Beating Up Future Emperor Shanks

But now that he had eaten a rather unimpressive Paramecia Devil Fruit, he had lost some confidence. Buggy and Shanks had always had a love-hate relationship and never gotten along, but now Buggy truly resented Shanks. "Buggy, we're companions!"

Shanks continued trying to persuade Buggy. After all, the entire Roger Pirates had already fallen apart. Those who were going to leave had left, and Buggy was the only one he could find.

Besides, they were about the same age and still had some drive. The other crew members had already lost their ambition; those who should retire had gone off to retire. So he did not want to give up on his only remaining companion.

"If you weren't my companion, I would've killed you long ago! Don't think I don't hate you. The moment you forced me to eat that Devil Fruit, I lost all hope of becoming strong."

"Listen to yourself. I didn't force you to eat it back then. Even if you ate a Devil Fruit, you can still become strong. Besides, if it awakens someday, it might not be so bad."

Shanks said it with a grin, but in Buggy's eyes, he was mocking him.

"Hmph! Captain Roger said Devil Fruits shouldn't be eaten lightly unless they're extremely powerful."

"I'll always have a weakness now. If I were going to eat one, I'd definitely choose a Logia or Mythical Zoan. What can this Paramecia Chop-Chop Fruit even do?"

"What can it do besides split up my body?"

The more Buggy spoke, the angrier he became. Tears were nearly streaming down his face.

"Buggy, don't put yourself down. Paramecia fruits can be powerful too. Think about it—you have the Chop-Chop Fruit. If it awakens someday, couldn't you split apart an entire island?"

"That would be pretty strong too, right?"

"So, join my pirate crew, Buggy!"

Shanks smiled and held out his right hand.

Buggy paused, then snorted coldly and slapped Shanks's hand aside.

"Get lost. Don't interfere with me making money and working. I advise you to lie low for a while, or you won't even know how you died."

To be honest, Buggy had just felt a slight urge to become a pirate again. But with his cowardly nature, he was still afraid. Roger had only been executed not long ago, so he needed to hide for a while longer.

Mu Chen had watched the show for quite some time. Sure enough, Shanks and Buggy were exactly as he remembered them—best friends who loved and fought each other. Although Buggy was merciless with his words, Mu Chen could tell that Buggy actually treasured Shanks as a companion.

Having watched enough, Mu Chen appeared before them like a villain, clapping his hands. "Not bad, not bad. Actually, Buggy, I think you still have a chance. Just like Shanks said, what if there really is an opportunity?"

Mu Chen spoke with a smile.

Buggy might not have had much strength, but he possessed the luck of someone blessed by fate—an embodiment of lucky-colored Haki. Though it sounded like a joke, his absurd luck was beyond doubt. Didn't Buggy eventually become one of the Four Emperors because of that lucky-colored Haki?

"Who are you?"

Shanks and Buggy turned around to look at Mu Chen at the same time. Both wore grave expressions and subtly took a step back, ready to flee at any moment. In this situation, they had naturally been frightened.

More importantly, when had Mu Chen been there? How much of their conversation had he heard?

Neither Shanks nor Buggy had any idea, but judging from what Mu Chen had just said, it seemed he had heard everything he was supposed to hear.

Seeing how wary Shanks and Buggy were of him, Mu Chen suddenly felt playful.

Shanks and Buggy probably weren't that strong when they were young, were they?

Mu Chen smiled faintly and looked at the straw hat on Shanks's head. Seeing it from such close range instantly reminded him of the days when he had chased pirate stories day and night in his youth. That was all lost youth now.

Shanks noticed Mu Chen's gaze fixed on his head and instinctively pressed down on his straw hat.

"Who exactly are you?"

"What do you want?"

"Relax. Shanks, could you let me take a look at your straw hat?"

Seeing Shanks so wary of him, Mu Chen acted like a bad older brother, trying to make himself appear gentler.

But Shanks and Buggy did not see it that way. In their eyes, Mu Chen was like a smiling demon, and he was staring at that straw hat. Many people knew that the straw hat had belonged to Pirate King Roger. Had Mu Chen recognized it? They were still hoping Mu Chen had not heard what they said, or why else would he want to see the straw hat?

When Mu Chen saw that Shanks and Buggy were still so guarded, he could not help laughing in exasperation.

"Don't worry. Although I'm a Marine, I won't do anything to you. I just want to take a look at Pirate King Roger's straw hat."

"A Marine?"

The moment they heard Mu Chen's identity, Shanks and Buggy were immediately terrified, automatically ignoring everything after that. Buggy was so scared that he had started trembling.

"Shanks, I told you not to come looking for me, not to come looking for me! It's over now—the Marines are here! We're dead, we're dead!"

Buggy spoke as he grabbed Shanks's arm for comfort, shaking with fear. Meanwhile, Shanks was already reaching for the dagger at his waist.

Mu Chen realized he had foolishly revealed his identity. He really should not have done that. Since he was a Marine, there was nothing more to say. "Buggy, run!"

As soon as he spoke, Shanks flung Buggy's hand away, drew his dagger, and rapidly closed in on Mu Chen.

"A kid really is a kid. Easily startled."

Mu Chen was somewhat helpless, but this was fine too. He had wanted to see just how strong the young Shanks was.

"Shanks, don't think I'll forgive you just because you're covering my retreat!"

Without another word, Buggy immediately ran off.

"Not so fast. We're not done talking yet."

Without another word, Mu Chen activated the Eight Gates, and his aura surged dramatically.