Chapter 13: Prison Break
Loguetown Marine Branch Prison
The Buggy Pirates crew had been locked up for a day. In this prison, there were also some miscreants without bounties. In short, each one was as weak as a newbie, not qualifying for imprisonment in Impel Down.
Mohji stroked the head of Richie the lion beside him, comforting his once again terrified battle companion. The lion had been scared out of its wits by Marine Smoker and had been hiding in a corner, trembling, ever since they arrived. It didn't look like a beast at all, even becoming timid during mealtimes.
"Captain, when are we getting out of here? This kid is about to reach his limit."
"Haven't you noticed a problem? Why are there fewer and fewer soldiers patrolling this prison? It's so strange," Cabaji, whose unicycle had been confiscated, could only count people to pass the time.
"I'm starving! Damn Marines, I want a feast!" Alvida had become slim and beautiful after eating the Smooth-Smooth Fruit, but her strength and appetite hadn't changed. If she didn't eat several meals a day, she felt awful all over. Her appetite alone was equivalent to that of three adult men.
"Captain, there are no outsiders here, you don't have to pretend anymore. We are all your most loyal subordinates."
"Please, you must lead us! Even if we go to Impel Down, we'll go together!"
The highly revered captain of this pirate crew could only lean against the wall, unable to move. Buggy the Clown had a Seastone collar around his neck, and his hands and feet were shackled in place with Seastone handcuffs.
Although the Seastone on Buggy wasn't of high purity, it had already tormented him to the point of complete weakness. His entire body remained in a debilitated state; even moving a finger was an effort.
"Men, don't panic! I will lead you out of this prison! These little things can't hold me!" Even at a time like this, he had to put on a brave front, not letting his crew see his weakness.
If Buggy the Clown were to say who he hated most right now, the first choice would be Red-Haired Shanks, who made him eat the Devil Fruit and become unable to swim. The second would be the person behind the Sky Screen. These two parties had completely ruined his life.
He knew his own capabilities very well. He didn't even know the three types of Haki and could only bully minor pirates in the East Blue. On the Grand Line, probably any Devil Fruit user could effortlessly beat him to a pulp. His original plan to quietly search for treasure had become a complete pipe dream thanks to the Sky Screen's hype.
Buggy was also looking for an opportunity. He definitely didn't want to be locked up in Impel Down; that was hell for pirates. Apart from the great pirate Golden Lion Shiki, who escaped by cutting off his own legs, no other pirate had ever successfully broken out from the beginning.
"There really are no Marines in the prison! Our chance has come!" Buggy the Clown managed to raise his right hand and fumbled through his hair, finally pulling out a piece of wire, which he threw to Mohji, the best lockpicker among them.
"As expected of the captain! You actually managed to hide something and bring it in!" Mohji caught the wire and began trying to pick the lock of the prison cell in front of him.
Perhaps because the prison was somewhat old and in disrepair, Mohji managed to pick the cell door open in less than 5 minutes. "Haha, too easy! I really admire myself."
Seeing someone successfully pick a lock, the inmates in other cells started clamoring, "Brother, give me a hand! I'll join your pirate crew!"
"I've been a navigator! Get me on your ship, I beg you!"
"Don't leave me behind! I've been a helmsman!"
Mohji ignored these people for now and first freed his own Buggy Pirates members. The regular members' handcuffs weren't Seastone, so they could be unlocked with a little time. But when it came to the captain and Alvida, his lockpicking skills were useless.
"Captain, these are Seastone handcuffs, I can't pick them. We need to find the keys from the Marines. I can't help you," Mohji concluded after struggling beside Buggy the Clown for a long time.
"Just as I thought. Don't worry about me. Mohji, go help unlock the others first. The criminals in this prison can all become my subordinates! Our Buggy Pirates are going to expand!" For Buggy the Clown, the more subordinates the better; he didn't care about their skill level. As long as they were living people, they could bolster his numbers.
Receiving the captain's new orders, Mohji went to open the other cell doors. They were preparing for a major riot in the prison to let the East Blue Marines know how formidable Buggy the Clown was.
There were no handy weapons in the prison; they could only grab some mop handles for courage. If they really had to face the Marines' firearms, these new recruits would need to charge forward and take the bullets so that the Buggy Pirates could survive.
The beast tamer Mohji was very efficient. In about an hour, he had picked all the non-Seastone handcuffs and cell doors. With his lockpicking skills, if he had eaten the Wax-Wax Fruit, there would be no lock in the world he couldn't open.
The main prison gate opened from the outside; only by picking this gate could they leave the prison. At this moment, Mohji was peeking at the lookout window, observing the situation at the Marine branch outside. Not only were there no Marines standing guard or patrolling outside the jail, but there wasn't even a single warship to be seen on the sea.
"Captain, it seems like all the Marines have run away!" He stated an absurd conclusion, but the reality was right before their eyes.
Marines abandoning their own branch base voluntarily was unheard of. The Buggy Pirates had been at sea for so many years, and this was the first time they had encountered such a strange phenomenon.
"They must be afraid of Lord Buggy! Those cowardly Marines!" In the end, these pirates, who had committed all sorts of evil, could only attribute the credit to Buggy.
Lord Buggy on the Sky Screen was so powerful; the East Blue Marines were no match for him at all. The future Marine Admiral Smoker, currently just a Marine Captain, would also have to flee with his tail between his legs. In short, in their hearts, Buggy the Clown was the most formidable pirate.
Soon, things took another turn.
"Several Marine warships are entering the port! They're back?"
Hearing that the Marines were back, everyone fell into disarray. All eyes turned to Buggy the Clown, hoping this strong individual would offer some guidance. Their escape depended entirely on this great man.
Buggy, unable to muster any strength, was already using all his effort just to maintain his usual tone of voice. Seastone was too restrictive for Devil Fruit users; the former was the latter's natural enemy. A weak person like him had no ability to resist.
"Men, don't panic! The Marines don't know we've already broken out. When they come in, give them a surprise! Catch them off guard! I will take action when necessary."
When necessary, he wouldn't have the ability to act either. Buggy the Clown could only make empty promises. Only if these men desperately managed to snatch the handcuff keys would he regain his Devil Fruit powers and have a fighting chance against low-ranking Marines.
However, the Marines arriving this time were no small fry. They were elite soldiers from Marine Headquarters, with Admiral Akainu personally leading them. This Marine, who believed in Absolute Justice, would give this group of trashy scumbags a "little" shock...