The next day, Gojo continued sailing on his ship when a News Coo flew past and dropped down with a newspaper. He took it without much surprise. As he expected, the article clearly stated that Arlong had been killed. The report claimed that Arlong was found dead with a sword stab wound to the head.
Based on this, the Marines had come to the conclusion that Arlong had already died at the hands of Gojo Satoru. According to their narrative, Arlong had supposedly escaped with his last breath, only to die midway at sea, where his body was later found by a fisherman and submitted to the Marines to claim the bounty.
The usual story.
Gojo folded the newspaper, set it aside, and closed his eyes, letting the gentle sway of the ship lull him toward sleep.
…
Not too far away—just a few kilometers from Gojo's ship—another vessel drifted across the sea. The ship was far from being in good condition, its hull worn and battered. Still, the emblem of the Buggy Pirates was clearly visible on its sails. The Buggy Pirates' Jolly Roger was boldly painted across the fabric.
On the deck sat a red-nosed man surrounded by his associates. It was none other than Buggy himself. Slamming a fist down, he snarled, "Damn you, Straw Hat! I'll definitely capture him, torture him, and kill him for everything he made me suffer."
Buggy's anger burned hot. Only a few days earlier, he had been defeated by Straw Hat Luffy, and his entire pirate crew had been defeated. The humiliation and rage from that loss still boiled inside him, leaving him seething as his ship drifted onward.
At that moment, Alvida—who had become slim after eating the Slip-Slip Fruit—spoke up. "Why don't we go to Loguetown?" she said to Buggy. "If the Straw Hats want to head to the Grand Line, they'll have to pass through there. We can just go to Loguetown, wait for their arrival, and take our revenge."
The instant Buggy heard this, his expression lit up with excitement. His head separated from his body as he burst into loud laughter. "Ha ha ha! You're absolutely right!" he shouted. "We're going to Loguetown. Change the ship's direction immediately—we're heading there!"
As the crew members of the Buggy Pirates rushed to carry out his order and began adjusting the course, one of the crewmen responsible for scouting suddenly called out, "Captain Buggy! There's a ship in the distance, and it's moving in our direction."
Buggy immediately stood up. "Is it a pirate ship, a noble's vessel, or a merchant ship?" he asked.
"I can't tell," the scout replied. "It looks like a normal ship. I don't see any merchant markings or a pirate Jolly Roger. Nothing at all. There's only one person on the deck, and no one else."
Hearing this, Buggy let out another laugh. "Then what are you waiting for?" he said gleefully. "Attack it. Sink that ship!" He threw his head back and laughed loudly. "Ha ha ha!"
For Buggy, destroying a ship that didn't belong to merchants or nobles was nothing more than amusement. Without hesitation, his crew sprang into action. Cannons were rolled into position and aimed at the approaching vessel. Moments later, everything was ready.
"Fire!" Buggy ordered.
The moment Buggy's command fell, the cannons roared to life. Cannonballs shot through the air—but they missed their target, splashing into the sea just short of the ship. Even so, the thunderous boom, boom echoed across the waters, and the waves churned violently, causing the ship to shake heavily.
After the failed volley, the cannons were quickly recalibrated for another attack. Once again, they fired.
Buggy continued laughing loudly, clearly enjoying himself. Other officers of the Buggy Pirates gathered on the upper deck to watch, eager to see the ship get destroyed.
On the other side, Gojo was jolted awake by the violent shaking and the deafening sound of cannon fire. His eyes snapped open. The sword lying beside him had slid across the deck from the impact, and he immediately grabbed it. His expression darkened.
"Who dares to disturb my sleep?" Gojo said coldly.
Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, he sensed another wave of cannonballs rushing toward his ship. In the next instant, Gojo vanished from where he stood. Moments later, he reappeared on the deck. Calmly, he sheathed his sword.
The instant the blade slid fully into its scabbard, every cannonball approaching the ship exploded mid-air, bursting apart before they could come any closer.
On the Buggy Pirates' ship, the smiles and excited expressions froze solid. Buggy and his crew stared in disbelief, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Then, atop the figurehead of their ship, a young man with white hair and black sunglasses appeared. He looked down at them and said, his voice sharp and unmistakably irritated, "You pieces of shits… you dare disturb my sleep."
The moment they saw the young man clearly, the expressions of Buggy and all his officers froze. They had seen this man before. Buggy stared at him in disbelief and said, "You're Gojo Satoru—the one who destroyed the Krieg Pirates and the Arlong Pirates."
In the very next instant, Gojo appeared right in front of Buggy. His left hand shot out and grabbed Buggy by the neck, squeezing tightly. With his right hand, Gojo unsheathed his sword, the blade pure black as if absorbing all sunlight, ready to strike.
"I asked you," Gojo said coldly, "who gave you the guts to attack my ship?"
Buggy's eyes widened as he struggled for breath. "M-Misunderstanding," he croaked. "It was a misunderstanding!"
Gojo's grip tightened slightly. "A misunderstanding?" he asked. "What kind of misunderstanding? I'd like to hear it."
Buggy's mind raced, searching desperately for an excuse, but nothing came to him. Then, suddenly, Gojo released him and stepped back. "You're Buggy, right?" Gojo asked. "Captain of the Buggy Pirates."
"Yes! Yes, I am!" Buggy replied quickly, rubbing his neck.
"You were on the ship of the Pirate King, weren't you?" Gojo continued.
Buggy nodded frantically. "Yes, I was—but I don't know anyone anymore. I've cut off all my connections."
Gojo looked at him indifferently. "Do you really think I care about your connections?" he said. "Answer one question honestly. If your answer satisfies me, I'll let this whole matter slide and consider it settled. What do you say?"
Buggy swallowed hard. After seeing even a fraction of Gojo's speed and strength, he knew he was no match for him. Fighting was not an option. "Yes, yes," Buggy said hurriedly. "Ask away."
----
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