Buggy D Clown

Shanks scratched the back of his head, his sheepish grin doing little to mask his guilt. "Yeah, you've got a point. Maybe I rushed things back then... didn't think it through."

He let out a deep sigh. "And now Uta knows everything. This whole thing's a mess. But forget it—if she's here, I'll stick around for a while. I want to see for myself how well you're running things."

Buggy smirked, unimpressed. "Oh, cut the crap. If you want to see Uta, just say so. Put your ship on Onigashima; she's up there now, living on top of Adam. Whenever you feel like visiting, just let the guards know. It's not rocket science."

Shanks narrowed his eyes, but before he could respond, Buggy waved him off. "Anyway, I've got bigger problems. I have to welcome Vegapunk. That old man's stirring up trouble again."

Shanks raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Wait, hold on. That thing?" He pointed toward the massive eggshell-like structure looming over Onigashima. "That's Vegapunk's brain? Are you serious? It's the size of a mountain!"

Buggy shrugged, his casual demeanor barely concealing his annoyance. "Apparently, it's big enough to store the knowledge of the whole world."

Shanks looked dumbfounded. "So, Vegapunk really stuck his brain in there? And he trusted you with it? That's... something."

Buggy chuckled, though there was a faint edge to his laughter. "Yeah, well, that's his mistake. The guy's probably neck-deep in trouble already."

Shanks shook his head, his amused grin returning. "You've gotten yourself into quite the empire, haven't you?"

Buggy shot him a glare. "Don't act like you're surprised. Some of us know how to make things work, unlike a certain red-haired idiot who's been coasting on luck."

The two stared at each other for a moment before Shanks burst out laughing, and even Buggy couldn't help but crack a smirk.

Shanks' brow furrowed, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness. "Buggy, you need to be careful. Vegapunk isn't just some eccentric scientist. He's a reverse scale of the World Government. If they even get a whiff of you meddling with him, you're not just facing a skirmish—you're looking at war."

Buggy leaned back in his chair, smirking with that familiar air of nonchalance that always drove Shanks crazy. "Oh, please, Shanks. You think I don't know that already?" His voice was casual, but the glint in his eyes betrayed the cunning mind at work.

"When did you get so naive?" Buggy mocked, his grin widening as he waved off the warning. "Do you honestly believe there's some peaceful resolution between me and the World Government? They made their choice the moment they decided to dissect my every move like I'm a damn puzzle to solve."

Shanks opened his mouth to respond, but Buggy cut him off, his tone darkening. "Mark my words, they've already started scheming. The Crimson Empire isn't just a nuisance to them anymore—it's a threat. And they'll come for me, sure as the sun rises. But taking me down? That's a whole different story."

Buggy leaned forward, his grin fading into something far more dangerous. His eyes gleamed with intensity as he continued, "You know what's coming, don't you, Shanks? Their first move will be an attack. And I'll be ready. Because this time, I'm not waiting for them to strike first—I'm setting the stage."

Uta's eyes widened as she listened, but Buggy wasn't finished. "It's simple. I'll reach out to Vegapunk, openly and right under their noses. I'll make sure every newsbird gets a front-row seat. And when the World Government panics and sends their little army to Egghead, well..."

Buggy's grin returned, sharp and predatory. "That's when I make my move. Their combat power? Crushed. Maybe even take a shot at the Five Elders while I'm at it. It's high time someone reminded them they're not untouchable."

Shanks stared at him, pale with disbelief. "You're insane," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're actually planning to use Vegapunk as bait to take on the World Government?"

"Of course I am!" Buggy laughed, the sound echoing through the room like a challenge to the world itself. "Why wait for them to come at me? I'll drag them out into the open and end this on my terms."

Shanks gripped the transponder snail tighter, his knuckles white. For the first time in years, he felt genuine unease as he listened to Buggy's laughter fade.

The call ended, leaving Shanks staring at the silent snail. He released a long breath, his hand trembling slightly as he set it down.

Beckman, who had been leaning casually against the rudder, finally spoke. "What's wrong? Buggy doing something reckless again?"

Shanks turned, his expression grim. "It's worse than that, Beck. I think Buggy's gone completely off the deep end. And the worst part?"

Beckman raised an eyebrow.

"I think he might actually pull it off."

Beckman met Shanks' gaze, his expression unusually serious, though a faint air of calm calculation remained. "Shanks, what's your take on this?"

Shanks frowned, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by a rare intensity. His gaze shifted to the distant, towering Adam tree, its silhouette stark against the horizon. His fists clenched as he spoke. "It's spiraling out of control. Buggy's dragging us into a game where the stakes are everything—our freedom, our crew, the balance of the world. I can feel it coming."

Beckman's face was grim, though his voice remained steady. "Once this war kicks off, it won't just be about Buggy or Vegapunk. It'll ripple across the entire world, and no one will come out unscathed. Perhaps even the nations of four seas will start thinking about rebelling."

Shanks exhaled sharply, nodding. "Yeah… it's bigger than anything we've faced before." He glanced at Beckman, determination flickering in his eyes. "Tonight, I'll see Uta. After that, I'm gone. We need to regroup and be ready to act at a moment's notice."

Beckman crossed his arms, his sharp mind already working through the possibilities. "Good call. Staying here too long puts us on the World Government's radar, and that's the last thing we need. If they decide to make a move while we're in Buggy's territory, it'll complicate things. Their reach is vast, and they won't hesitate to start battles on multiple fronts."

Shanks gave a wry smile, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I was thinking the same. This 'vacation' was nice while it lasted, but it's over now. We need to get moving before the tide turns against us."

Beckman's lips curved into a faint, knowing smirk, though concern lingered in his eyes. "Buggy's crew might be wild, but their unpredictability gives them an edge. They're not tied down like us. If anyone can force the government to react, it's them. That kind of chaos could work in our favor—if we're smart about it."

Shanks chuckled, though it lacked his usual warmth. "Chaos is one thing, but counting on Buggy to pull off a plan? Now that's risky."

Beckman shrugged. "Maybe. But with the world on the brink, risks might be all we've got. Either way, we need to be ready to clean up the mess if things go south."

Shanks sighed, the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders. "Looks like the world's about to get a whole lot messier. And here I thought I'd get a little more peace before things went crazy again."

Beckman nodded, his usual cool demeanor slipping back into place. "Peace never lasts long for guys like us. Let's just make sure we're the ones standing when it's over."

New World, Egg Island

The moment Buggy arrived, Vegapunk rushed to him, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Buggy! You won't believe it! The solar panel you mentioned—I'm about to make it! We're close to mass production! It's incredible!" Vegapunk's voice buzzed with enthusiasm.

"Solar energy is the cleanest, most pollution-free energy in the world. It's renewable too! If I had thought of it sooner, maybe my hometown wouldn't have been plagued by the cold. But it's not too late, hahaha!" He chuckled, but then his eyes lit up in thought. "It's a shame you don't want to do scientific research, Buggy. You'd be amazing at it!"

Buggy, feeling a bit overwhelmed by Vegapunk's rapid-fire excitement, shook his head in bemusement. "I said don't you realize what your current situation is?"

Vegapunk blinked, but Buggy continued without waiting for a response. "You're the key to triggering the first world war. And the battleground? Right here on Egg Island."

Vegapunk's eyes widened slightly, but Buggy wasn't done. "If things go south, there's no turning back. And while I appreciate your enthusiasm for solar energy, the real question is whether Egg Island will even survive this war. My advice? Move the important things, get your research out of here first."

He paused, a serious expression on his face. "I still have a ton of ideas I want you to finish, but I don't want to see you lose your life over solar panels."

Vegapunk opened his mouth to protest, but Buggy cut him off. "For instance, I have this idea for a new kind of den den mushi. I call it a mechanical phone. You can make calls, even video calls, anywhere in the world as long as there's a signal base station. And there's more—computers, the internet..."

"No more putting things under the rug for anyone."

Buggy's voice trailed off as he realized the sheer scope of what he was asking Vegapunk to help create. It was a new world of possibilities, but first, they needed to survive the war that was coming for them.

The more Vegapunk listened, the brighter his eyes grew. His excitement was palpable as he immediately gave the order:

"Good! Move, move now! Evacuate Egg Head Island and relocate everyone to Onigashima! Leave behind an empty shell of an island for the fight!"

His eyes glinted with determination. "Even if it's completely destroyed, I won't feel a thing!"

Buggy smiled, satisfied with Vegapunk's response. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

The workshops on Egghead Island were a goldmine of scientific potential. If they could be relocated to Onigashima, Crimson Empire's technological advancements would no longer be a concern. No more holding back. Buggy realized just how desperate Vegapunk was to make this happen, but he also understood that Vegapunk wasn't just acting out of fear—he was hooked on the idea of the future Buggy was proposing.

Phones, computers, the Internet—concepts that were too alluring for someone like Vegapunk to ignore. They weren't just ideas; they were the promise of a new world.

Vegapunk's smart brain quickly weighed the pros and cons. No doubt, his own life and the future he could build were far more valuable than anything else.

Buggy then sent Gabban and Kumodori to Egg Head Island to assist. With their help, moving the equipment—or even the entire island—was no problem. The only reason Buggy didn't want to relocate the entire island was because of its significance as bait for the World Government and Marines. Egg Point Island was valuable as a target, and Buggy knew it. Still, he considered it. After all, land was a precious resource.

But, with the possibility that Egghead Island might become the burial ground for one of the Five Elders, he gritted his teeth and suppressed the impulse. He could endure it—for now. After all, the Five Elders deserved at least a modicum of respect.

Plue,plue,plue.

Just as Buggy was gleefully barking orders at Gabban and Kumadori, his den den mushi rang again.

The weak voice that came through the receiver made his smile falter, replaced by a cold, menacing expression.

"Robin, are you hurt?" His voice was icy. "Who did this?"

Gabban and Kumadori froze mid-motion, turning to face their captain. They could feel the wave of anger and terror emanating from Buggy.

The captain was furious. In the entire new world. Who dared to provoke him?

---

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