Kale Bali Island, located in the New World, is an island with high ground in the east and low in the west, traversed by mountains. The island is mostly mountainous with several intact conical volcanoes, and only the southern part by the sea has flat land, but the scenery of the whole island is very beautiful.
However, in the New World, there are many islands with such magnificent landscapes, so there's nothing particularly remarkable about it; it's just an isolated island that hasn't been much discovered.
And now on this isolated island, in the flat land, there is a huge tent resembling a circus, surrounded by a group of fierce-looking pirates with eyes filled with admiration, waving their weapons enthusiastically at the top of the tent and shouting fervently.
Here, two years ago, after a large number of prisoners were released from Impel Down, during the Summit War when Whitebeard and he stood against each other, and became very familiar with Red Hair, there's a legend of having ventured ten thousand meters above to Sky Island, as well as having dived ten thousand meters below seeking treasures...
Straw Hat?
No!
"Master Buggy!"
The sound of a cheering crowd echoed through half the island.
"You lot!!"
At the top of the tent, a figure shrouded in a huge red cape wearing a red-and-white striped clown hat, bearing a face painted like a clown, and a very conspicuous red round nose...
"Who are you calling Red-Nose!!"
Buggy shouted with sharp teeth and a sharp tongue.
"Oh! My light, the greatest Master Buggy!"
"Master Buggy! It's the living Master Buggy!"
"Living Buggy! Living Buggy! Living Buggy!"
The pirates below shouted even more joyously.
Hearing the sounds, Buggy showed a satisfied expression once again. He extended his arms, with only white gloves visible, and spread them wide to the sides.
"Who is the greatest pirate?"
"Master Buggy!"
"Who is the most worthy pirate to pledge allegiance to?"
"Master Buggy!"
"Who is the ruler of these seas?"
"Master Buggy!"
"That's right, it's indeed me!"
Buggy raised his thumb, pointing at himself, revealing half of his teeth with a sparkle, which again roused the cheering of the pirates.
"Serve your Master Buggy well!"
Buggy waved, called out, and contentedly returned inside the tent from the top.
Boosting morale like this every day was essential and also something he gladly did.
The prisoners he had brought out from Impel Down, along with the pirates who came because of his name, allowed him to gather a formidable force.
Seven Warlords of the Sea?
He's qualified too!
"Buggy..."
Inside the tent, Mr. 3, who was counting money, lifted his head and said: "There's some news I need to tell you."
"What is it!"
With a wave of his hand, Buggy showed his commanding presence, the large cloak that covered him seemed like it was floating, landing in front of the main seat on the sofa, he said arrogantly:
"No matter what it is, it can't disrupt the current me. That's right, it's Master Buggy!"
"Hajrudin and his giant subordinates withdrew, they said they pledged allegiance to someone else..."
"Nani?!"
Full of confidence and swagger just moments ago, Buggy stood upright in shock, his eyes vacant for a moment, his large red nose dripping snot. "How can this be? They were my most lucrative sign!"
Buggy's Pirates... should say Buggy Express, was his proudest creation since becoming a Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Originally, he led prisoners from Impel Down to form a new force, and as part of the Seven Warlords, acting as a legal pirate, he started the business of storage and transportation of smuggled goods.
And his orders, besides acquiring them from various Underworld channels, also included a substantial order from Crocodile who lent him money to start the business, plus, with so many underlings, it would be wasteful not to use them, so he conveniently took on mercenary business, and the business grew large.
Especially after Doflamingo's defeat, the Underworld had vacancies, and the constant wars lacking military strength significantly advanced his business.
And among them, the Giant Race was the highlight!
That was a considerably fierce force, with just those few from the Giant Race, deploying them to a place would ensure a one-sided war, earning him enough fame and fortune.
And now they quit?
Pa!
Two split hands slammed the table hard, Buggy angrily shouted:
"How can this be! I shared quite a bit of money with them! Clearly, we had an agreement, how could they withdraw! What about my orders?! This is too hateful, villains! Treacherous villains!"
"They only had an employment contract with us, you know."
Alvida, with smooth skin and a slender waist, sitting with her legs crossed on a sofa, said: "Even if they quit, there's nothing more to be said, right."
"Whose side are you on!"
Buggy glared at her, clenched his fist, and said: "Damn, who the hell lured my prized subordinates away, I need to..."
"That person is called Norton Sage," Mr. 3 slowly said.
"I need to thank him, hehehe..."
The once-angry Buggy's expression turned peculiar, and his clenched fists rubbed against each other, emitting an awkward laugh.
Beast Tamer Mohji and Chief of Advisor Cabaji were sweating bullets, not saying a word.
Mr. 3 had an expression of expected surprise.
"Why do you all have that look on your faces?"
Feeling like he lost face, Buggy shouted again, "I am showing respect to Sage, do you know who that is?"
"The Four Emperors."
Mr. 3 said, "Still the youngest of the Four Emperors, a powerful being with immense destructive force, the master of O'hara, the possessor of wealth, the controller of storms... Such a figure, no one is unfamiliar with."
"That's not how it is at all!"
Buggy slapped the table again, saying, "After being knocked away by the Straw Hat, I met him; at that time, he had just formed a Pirate crew with that Bienta Lily. In the East Sea, we do have history..."
Saying this, Buggy sat back on the sofa, boasting, "We are brothers, after all."
"Yes, yes..."
Mohji focused on eating, Cabaji was assembling blocks, Alvida sipped fine wine, and Galdino, aka Mr. 3, was busy calculating accounts.
All were humoring him.
Buggy continued to boast, "Of course, it's because we are brothers that I thanked him, and that Giant mercenary who didn't know kindness, it's good he left early, Sage was helping me too."
"Right, right..."
"Of course, subordinates who betray at will are still subordinates, and they can't be recruited without consent. Maybe I'll go to O'hara to have a good chat with Sage, hmph hmph hmph hmph!"
Buggy spoke with such bravado, as if he was on par with the Four Emperors.
"Sure, sure..."
The others continued to nod perfunctorily, not taking Buggy's words seriously at all.
They were all well-acquainted, at times like this, giving Buggy some face was sufficient, after all, he is the Captain.
However, someone took it seriously...
"Lord Buggy!"
The tent's flap was suddenly lifted by someone, as a former prisoner of Impel Down approached, eyes brimming with tears, "So admirable! Lord Buggy! I never imagined such a friendship between you and the Emperor Catastrophe!"
"Besides being a crew member of the Pirate King, and a good brother to the Red Hair Emperor, you are also a good brother to the Emperor Catastrophe? Truly deserving of being our savior, Lord Buggy! How many more fascinating experiences do you have that we don't know about?"
"Most importantly, even when facing the Emperor Catastrophe, who has a bond with you, Lord Buggy, you still don't mind, and even said... you'll take us to O'hara! Everyone, did you hear?!"
The pirate's face flushed as he turned and shouted.
"Oh! Lord Buggy!!"
Behind him was a group of awe-struck pirates, each with fierce expressions and bulging muscles.
"Lord Buggy is right!"
The pirates shouted excitedly, "The Emperor Catastrophe cannot recruit those who defected from us so easily! Lord Buggy, take us to O'hara! Who needs the Seven Warlords of the Sea? Be a Pirate Emperor instead!"
"That's right! Lord Buggy, become a Pirate Emperor! Though the Emperor Catastrophe is your brother, pirate conflicts never end; he recruited defectors, so Lord Buggy, you recruit him as a subordinate!"
"A Four Emperor as a subordinate!"
"To O'hara!!"
Buggy listened, dumbfounded, as he and the remaining cadres broke out in cold sweats...
What, how did these people get outside?
Eavesdropping is not a good thing!
"Well, um, I..."
Buggy just wanted to wave his hand and refuse, but seeing more and more people and the growing excitement, he couldn't back down.
"Bulu bulu bulu."
Just then, the nearby Radio Snail rang, and almost reflexively, Buggy quickly picked up the receiver, smiling obsequiously:
"Moshi moshi, Buggy Express, what can I do for you!"
"Buggy..."
The Radio Snail morphed into a face with a wanton grin, "Long time no see, I am Sage, Norton Sage."
"Huh?!"
Buggy, startled, jerked his hand, and his eyes bulged almost out of their sockets, his mouth nearly flying off his face.
"Sa-Sage, what, what do you want? I'm telling you, I'm not afraid..."
"I plan to wage war with Big Mom; I need to hire you to help me with something, price is negotiable," the voice on the other end of the Radio Snail was straightforward.
"Huh? Big Mom?"
Buggy froze for a moment, pointing at himself, blinking his somewhat innocent eyes and gingerly asked, "Me, me?"
What's this about?
Inviting him to attack Big Mom?
No, he was just bragging, how could he have such capabilities?
The whole crew against them wouldn't withstand even a single move from these Four Emperors.
Although he is a Seven Warlord of the Sea, isn't this... overestimating him a bit?