"Nami, hurry, start absorbing! I brought you a real treat!"
Ryuuto held Buggy up with one hand while calling out to Nami with the other. His Armament Haki-reinforced grip was like an iron clamp, holding Buggy fast and preventing him from moving an inch.
"You bastard! Let me go!"
Buggy had no idea what was about to happen, but an inexplicable fear gripped him. He flailed his limbs, uselessly striking at Ryuuto's hand.
On the deck of the Sexy Foxy, the crew watched in horror as Captain Buggy was dangled helplessly in the air, desperately signaling for help.
"It's over! Captain Buggy is going to die!"
"Let Captain Buggy go!!"
"No! Not Captain Buggy!"
Aside from a few grunts who had been thoroughly brainwashed by Buggy, most of the crew simply chose to look away.
"You really get me, Captain!" Nami said gratefully, her big, sparkling eyes flashing at Ryuuto. She then turned her gaze to Buggy, a look of ravenous hunger on her face.
She had noticed Buggy's unusually high luck stat long ago.
But because Buggy was always floating in the air, Nami hadn't found an opportunity to sneakily plunder it.
If a normal person's luck was in the single digits, Buggy's was easily in the high tens.
From Nami's perspective, Buggy's entire body was covered in a dense layer of white light points.
So much luck...
"Well, don't mind if I do!" Nami said, reaching out her mischievous hand and clamping it down on the top of Buggy's head.
"No, what are you doing to me!"
Seeing Nami's hand descend, Buggy kicked his legs wildly, screaming and trying to dodge.
Unfortunately, restrained by Ryuuto, he had no chance of escape. He could only watch in terror as Nami's hand landed on his head.
In an instant, Buggy went still, completely motionless...
"What? Captain Buggy is dead!"
"Hiss... What a terrifying woman!"
The crew members who were secretly watching the scene froze, their faces contorting in absolute horror.
This was too terrifying!
Feeling a massive amount of luck flow into her body, Nami couldn't help but let out a satisfied burp.
"It's been a while since I've had such a feast!"
"Buggy the Great... His luck is truly terrifying!"
Ding!
As Nami was marveling at her haul, a crisp sound echoed in her mind.
"My Coin of Fortune is actually full!"
Nami was overjoyed.
A single Coin of Fortune could store 100 points of luck, but she could only get 5 or 6 points from an ordinary person. That meant it took at least twenty people to fill one coin.
But Buggy alone had just provided her with nearly 60 points of luck.
Nami had never had it this good.
Ryuuto just looked at Buggy speechlessly, thinking to himself, "Buggy, you really love the spotlight, don't you?"
"Hahahahahaha, I'm fine! That scared the hell out of me!"
Just then, Buggy started bouncing around again.
"What?!"
"You bastard!"
"He tricked us!"
The crew wanted to punch him. All that sympathy had been completely wasted.
Thump!
Seeing that Nami's hand was off Buggy's head, Ryuuto casually tossed him onto the deck.
As a human battery for luck, Buggy's job for the day was done.
"How do you feel, Nami?" Ryuuto asked with concern.
Nami flashed a sweet smile. Though she didn't speak, her expression made it clear that she was extremely satisfied.
"Your great Captain Buggy doesn't die that easily!" Buggy shouted, flying back into the air and flashing a wide, toothy grin at everyone.
Splash!
Before Buggy could celebrate for more than two seconds, a jet of water shot up from the sea, hitting him squarely.
Splat!
Struck by the seawater, Buggy's Devil Fruit powers instantly failed him. With a helpless flail, he plummeted back onto the deck.
"Where did that seawater come from?" Buggy groaned, struggling weakly on the deck.
Out on the water, Momoo was currently chasing a large school of dolphins. The stream of water that had hit Buggy came straight from one of their mouths.
"Moooo!"
Momoo let out a perfectly timed roar, as if answering Buggy's question.
"Hahahahahaha..."
The entire crew burst into joyous laughter.
"You bastards!" Buggy snarled, struggling to his feet and glaring at them.
He had no idea what he had just lost.
In the hours to come, Buggy would encounter one unlucky moment after another.
That was the inescapable nature of conceptual Devil Fruit abilities. Having lost his luck, Buggy was about to experience a day unlike any he had ever known...
"Captain Ryuuto, we're actually here because Buggy received intel that a Marine warship will be passing through this area, escorting a Devil Fruit!"
Foxy suddenly sidled up to Ryuuto and revealed their plan.
"You idiot! Who told you to say that!"
Hearing this, Buggy panicked and rushed over to cover Foxy's mouth.
But just as his hand reached Foxy's face, a telescope fell from the crow's nest and landed directly on his head.
Thud!
Buggy was knocked to the ground again.
"What is going on!?" Cabaji was beginning to realize something was very wrong with Buggy.
"He seems a little too unlucky!"
Foxy, however, was only focused on pledging his loyalty. Seeing Buggy get knocked out, he continued to spill the details of their plan to Ryuuto.
From Foxy's explanation, Ryuuto got the gist of their strategy.
When they spotted the Marine warship, Alvida would stand at the prow and block the cannonballs. As the user of the Paramecia-type Smooth-Smooth Fruit, she was immune to all physical attacks.
Naturally, cannonballs would just slide right off her.
Then, after the Marines' initial barrage, Foxy would unleash his Slow-Slow Beam. The rest of them would then charge forward, board the ship while the crew was slowed down, and plunder everything.
Ryuuto had to admit, Buggy's plan was actually quite effective.
Assuming they didn't run into anyone particularly strong, that is.
But then again, with Buggy's usual luck, it wouldn't have been surprising if it succeeded a few times.
"A Devil Fruit? Sounds interesting. Can you confirm when that warship will appear?" Ryuuto asked, nodding at Foxy.
Seeing Ryuuto's nod, a hint of joy appeared on Foxy's face.
"Looks like I made the right bet," he thought to himself.
Watching Buggy get manhandled by Ryuuto so effortlessly had filled Foxy with terror, making him fear for his own life.
As the saying goes, if you can't beat them, join them.
That was why Foxy had taken the initiative to reveal their entire plan.
As for Ryuuto's question, Foxy didn't know the answer. He stammered, "Well... it should be soon!"