Grand Line — New World, Karai Bari Island
Buggy the Clown Pirates' Fortress
After the end of the War of Marineford, the world had plunged into unprecedented chaos. Taking advantage of the collapse of old structures and the instability of the World Government, Buggy the Clown had absorbed thousands of prisoners released from Impel Down. The small, pathetic crew that once followed him had grown absurdly fast, transforming into a massive, noisy… and dangerously disorganized pirate force.
At that moment, the improvised fortress on Karai Bari was in full celebration.
"Captain Buggy! Captain Buggy! Captain Buggy!"
The chants echoed across the entire island.
A massive open-air banquet filled the central courtyard. Pirates drank, sang, fought, and laughed nonstop, celebrating what seemed to them like an unbelievable achievement: their captain had officially become a Shichibukai—one of the famed Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"Hahahahaha! Drink! Drink until you drop, my crew!!" Buggy roared with laughter, raising a goblet of wine. "Celebrate me as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea! As long as I'm here, you're all completely free!"
Wearing an exaggerated clown costume—even more flamboyant than usual—Buggy used his Devil Fruit to separate parts of his body, making them float and stretch in absurd ways. This made him appear strangely tall and imposing.
"Long live Captain Buggy!"
"The World Government invited him personally! Does that mean no one's going to try to arrest us again?!"
"Hmph!" Buggy replied with feigned confidence. "The Government won't waste its energy worrying about us now!"
The pirates danced wildly. Some sang obscene songs completely off-key, while others were already dead drunk.
Then, suddenly—
A cold, contempt-filled voice echoed from inside the massive circus tent set up at the back of the banquet:
"You've only received the title of Shichibukai. What's there to celebrate so much? Buggy, come here. Now."
Buggy's laughter died instantly.
Cold sweat ran down his forehead.
The freed prisoners were easy to deceive. Just mentioning that he had once been part of the Pirate King's crew, claiming friendship with Shanks, or promising glory and revenge was enough to make them obey him blindly. But there was one person present whom Buggy would never dare underestimate.
"Everyone! Drink, dance, do whatever you want!" Buggy forced a smile as he set down his goblet. "Your captain has… important business."
Turning quickly, he entered the tent.
Inside, sitting casually in the main chair, was Crocodile—one of the original Shichibukai. A cigar rested between his lips as he idly stroked the golden hook on his left hand.
"I didn't help you become a Shichibukai just to watch you waste your damn time on stupid parties, Buggy," Crocodile said, his eyes half-lidded.
The pressure he radiated was crushing.
"H-How did you manage this…?" Buggy asked, swallowing hard.
Outside, everyone believed the World Government had extended the invitation on its own because it couldn't handle so many escaped prisoners. But the truth was different.
Crocodile had been the one to take the initiative. He had contacted the Marines himself. Buggy didn't know exactly what had been said—only that, in the end, the result was the same: the World Government granted Buggy the title of Shichibukai.
"You don't need to know," Crocodile replied coldly.
"And… and what do you want to do now…?"
Crocodile smirked.
"I'm going to take Wano."
Buggy went pale.
"Have you lost your mind?!" he shouted. "Wano is Kaido's territory! One of the Four Emperors! Do you want to die?! Are you trying to become the Pirate King or something?!"
"During the War of Marineford, weren't you shouting to the world that you were going to kill Whitebeard?" Crocodile mocked. "Kaido is no different. And that crowd outside will love hearing this."
Buggy knew it was true. If a war against Kaido were announced, the former prisoners would be so excited they wouldn't be able to sleep from anticipation.
But Buggy also knew the truth.
Going against Kaido meant certain death.
As if sensing his fear, Crocodile continued calmly:
"Of course, we're not relying on you alone, trash. We need allies."
"W-Who…?"
"You're about to find out."
Crocodile focused for a moment. His Observation Haki detected several powerful presences approaching the island.
At that moment, a prisoner burst in, panicked:
"Captain Buggy! Three pirate ships are heading straight for us!"
"Who?!" Buggy asked in terror.
"They call themselves the 'Supernova Alliance'! Eustass Kid of the Kid Pirates! Basil Hawkins of the Hawkins Pirates! Scratchmen Apoo of the On Air Pirates!"
Three Supernovas.
Bounties:
Eustass Kid — 315,000,000
Basil Hawkins — 240,000,000
Scratchmen Apoo — 198,000,000
The three highest bounties of the new generation.
Buggy slowly turned his face toward Crocodile.
The Shichibukai smiled, as if everything were under control.
"Be polite, Captain Buggy," he said, taking a drag from his cigar. "Go welcome your new allies."
Buggy wanted to cry.
But he couldn't.
---
Grand Line — New World, Unknown Sea Area
Moby Dick — Deck
Gekko Moria was bound like a rice ball, restrained by heavy chains. Around him stood several commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates, all glaring at him with open hostility.
"You bastard…" Jozu growled. "You dare attack our allies?!"
"Did Straw Hat send you to do this?" Vista asked coldly.
"This makes no sense," Marco shook his head. "Luffy and Ace are brothers. He would never do something like this."
After Whitebeard's death, his territories were crumbling under attacks from all directions. But this case was different.
Squard, captain of the Spider Pirates—one of the allies who had fought in the War of Marineford—had been attacked by Moria.
It felt like betrayal.
Ace, sitting on the deck, gnawed on a piece of meat still on the bone while watching Moria closely.
"Tell me, Gekko Moria…" Ace said calmly. "If it wasn't Luffy who sent you to attack us, then what did you want?"
Moria ground his teeth.
All he wanted were shadows. Corpses to increase his power.
That night, he had attacked some random group at sea. He hadn't known who they were. Only afterward did he realize his mistake.
"It was a misunderstanding…" Moria muttered. "I already returned the shadows! Let me go!"
"Many of ours died!" someone shouted.
"Where is Straw Hat?!"
Moria felt his anger rise.
Did they still think they were invincible?
Ace then stood up and smiled.
"Release him," he said. "Moria, I was looking to meet Luffy as well. Take us to him."
---
(End of Chapter)