Coward's Game

"Quick! Clear the passage!"

"If you can't, smash it!"

"We absolutely cannot let a single prisoner escape, the underwater prison is their final destination!"

The shouts of the Marines grew clearer, and Buggy could even hear the sound of cannons rolling.

Clearly, the inexplicable gunshots and the blocked passage had caused great alarm among the Marines, especially the escort ship Marines whose nerves were already on edge.

"It's getting more and more exciting, isn't it?"

Buggy grinned sinisterly, feeling a long-lost thrill. The last time he felt this way was when he blew up the hospital.

He sat on the slippery floor, nonchalantly rummaging through the sack Little Left had brought back for anything useful.

Like a paring knife, a fruit knife...

Why is there a cleaver too?

Buggy paused, then placed the cleaver against his chest.

Using the Four-Way Split-Split Fruit ability to hide things was incredibly practical.

He could even... turn himself into a bomb.

Hmm, a reusable one at that.

Gulp...

In the darkness, someone swallowed nervously.

Just as Buggy said.

This was just a monotonous game of chicken.

Think of a title the other party desires.

Speaking nicely.

It was nothing more than wanting them to submit.

So what if they didn't submit?

In the cage, praying like targets that the scorching muzzles wouldn't point at them, and by sheer luck surviving, they would then be imprisoned in the underwater prison known as "Pirate Hell," suffering torment for the rest of their lives.

This was the ideal outcome.

The not-so-ideal outcome, however...

Joseph glanced at his fellow inmates, wondering how many of them would be the first to cave.

Once a few people started to soften, the pressure on the rest would double.

No one wanted to be the last one standing, the lamb to be slaughtered.

Given the madman's ruthless killing, those who remained until the end would surely meet a grim fate.

"This kid is more desperate than we are."

Joseph sneered and said to his cellmate, "I don't believe this kid has that much guts!"

He'd grab whoever he could.

The inmate in the iron cage shot him a glance. His face, rough as a mountain rock, was covered in knife scars.

He suddenly stood up, the chains wrapped around his limbs clanking. His tall body slammed against the top of the iron cage.

He looked like a hybrid of a giant and a human.

The Little Giant Habler, with a bounty of 110 million Belly, was a cruel and despicable fellow, contrary to his honest appearance.

Joseph had some impression of him.

It was said that his subordinates rebelled due to his excessively brutal and oppressive rule. During a rest period after a raid, they reported his location to the Navy.

Given this guy's despicable temper, he would surely mock that ridiculous fellow loudly, right?

They were all notorious pirates that the Navy feared, their hands stained with blood, capable of scaring children into silence in the first half of the Grand Line!

Playing a game of chicken with them?

What was that saying...

Showing off your divine evasion in front of Roger, playing with a knife in front of Hawk Eyes!

What a joke!

Joseph's mind was made up. He stared intently at the figure stuffing things into his body, eagerly awaiting the look of panic on the other's face.

Yet, a flicker of unease still stirred within him.

Could this guy with the thick eyelashes and big eyes be just as cowardly?

Suspicion was the biggest trap in this game.

The Little Giant Habler lowered his head and glanced gently at his cellmate.

"On the train to hell, having one choice is already fortunate."

He said in a low voice.

Then he raised his hand again and grabbed the iron bars forged from thick steel.

He shouted loudly, "Captain!"

This was like a signal.

After Habler's rallying cry, the prisoners quickly made their choices.

"Holy shit, I knew you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, had bad intentions!"

Joseph reacted quickly, almost immediately following Habler's shout.

"Captain!"

"Captain!"

"Captain!"

He shouted very loudly, completely disregarding his earlier sarcastic attitude.

The Little Giant was right; they were prisoners destined for eternal hell, and having a choice was incredibly fortunate.

"It's Captain Buggy!"

Arne suddenly became excited, his eyes filled with fanaticism, and he corrected them impatiently.

"Captain Buggy!"

"Captain Buggy!"

Corresponding to the shouts, bursts of gunfire came from the passage leading to the upper level.

It seemed they still didn't dare to use cannons in the ship's hold at the bottom of the warship...

Otherwise, if they really blew a hole, it would be troublesome for them too.

Buggy's lips curved slightly, quite satisfied with the pressure game he had designed, but unfortunately, time was pressing.

Otherwise, he would have been more willing to design a game that could better test human nature...

It was like a literary masterpiece in the eyes of some critics; if it didn't explore human nature, it would likely be dismissed from the ranks of masterpieces by critics.

However, for him, it was more about seeing the tormented expression on the other's face when faced with a choice.

How interesting.

He hadn't forgotten the intelligence gathered by the ear that had wandered outside.

Once inside the Gate of Justice, it would be much more troublesome to get out.

Buggy let out a sinister laugh, "Alright, alright, my candidate navigator."

"Hurry up and release my dear crew members."

"They must be eager to go and reclaim our own pirate ship."

"Okay!"

Arne quickly nodded. The word "candidate" that his captain often mentioned didn't sound as harsh anymore.

This wasn't a difficult task.

For these cunning and despicable pirates, giving them a small knife and a wrench... they could pry open the prison doors themselves.

Burly figures gathered behind Buggy, appearing like a pair of dark wings unfurling behind him in the dim light of the deep night.

"So, Captain, the next order is...?"

Habler shook off his heavy chains, his gaze flickering towards Buggy, as if he had other thoughts.

After hesitating for a moment, he then asked in a simple, honest tone.

Buggy was not surprised by such a look.

After all, how much of a Hot-Blooded Pirates filter would he need to believe that these sea plunderers would talk about honor and loyalty?

The only reason they maintained their current demeanor was due to the pressure he had deliberately created.

However, he only saw them as tools...

"Defeat the enemy before you, and you will earn the right to continue living."

Buggy chuckled softly. Without using an overly loud tone, the content of his statement could move these prisoners.

"And by seizing this warship, you will have the... strength to once again roam these seas and return in a manner that will strike immense fear into those who hate you."

Survival and revenge.

For these prisoners, it was the most primal and direct driving force.

The hateful...

Habler thought of those crew members who had betrayed him...

His fists clenched instantly.

At that opportune moment, a dull thud echoed between the cargo hold and the upper deck.

BOOM—

The final obstacle blocking the lower passageway was cleaved open by a Moon Blade.