own death warrant.
But the real shock was yet to come.
"Listen, old men," Buggy continued, his voice steady even as his insides churned with anxiety. "I have no interest in becoming a Shichibukai and living under someone else's roof. That is, unless..."
He let his words hang in the air, savoring the moment as he saw the curiosity flicker in Saturn's eyes. Buggy knew he was playing a dangerous game, but he also knew that sometimes, the only way to win was to take a gamble.
"Unless what?" Saturn's voice was low, a warning note hidden beneath the question. His patience was thinning, but he held back his anger, knowing that Buggy, despite his flaws, was the most viable candidate for the Shichibukai position they could find.
Their plan was simple: install Buggy as a Warlord, infiltrate his crew with CP0 agents, and have Buggy's "New Crewmates" Get rid of Luffy. It was a strategy that would not only rid them of Luffy but also fill a Hole in the Seven warlords of the Seas.
But Buggy was about to derail that plan in a way no one had anticipated.
"Unless you let me sit on the Void Throne," Buggy declared, his voice dripping with nonchalance. "I heard your World Government has been keeping it vacant for 800 years. If you let me take a seat on it, then maybe I'd consider your offer!"
The Agents and even Buggy's Crew Members froze. Every eye was on Buggy, and every mouth was agape in disbelief. The Void Throne—the symbol of the World Government's absolute power, the seat that had remained empty for centuries to signify that no single person ruled the world—was now being casually demanded by a pirate who was, until recently, more of a joke than a threat.
The room was so silent that it seemed the world itself was holding its breath. Those present could scarcely believe what they had just heard. Buggy, the clown, the defeated pirate, had just demanded the one thing that no one in the world would ever dare to ask for.
And in that moment, the gravity of what he had said began to sink in. Buggy had crossed a line, one that could not be uncrossed. Whether out of sheer madness or a calculated gamble, he had thrown down a challenge that would echo through the halls of power and into the history books.
The world had gone quiet, as if even it was stunned by the sheer boldness of Buggy's words. And now, all that remained was the reaction of the Five Elders, whose silence was as ominous as a gathering storm.
"The Void Throne is empty anyway, so why don't you just let me sit on it?" Buggy's voice carried an air of nonchalance that belied the sheer terror he felt in his heart. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but he masked his fear with bravado, speaking the most terrifying words in the world as if they were nothing.
The Void Throne. The mere mention of it sent chills down the spines of those who understood its significance. This was no ordinary seat of power; it was the symbol of the balance of power established by the alliance of twenty kings who had defeated a formidable enemy eight hundred years ago. The weapons of these kings stood before the Void Throne, signifying their equality and mutual respect. No one could claim the throne, for it represented the authority of a ruler who did not exist—a king of the world that was above all, yet absent from the seas.
Buggy's flippant remark was nothing short of treasonous, an audacious affront to the very foundation of the World Government's power.
"Lunatic! How dare you utter such treasonous words! There will be no place for you in this sea!" The CP7 officer in the black suit was seething with rage, his mind screaming the words he dared not voice aloud. He knew that to speak against Buggy now would only provoke further chaos, and so he held his tongue, though every fiber of his being burned with fury.
An unspeakable silence descended upon the room, stretching on for what felt like an eternity. The tension was palpable, thickening the air until it was almost suffocating.
"Do you know what you are saying?" Saturn's voice finally cut through the silence, colder than the deepest ice. "Even if it is a joke, this is the one thing that is absolutely forbidden."
Buggy's heart pounded, but he refused to back down. "Old men, I already told you—I, the great Buggy, will not live under someone else's roof. If you sincerely ask me to be your immediate superior, then maybe, just maybe, I might consider it!"
There was a hint of mockery in Buggy's tone, a calculated risk to push the Five Elders further. He knew he was dancing on the edge of a knife, but if he was going to fall, he would do so on his own terms.
The audacity of his words hung in the air like a storm cloud, electrifying the atmosphere with tension. The very idea of asking Buggy to be their superior was preposterous, a notion so absurd that it was almost laughable.
But no one laughed. Not openly, at least. In the Holy Land of Mariejois, the highest authorities in the world—the Five Elders—were boiling with rage, their minds reeling from the sheer insolence of this mere pirate. Steam seemed to rise from their heads, a visible manifestation of their anger.
Never in their long lives had they encountered such an impudent, ignorant fool. They had expected Buggy might refuse the offer to become a Shichibukai, but they had never imagined he would dare to challenge them in this way, aiming to leapfrog over them and claim a position of ultimate power.
"Okay, okay," one of the Elders finally managed to say, their voice trembling with barely restrained fury. "You will pay the price for your nonsense!"
With that, the line went dead, the connection severed by the Five Elders' wrath. The threat hung in the air like a guillotine, poised to fall at any moment.
Buggy stared at the now-silent Den Den Mushi, his heart still pounding in his chest. He had pushed the envelope as far as it could go, and now he would have to live with the consequences—whatever they might be.
In the Holy Land of Mariejois, the atmosphere in the new meeting hall of the Five Elders was thick with anger and frustration. The air crackled with the tension of their fury as they grappled with the insolence of a pirate they had long dismissed as insignificant.
"Ahhh, I'm so angry! I'm so angry!" roared Marcus Mars, the Agricultural Warrior, his voice booming through the hall. His fists were clenched tightly, the veins on his forehead bulging as he seethed with rage.
"How dare he? How dare that clown say such a thing! Who gave him the courage?" Warcury, the Justice Warrior, trembled with fury, his body shaking uncontrollably. The audacity of Buggy's words was beyond comprehension, an insult that struck at the very heart of their authority.
"In this world, only that lord is qualified to reign over the Void Throne," declared the Jupiter Elder, Peter. His voice was laced with venom, each word dripping with contempt. "Anyone else who even dares to think about it deserves nothing less than death!"
The Five Elders' collective anger was palpable, a murderous intent that seemed to hang in the air like a dark cloud. Not even Ace, the Flame Emperor, had provoked such wrath. They had already acknowledged Ace as a legitimate threat to the World Government's rule, a force to be reckoned with. But Buggy? Buggy was nothing more than a fool, a clown who had somehow stumbled into their crosshairs.
"He's just a Mere East blue Pirate," Peter continued, his tone decisive. "We must make him understand whose sea this truly is. If he dares to offend us, there will be no place for him in this world!"
"Enough talk," Saturn, the Scientific Warrior, interrupted, his voice deep and resonant. "Let's take action now. First, we'll raise his bounty—set it at 4.5 billion Berries. And declare him a Yonko."
"A Yonko?" Nusjuro, the Bald Elder, sneered, his lips curling into a malicious smile. "Perfect. Not only will we place a high reward on his head, but we'll put a High bounty on everyone on his ship—even his dog, if he has one. The pirates will tear him apart. After all, he was just defeated by Straw Hat Luffy in East Blue. They'll see him as nothing but prey."
The room fell silent as the weight of their decision settled in. The Five Elders were not merely content with eliminating Buggy—they wanted to break him.
"Haha, getting rid of him like this is too simple," Warcury chuckled, his mind racing with darker thoughts. "We must make that bastard feel the deepest despair, torture him until he's utterly exhausted. He'll regret ever speaking those Words."
Their laughter echoed through the chamber, a chilling sound that reverberated off the walls. The Five Elders had made their decision, and Buggy's fate was sealed. The wheels were set in motion for a ruthless campaign that would turn the seas into a living nightmare for the unwitting pirate.
As the laughter subsided, the Elders exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a cold, calculated malice. Buggy had dared to challenge the most powerful men in the world, and now he would pay the price. His name would be a lesson to all who thought they could defy the World Government—a cautionary tale of what happened to those who overstepped their bounds.
Or Will He? (😂)
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