Orange Town had once been a picturesque little town with kind, unassuming people.
Trees shaded the island, and flowers grew in abundance. Rows of simple but peaceful cottages lined its smooth, level streets.
The town was not wealthy, but life there had been easy and tranquil. In recent years, though, that peace had vanished.
A band of lawless pirates had arrived. Their leader had eaten a Devil Fruit, possessed terrifying strength, and had a deeply unpredictable temper.
When he was in a good mood, he threw a lively feast. When his temper flared, he fired cannonballs at random into the town.
The locals suffered bitterly, but the pirates were too powerful to defy. All they could do was swallow their anger and keep quiet.
Lately, Orange Town had grown even livelier than usual. Word had spread that a "Treasure Map Exchange" was being held, drawing pirates from the surrounding area. They roamed the streets in groups, while the terrified townspeople shut their doors and windows and dared not go outside.
At the center of town stood a huge circular building: the lair of Buggy the Clown's pirate crew. Few pirates in the East Blue were particularly strong, and the Marines paid little attention to the area. Over the years, Buggy's crew had quietly grown, and life had been comfortable. The Marines had not dared come looking for trouble.
"Captain, more than a dozen pirate crews have come to the island. Are you sure this Treasure Map Exchange will be all right? What if they catch on?"
Cabaji, the chief of staff, sped up to Buggy on his unicycle. He pulled off a sharp drift and came to a smooth stop.
He remained perfectly steady atop the unicycle. He could stay there for ages without falling; his impressive juggling skills were