Buggy Rises

News of Luffy becoming the Adventure King reached Cross Guild and sparked a massive argument.

Shanks held the newspaper that had declared Luffy the Pirate King, unable to stop smiling.

The next moment, an emotional Buggy grabbed him roughly by the collar.

"Why, Shanks?!"

"You said it yourself, Shanks! One day, you'd sail your own ship to Laugh Tale! You were supposed to become the second man after Captain Roger to become the Pirate King!" Buggy roared.

"Yes, Buggy, but I changed my mind. I've already placed my dream on Luffy," Shanks said with a grin, unfazed by Buggy's rough handling.

"I was wrong about you, Shanks..."

Buggy released Shanks's collar, staggered backward, and fell onto the ground. He lowered his head deeply as tears dripped from beneath his red nose.

He choked out, "Aren't you the king of the next generation?"

"Bastard! Damn it! Coward!" Buggy cursed, covering his uncontrollably tearful eyes. "Because of you, I threw away dreams long ago! Because I believed with all my heart that you would become the Pirate King of the new generation!"

All along, Buggy had believed from the bottom of his heart that Captain Roger's wish should have been inherited by Shanks.

That was why he had willingly abandoned his own dreams, placing all his ambitions and dreams upon Shanks.

Then one day, Shanks suddenly told him he had given up. Buggy simply could not accept that.

"Buggy..."

Shanks set down the newspaper and reached out, not knowing what to say. So Buggy had placed his hopes on him?

"I've decided!" Buggy wiped away his tears and rose to his feet. "Since you gave up, I'll take your place and become the Pirate King of the new generation!"

Under the shocked gazes of Shanks, Hawk Eyes, and Golden Lion, Buggy tearfully