Chapter 180 – Buggy the Clown's Prison Break Adventure (Part 3)
"I don't want it!" Buggy rejected Blackbeard's invitation without a second thought. He waved his hand dismissively and sneered:
"Who do you think you are? Trying to recruit me? Get out of the way! Or do you want to fight me right here and now?"
Zheng!
The next instant, a thunderous slash flew from behind Blackbeard, cleaving straight through Buggy and slicing him in half.
"Who's there?!" Buggy—still somehow unharmed—pointed at Blackbeard and roared in outrage:
"Which bastard sneak-attacked me?!"
"Hey, Shiryu, don't act recklessly." Blackbeard looked at Buggy, his expression unusually heavy. "This guy… he's not just any clown. He once sailed on the Pirate King Roger's ship, same as Red-Haired Shanks. If I remember correctly, they were close. We can't afford to start a war with someone like that right now, not before our plans are complete."
"Oh? So that's his background?" sneered the "Corrupt King" Avalo Pizarro. "No wonder Teach tried to recruit him."
"But he doesn't look strong," Shiryu said flatly, sheathing his sword Thunderstorm.
"Never judge by appearances, Shiryu," Blackbeard warned. "And your attack just now… it didn't even hurt him, did it?"
"Tch. Fine, have it your way." Shiryu turned away, expression unreadable.
"Hahaha, zehahaha!" Blackbeard laughed confidently. "Don't worry. My plan is foolproof."
---
"Wh-why are these monsters here?!" Mr. 3 stammered, his legs going weak as he spotted the crew gathered behind Blackbeard.
"3, you know them?" Buggy asked.
"Th-that's the new Warlord of the Sea, 'Blackbeard' Marshall D. Teach, and his crew—the Blackbeard Pirates! Every one of those men are notorious criminals who were locked away on Impel Down's sixth floor!"
"If they're freed, the world will be thrown into chaos!"
"Shichi… Shichibukai?!" Buggy trembled as the words left his mouth. But he had already bluffed too far. If he showed weakness now, they'd surely kill him. So he puffed out his chest and shouted back at Blackbeard:
"Oi! You guys! What's your real aim? Do you really want to fight me here?!"
Zehahaha! Blackbeard grinned.
"Of course not. We aren't enemies yet. And I've got bigger plans than wasting time here. No need for war between us."
With that, he turned and swaggered off with his crew, leaving Buggy and his men behind.
---
"Did you hear that?!"
"Yeah—we all heard it!"
"Even the Warlords and those monsters are wary of our boss!"
"And he used to sail with the Pirate King himself! He's even close friends with a Yonko!"
"Boss Buggy! We'll follow you for life!" ×400 voices roared in unison.
Buggy puffed out his chest, drunk on their worship.
"Hahahaha! What Yonko? What Warlords? They're just kids playing pirate games! Once I'm free, I'll teach them all a lesson they won't forget! Now—boys, who's the boss of this world?!"
"Captain Buggy!!!" ×400+ voices echoed.
Thus, by sheer accident, Buggy managed to stage the ultimate performance of "pretending to be a legend," winning the undying loyalty of a small army of hardened prisoners.
---
When Buggy and his men finally escaped Impel Down, the sea of flames left by Ace had already been extinguished. Meanwhile, Blackbeard was struggling with a different problem:
"Teach… Sanjuan Wolf's too big to board the ship," Lafitte muttered.
"Zehahaha! Forget it. I'll use my ability instead!" Blackbeard spread his hands. The power of the Float-Float Fruit (stolen in this fanfic timeline) lifted the massive giant into the air.
"Let's just ride Wolf directly to Marineford!"
And so the Blackbeard Pirates departed astride the enormous body of Sanjuan Wolf. The only ship they left behind… naturally fell into the hands of Buggy.
"They must've abandoned it out of fear of our boss!"
"Yeah, no doubt about it!"
Buggy's men shouted in awe, further inflating his legend.
---
Aboard the warship, Buggy was already planning his future. "Once we're clear, we'll head out treasure hunting—"
But fate, as always, had other ideas. Not far from Impel Down, they stumbled across a shocking sight.
"Wait… th-that ship!"
"There's no mistaking that flag—it's the Red Force!"
"The flagship of the Red-Haired Pirates!"
"Why would Shanks' ship be here?!"
Buggy froze—until his men cheered.
"Who cares! Our boss is Shanks' best friend!"
---
"Oi, you idiots, think!" Mr. 3 snapped. "Look closely—there's another ship facing them!"
The prisoners squinted, and their faces drained of color.
"That… that's the flag of the Revolutionary Army!!"
Buggy blinked, stunned. "Revolutionary Army?! Why the hell are they confronting Shanks?!"
"How should I know?!" Mr. 3 shrieked. "Aren't you supposed to be his best friend?! Go ask him yourself!!"
Buggy paled instantly.
"Forget it! Nothing good can come of sticking around! Turn the ship around—we're getting out of here!!"
---
Meanwhile, aboard the Red Force, first mate Ben Beckman lowered his telescope.
"Those are the escapees from Impel Down. And their leader… looks like Buggy."
"Buggy?!" Shanks' face softened into a rare smile.
"So he's alive… I really miss him."
Beckman chuckled. "I don't miss that ridiculous red nose of his. Looks like he spotted us too. He turned tail and ran before we could say hello."
Shanks sighed. "That's fine. Now's not the time for reunions."
His gaze hardened as he turned toward the ship across from them—a massive vessel with a dragon-shaped prow. Upon its bow stood a figure draped in a green cloak, staring back at him with cold, unreadable eyes.
"The Revolutionary Army…" Shanks muttered.
"I told them—we came to Marineford to stop this war. But they're blocking our path. Why?"
Beckman narrowed his eyes. "If their mysterious leader himself has come out in person… they're serious. They won't let us through easily."
Shanks fell silent, eyes locked on the cloaked man across the waves.
What was the Revolutionary Army's true aim?
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