One Piece: Trainer of Kings

Buggy the Clown, a man whose reputation teetered precariously between comedy and fortune, was one of the sea's greatest enigmas.

A former crewmate aboard the legendary Pirate King Roger's ship, he possessed neither the raw talent nor the unwavering courage that defined his fellow apprentice, Akira-Haired Shanks. The Devil's Fruit that had given him his signature ability had also robbed him of his most cherished skill, which was to swim beneath the waves like a fish born to the sea. Roger's execution, Shanks' perceived betrayal, and a cascade of personal disappointments had shaped his path in ways few could understand.

These accumulated failures had led Buggy the Clown, now a middle-aged man carrying the weight of unfulfilled dreams, to retreat from the unforgiving waters of the Grand Line to the comparatively peaceful East Blue, where he could play at being a pirate without facing the monsters that ruled the New World.

But...

The lack of overwhelming power didn't make Buggy worthless, far from it.

Though Akira's knowledge of One Piece's later developments remained frustratingly incomplete, he vividly remembered certain moments from analysis videos he'd watched in his previous life. Images of Buggy being trampled by Crocodile, yet still boldly declaring his intention to compete for the title of Pirate King, had left an indelible impression on his mind.

Despite all evidence to the contrary, that scene had stirred something deep in Akira's strategic heart.

In many ways, Buggy had an aura that rivaled even Luffy's inexplicable magnetism. The man had somehow managed to rise through sheer persistence and astronomical luck, eventually stumbling into the ranks of the Four Emperors without really intending to reach such heights.

This kind of luck was beyond anything ordinary people could comprehend or replicate.

A great philosopher once said: "Unite all forces that can be united."

Akira believed in this principle with all his heart.

For a uniquely valuable asset like Buggy, whose potential remained largely untapped despite his impressive pedigree, he preferred to secure such resources under his own influence rather than leave them to chance encounters.

After all, the clown was more than just comic relief in any deck of cards. When the stakes were highest and victory was on the line, the Joker often proved to be the trump card that made all the difference.

"Kid, tell me straight, what kind of cooperation are you hoping to discuss here?"

Deep within the Buggy Pirates' stronghold, after dismissing a crowd of mindlessly enthusiastic subordinates who'd been celebrating their captain's newly revealed connections, Buggy settled into his ornate throne with his most trusted lieutenants flanking him on either side. Mohji and Cabaji, the animal tamer and acrobat, respectively, had positioned themselves according to their usual protocol as he addressed the young intruder below.

In truth, both Mohji and Cabaji, being far more perceptive than their captain's typical crew members, had immediately recognized the dangerous aura emanating from Akira. Their survival instincts screamed warnings against attending this meeting at all.

Unfortunately, Buggy's absolute authority over his crew left them no choice but to stay and witness the negotiations.

Opposite Buggy's elevated position was an elaborately decorated table, perfectly in keeping with the pirate crew's theatrical aesthetic. Its surface was covered with an array of tropical fruits, roasted meats, and a ceramic jug of fine sake, all arranged with the care typically reserved for honored guests.

Akira took the central seat at this makeshift negotiating table, clearly enjoying the VIP treatment he had somehow secured for himself. Zoro and Nami sat to his left and right, respectively, reflecting the positioning of Mohji and Cabaji as his trusted advisors.

As for the actual captain of the Straw Hat Pirates?

Luffy had completely abandoned any pretense of diplomatic formality. At this very moment, he was outside, mingling enthusiastically with the Buggy Pirates' rank and file, thoroughly enjoying their impromptu celebration of "Captain Buggy's connection to the Pirate King". Judging by the raucous laughter echoing from the courtyard, he had probably already begun his signature party trick of sticking chopsticks up his nose for everyone's amusement.

"Don't be so formal, Buggy-senpai," Akira replied with a disarming smile, raising the sake cup in front of him in a gesture of respect before taking a measured sip.

His tone became more serious as he continued with the proper introductions: "You can call me Akira, that's my real name. The two people next to me are Roronoa Zoro and Nami. As for the energetic fool currently entertaining your crew..."

His expression changed slightly, carrying a hint of affectionate annoyance as he sighed: "Though I'd rather not admit it, that rubber-brained idiot happens to be our captain. His name is Monkey D. Luffy."

"D?!" Buggy's entire demeanor sharpened instantly, his painted features focusing with laser intensity as he grasped the meaning of that single letter.

His service aboard Roger's ship had given him knowledge beyond that of many New World veterans. The implications of this particular bloodline were not lost on someone with his background.

Anticipating this reaction, Akira allowed his grin to widen as he delivered his next revelation with calculated precision:

"That's absolutely true, Buggy-senpai."

"Luffy shares the same heritage as pirate king Gol D. Roger, he belongs to the D Clan, those whom history itself has called the 'Natural Enemies of God.'"

His voice dropped to a more conspiratorial tone as he leaned forward slightly: "I believe someone with your distinguished experience aboard Roger's crew would understand the true value of this information better than most."

"Crystal clear," Buggy acknowledged, his eyes flickering with memories of conversations he'd overheard during his time on the Oro Jackson.

But his expression quickly changed to one of dismissive skepticism as he waved a gloved hand through the air: "But having D blood doesn't automatically make someone special, kid."

"Throughout history, countless members of the D Clan have sailed these seas. If you think a simple name and bloodline is enough to shake the foundations of the world..."

His voice hardened with the cynicism born of experience: "Then you're much more naive than I first thought."

"You're absolutely right," Akira conceded without argument, his calm agreement clearly surprising the clown captain.

But then his smile turned predatory as he prepared to drop his real bombshell: "Anyway, Buggy-senpai, what would you say if I told you that Shanks didn't claim the title of Pirate King because he's waiting for Luffy to show up?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

"What... did you just say?" Buggy's voice was barely more than a whisper.

Several seconds passed before the full impact washed over him like a tsunami. His head suddenly separated from his shoulders with a sharp pop and flew directly at Akira, his signature red nose leading the charge.

"Kid, you better know what you're talking about!" he growled, his disembodied head hovering inches from Akira's face.

"Don't think you can manipulate me just because you have some kind of Devil Fruit power!"

His gloved hands detached from his wrists and shot forward to grab Akira's collar with surprising force, clearly prepared to escalate the conversation into violence if necessary.

Certain topics, it seemed, were enough to make Buggy overcome his instinctive fear and act decisively.

But Akira simply pushed the floating head away with obvious disgust, his expression remaining annoyingly calm despite the dramatic confrontation. "Of course I know exactly what I'm saying, Buggy-senpai."

"After all," he continued with unshakable confidence, "I came here in all sincerity to invite you and your entire pirate crew to join the Straw Hat Pirates as valued allies."

"Hey! Kid! Don't push your luck!" Even while being held at arm's length by Akira's firm grip, Buggy managed to spit out his words with venomous indignation.

"You want me to join your pathetic little start-up pirate crew?"

His voice rose to a near-scream, "That is absolutely impossible!"

Buggy's refusal was immediate and absolute, delivered with the kind of fury that left no room for negotiation. Only his genuine curiosity about Akira's earlier demands prevented him from acting on his violent impulses.

However, in the face of such an uncompromising refusal, Akira simply maintained his serene smile: "Nothing is impossible, Buggy-senpai."

His voice took on a softer, more knowing quality as he continued: "Remember the day Roger was executed? The moment you and Shanks went your separate ways forever?"

The change in Akira's tone made the temperature in the room seem to drop several degrees.

"Don't you want to understand why Shanks suddenly changed so dramatically? Why he disappointed you so completely after everything you shared?"

"You..." Buggy's head turned to face Akira directly, his painted features showing shock that bordered on horror.

"How could you know about this?" His voice trembled with a mixture of disbelief and growing unease.

Akira's smile never wavered as he answered: "Of course I know."

"After all..." He slowly raised a hand and tapped the corner of his eye twice with his index finger, the gesture somehow carrying an air of mysterious authority.

"I have a pair of eyes that can see both the past and the future."

Silence stretched between them like a taut wire ready to snap.

Buggy stared intently into Akira's dark eyes, searching for any hint of deception before finally asking: "Is that... some kind of Devil Fruit ability? Or something else entirely?"

In the pirate world, phenomena that defied logical explanation were surprisingly common. Some powers were derived from Devil Fruits, while others seemed to be natural gifts possessed by certain extraordinary individuals.

The concept of someone being able to see across time wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility, even if it was extremely rare.

Instead of giving a direct answer, Akira simply lifted his lips in that enigmatic smile: "You could understand it that way, certainly."

"Regardless of the specific mechanism, Buggy-senpai, I know a great deal about Roger, about Shanks... and most importantly, about you."

His eyes gleamed with hidden knowledge as he delivered his final hook: "Would you... like to hear what I've seen?"

Buggy's expression went through several conflicting emotions before his head suddenly flew back and landed on his body with a soft thud.

The confidence radiating from this young man was so absolute, so unshakable, that Buggy found himself believing the claims despite their impossible nature. And if Akira truly possessed knowledge of Shanks and their shared history...

There were secrets from his past that had haunted him for decades, questions that kept him awake on quiet nights when the weight of his failures pressed down on him like a physical burden.

"Fine," he said finally, crossing his arms with deliberate skepticism. "Let's see what kind of story you can spin."

Akira's grin widened with obvious satisfaction as he leaned back in his chair: "Buggy-senpai, I know you've always resented Shanks for causing you to accidentally consume the Devil Fruit and lose your treasure map."

"But the truth is..." His voice grew more serious as he continued: "The real reason you hate him goes much deeper than that, doesn't it?"

"You saw him, the one chosen and loved by Captain Roger, give up his chance to compete for the title of Pirate King. You felt betrayed by his apparent cowardice, disappointed by what seemed like the ultimate abandonment of everything you'd both believed in."

"Hmph!" Buggy's noncommittal grunt neither confirmed nor denied the accusation, but his body language spoke volumes about how accurately those words had hit home.

The visible tension in his shoulders and the way his jaw clenched revealed that Akira had touched on something incredibly personal and painful.

At the same time, this accuracy made Buggy more inclined to believe in Akira's supposed prophetic abilities. After all, Shanks would never have revealed such intimate details to outsiders, and no one else had been present during their last argument.

But then Akira's next words hit him like a physical blow, making his heart race as if invisible hands were squeezing it in a crushing grip:

"However, Buggy-senpai, you never learned the truth behind Shanks' decision..."

"The real reason he gave up his ambitions was because he was following Captain Roger's explicit instructions, wasn't it?"

"WHAT?!" Buggy shot up so violently that his chair toppled backward with a crash, his hands gripping the edge of the table so tightly that his knuckles turned white beneath his gloves.

The revelation struck him like a bolt of lightning, illuminating connections he'd never considered and casting his entire understanding of the past in a radically different light.

But Akira wasn't done dismantling his worldview: "Gol D. Roger, the pirate king who ignited the Great Pirate Era with his last words, understood something crucial that most people never realized..."

His voice carried the weight of absolute conviction as he continued: "This world does not need another pirate king."

"That is why he entrusted Shanks with his true mission before his execution, a responsibility so heavy that it has shaped every decision the redhead has made since."

Akira's eyes burned with intensity as he delivered the final piece of the puzzle: "It is because of this burden that Shanks has spent all these years doing what you called 'playing pirate,' protecting the weak, keeping his balance, and patiently waiting for the right moment."

"But here's what you never understood, Buggy-senpai..."

He leaned forward, his gaze boring into Buggy's shocked face as he spoke with quiet certainty, "Shanks has been waiting for an opportunity that will finally allow him to fulfill Roger's dying wish..."

"The chance to completely overthrow the world government and end the tyrannical rule of the Celestial Dragons once and for all!"

The words hung in the air like a declaration of war, their implications so staggering that even the hardened pirates in the room seemed to hold their breath. The very foundations of world order trembled at the suggestion that such a revolution might actually be possible.

Buggy stared at Akira with eyes as wide as dinner plates, his mind reeling as decades of resentment and misunderstanding collapsed like a house of cards. If this was true, if Shanks hadn't abandoned their shared dreams, but instead had been carrying out Roger's ultimate plan all along...

Everything he thought he knew about his former friend, about his own choices, about the nature of their world, suddenly required a complete reevaluation.

The silence stretched as each person in the room grappled with the enormity of what had just been revealed, the weight of history and destiny pressing down on them like the depths of the ocean itself.