The Arrival of CP0

Time flies like an arrow; ten days have passed since Aokiji took office as Fleet Admiral. The World Government has finally taken action and begun a large-scale conscription campaign around the world.

On this day, several guests arrived at Buggy's temporary residence on Sabaody Archipelago.

"Captain Buggy, 'they' are outside right now," Cabaji said as he entered the room.

Buggy sat down at the desk. "Hmm... let's invite them in."

"Yes."

Cabaji left, and after a while, there was a rustling sound outside the door. The door was pushed open, and behind Cabaji were three men wearing white robes and masks, who were about three meters tall. At the end of the room was a man of normal build.

"It's... a bit crowded here..." The masked man at the head of the group looked at the doorway, which only reached about his chest, and had to bend down to enter. The other two tall men also bent down to enter the room.

"Please sit down... you are guests from CP0." Buggy gestured to the chairs in front of him.

"No need, Genius Jester. We've only come here for one thing."

The CP0 leader wore a blue mask with simple drawings resembling yellow sunlight around the eye openings. Apart from the man of normal build who wore no mask, the other two tall men each wore different masks.

The blue-masked man spoke, pulling a red invitation from his sleeve and placing it on Buggy's desk. "Please join us and become Shichibukai."

"Have a seat." Buggy didn't look at the red invitation, but SMILE and repeated his words to the people in front of him.

Seeing that Buggy's attitude was ambiguous, the CPOs exchanged glances and discussed among themselves. Only the man without a mask showed no intention of discussing it. He sat down in a chair, crossed his arms, and put his legs up.

The blue-masked man looked at the man and whispered, "Hey... Rob Lucci!"

Rob Lucci calmly looked at the group, keeping his mouth shut, and instead let the pigeon on his shoulder 'speak' for him, "Don't you understand? The other side doesn't want to settle this so easily. If they want to negotiate, they should put all their chips on the table, not avoid it like you're doing."

"You're here to learn from us how to do things. You just need to watch from the sidelines!" the blue-masked man quickly and sternly reprimanded.

Rob Lucci slightly raised his head and looked away, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

"Heh..." Buggy looked at Rob Lucci in front of him. During the Enies Lobby incident, he was probably the scapegoat and was wanted by the World Government. Now, because of the World Government's defeat in the Marineford War, they desperately needed combat power, so they lifted the warrant and recalled him and the original CP9 members... This must have been a recent event. Facing World Government officials who had abandoned him, even someone as proud as him couldn't help but feel resentful.

"Excuse me."

The three CP0 members looked at Buggy and sat down in the uncomfortable and very hard chair. The blue-masked man said, "Shichibukai is a position that almost all pirates dream of. Once you sit in this position, it means that you are recognized by the World Government as having legal status and the right to plunder. Originally, the World Government would not agree to let you become Shichibukai, but Fleet Admiral Aokiji believed that you were capable of it. On his advice, the World Government made an exception and issued an invitation to Shichibukai."

"Really?" Buggy responded noncommittally, stretching lazily without even glancing at the invitation. "Then go back and tell them... I don't care about this position."

"Wait a moment!"

The CP0 members deliberately adopted a condescending attitude, simply to give the other party a warning. Even the slightest sign of interest from him would mean the matter was essentially settled. However, they never expected Buggy to be so indifferent to the position of Shichibukai. This far exceeded their expectations. The blue-masked man tried to make his voice sound calm, "Why don't you accept?"

Buggy tapped the table lightly with one finger. "What if you went to the New World and got Kaido and Shanks to join the Shichibukai?"

"Hmm..." The blue-masked man was speechless. Could the Four Emperors of the New World join the Shichibukai...?

If I can return safely after saying those words in front of the Four Emperors, that would be a stroke of luck!

"I don't need to rely on the World Government's handout of the Shichibukai to consolidate my position... You should understand this. Those prisoners who escaped Impel Down are now all under my command... You should know how much power I possess, being able to restrain and command them. The Shichibukai are... nothing to me."

The blue-masked man, unable to fathom Buggy's intentions, could only ask, "What exactly do you want...?"

Buggy smiled but didn't answer, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly became somewhat heavy.

"Our sincerity in this matter was insufficient..." Rob Lucci, who had been silent until now, stood up and walked over, pushing the invitation on the table closer. "Genius Jester, this is an equal exchange. The World Government doesn't usually interfere with forces that meddle in the Shichibukai, and this identity will be completely beneficial to all your future actions. Once you no longer need this identity, you can discard it at any time. Isn't this exactly what you pirates who run rampant on the seas want?"

"Oh?" Buggy looked at Rob Lucci with interest, holding the invitation in his hand. "Interesting. Since you're so 'sincere'... then I'll reluctantly accept."

"Very well." Rob Lucci sneered, glancing at the CP0 members out of the corner of his eye. Hands in his pockets, he walked towards the door like a leader. "Let's go..."

The three CP0 members didn't say much about Rob Lucci's actions, but exchanged glances and nodded. The blue-masked man said to Buggy, "In three days, the news that you have become Shichibukai will be announced to the whole world."

After saying that, the group followed Rob Lucci away.

Cabaji, who was standing to the side, then asked, "Captain Buggy, what you just did...?"

"I know, you want to ask me why I refused first, right?"

"Kindness..."

"This is merely to demonstrate my stance to the World Government. At the gambling table, even with just one chip, one can compete against an opponent with a vast number of chips, let alone with my capital which completely makes me the house... Even if I refuse this time, they will come again next time, and they will continue to increase their bets, because..."

Buggy paused, "Blackbeard's betrayal... Crocodile's arrest... Gecko Moria's 'death in battle'... Bartholomew Kuma's modifications, Jinbe's defection— the Shichibukai, who were originally considered one of the three great powers alongside the Four Emperors and the Marine Headquarters, are now reduced to only three. The World Government has begun a massive conscription, and naturally, they are eager to fill these vacancies. Currently, no one is more suitable for this position than me... However, even if it's a matter of exploitation, we are both exploiting each other..."