Late at night, on the open sea.
The Buggy Pirates' ship was speeding forward at full sail.
They had been traveling at top speed for nearly an hour.
The lookout reported, "Captain Buggy, no Navy warships or pirate ships have been spotted nearby!"
"Good, keep watching!"
Buggy nodded and ordered his men to remain on alert.
He sat atop a crate, his back already soaked with cold sweat.
The more he thought about certain things, the more terrifying they became.
If that man named Kuro had not lied and had truly contacted the World Government, then regardless of his goal, it would not end well.
Hundred Plans?
What a joke.
On these seas, "schemes" needed "strength" to back them up!
No matter how elaborate your calculations were, if you lacked strength, then to the World Government, you were at most a clever ant.
"Good thing we left quickly..."
Buggy took a deep breath and steadied himself.
If he had really waited for those government people to arrive, then once he tried to back out, as someone who knew about the Government's plan to cooperate with pirates, he would have only one fate—
Death.
Waves of chill ran through Buggy's heart.
Just then, Mohji, the Buggy Pirates' Beast Tamer, and Cabaji, their Acrobat, approached Buggy together. Mohji's gigantic pet lion, Richie, came with them.
"Hey, Captain, why are we running so fast? Didn't Kuro say there was treasure?"
"Roar!" Richie cried.
"Hey, Captain, you can't keep all the treasure for yourself!"
"Roar!"
"Captain, say something, Captain?"
"Roar! Roar!"
"You idiots are too damn noisy!"
Buggy sprang to his feet in fury and punched each of them—and the lion—on the head.
"I'm celebrating the fact that I survived a disaster, and you idiots are making such a racket!"
Mohji and Cabaji held their heads and lowered them. "We're sorry, Captain!"
"Roar!"
"Honestly."
Buggy sighed and slumped back down. "Things were scary enough already. Now that you've made such a fuss, I don't have any strength left!"
"In that case, Captain Buggy, why not go on vacation?" Mohji suddenly suggested.
"A vacation?"
Buggy raised an eyebrow, then suddenly grinned. "Not a bad idea. You've got talent, Mohji!"
"Hehe!" Mohji scratched his head. "I heard there's an Uninhabited Island with beautiful scenery. How about we go there?"
An Uninhabited Island?!
The moment Buggy heard those words now, his whole body felt uncomfortable. Who knew if some monsters were gathering on one right now?
So Buggy shook his head. "No, I have a better choice."
Everyone asked, "Where?"
"Loguetown!"
Buggy stroked his chin and laughed. "I've heard that place is lively. Let's go drink and soak in hot springs! Men, set sail!"
"Oh!"
The pirates cheered at once.
Buggy cheered along with them, desperately trying to put what had just happened out of his mind.
In truth, he had another reason for choosing Loguetown as his vacation spot, one known only to himself.
Whenever he thought of those World Government bastards, Buggy could not stop himself from thinking of his captain.
Loguetown was a special place to the members of the Roger Pirates.
Since he had luckily survived this disaster, he should go pay his respects to his captain!
Captain Roger, bless Buggy with good luck!
Inside the room.
Kuro had already made his plan.
He pointed to a spot on the map and said to Krieg and the strange man:
"We'll take Lynn Barek's head right here!"
And that location was—
Loguetown!
"Hahahaha, the show is about to begin!"
Kuro could not help laughing, then he looked toward the strange man beside him. "Sir from CP5, I hope you keep your promise."
"Of course." The strange man nodded. "As long as you kill Lynn Barek, the World Government will give you whatever you need, but..."
The strange man pressed, "Do you really know Lynn Barek's whereabouts?"
"Of course." Kuro nodded.
"Where is he?"
"I can't tell you that!"
Kuro smiled. "If I reveal his whereabouts to you now, I'm afraid Brother Krieg and I won't leave this island alive."
"Hmph."
The strange man snorted without commenting.
A while later.
The meeting ended.
Kuro and Krieg each led their own men away from the Uninhabited Island, leaving one after another.
The strange man who claimed to be from CP5, but was actually from CP0, remained until the end.
He took out a Den Den Mushi and contacted someone.
Buru buru buru... buru buru buru...
Click!
A familiar voice came from the Den Den Mushi.
"Have you learned Lynn Barek's whereabouts?"
The speaker was Saint Cainmas, the Celestial Dragon currently in Holy Land Mary Geoise!
The CP0 agent replied, "No. The man named Kuro is tight-lipped and has kept his secret well."
"Mm. Until we learn Lynn Barek's whereabouts or confirm his death, that ant must remain alive."
Saint Cainmas's voice was icy. "After that, you know what to do."
"Yes." The strange man nodded. "I'll kill everyone who knows."
"A mere ant dares bargain with me? This matter must never spread!"
Saint Cainmas was furious, but he truly could not make a move against Kuro and the others just yet.
He still needed to use Kuro's group against Lynn Barek.
The Navy was not truly the Celestial Dragons' private army—though Saint Cainmas believed it should be.
Still, the troublesome appearances had to be maintained.
The Navy could not deploy a massive force solely for Saint Cainmas and hunt Lynn across the seas.
Therefore, Saint Cainmas needed a "third-party" helper that could operate openly.
Just then, an ant named Kuro had contacted him through layer upon layer of Government telephone relays.
Kuro did not know that the person he was speaking with was a Celestial Dragon.
Then, Kuro claimed that he knew Lynn Barek's whereabouts and was willing to take Lynn's head in exchange for the reward.
But there was one problem: Lynn Barek was powerful, and Kuro needed the World Government's assistance.
Saint Cainmas agreed, so he sent a CP0 agent to make contact with Kuro's side under the guise of being from CP5.
Once the matter was settled, Saint Cainmas's plan was simple—
Kill every person who knew!
"Understood, but..." the strange man continued. "Kuro's side has requested that we provide a large number of Seastone weapons."
"Give him everything he asks for. They're all dead men anyway. Once this is over, we can simply reclaim them."
"Yes."
"Remember this: as long as Lynn Barek can be killed, we Celestial Dragons can afford any price!"
Click!
Saint Cainmas hung up.
Loguetown—
This small town in the East Blue was brewing an unimaginable storm!
At the same time.
Buggy had already changed into beachwear, ready to thoroughly enjoy his vacation in Loguetown.
"Loguetown, I'm here!"
Vote for Captain Buggy! Long live Captain Buggy!
Before you continue