Just as the clouds of war loomed thick over the front line,
the group who had broken out of Impel Down was also slowly approaching Marineford. The Marines contacted that warship.
"You're the main culprits of the Impel Down breakout, right? Straw Hat Luffy, and the clown Buggy."
"Me???"
Buggy froze for a moment when he heard his own name.
The many underlings all whispered in shock.
"What?! Captain Buggy actually surpassed the Shichibukai and is officially recognized by Marine Headquarters as the main culprit!!!"
"What kind of big shot are you exactly!!!"
Buggy himself had this very same question. His eyes were full of tears from being targeted by the Marines.
"Yeah, why me???"
But the Marine officer speaking on the line sounded extremely certain. He ordered his subordinates to bring him the intel file.
"We originally underestimated you as a nameless pirate, Clown Buggy. We didn't expect you to be a former crew member of Pirate King Roger's ship."
"How do you know that?!!!"
Buggy's eyes bulged; even his snot was scared out.
He never wanted to reveal his identity, fearing being targeted—yet he was exposed anyway.
But the underlings were boiling over with excitement.
"Eh!!! That ship once belonged to Pirate King Roger, and was later passed on to the 'Black Gun'—the Oro Jackson!!!"
"A superstar of the pirate world!!!"
The Marine officer continued speaking in a tone as if he saw through everything.
"And also, you and Yonko Red-Haired Shanks are sworn brothers, and you're known to be the close friend of the man who once suppressed an entire era at sea—the 'Black Gun'… Orin-sama. We've confirmed this as well."
"Nani?!!!"
The underlings were completely exploding.
"A man like you managed to stay low-profile until now. Have you finally revealed your strength and ambition?"
Buggy's snot kept pouring, dripping along his big red lips.
"No… that…"
At this moment, even Luffy remembered something.
"Speaking of which… Rayleigh also mentioned your name before."
Buggy felt nostalgic at that name.
"Nani? You met Rayleigh? I really miss him, the former vice-captain."
The pirates were already shocked into silence.
Pirate King Roger… Yonko Shanks… "Black Gun" Orin… Dark King Rayleigh…
One name after another, each like a legend shaking their souls.
"You were actually once a crew member of the Pirate King!! A close friend of Orin-sama, the pinnacle of pirate combat power!!!"
"You really are an incredible great pirate!!!"
Only those who were familiar with Buggy barely managed to stay calm.
"A guy like him… actually Orin-sama's…"
Jinbe could not understand.
"Seems every ship has its stains."
Ivankov also complained.
"But he's clearly so weak. Is this true, Boss?"
Mr.1 expressed doubt and turned to Crocodile to ask,
"That despicable Buggy—was he really a close friend of that man?!!!"
Daz Bones also looked at Crocodile, his mouth open in disbelief.
After all, their Boss herself was once one of the companions at Orin-sama's side.
Hearing the two ask, countless prisoners also turned to Crocodile.
"…"
Crocodile just bit her cigar, showing an expression of mixed annoyance and helplessness.
After a long silence, she frowned and answered:
"That's right."
Such a light answer, yet it was like igniting an explosion.
The entire warship fell into a strange, silent shock.
The most shocked of all was Mr.3—Galdino—who had been fleeing together with Buggy this whole time. His eyes bulged so hard they shattered his glasses, his mouth stuck wide open.
"Ka-ka-ka… what kind of joke is this… Buggy, you actually really…"
As for the prisoners—after getting Crocodile's confirmation, it was as if they all started floating away together.
Their worship toward Buggy was breaking through the heavens.
At this moment, even if Buggy led them to take Whitebeard's head, they would not hesitate at all.
"…"
Seeing all this, Buggy at first felt despair—but after all, he was Buggy the God. His mindset instantly flipped.
Standing before countless prisoners, arms folded, acting like a master strategist,
"That's right. This time, I came precisely to take Whitebeard's head. Follow me and let's realize our dreams, my underlings!!!"
A perfect chance to raise his value—
Buggy looked at the cheering underlings, secretly plotting.
If I play this right, I could take Whitebeard's head…
And then transform into—a Yonko!!!
Of course, there was another reason.
It just so happened that Orin seemed to be there too~
…
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The chaotic battle had already begun.
"You came pretty early~"
Within his massive Observation Haki range, a warship was flying toward Marineford.
But Orin's attention was focused elsewhere.
"Hey, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, looks like there are deserters over there~"
Pointing at the spot where Coby and Helmeppo were returning from the rear, Orin chuckled.
Sengoku had been focused on the battlefield. Hearing Orin's comment, he looked over.
"This…"
Sengoku broke into a cold sweat. This was way too embarrassing.
Fortunately, Orin didn't press him. He looked instead toward the distant battlefield.
"Interesting people have arrived."
From the sky descended the warship—Impel Down escapees officially entering the field.
"Ahhh!!! We're gonna die!!!"
"It's all ice down there!!!"
Buggy flailed wildly in midair—then suddenly felt his body become lighter, his fall slowing down.
This felt extremely strange. Looking around, he soon found a familiar figure.
"Orin!!!"
"Yo, Buggy."
Once everyone landed,
Crocodile was the first to look toward Orin and the others.
Seeing Orin seated below the execution platform, she hesitated.
She originally intended to strike at the Marines, yet she also had a grudge against Whitebeard.
Now she didn't even know whom to fight.
Fortunately, Orin spoke up. Resting his chin on one hand, a faint smile on his lips—
"So you came too. This game is getting more and more interesting~"
"Game?"
Crocodile paused for a moment. Thinking of Orin's personality, she then curled her cigar-holding lips.
"Well… a man like you could never have something like a… traditional stance~"
Meeting her gaze, under the terrified eyes of everyone around—the man who had been sitting on the throne slowly rose to his feet.
Seeing this, Doflamingo couldn't help laughing. Wearing his feathered coat, he danced joyfully.
Both Marines and pirates were being controlled by him like puppets.
"Fufufufufu… hahahahaha!!!"
"That's how it is!!! Marines are justice, pirates are evil?"
"Kids who know nothing of peace or war all think differently. Only someone whose true strength stands at the very peak—someone so strong he brings despair like a king—can define good and evil."
His gaze locked onto the black figure slowly standing up, his body trembling with excitement.
"Justice will prevail—that's only natural."
"Only Orin is justice!!!"