The most important moment came when Leo turned his head to check on the situation.
Nami, pretending to look flustered, stuck out her tongue in mock embarrassment. In one swift motion, she stomped on the nautical chart Buggy had been holding, crushed it underfoot, and snatched it away before dashing off like a startled cat.
After pulling off the heist, she suddenly recalled something, and her expression changed. Without waiting another second, she quickly vanished into the nearby alleyways of the town.
"Damn you guys! I'm going to make you all pay!" Buggy, who had been lying battered on the ground, finally calmed down and tried to sit up. His face twitched in pain and fury as he struggled to get to his feet.
No man could remain composed after suffering such humiliation—not from a defeat in combat, but from being outwitted and robbed so thoroughly.
The dagger in his hand floated in the air ominously, spinning slowly, as he stared at Luffy with a dark expression filled with hatred and disbelief. His patience had run dry. Buggy the Clown was done playing games. His pride, his treasure, and his reputation—everything had been stomped on.
From the look in his eyes, it was clear—he was finally taking this seriously.
Although in the original timeline Luffy had sent Buggy flying, Leo could tell it might have been because Buggy had recognized Luffy's connection to Shanks and didn't want to escalate things. It was very likely Buggy had just been toying with him at the time. But this time, the fury looked real.
"Ahhh! How dare you damage my hat!"
Before Buggy or Leo could act, Luffy suddenly lost control. His voice erupted with pure rage. The straw hat had been slightly torn in the fray, and to Luffy, that hat was more sacred than treasure. It was the keepsake Shanks had entrusted to him—the symbol of his dream.
"Gomu Gomu no... Rocket Launcher!"
Bang!
A powerful burst of force exploded in the air. It was a clean, direct hit aimed at Buggy. However, in the split second before impact, Buggy hesitated. His hand trembled, and something in his expression softened.
Regardless of whether Luffy was Garp's grandson or bore the same wide, foolish grin as that red-haired man Buggy once sailed with, he couldn't bring himself to truly attack.
So, he made his choice.
Buggy allowed himself to be hit, exaggerating his reaction. He flew through the air in dramatic fashion, arms and legs flailing, like a human cannonball shot from the world's angriest circus.
At that exact moment, Leo canceled his magic spell.
The balloon that Buggy had been unknowingly holding—an enchanted decoy all along—flashed brightly, glowing with a white-hot intensity, and then exploded with tremendous force.
Boom!
"Leo, you bastard! You tricked me!!"
Buggy's voice echoed throughout East Blue before scattering into the wind, just like his limbs. Pieces of him flew in all directions.
"Captain Buggy!" someone screamed in panic.
"Run! Captain Buggy has lost too!!"
Buggy's remaining crew, who had been watching in horror from the sidelines, scrambled to their feet. They supported the three other defeated officers and took off at full speed, disappearing down the streets and alleyways of Orange Town like frightened mice.
The Buggy Pirates had been thoroughly defeated.
"Hahaha, I win!!"
Luffy raised his fists to the sky, spinning joyfully in a circle. His smile shone brighter than ever.
With the clown captain gone and his pirates scattering to the winds, peace returned to Orange Town.
Behind the scenes, someone else was celebrating just as much—though in a much quieter and greedier way.
"Hehehe~~"
Nami's eyes sparkled as she crouched beside a large pile of treasure. She was completely entranced. Gold coins, sparkling gems, jewelry, and even a few chests filled with Baileys—more riches than she had ever dreamed of.
Ever since she had crossed paths with Leo, her journey had become both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because she had encountered vast opportunities. A curse because Leo had repeatedly swiped her hard-earned treasures. Sure, he promised to return them one day—double, even—but she had no idea when or if that day would come.
Still, what lay before her now was enormous. Over ten million Baileys at least. Just from the stash left behind by the Buggy Pirates. So this was what famous pirates in East Blue kept with them? It was truly astonishing.
She smiled to herself, already planning.
If she could take Leo and the others to the island known for its shipbuilders, recover the money Leo had taken from her, and add it to this current loot—plus the Baileys Leo had promised her—then maybe, just maybe, she could reach her goal.
A hundred million Baileys.
That was all she needed to buy back her village—Cocoyashi Village. Her home.
The thought made her hands tremble slightly as she stuffed the gold and silver into her bag. She was so happy, she nearly fainted from excitement.
Standing nearby, Leo watched her quietly. He saw the joy on her face and the bag she hugged so tightly to her back, and for once, he didn't interrupt.
He just smiled.
Then, he bent down, picked up the straw hat from the ground, dusted it off gently, and handed it to Luffy.
"Here," Leo said. "And by the way—Nami's collecting treasure over there. Seems like the perfect time to have a party, don't you think?"
Luffy's eyes lit up instantly. "Banquet!"
The very mention of food was enough to spark his energy. His appetite was second only to his dream of becoming the Pirate King.
Zoro, who had been casually leaning against a wall nearby, perked up too. "There better be sake," he muttered, already starting to grin.
Nami, still overwhelmed by her "rich harvest," hugged the stuffed bag tightly. It was heavy, but it was hers—and more importantly, it represented freedom.
Leo, seeing this, couldn't help but teleport next to her with a sly smile and tapped the bag lightly.
"Looks like you've collected over ten million Baileys," he said with a devilish grin.
"!!"
Nami jumped backward in a panic, clutching the bag to her chest and staring at Leo with suspicion and alarm.
"You! What do you want this time?!"
The fear in her voice was real. She hadn't forgotten how Leo had tricked her before. Even though he later helped make a weapon for her—the celestial staff—Nami still didn't trust him fully. That mischievous grin of his always spelled trouble.
Leo raised his hands in surrender, backing away with a helpless shrug.
"I'm not here to steal from you."
"You liar! You're a thief! A sneaky little puppy!" she shouted, cutting him off mid-sentence and leaving no room for argument.
Leo was speechless.
He had actually been about to give her a helpful reminder—but now? Forget it.
Behind them, Luffy and Zoro had quietly snuck up. When they saw the size of the bag Nami carried, their jaws dropped.
That much treasure meant one thing—feast time.
Without a second thought, they snatched the bag and sprinted down the street toward the town's tavern, laughing wildly.
"!!!"
Nami's face turned pale as the weight of her beloved treasure suddenly vanished from her back.
"That's my treasure!! I worked so hard for it!!"
Furious, she whipped out her newly crafted celestial staff and darted after them. She summoned a whirlwind beneath her feet, boosting her speed, but still didn't attack. Her anger was real—but deep down, she couldn't bring herself to seriously hurt them.
"Get back here, you meat-brained thieves!" she screamed.
Luffy turned back mid-sprint, laughing. "We're just getting food, Nami! For the party!"
"Ahhh! Don't spend it all, you idiots!"
The three of them—Luffy, Zoro, and Nami—raced through the town in chaotic joy, their laughter and yelling echoing in every corner.
And behind them, Leo stood for a moment, watching.
For the first time, he felt oddly out of place.
He stood silently as the chaos moved farther away, deep in thought.
But before he could sink too far into his own mind, Nami turned around and yelled at him with that familiar bossy tone.
"Leo! Hurry up and take care of them! I'll pay you! I swear!"
Then Luffy's voice followed: "What are you standing there for, Leo? Come on, let's go! Hahahaha!"
Leo shook his head with amusement. He adjusted his top hat, and instead of teleporting, started running on foot after them.
With Nami's shrill commands, Luffy and Zoro's wild laughter, and the warm sunlight on his back, Leo's face broke into a big, carefree smile.
Indeed, this had been a rich harvest.