Your Ability... Is Pretty Mediocre

After confirming the objective, Buggy began to disclose the intelligence he knew.

"There's a very quick way to get from the first basement level to the second," Buggy said. "If we can find that huge opening in Crimson Lotus Hell, we can go directly to the second basement level from there."

According to the intelligence he received, there was a passage leading directly to the second underground level.

"A huge cave entrance?" Xi Yan asked in surprise, "There's something like that here?"

Why would the navy make a hole there?

Aren't they afraid that the criminals on this floor will jump down to the next floor?

If they unite, it might lead to a riot.

"That's right," Buggy nodded. "Based on the intelligence I've received, that's the case."

"Wow, Buggy, that's amazing! You know so much, that's a huge help!" Luffy exclaimed.

"Hmph, don't you even know who I am!"

Buggy, praised by Luffy, proudly raised his head, as if he were truly incredibly powerful.

'Looks like this guy is quite concerned about his image,' Xi Yan thought, stroking his chin.

After being praised, he was so happy he was practically rolling on the floor...

"Xi Yan, let's go!" Luffy said.

"Um."

Xi Yan nodded and said, "Let's find the entrance from the ground floor to the underground Great Gate first."

"Great Gate?"

Buggy paused for a moment, then looked at Xi Yan with some confusion and asked, "Why are we looking for the Great Gate?"

What's the point of looking for the Great Gate if they don't even have a key?

"Of course, we'll try to use Earth Release Technique to pass under the Great Gate," Xi Yan said. "Otherwise, how will we get to the next level?"

Buggy paused for a moment, then said, "Before that, I need to confirm one thing."

"Your Earth Release Technique... can't directly reach the next level, right?"

Xi Yan looked at Buggy with some surprise. Had this guy figured out the crux of the problem?

Then, Xi Yan said, "It's indeed impossible to directly enter the next level."

"This thick floor contains some kind of special material that doesn't contain earth elements, so I can't take you directly to the next level. However... we can still descend a few meters."

After saying that, Xi Yan paused for a moment, then continued, "If the situation on the other side of the Great Gate is the same as here, I can lead you through the area beneath the Great Gate and down the spiral staircase to the next floor."

"I've already obtained the location of the Great Gate to this floor from the jailer."

Listening to Xi Yan's explanation, Buggy fell into deep thought.

'Are there really such restrictions here?'

That's true. If the other party can really go directly to the next level, there's no need to have him follow.

"Let's go then," Buggy said, looking up. "Let's go to the basement first."

Although it's possible to jump down through the wall over the monitoring room, falling from such a height is far too dangerous.

If they are discovered, they will likely all die.

"Um."

Xi Yan nodded and used Earth Release Technique to move quickly, soon arriving at the area near the Great Gate.

Then, Xi Yan three of them emerged from underground.

"This must be it."

Looking at the enormous Great Gate not far away, Xi Yan squinted and said, "This gate is really quite large."

Judging from the appearance of the Great Gate, it should be made of some kind of special wood and iron mixture. It should be able to be split open with Wind Release.

"How is it? Can I wear it?" Buggy asked.

Let me see.

Xi Yan didn't answer immediately, but quickly ran towards the Great Gate, then placed his hand on the ground below the Great Gate and carefully sensed it.

After a moment, Xi Yan said, "Okay!"

The material underneath hasn't changed at all, so the Earth Release Technique can still be used.

"That's great," Buggy said with a sigh of relief.

If their Earth Release Technique that allows them to escape through earth) is unusable, then their only option will be to try jumping from the monitoring room's High Tower.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go in!" Luffy said.

Now that we've confirmed we can get through this Great Gate, there's no need to waste any more time here.

Without further ado, Xi Yan used Earth Release Technique to pull the three of them back underground. They then passed through the huge, specially designed Wooden Door in front of them and arrived at the spiral staircase behind.

After some stealth, the three successfully reached the first basement level!

"Great, we've entered the underground level." Buggy breathed a sigh of relief, then put his hands on his hips and laughed loudly, "Hahahaha!"

"Let's press on and charge towards that huge opening!"

At this rate, they won't even need to face that damn Magellan to rescue Fire Fist Ace!

And then... they quietly left this place and returned to the sea!

Thinking about this, Buggy became even more excited.

Xi Yan ignored the guy and instead carefully sensed the situation below. After a moment, he said, "It seems that the material of this layer is the same as the one above."

After shaking his head, Xi Yan looked at Buggy and said, "Buggy, tell me the direction of that hole."

"Hmm... it should be the center," Buggy thought for a moment and said, "I remember someone saying it was the center."

"The center, huh?"

Xi Yan nodded, then manipulated the Earth Release Technique, carrying the three of them as they quickly rushed out of the corridor near the Great Gate and headed towards the distant area.

However, the moment Xi Yan entered the Crimson Lotus Hell, his expression changed.

'This is... a knife?'

Seeing the approaching Red Blade, Xi Yan immediately stopped advancing and drew his Kusanagi Sword to cut it in two.

"Clang!"

"Puff!"

Looking at the red blade lying on the ground, Xi Yan frowned and asked, "What is this thing?"

There's still liquid at the fracture point below?

Is this thing some kind of plant?

"I think I just heard the sound of metal clashing..." Buggy said, looking puzzled. "What happened?"

As they were talking, Buggy leaned closer.

However, the moment he approached Xi Yan, his foot stepped on the Red Blade that Xi Yan had severed.

"Puff!"

In just a split second, Buggy's foot was sliced open!

Buggy:???

"What the hell is that?" Buggy exclaimed in shock.

Why was his foot cut open?

"We encountered something strange," Xi Yan said. "There was a red object that looked like a plant, but its sharpness was no less than that of Swords."

"No less powerful than Swords..."

Buggy was taken aback at first, then said with a grim expression, "It should be the root system of the Sword Tree and the Needle Grass..."

I never expected the roots of these things to be so sharp; it's quite surprising.

'If the ground is full of these things' roots... we probably won't be able to travel underground,' Buggy thought to himself.

Those damn navy guys are really going to cause them trouble!

"Sword tree and needle grass?" Luffy asked confused, "What are those?"

"A very special kind of plant," Buggy explained. "Once this plant matures, its body becomes as hard as steel, and extremely sharp, capable of easily cutting through flesh!"

"And this Crimson Lotus Hell is full of this plant!"

It is precisely because of these two extremely special plants that the prisoners here are tortured to the point of wishing they were dead.

"There are actually plants like this in this world?!" Luffy exclaimed in shock.

It's a plant, yet it's comparable to steel... That's incredible!

"Of course, that's what we encountered," Buggy said. "But this kind of thing means nothing to me."

As a user of the Chop-Chop Fruit, he was not afraid of any so-called slashing attacks.

Even if all these things were to strike him, they wouldn't cause him any harm!

Thinking of this, Buggy smiled smugly.

"Hahahaha!"

Xi Yan:???

Xi Yan, who was observing the thing, glanced at Buggy and said, "What's gotten into you again?"

Buggy:...

He really disliked this Ninja.

Ignoring the guy who seemed to be being choked, Xi Yan looked at Luffy and said, "It seems we can't travel underground anymore."

"Why?" Luffy asked. "Can't we just go around these plants?"

"I'm sorry, that won't work."

Xi Yan shook his head and said, "Just as Buggy was introducing this plant, I used Earth Release Technique to expand part of the underground tunnel, and then... I found that there were these things densely packed in front of me."

"All of them?"

"All of them!" Xi Yan nodded and said, "The roots of these plants have penetrated deep into the ground, and by my estimation... they are at least several meters long."

"It actually pierced so deep..." Luffy exclaimed in shock, "Are these plants that powerful?"

"After all, this place was built hundreds of years ago."

This thing may have been growing here for hundreds of years; it's not impossible for its roots to be several meters deep.

"Looks like we have no choice but to go up." Buggy looked up and said, "Xi Yan, take us up."

Clearing away the plant roots slowly from below is too inefficient, and the guards might discover the commotion.

So... it's better to just fly up there!

At his speed, he could definitely reach the center in the shortest amount of time.

Xi Yan didn't do as instructed immediately, but instead asked, "What do you plan to do?"

"I am Split Person ate the Chop-Chop Fruit," Buggy explained. "As long as my body detaches from my feet, I can fly through the air, allowing me to reach the center at top speed."

Although there's a risk of being discovered, it's still... better than slowly digging a hole underground.

"Chop-Chop pieces..." Xi Yan stroked his chin and said, "If only you could split other things apart too."

In this way, they could use Buggy's Devil Fruit ability to quietly create an opening below.

"Idiot, how is that possible!" Buggy said. "I can only split my body apart."

If he could truly split other things or people apart, he would be invincible!

"Then this fruit is quite ordinary."

Buggy:...

Feeling like he'd been dealt a critical blow, Buggy opened his shark mouth and roared, "You damn Ninja, do you think I wanted to eat this Devil Fruit?!"

"If it weren't for Shanks..."

When this matter was brought up, Buggy immediately turned red.

If it weren't for that bastard Shanks, he wouldn't have been able to eat that Devil Fruit.

Now that he's become a landlubber, he has no way of accessing the treasures in the ocean.

"Speaking of which, how did you end up like this?" Xi Yan asked Buggy curiously. "I heard from Uncle Rayleigh that Red Hair Shanks is now Four Emperors of the New World, and you..."

If I remember correctly, Buggy's bounty is over ten million Beli.

Why is there such a big difference between these Pirate King interns who both wore One Piece costumes?

"You bastard, what do you mean?!" Buggy immediately exploded in anger, saying, "Are you saying I'm worse than Shanks?!"

Xi Yan:...

Isn't this obvious?

One is Four Emperors of the New World, and the other is a small-time pirate from the East Blue; the difference between them is too great.

Ignoring Xi Yan's thoughts, Buggy continued, "That Shanks guy... don't think that becoming one of the Four Emperors will change my opinion of him!"

At that moment, scenes from back then flashed through Buggy's mind.

From childhood to adulthood, Shanks was the captain's favorite, while he... was like a child who was not valued by his father.

Yes, Shanks is a genius, but... he's not convinced!

Why can Shanks do it, but he can't?!

After accidentally eating Devil Fruit and losing his best ability—swimming—he gradually came to terms with reality.

At that moment, he realized that he would never be able to catch up with Shanks.

Although he was very dissatisfied, he knew that Shanks was the one who could inherit the captain's will.

So he abandoned all his dignity and pride, even if it meant playing a supporting role, he was determined to help Shanks ascend to the throne of the Pirate King!

After all... he's the man who can inherit everything from the captain!

But on the day the captain was executed, that bastard actually said it wasn't the right time yet, that he wasn't the one who could become the Pirate King?!

This genius boy, who has been pampered by the captain since childhood, has actually uttered such outrageous words?!

This enraged him so much that he wanted to kill that bastard on the spot!

So... even if that person becomes one of the Four Emperors of the New World, he still looks down on that bastard!

Looking at Buggy, who was so angry he looked like he was about to burst, Xi Yan said, "It seems that quite a lot has happened between you and Shanks."

"Hmph, countless!"

If we were to tell this as a story, it would take three days and three nights to finish!

Unfortunately, he had no interest in recounting such things, and even the thought of that jerk made him angry, so he decided to avoid it altogether.

So Buggy said, "Let's leave it at that. I don't want to talk about him anymore."

Xi Yan nodded and didn't ask anything more.

Ultimately, he was just curious; he didn't necessarily need to obtain information about Shanks.

After all... he's not Luffy!

"Get ready, we're heading out." Xi Yan looked up and said, "Let's get to the cave entrance as quickly as possible!"