At the moment when the situation on Onigashima was tense and a massive battle was about to erupt...
In another place in the world where a new Yonko was about to be born.
"Captain Buggy!!!"
"The newest poster has been designed! The emblem that belongs to our [Cross Guild]!!!"
Buggy had originally been feeling depressed, wondering why he had somehow ended up mixed together with Orin's subordinates. At this moment, however, he finally showed a bit of interest.
"Really..."
But the instant he saw that poster, all the alcohol in his mouth sprayed out.
"What the hell is this supposed to mean!!!?"
"We placed Captain Buggy at the very center of the biggest panel! After all, you're the man who inherited the forces of that great [Orin-sama] after his retirement!!!"
"It will definitely shock the whole world!!!"
Buggy stood there with his mouth wide open, already too despairing to even speak...
...
It was precisely the widespread circulation of this poster that caused the world to reassess Buggy as a figure.
Navy Headquarters Meeting.
Host: Brannew.
"Since we're analyzing the pirates' bounties today, we might as well explain everyone's current situation together..."
"First, the one with the highest bounty..."
[Black Gun] Dotor · Orin.
Former member of the Pirate King's crew. Paramecia-type Warp-Warp Fruit user (Awakened). A top-tier master of all three forms of Haki. The world's strongest sniper!!!
A pirate who had never once been defeated since setting sail with the Roger Pirates. At the same time bearing titles such as [World's Strongest Man] and [Possessor of the World's Strongest Haki], he is the man who controls the entire underground economy of the world!!!
Next came Roger... Whitebeard...
One bounty poster after another was placed on the wall as explanations were given to the assembled Marines.
After several legendary pirates came the current Five Emperors.
Until finally reaching the last two newly appointed Yonko.
"[Dark Sun] Sadgeo,
Suspected dual user of the Paramecia-type Rubber Fruit and the Logia-type Dark-Dark Fruit. Member of the ancient hornless giant race. Proficient in all three types of Haki.
He once led a fleet composed of countless races and engaged in fierce battle against the crew of the newly appointed Yonko [Blackbeard].
By his own strength alone, he blocked Blackbeard and former Navy Admiral Kuzan before calmly withdrawing."
"According to the World Government's decision, his bounty will be set at—"
"3.58 billion Belly!!!"
"Next..."
Brannew placed three bounty posters onto the wall. One of them depicted a gloomy figure with a scar across the face.
"[Crocodile]!!!"
"Formerly one of the Shichibukai, and also one of the strongest great pirates under [Black Gun]. With outstanding intelligence, leadership ability, and powerful Logia abilities, her provisional bounty is set at..."
"1.965 billion Belly!!!"
"[Hawk Eyes] Dracule Mihawk."
"Former Shichibukai, and once the right-hand of [Black Gun]. His swordsmanship is said to rival or even surpass [Black Gun] and [Red-Haired]. As the world's strongest swordsman, his bounty will be set at..."
"3.59 billion Belly!!!"
Finally came an important member among the newly appointed Yonko, and the current leader of the force to which the above two now belonged.
"[Star Clown] Buggy!!!"
"The mastermind behind the Impel Down prison break incident, and an extremely dangerous schemer who has endured in secrecy for many years."
"Known alongside [Black Gun] and [Red-Haired] as the [Clown Emperor], he is now one of the three legendary pirates of this era. A former member of the Pirate King's crew, making him an existence of extreme danger."
"Now, at a time when [Black Gun] no longer sails the seas, he has absorbed the powerful forces once under his command. Among the three legendary pirates currently alive, he may well be the most dangerous of them all!!!"
"His bounty will be set at..."
"4.138 billion Belly!!!"
...
"Puaaah!!!!"
"Spare my life! I'll do anything!!!"
At this moment, both Crocodile and Mihawk looked extremely displeased.
They had only just planned to fully break away from Orin's command and establish their own territory and power. How had they somehow ended up becoming someone else's subordinates again?!!
If Orin had intended to build a faction and begin conquering the world, then joining him and serving as deputies wouldn't have been unacceptable.
After all, he was a man they truly acknowledged.
But...
Looking at the poster where that wildly laughing clown face towered above both of them, their expressions immediately darkened with irritation.
"The Cross Guild was originally an organization Mihawk and I planned to establish ourselves. With our own strength, plus the reputation we built while following Orin, we were just about to introduce this organization to the world."
"So how did you become the boss, Buggy?"
Buggy had been beaten until his face was swollen and bruised. At this point he no longer cared about dignity, tears streaming down his face.
"I'm sorry! My subordinates admire me too much, so they just..."
"Becoming an Emperor of the Sea with a single apology — you're probably the first and the last person to ever do that."
"You're ready to die, right?"
Buggy's expression changed drastically.
Crocodile chimed in from the side.
"The word humiliation isn't even enough to describe how I feel..."
"A bounty of 4.1 billion. What an incredible honor."
Facing the threat of death, Buggy clenched his teeth as tears poured down his face.
"Please don't kill me."
Seeing Crocodile gripping Buggy with obvious annoyance, Mihawk gradually calmed down.
Things had already reached this point. Were they really going to kill Buggy?
Many years ago, both of them had met Buggy together with Orin, and they understood very clearly the relationship between the two.
So Mihawk spoke.
"However, if you look at it from another angle, pushing this guy to the front might not be a bad thing for us."
"Hm?"
Both Crocodile and Buggy looked over. Crocodile initially thought Mihawk had softened because of Orin.
But Buggy himself had never intended to survive by relying on Orin's name.
Mihawk continued calmly.
"I never had any intention of becoming an Emperor of the Sea."
"I just want a quiet life."
Crocodile felt somewhat unwilling to accept it. Even knowing Orin and Buggy had a close relationship, her standards were always extremely high — only Orin and Mihawk barely met her expectations.
She didn't even think much of someone like Doflamingo, so how could she possibly respect someone like Buggy, who rose through reputation and connections?
"Are you serious?"
Mihawk gave a reason convincing enough.
"If we want to develop our power, wouldn't using this guy as the public face be better? After all, it's just a title..."
"After all, he's one of the three legendary pirates currently famous across the seas."