"Damn it, where do you two think you're going?! You really think I'm scared of you?!"
"Take this—my point-blank Buggy Ball!"
Buggy roared at the backs of Genrou and Nami in rage. He detached his right leg and kicked it toward Genrou's direction.
At the same time, a mini Buggy Ball launched from under his foot, flying straight toward Genrou and Nami.
Nami's eyes widened in shock. She instantly picked up speed and rushed to Genrou's side.
Zoro and Luffy also dashed toward the incoming projectile, each intending to intercept it in their own way.
But Genrou was the fastest.
He merely glanced back at Buggy and the cannonball—immediately, the Golden Deer, still hovering high in the sky, began to move.
A cannon on its deck swiveled sharply and unleashed a blast of golden laser light directly at Buggy—engulfing the Buggy Ball within its path.
In an instant, a deep sense of crisis surged up from within Buggy's soul.
"Damn it—Bara Bara Dai Tōsō!" (Chop-Chop Grand Escape!)
Without hesitation, Buggy activated his fruit ability and scattered his body into pieces, narrowly avoiding the laser strike.
Even so, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread toward the Golden Deer floating in the sky.
"What the hell is that ship? Does it have some laser Devil Fruit user onboard?"
"Hey! Damn it, Genrou—you little—huh?! Where'd he go?!"
Buggy tried to reassemble himself and look around, but neither Genrou nor Nami were anywhere to be seen behind him.
And when he turned again, even the Golden Deer had vanished from the sky.
"What's going on?! How can a ship that big just disappear?!"
Buggy wiped his eyes. If not for the trail of destruction caused by that golden laser, he might've believed the whole thing had been a hallucination.
Before he could think further, Luffy and Zoro—no longer able to wait—unleashed their attacks and charged into Buggy's crew.
"Tsuki no Kokyū – Ni no Kata – Shuka Nōgetsu!"
(Breath of the Moon – Second Form – Pearl Flower Winding Moon!)
"Tsuki no Kokyū – San no Kata – Enki Tsuki – Shōshoku!"
(Breath of the Moon – Third Form – Loathed Moon – Corrosion!)
"Tsuki no Kokyū – Go no Kata – Gappaku Saiha!"
(Breath of the Moon – Fifth Form – Moon Spirit Calamity Maelstrom!)
"Gomu Gomu no… Fāku!" (Rubber Rubber… Fork!)
"Gomu Gomu no… Katana!" (Rubber Rubber… Blade!)
"Gomu Gomu no… 5-Ren Daitetsui!" (Rubber Rubber… 5-Hit Spiked Punch!)
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
On the battlefield, Zoro and Luffy's combined attacks swept across the platform.
Within moments, the entire Buggy Pirates crew was sent flying.
Buggy's eye twitched as he watched, his furious howls echoing into the distance.
…
"Hey, Genrou, is it really okay to leave Zoro and Luffy behind like that?"
"They're strong, sure, but Buggy's a veteran pirate with a pretty high bounty."
"And didn't you say Buggy was once a crew member of the Pirate King?"
"You're a pirate with an 800 million bounty. Aren't you worried something might go wrong without you?"
"And where exactly are we going now?"
Nami glanced back toward the battle as it faded into the distance, swallowing hard as she thought about it.
Even though she wasn't a combatant herself, she could clearly feel how much Zoro and Luffy's power had skyrocketed after receiving their Heroic Spirit Templates.
Honestly, if it weren't for the worry that Genrou might use the Heroic Spirit Template to control her, she would've asked for one already.
But… now, it seems like I'm already under his control anyway.
Tch, what a frustrating man. What was that about coming for me in two years? Am I really that unattractive to him?
Nami grumbled in her heart as she recalled Genrou's words back on the Golden Deer.
"Luffy and Zoro are already among the strongest in East Blue. With Heroic Spirit Templates, they're more than qualified to enter the Grand Line."
"If I had to monitor every battle myself, I'd be exhausted—and it'd hinder their growth."
"The power of Heroic Spirits becomes more refined with use. Only through fighting can they unlock more of their Heroic Spirit's strength."
"As for Buggy—sure, he was on the Pirate King's crew, but he's not someone we need to worry about."
"Besides, shouldn't you be more interested in looking for Buggy's treasure, Nami?"
Genrou gave her a sly look and raised an eyebrow.
"Treasure… oh right!"
"Let's go, Genrou—quickly!"
Nami's eyes sparkled as she dashed ahead toward where the Buggy Pirates were based, leaving Genrou rolling his eyes.
"What a money-crazed woman…"
Genrou sighed, then stomped the ground, quickly overtaking Nami and reaching the treasure vault first.
By the time Nami arrived, Genrou had already opened the chest and was fanning himself with wads of beri.
"Ahhh! Mine! It's all mine!"
Nami's eyes gleamed as she launched herself toward Genrou.
"Sorry, first come, first served."
Genrou spun around and caught Nami under his arm.
"As the vice-captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, all found treasure naturally belongs to us."
"Nami, didn't you say earlier that you didn't want to be part of the Straw Hats?"
"In that case, this treasure shouldn't have anything to do with you, right?"
Hearing that, Nami immediately started struggling under Genrou's arm.
"No! I want my share too!"
"Genrou, please let me touch the treasure—just a little!"
"I'll join your crew! I'm in, okay?!"
…
(End of Chapter)
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