For the sake of safety, all Marines who couldn't use Haki were ordered to withdraw.
However, as the strongest officer stationed at the Loguetown branch, Smoker chose to remain. He even ordered his subordinate, Tashigi, to leave. No matter what the "heavenly screen" claimed, he still refused to believe that Buggy the Clown was truly that powerful.
"So—you're Smoker. Interested in becoming my subordinate?"
Faced with an invitation from Admiral Sakazuki, Smoker remained unmoved.
Both of them were Logia-type Devil Fruit users, and their views on justice were not entirely different. In theory, they could have worked well together.
But Sakazuki had his own calculations.
Taking in a future admiral like Smoker was an investment—one that would strengthen his own faction within the Marines and balance the influence of the other admirals.
"Thank you for the offer," Smoker replied calmly, "but I have my own path. Once I deal with Buggy, I'll go after Straw Hat Luffy. I can't allow him to grow unchecked."
Smoker had always gone his own way.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been stationed in a quiet place like the East Blue.
And he certainly had no intention of gaining a "boss" above his head.
"I respect your decision."
Sakazuki didn't press further. Everyone had their own ambitions.
Still, Smoker had another concern.
"Admiral… will Buggy be sent to Impel Down?"
"No need for that trouble," Sakazuki replied coldly. "This place will be his grave."
He didn't understand why Buggy would want to go to Impel Down in the first place.
If he could eliminate him here in Loguetown, that would settle everything. No matter what schemes were involved—absolute power would crush them all.
Once the Marine headquarters forces fully landed in Loguetown, the news spread instantly.
The outside world quickly caught wind of it.
At the headquarters of the World Economy News Paper, President Morgans received a call via Den Den Mushi from a reporter stationed in Loguetown, detailing the latest developments.
"I didn't expect the Marines to take this so seriously—they've actually dispatched Admiral Sakazuki. This is huge news!"
Morgans, obsessed with headlines, was the undisputed king of journalism in the pirate world.
But publishing newspapers was no longer enough for him.
He wanted more.
A live broadcast.
He wanted the entire world to witness this battle in real time.
"President, if we do this, the Marines and the World Government will come after us again…"
"I'm not afraid—so why should you be?" Morgans' eyes gleamed. "If anyone gets blamed, it'll be me. This time, we're making a big story!"
Inspired by his boldness, his subordinates followed suit.
After all, this wasn't their first time doing something like this.
Now it was just a matter of how much of the signal the Marines could block.
Soon—
on islands wealthy enough to afford live broadcast screens—
the news spread like wildfire.
The Marines had sent an admiral to surround Buggy.
Curiosity ignited across the world.
The Four Emperors Take Notice
Even the Four Emperors of the New World received the news.
They, too, turned their attention to the broadcast.
Was Buggy truly as powerful as the "heavenly screen" claimed?
Or was it all just exaggerated nonsense?
Onigashima – Beasts Pirates Territory
At Onigashima, stronghold of the Beasts Pirates:
Kaido had, for once, released his child Yamato from confinement.
"An admiral taking action is a rare sight. Watch closely—see the gap between you and them. Everything I've done all these years was for your sake."
"Hmph. One day I'll defeat you and leave!" Yamato shot back.
Father and child sat side by side, eyes fixed on the broadcast screen.
Behind them, the Beasts Pirates watched in anticipation.
What would this battle become?
Whole Cake Island – Big Mom Pirates Territory
On Whole Cake Island, Charlotte Linlin stuffed cake into her mouth while watching the broadcast.
If Buggy truly possessed the strength shown on the "heavenly screen"—
making him her husband wouldn't be a bad idea.
"I wonder how he'll fare against an admiral… I'm actually looking forward to this."
Nearby, Charlotte Katakuri was more focused on something else—
Devil Fruit awakening… and what lay beyond it.
If he wanted to protect his family,
he needed to become even stronger.
A Meeting of Legends
Elsewhere—
Shanks and Edward Newgate were drinking together.
Their discussion about Ace had been tense,
but when the topic shifted to Buggy—
the mood lightened.
"I remember that brat," Whitebeard laughed. "He once wanted to dye my white beard red. I still don't know where he got the nerve."
"I haven't seen Buggy in over twenty years," Shanks said with a sigh. "When I returned to the East Blue, I couldn't find him. He's been avoiding me."
Since their captain's execution, the two had gone their separate ways on that stormy night.
Fate had been cruel.
"Good thing Morgans isn't afraid of death," someone remarked. "We even get a live broadcast."
Soon—
the screen lit up.
The image of Admiral Sakazuki appeared clearly.
The more intense the battle became,
the livelier the banquet grew.
They all hoped—
Buggy could last a little longer.
At the very least—
he shouldn't disgrace the legacy of the Pirate King.
Marine Headquarters – Marineford
At Marineford, Fleet Admiral Sengoku was furious.
"Are you all useless?! Cut off that broadcast immediately! Find every Den Den Mushi transmitting it! That damned Morgans is causing trouble again!"
Beside him, Vice Admiral Tsuru frowned.
"That bird is impossible to track. Even the World Government can't find him. His newspaper should've been shut down long ago."
Nearby, Monkey D. Garp casually munched on snacks—clearly Sengoku's personal stash.
"Why not have Sakazuki just kill Buggy?"
Sengoku shook his head.
"The 'heavenly screen' said Buggy wants to meet someone in Impel Down—but didn't say why. We can't let him enter that place."
Impel Down wasn't just a prison.
It was a way to delay the reappearance of Devil Fruits.
If fewer users existed on the seas, the Marines would have more breathing room.
But Buggy was different.
Confirmed by intelligence—
he had once been a crew member of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger.
Most of Roger's crew had vanished into obscurity.
Only Shanks remained active.
Now—
another had resurfaced.
That alone was enough to alarm both the World Government and the Marines.
The balance of the Four Emperors was already fragile.
If another force rose—
no one could predict how chaotic the world would become…