Such a terrifying scene!!!
Buggy realized he had still underestimated the cruelty of this war.
A blast of laser exploded not far from him just moments ago, nearly taking his life.
"As expected... I'd better hurry over to Orin's side..."
While Buggy was thinking, a loud snore came from behind him.
"Hey, red nose!!!"
Hearing this, Buggy, still thinking, reacted like a startled animal and turned around to curse,
"Who're you calling red nose, bastard!!!"
"Be careful or I'll kill you, bastard!!"
But when he looked clearly, Buggy nearly wet himself, with snot and tears exploding out.
"Puah..." Whitebeard!!!
"I thought it was someone else. Aren't you like Orin— that little brat from Roger's ship back then?"
"Truly nostalgic. So you're still alive."
Buggy trembled, mouth wide open.
Crap, he got targeted!!!
It's over— they could only run now.
Only the small underlings had bizarre thought processes. To them, being spoken to first by Whitebeard meant recognition of strength and status.
"So amazing..."
"As expected of a legendary figure~"
Buggy was numb.
What the hell are you idiots getting moved for?!!!
But Whitebeard continued speaking,
"Bringing so many prisoners... are you here to take me down?"
"That's right!!!" the underlings answered instantly.
Buggy nearly fainted, staring at them in shock, but the arrow was already on the bow and had to be shot— he could only grit his teeth.
He pointed at Whitebeard and declared boldly,
"Yeah, long time no see. Prepare yourself!!!"
Facing away from the crowd, Buggy was already crying, snot pouring everywhere.
Even arrogance has a limit!!!
"Taking my head is fine, but as pirates we should handle those Marines first. There are so many— even I find them troublesome... Also, if one thinks about who can handle that Orin guy, it's probably only you— his former crewmate who knows him best."
"So? Want to team up first?"
Whitebeard sent a team-up invitation to Buggy.
Buggy froze.
His underlings flushed in excitement,
"Hey hey hey, I mean— just how much does Whitebeard acknowledge your strength, Captain Buggy!!!"
"He even said that only you can handle that 'Black Gun'! Ooohhhh~"
No— he's clearly trying to use their relationship to deal with Orin, right???
"Fighting Marines... this is way too reckless..."
But Buggy was starting to float,
He looked back with a grin,
"Well... no rush, let's go talk to Orin first~"
In the underlings' eyes, Buggy wanting to go 'talk to Orin' meant he had prestige in front of that person.
"After all, in a war, it's Orin who makes the final call~"
Buggy had gotten so arrogant he actually thought he could influence the battlefield.
But before they walked out far,
Crocodile's sandstorm blew them straight into the sky.
On the other side,
Whitebeard smiled.
"It's just a few words. Hopefully I can use this red nose to win over the biggest variable in this war— Orin~"
With Luffy joining the battle, the battlefield shifted instantly.
The pirates now had reinforcements, charging toward the execution platform like they were injected with adrenaline.
"So, you're heading in? Hawk Eyes."
Orin stood before the platform, hands in pockets, sometimes dazed, sometimes looking around idly. When he saw Mihawk stepping forward with his blade, he asked with curiosity.
Mihawk glanced back at Orin and nodded,
"I want to see what kind of spirit the straw hat boy you call the Child of Destiny possesses."
"Is that so~ Then I'll go play a bit later too. A dessert before the main course isn't bad."
Orin spoke with a squinting smile, watching Mihawk head straight for Luffy's path.
But he still wasn't going all out.
"You're... Hawk Eyes!!!"
Luffy's pupils shrank as he remembered the opponent's overwhelming strength.
"After hearing Orin's words, I've come to test you."
Mihawk slowly drew the black blade. Jinbe rushed over to stop him.
"Forgive me, Mihawk, I have no intention of opposing Orin. All of this is to save Ace!!!"
"..."
Mihawk said nothing— one slash knocked Jinbe unconscious into the sea.
Then he went after Luffy, almost like going easy on purpose, slashing repeatedly.
"If this is your level, you're far below the one in Orin's words."
"The next slash— you cannot dodge it!"
Just as Luffy had nowhere left to evade—
Buggy was yanked down by Luffy and slashed in half at the waist.
"Dammit Straw Hat, what are you doing!!!"
Then Luffy threw him out again.
Clang clang clang clang—
Mihawk chopped Buggy into hundreds of pieces.
Buggy, unharmed as always, reassembled and shouted angrily at Mihawk,
"Unforgivable!!! You're supposed to be Orin's man too, right!!!"
"???"
Facing the familiar, unkillable clown before him, Mihawk was momentarily stunned.
"You're Orin's..."
"Since you know my relationship with Orin, show some respect!!!"
But Mihawk couldn't be bothered.
Aside from being Orin's friend, Buggy in front of him didn't spark any interest.
"In terms of bonds with Orin, I'm certainly not inferior to you."
He slapped Buggy away with the flat of his blade and prepared to resume chasing Luffy—
But Vista intercepted him.
One interruption after another made Mihawk thoughtful.
Facing Vista's swordplay, he couldn't help but think—
To have so many people around him, so many who know him, so many strong ones recognizing him—
This destiny-like aura…
Aside from Orin, this was the first time he'd seen someone else with it.
"Interesting…"
Seeing Mihawk also starting to hold back and play sword games with the flower swordsman Vista, Orin finally decided to join the battlefield.
When no one noticed, he stepped lightly— appearing instantly beside Buggy.
One hand caught the Buggy Mihawk had slapped away, the other still holding Seagull King's live-broadcast transponder snail.
"Still as reckless as ever, Buggy. Be careful on the battlefield~"
Dizzy, Buggy opened his eyes. When he saw who it was, he burst into tears and hugged him tightly.
"Orin!!!"
"It's really been so long!!!"
"Hahahaha, indeed~"
Orin patted his shoulder, then smiled and handed him the Seagull King broadcast snail.
"Sorry, I still have things to do. I'm leaving this broadcast snail to you. You are a man I acknowledge. Buggy— go make your name heard across the world!!!"