Holy Land Mary Geoise — Pangaea Castle
Inside the highest chamber of Pangaea Castle, the atmosphere was thick with restrained fury.
The Five Elders stood in a semicircle, their expressions darker than the storm clouds gathering over the Red Line.
"Are we truly conceding to that clown's demand?" one of them snapped, gripping his cane tightly.
"What alternative do you propose?" another replied coldly. "Rosward Saint is in his hands."
"A mistake," a third Elder growled. "It was a mistake allowing him to rise as one of the Four Emperors. We believed his incompetence would fracture the balance among pirates."
"And instead," another said, "he has dared injure a Celestial Dragon."
Silence settled heavily.
The image of Rosward Saint's severed finger replayed in their minds like a stain that would not wash away.
"Can the Marines dispatch reinforcements?" one asked.
"The Fleet Admiral has refused."
A pause.
"Refused?"
"He claims the movements of Blackbeard and Red-Haired Shanks are unclear. He insists on remaining at Marine Headquarters."
The air grew colder.
"Since Sakazuki assumed command, the Marines have become… less pliable."
"And Sengoku?"
"Observing."
"And Garp?"
A faint scoff echoed in the chamber.
"Garp would sooner laugh than rescue a Celestial Dragon."
Another Elder exhaled sharply.
"Very well. Deploy Cipher Pol agents quietly. And prepare the newly developed weapon. This chaos must not spread further."
A silence followed before another voice spoke:
"Contact Blackbeard."
The others turned.
"After the broadcast ends, Buggy cannot be allowed to remain."
"And replace him with whom?" one Elder asked sharply. "Kid? Law? Each is unstable."
The answer came flat and unfeeling.
"Instability is preferable to defiance."
Marine Headquarters — Sengoku's Office
The Den Den Mushi screen flickered to life.
Former Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood near the window, hands clasped behind his back. Beside him, Monkey D. Garp crushed a stack of senbei between his teeth with alarming enthusiasm.
"So," Sengoku muttered, staring at the screen. "Another spectacle."
"What a mess," Garp said casually.
The image showed Buggy seated upon a throne constructed of hardened wax. Behind him stood Rosward Saint—pale, bandaged, trembling.
"The balance has fractured," Sengoku continued. "Two Emperors defeated. A new one rises. The Revolutionary Army moves openly. And now this."
Garp chewed loudly.
"Isn't this all because of your grandson?" Sengoku shot him a glare.
Garp blinked. "Oi, what did I do?"
"Your son is a revolutionary leader. Your grandson toppled Kaido. And now this clown—your grandson's former ally—holds a Celestial Dragon hostage before the entire world."
Garp scratched his head.
"That fruit Luffy ate…" he muttered. "Who would've thought it had that form?"
Sengoku's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Red Hair brought that fruit to him," he said quietly. "Do you think it was deliberate?"
Garp's chewing slowed.
"If Shanks had a scheme, the one who should've eaten it back then would've been Ace."
Silence fell between them.
Sengoku exhaled.
"You escaped consequences only because you are the Hero of the Marines."
Garp barked a laugh.
"If they hanged me, we'd have two more Marineford Wars."
The humor faded quickly.
"When did justice become this twisted?" Garp muttered.
Sengoku gazed at the screen again.
"Justice has always been interpreted differently," he said. "But when I see men like Fujitora, I still believe the Marines have hope."
Garp crunched another senbei.
"So what do you think that clown is planning?"
On screen, Buggy adjusted his cloak.
For the first time, Sengoku did not see a fool.
He saw calculation.
"I don't know," Sengoku admitted.
World Economic Journal — Headquarters
Big News, Morgans flapped his wings excitedly in front of a wall of Den Den Mushi monitors.
"Excellent! Excellent!" he cried. "A newly crowned Emperor! A wounded Celestial Dragon! A global broadcast!"
News Coo had flown at maximum speed to deliver transmission lines across the seas.
Morgans' eyes gleamed.
"Buggy! You had better make this explosive!"
Blackbeard Pirates — Aboard the Saber of Xebec
"Zehahahahaha!"
Marshall D. Teach leaned back in his chair, two women draped lazily at his sides, eyes fixed on the broadcast.
"Look at him!" he roared with laughter. "A circus act crowned Emperor!"
Shiryu of the Rain exhaled smoke coldly.
"The title loses prestige with him included."
Laffitte tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Yet he is connected to Red Hair. And the Straw Hat boy."
Blackbeard's grin widened.
"And that makes him dangerous."
A black Den Den Mushi began to ring beside him.
Teach picked it up.
"Zehahahaha! Watching the show?"
A cold, emotionless voice answered.
"He harmed a Celestial Dragon."
"So he did."
"He must disappear."
Teach leaned back further.
"You want me to clean up your mistake?"
"If he continues to expand, your own position will be threatened."
Teach's eyes flickered.
Buggy Dispatch—the mercenary network—had been growing quietly. Efficient. Profitable.
"And you'll compensate me properly?" Teach asked smoothly.
Silence.
Then:
"You will be rewarded."
The line went dead.
Teach stared at the screen, grin widening slowly.
"Old acquaintance," he murmured. "You watched me for three days once. Sharp eyes."
He stood abruptly.
"Prepare the ship!"
His crew looked up eagerly.
"We're giving the new Emperor a welcome ceremony!"
Laffitte smiled thinly.
"A circus would fit well aboard our vessel."
Teach's laughter thundered across the deck.
"Zehahahaha! Let's see how Red Hair reacts to that!"
Red-Haired Pirates — Aboard the Red Force
Shanks stared at the broadcast in stunned silence.
Buggy sat calmly on a wax throne, cloak fluttering behind him. The air around him seemed charged.
"That idiot…" Shanks muttered.
Benn Beckman exhaled a plume of smoke.
"As expected of your old friend," he said lightly. "He doesn't waste time."
Shanks' gaze hardened slightly.
"If he keeps this up, the World Government will not let him go."
"Then trust him," Beckman replied calmly. "You've trusted him before."
Shanks rubbed the back of his neck.
"He was never reliable after eating that Devil Fruit."
There was guilt in his tone.
"I was the one who caused him to swallow it."
Beckman raised an eyebrow.
"And yet he survived this long."
Shanks exhaled.
"Move us closer."
Beckman sighed faintly.
"You know the Marines are already on edge."
"I don't care," Shanks replied with a small grin. "He's my friend."
The Red Force shifted course.
Across the Seas
On distant islands, taverns filled with pirates fell silent.
In Marine outposts, soldiers stood rigid before screens.
In hidden Revolutionary bases, commanders watched intently.
In Wano Country, celebrations halted as Scratchmen Apoo burst into the hall.
"Big news!" he shouted. "The new Emperor, Clown King Buggy, is broadcasting live!"
All eyes turned to the projection.
The world held its breath.
On every screen—
Buggy leaned back upon his throne of wax.
Behind him, Rosward Saint trembled.
And the Clown prepared to speak.
---
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San