"Buggy..."
Hearing Austin say that, Shanks froze for a moment, then smiled in understanding and stopped trying to persuade Austin to stay.
"It's really been a long time. I wonder if he still resents me."
"Ever since we parted in Loguetown six years ago, we haven't met again. Do you know exactly where he is now, Austin?"
Austin nodded.
"Yeah. The news-delivering seagulls under my command can keep watch over almost the entire sea. Unless Buggy is hiding deep in some mountain forest or under the sea,
how else do you think I found you out here?"
"Is that so..."
As if only just realizing it, Shanks suddenly remembered that question.
Right!
He had never considered why Austin had suddenly appeared on the ship.
So that was it...
"Doesn't that mean nobody on the sea will be able to escape your watchful eye from now on?!"
"Exactly."
Austin smiled.
"Only then can I show up on time whenever there's something exciting going on~"
"You bastard..."
For some reason, Shanks felt irritated, gritting his teeth as that long-lost feeling welled up inside him.
Back when they were on Roger's ship, he had always felt as though Austin's shadow loomed over his head.
Now that he had finally set sail, with his own journey and pirate crew, he discovered...
That bastard Austin's gaze had never disappeared!!!
How irritating!!!
Austin left.
He vanished from the Red Force with Mihawk.
Meanwhile.
"Captain Buggy!!! We found suspicious people by the shore!!!"
East Blue, an unnamed town.
Under the rule of the vicious Buggy, whose bounty was as high as nine million Beli, every townsman lived cautiously, terrified of angering him.
And all because Buggy had obtained a treasure map of uncertain authenticity that pointed to this town.
"Nani!!! Pirates? Their noses are pretty sharp.