Buggy Fails to Recognize Himself

At noon, aboard the Windrider.

Luo Wen and Nami were having lunch on deck, enjoying the warm breeze and sunlight.

Suddenly, a News Coo flew overhead.

Nami took out a Beli and bought a newspaper from the bird.

Nami had barely glanced at it before she cried out in surprise.

"Huh? The newspaper says Captain Nezumi was killed by Arlong."

"Why didn't I see him back then?"

Nami was deeply puzzled. She had a vivid impression of the Marine captain who had joined forces with Arlong to swindle her out of her money.

She had not seen his body at Arlong Park and had assumed he had escaped.

Nami was certain that Arlong had absolutely not killed Captain Nezumi.

"Of course you didn't see him. I killed Captain Nezumi."

There was no need for Luo Wen to hide it from Nami.

After Luo Wen reminded her, Nami recalled what had happened that day.

Clearly, only Arlong had fallen from the sky, yet Luo Wen had swung his sword twice.

And there had been an enormous cloud of blood mist in the air.

At the time, she had thought Arlong had an unusual constitution and an absurd amount of blood.

Thinking about it now, Captain Nezumi must have been sliced into a bloody mist.

"Good thing the Marines don't know it was you, or we'd be finished."

"Right now, they're still calling you a hero!"

Nami could not help patting her ample chest, filled with the joy of having survived a disaster.

"Haven't they already figured it out?"

Luo Wen pointed at the newspaper in Nami's hand.

If they did not know, why would they pin Captain Nezumi's death on Arlong and boost the reputation of a dead pirate?

Luo Wen had not killed Captain Nezumi in public precisely to leave the Marines some room to maneuver.

"But the Marines are still promoting you as a hero."

Nami was confused.

Shouldn't they be hunting him down relentlessly in a situation like this?

"Nami, are you afraid of me?"

Rather than answer directly, Luo Wen threw out a question.

"No."

Nami shook her head. How could she be afraid? Luo Wen was her hero.

"But the Marines are."

Luo Wen said nothing more and continued working on the food before him.

Nami looked at Luo Wen, unsure what to say.

Just what kind of person am I following?

Nami had known Luo Wen was strong. He had effortlessly wiped out the entire Arlong Pirates.

But she had not expected him to be this powerful, so powerful that even the Marines were unwilling to make an enemy of him.

In an instant, an unparalleled sense of security enveloped Nami.

Nami looked at Luo Wen, her gaze nearly turned soft and syrupy.

"Boss Buggy, are we really going to rob someone for money?"

Vice Captain Mohji wore a bitter expression. He had just read the newspaper.

He was thoroughly terrified of Luo Wen's strength.

"Buggy, if you want to die, don't drag me down with you!"

Alvida did not want to head out now either. If Luo Wen caught them, they would not be able to take it.

"Relax. Luo Wen is only one person. Our luck can't be that bad."

Buggy was brimming with confidence. There could not possibly be that many coincidences.

"We won't take much. We'll stop as soon as we have enough to trade for a good ship."

Clearly, Buggy was wary of Luo Wen as well.

But their battle with the Straw Hat Pirates had damaged their ship, and they needed a new one.

"Boss Buggy, I don't think you need to be afraid."

Cabaji, the dog-headed strategist, spoke up, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

"You're a Chop-Chop Human. Luo Wen's swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat are completely ineffective against you!"

"That's right, I'm not afraid of him!"

The previously cowardly Buggy immediately perked up.

The strongest Bounty Hunter in the East Blue was nothing special after all. The era of Buggy the Clown was about to begin.

"Captain, there's a good ship over there!"

A lackey's words interrupted Buggy's fantasies. Buggy shot him an annoyed glare, then turned to look at the ship flying a flag with a giant sword on it.

"A good ship, a good ship! I'm taking it!"

Buggy could not tear his eyes away after a single glance, and drool even dripped from his mouth.

That sturdy hull, those towering masts, those brand-new sails...

Even on the Grand Line, it would be considered a top-class vessel.

In the East Blue, it stood head and shoulders above the rest.

It was practically the ship of his dreams!

Buggy declared that this would be the first step in building the Buggy Empire.

"Boss Buggy, won't this cause trouble?"

Cabaji was somewhat worried. Anyone with such a fine ship would not be ordinary.

"The symbol on that flag looks a lot like that man's weapon."

Alvida looked at the giant sword emblem and thought of Luo Wen's weapon from the newspaper.

"It can't be him. He has a small boat and has never changed it."

Cabaji, the great genius, dismissed Alvida's idea.

Since his debut, Luo Wen had made a formidable name for himself.

His signature little boat had been deeply branded into the hearts of every pirate.

"What's there to fear? I'm Buggy!"

Buggy was immensely puffed up. He was determined to get that fine ship.

Never mind that Luo Wen was not on board—even if he was, so what?

Luo Wen's strongest swordsmanship was countered by Buggy's Devil Fruit ability.

Even if he could not win, Buggy was confident he could retreat unscathed.

If it belonged to someone else, then it would be even easier.

Most of the great pirates in the East Blue had already been dealt with by Luo Wen.

Buggy the Clown was one of the few remaining great pirates of the East Blue.

Taking that ship would be easy, wouldn't it?

"Got it! Fire the cannons at them!"

Seeing Buggy so confident, Vice Captain Mohji hurriedly ordered a bombardment.

"Idiot! What if you damage my ship?"

Buggy slapped Mohji across the head. He could not bear to see such a fine ship get damaged.

"Pull alongside them. I'll make my move personally!"

Buggy was already imagining the scene to come.

He would display his might.

The people aboard would be scared out of their wits and obediently hand over the ship.

Aboard the Windrider, Nami also spotted the Buggy Pirates' ship.

"Luo Wen, pirates are coming toward us. What should we do?"

Nami called anxiously to Luo Wen, who was sunbathing on deck.

Pirates had left her with years of trauma.

The moment she saw a pirate ship approaching, Nami instinctively panicked.

"Don't panic. They're just kind-hearted people delivering bounty money."

Luo Wen was utterly calm, even somewhat puzzled.

What idiot pirates were these, daring to take the initiative and attack him?

Were they just handing themselves over?

Did they know I'm short on cash and come specifically to give me money?

"That's true. How could they possibly be a match for you?"

Hearing Luo Wen's words, Nami relaxed.

She was no longer a lone little thief cat. She had someone to rely on now.

Luo Wen was the strongest Bounty Hunter in the East Blue, and he had taken down countless pirates.

He was the man who had defeated two top-tier East Blue pirates in a single week.

Arlong and Don Krieg had been the strongest pirates in the East Blue, yet Luo Wen had defeated them both with ease. No other pirate in the entire East Blue could threaten them.

What was she afraid of? At least in the East Blue, Luo Wen was invincible!

The pirates over there were the ones who should be afraid.

Nami quickly adjusted her mindset and became somewhat curious instead.

She wondered which unlucky fool had chosen to rob the King of Hell.

Nami was already looking forward to what would happen next.

The astonishment on the ignorant pirates' faces when they saw Luo Wen.

The sight of them being scared out of their wits by Luo Wen, dropping to their knees and begging for mercy.