"The most important thing is this, Buggy..." Rain's tone was calm, almost casual.
"You're too weak. In front of me, you have no ability to oppose me."
"I…"
Buggy's lips trembled. He wanted to shout, You're weak! Your whole family's weak!
But then he remembered the overwhelming Conqueror's Haki Rain had unleashed earlier. His words shriveled in his throat.
Damn it… as much as I hate to admit it, I really can't compare.
The realization stung worse than a knife wound.
"How about it? Want to think it over?" Rain asked with a small smile.
His gaze sharpened, voice gaining weight.
"In this chaotic era… if you don't have strength, even if you build the biggest business in the world, someone stronger will just swoop in and take it.
"You'd just be making a wedding dress for someone else to wear."
"…"
Buggy's expression twisted.
Of course he knew that. He wasn't stupid. He understood better than most, in this world, the strong ruled.
But still…
"You sure you have enough strength to say that?" Buggy finally managed, a sliver of defiance slipping through.
"If it were Captain Roger, fine but you? A no-name brat?"
"I'm thirteen," Rain replied evenly.
"Th-thirteen…?!"
Buggy blinked, stunned. Wait, if he's that young… then maybe
"I have Conqueror's Haki," Rain added, still calm, still unshaken.
Buggy flinched, remembering the suffocating aura. His chest tightened.
"And," Rain continued, his voice lowering slightly,
"I can hear the Voice of All Things."
Buggy froze.
For a moment, silence hung heavy between them.
Then
"B-Boss! When do we start?!"
Buggy snapped into a bow, his face plastered with a sycophantic smile. He scrambled in front of Rain like a loyal lackey, nodding furiously.
The truth was, he didn't even understand what "Voice of All Things" meant. But if Roger had it, and this brat had it… then clearly, it was terrifying.
"Willing now?" Rain asked, his lips curling into a half-smile.
"I was willing from the very beginning!" Buggy insisted, straight-faced.
Mira covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"Hahaha…"
Rain chuckled softly at Buggy's shameless grin but didn't press further. If he truly believed Buggy's sudden loyalty, then he would be the fool.
Still, he didn't mind. They had only just met, it would be ridiculous to expect genuine trust already.
Rain was confident enough that, given time, Buggy would come around for real.
"Boss, I'm curious." Buggy scratched his head, his eyes narrowing.
"What's your relationship with Captain Roger?"
Since he had already agreed to work for this guy, Buggy figured he might as well get some answers.
"You mean this blade?"
Rain raised the long sword in his hand Ace, Roger's saber.
"Yes," Buggy said quickly, his gaze drawn to the familiar weapon. For a moment, memories of the Captain flashed in his mind.
"Roger gave it to me," Rain said evenly. "As… payment."
"Payment?" Buggy blinked, confusion written all over his face.
"It's simple."
Rain didn't hesitate. Seeing Buggy's curiosity, he told him the truth about Roger's child.
"The Captain had a kid!!?"
Buggy's jaw dropped. Disbelief washed over him, but then his expression twisted into something complicated as he looked at Rain.
"…But why would the Captain entrust his child to you? Why not Vice-Captain Rayleigh?"
Even if this brat was strong, surely he wasn't on Rayleigh's level.
"It's simple. Rayleigh's name is too big," Rain replied without missing a beat.
"…That's true."
Buggy fell silent, but he quickly understood.
As one of the Pirate King's crew, Rayleigh was already under constant surveillance by the World Government.
The same went for anyone who had reached Laugh Tale.
If Roger's child had been entrusted to Rayleigh, CP would have sniffed it out almost immediately.
"…Since the Captain trusted you, then I'll follow you too, Boss."
Buggy clenched his fists, speaking with uncharacteristic seriousness.
In his mind, Roger the man who could hear the Voice of All Things would never misjudge a person.
If he left his child and sword in Rain's care, then this boy must be worthy.
"Trust me, Buggy," Rain said with a calm smile.
"You won't regret it."
Buggy nodded, then tilted his head. "…Wait. By the way, Boss, what's your name again?"
He blinked in embarrassment. After all this time, he realized he didn't even know.
"Rain," he replied simply. Then he gestured to his side.
"And this is Mira."
Buggy nodded quickly, committing the names to memory.
Once they had gotten acquainted, Buggy completely let himself go.
In no time at all, he was waving his arms, pacing in circles, and laying out his "business empire" plans with the confidence of a man who thought he was destined for greatness.
"In short, we'll get bigger and stronger, and create true glory!"
He jabbed a finger dramatically into the air.
"First, we build a fleet! Then we use it to transport rare goods and precious materials across the seas to earn capital!"
"After that, we create our own channels, set up trade routes, establish chambers of commerce, dominate logistics until the whole world is within our business scope!"
Buggy's eyes gleamed as he spoke, saliva practically flying as he painted his vision of a global monopoly.
Rain, watching him rant, couldn't stop the corner of his mouth from twitching.
This guy…
But he had to admit when it came to business, Buggy's talent was real.
"There's nothing wrong with the plan," Rain thought, folding his arms.
"The only missing pieces are force and luck."
And those were exactly the things he could provide.
As for luck? Well, seriously was there anyone alive luckier than Buggy the Clown?
Absolutely not.
"Rain" Mira sidled closer, tugging on his sleeve as she eyed Buggy skeptically.
"Is this clown-looking guy really reliable?"
Her brow furrowed. Something about the red-nosed man gave her the same feeling as an unstable firecracker.
"WHO are you calling a clown?!"
Buggy's eyes bulged as he whipped around, his face flushing crimson.
"Listen here! Red nose or not, don't you dare lump me in with clowns!"
His voice cracked with rage, spittle flying.
That red nose… it was his eternal taboo.
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