The Gathering Storm

Late at night on the sea.

The Buggy Pirates' ship was racing forward at full speed.

They had been sailing at top speed for nearly an hour.

The lookout on the ship reported, "Captain Buggy, no navy ships or pirate vessels spotted nearby!"

"Good, keep watching!"

Buggy nodded and ordered his underlings to stay alert.

He sat on a crate, his back drenched in cold sweat.

Some things only grow more terrifying the more you think about them.

If that man named Kuro hadn't lied, and he really had contacted the World Government, then no matter what his goal was, it wouldn't end well for him.

Hundred Plans?

A joke.

On this sea, "schemes" need "strength" to back them up!

No matter how well you plot, if your strength falls short, to the World Government you're nothing more than a clever ant.

"Good thing I got out fast..."

Buggy took a deep breath, calming himself down.

If he'd waited for those government people to arrive and then tried to back out, knowing about their collaboration with pirates, there would only be one outcome for him—

Death.

A chill crept into Buggy's heart.

Just then, the Buggy Pirates' Beast Tamer, Mohji, and Acrobat, Cabaji, came up to Buggy together, along with Mohji's giant pet lion, Richie.

"Hey hey, Captain, why'd we run off so fast? That Kuro guy said there was treasure!"

"Arf!" Richie barked.

"Hey hey, Captain, you can't just hog the loot!"

"Arf!"

"Captain, say something, Captain?"

"Arf! Arf!"

"Shut up, you idiots!"

Buggy shot to his feet and punched each of them—plus the lion—on the head.

"Your captain's busy being grateful he survived, and you morons are way too loud!"

Mohji and Cabaji clutched their heads, bowing low. "We're sorry, Captain!"

"Arf!"

"Honestly."

Buggy sighed and slumped back down. "It was scary enough already, and now you lot have drained all my energy!"

"In that case, Captain Buggy, why not take a vacation?" Mohji suddenly suggested.

"A vacation?"

Buggy raised an eyebrow, then broke into a grin. "Not a bad idea, Mohji, you've got something there!"

"Hehe!" Mohji scratched his head. "I heard there's an uninhabited island with great scenery. How about there?"

Uninhabited island?!

Just hearing those three words now made Buggy's skin crawl—who knew what monsters might be gathering on one of those.

So Buggy shook his head. "No, your captain has a better choice."

Everyone asked, "Where?"

"Loguetown!"

Buggy stroked his chin and laughed. "I've heard it's a lively place. We'll go drink and soak in hot springs! Let's move, boys!"

"Ooh!"

The pirates cheered.

Buggy cheered along with them, trying hard to push the earlier events out of his mind.

He chose Loguetown as the vacation spot for a reason only he knew.

Whenever he thought of those bastards in the World Government, he couldn't help but think of his captain.

Loguetown was a special place for the Roger Pirates' crew.

Since he'd narrowly escaped death, he might as well go pay his respects to the captain!

Captain Roger, bless my Buggy luck!

Inside the room.

Kuro had already finalized his plan.

He pointed at a spot on the map and said to Krieg and the Mysterious Man:

"Right here, we take Lynn Barek's head!"

And that location was—

Loguetown!

"Hahahaha, the show is about to begin!"

Kuro couldn't help but burst into laughter, then turned to the Mysterious Man beside him. "Esteemed agent from CP5, I hope you'll keep your promise."

"Of course, no problem." The Mysterious Man nodded. "As long as Lynn Barek is killed, the World Government will give you everything you need. But..."

The Mysterious Man pressed further: "Do you really know Lynn Barek's whereabouts?"

"Of course." Kuro nodded.

"Where is he?"

"That, I can't say!"

Kuro smiled. "If I revealed his location to you now, I'm afraid Brother Krieg and I wouldn't leave this island alive."

"Hmph."

The Mysterious Man snorted coldly, offering no reply.

A short while later.

The meeting ended.

Kuro and Krieg each took their own men and left the Uninhabited Island one after another.

The Mysterious Man, who claimed to be from CP5 but was actually CP0, stayed behind until the end.

He pulled a Den Den Mushi from his pocket and contacted someone.

Brew brew brew... Brew brew brew...

Click!

A familiar voice sounded from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

"Do you know Lynn Barek's whereabouts now?"

The speaker was none other than the Celestial Dragon residing in the Holy Land Mary Geoise—Saint Cainmas!

The Mysterious Man, a CP0 agent, replied: "No. That man named Kuro has a tight lip; his secrecy is well-handled."

"Mm. Until we know Lynn Barek's location or have him clearly killed, that ant's life must be spared."

Saint Cainmas's voice was icy. "After that, you know what to do."

"Yes." The Mysterious Man nodded. "I will kill everyone who knows the truth."

"Those mere ants dare to bargain with me? This matter must never be allowed to leak out!"

Saint Cainmas was furious, but at this moment, he truly couldn't lay a hand on Kuro and his group.

He still needed to use Kuro's crew to deal with Lynn Barek.

The Navy was not the Celestial Dragons' private army—though Saint Cainmas felt it should be.

But those troublesome surface formalities still had to be maintained.

The Navy couldn't mobilize a large force just for Saint Cainmas to scour the Great Pirate Era seas hunting Lynn.

Thus, Saint Cainmas needed a visible "third-party" ally.

Just then, an ant named Kuro had contacted him through layers of government Den Den Mushi relays.

Kuro didn't know he was speaking to a Celestial Dragon.

Kuro then claimed to know Lynn Barek's whereabouts and was willing to take Lynn's head for the promised reward.

But there was one catch: Lynn Barek's strength was formidable, and he needed the World Government's help.

Saint Cainmas agreed and dispatched a CP0 member, who claimed to be from CP5, to make contact with Kuro's side.

After the deed was done, Saint Cainmas's plan was simple—

Kill everyone in the know!

"Understood, but..." The Mysterious Man continued, "Kuro's side is demanding a large supply of Seastone weapons."

"Give him everything he asks for. They're dead men anyway. Just retrieve them afterward."

"Yes."

"Remember this: as long as Lynn Barek dies, we Celestial Dragons can pay any price!"

Click!

Saint Cainmas hung up the transponder snail.

Loguetown—

This small town in the East Blue was brewing a storm of unimaginable magnitude!

At the same time.

Buggy had already slipped into his beach shirt, ready to thoroughly enjoy his vacation in Loguetown.

"Loguetown, this Great Master has arrived!"

Cast your recommendation tickets for Captain Buggy! Long live Captain Buggy!