There was silence aboard Buggy's pirate ship.
Everyone knew that Buggy had lost, and lost miserably, but no one dared to speak.
Finally, Vice Captain Mohji broke the silence.
"The captain has been defeated… should we go and rescue him?"
Mohji stared at Buggy's pitiful state through the telescope, hesitating.
If they did not go, it would seem heartless toward Captain Buggy.
But if they did go, it would be risking their own lives.
"Go to hell! I'm not dying for him!"
Alvida rejected the idea without hesitation.
She and Buggy were just partners. There was no need for her to throw her life away for him.
If the opponent were just an ordinary pirate with a bounty of around 30 million, she might have considered it.
But this was Caelan, the strongest bounty hunter who dominated the East Blue!
She had witnessed the fight just now.
Buggy had sworn that his Chop-Chop Fruit made him invincible against Caelan.
But in the end, he was crushed in less than two seconds. There was no point in trying to save him.
The first slash missed, yet it still split the sea wide open.
That terrifying power was something Alvida had never seen in her life.
She had no doubt that if that slash had struck their ship, every person on board would have been killed instantly.
The second strike showed not only brute strength but also incredible swordsmanship.
Buggy's body had been divided into at least seventy or eighty pieces, scattered in every direction.
With a single swing, Caelan had struck every piece to the ground.
That level of precision alone proved him a true monster even among swordsmen.
"We must have faith in Captain Buggy's abilities. I'm sure he'll escape on his own!"
Cabaji put on a serious face, as if he truly believed in Buggy's strength.
While he remained loyal to Captain Buggy, there was no chance he would risk his life to rescue him.
Caelan's strength was simply too terrifying. Cabaji was already trembling just watching from a distance.
If he got any closer, he would probably collapse before Caelan even made a move.
"Yes, we must trust in Captain Buggy!"
The other pirates quickly echoed Cabaji's words.
Caelan was so terrifying that just looking at him any longer felt like certain death.
Captain Buggy was strong. He could surely handle this by himself. Their rescue would only get in the way.
Mohji breathed a sigh of relief. After all, he valued his own life.
…
On the Wind Rider.
"Caelan, are you going to turn him in for the bounty?"
Nami pointed at Buggy, who now looked like a dead dog lying on the deck.
In her eyes, this was no longer the infamous Buggy the Clown. This was 15 million Berries in prize money.
Buggy raised his head and glared at Nami with grief and anger.
She had stolen all his treasure just a few days ago, and now she wanted to cash him in for a bounty.
This vicious woman was too cruel.
"Well… let me think about it."
Caelan scratched his head, clearly feeling some frustration. Buggy was really a troublesome one.
He had been a trainee with the Roger Pirates, and he also had ties to one of the current Four Emperors, Red-Haired Shanks.
But most importantly, Buggy had the legendary skill of absurd luck.
From the very start, he had been standing at the peak. Just like Shanks, he had been a trainee on Roger's ship.
He had eaten the Chop-Chop Fruit, but somehow believed the fruit was holding him back.
Caelan could only laugh at that. If Buggy was weak, it was not the fruit's fault.
The Chop-Chop Fruit was undeniably a powerful Paramecia-type Devil Fruit. How could a fruit that even Roger's crew acknowledged be useless?
Buggy became the nightmare of all swordsmen without much effort.
If he had taken the time to develop his abilities, perhaps even reaching awakening like Doflamingo, he could have been a high-tier combatant among the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Buggy not only had an impressive background, but his later achievements were just as ridiculous.
He enjoyed a peaceful life in the East Blue for years, living comfortably.
Then he went to the Grand Line and, without improving his strength at all, became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, thanks entirely to the Navy's overestimation.
When he arrived in the New World, his strength still hadn't improved, yet he somehow became one of the Four Emperors.
The Cross Guild, founded by Crocodile and Mihawk, was practically handed over to him.
With the help of those two, Buggy's bounty skyrocketed from 15 million Berries to 3.189 billion Berries.
Truly the perfect example of failing upwards.
"Buggy, get out of the East Blue and head to the Grand Line."
After thinking it over for a while, Caelan finally made his decision.
If he turned Buggy in now, he would only get 15 million Berries, which would increase his synchronization progress by just 0.15%.
But if he let Buggy grow, there was a chance he could eventually reach that 3.189 billion bounty. That would boost synchronization progress by nearly half in one go.
"Alright."
Nami was a bit disappointed, but she still followed Caelan's decision.
After all, he was the one calling the shots.
"Really? You're really letting me go?!"
Buggy's eyes widened in disbelief.
He had thought this was the end for him, but now there was a glimmer of hope.
Despite being beaten into a swollen mess, he actually felt a bit grateful.
"Of course. I always keep my word."
Caelan gave him a steady look. He wasn't the type to break a promise.
"No problem! I'll definitely go!"
Buggy slapped his chest, trying to look sincere.
But in his heart, he was cursing. Only an idiot would actually head to the Grand Line.
The East Blue was easy pickings. The Navy here was weak, and the loot was plentiful.
Buggy loved it here.
Once Caelan left for the Grand Line, Buggy would claim the East Blue for himself.
"Caelan, he's lying. Let's just turn him in for the bounty."
Nami could tell at a glance that Buggy had no intention of following through. A guy like him would never be honest.
"Hey! Don't slander me like that! I'm a man of my word!"
Buggy glared at Nami, trying to look as honest as possible.
In his heart, though, he was laughing. He fully admitted to being a compulsive liar.
There was no way he was going to the Grand Line.
Back when Luffy had beaten him, he had still tried to make a comeback.
But now that this terrifying Caelan had appeared in the East Blue, he knew the Grand Line would be even worse.
In short, not even a dog would go to the Grand Line.
Buggy looked at Caelan, his expression full of hope. He knew this terrifying man held his fate in his hands.
"I always keep my word. If I say I'll let you go, then I'll let you go."
Caelan stroked his chin, staring at Buggy for a moment.
"I don't think you have the guts to lie to me."
Before Buggy could respond, an intense wave of killing intent locked onto him.
Buggy's body stiffened immediately. He couldn't even resist.
This pressure… it was monstrous. Completely unstoppable.
Cold sweat poured down Buggy's face, and all the little schemes he had vanished from his mind.
Caelan grabbed him by the hair, positioning him properly.
Then, without warning, he raised his giant sword high and swung down with full force.
The wind pressure from the swing surged around Buggy, and he could feel death approaching.
Buggy's face twisted in horror.
Hadn't Caelan just said he would let him go?
This strike would definitely kill him!
In a panic, Buggy instinctively tried to activate his Devil Fruit ability.
"Don't move. If you move, you'll die."
Caelan's calm voice made Buggy freeze completely, abandoning all resistance.
The moment the giant sword struck him, Buggy thought he saw his grandmother waving at him.
Under Caelan's terrifying strength, Buggy was sent flying through the air like a rag doll.
"Waaahhhhhh!"
Buggy screamed at the top of his lungs as tears poured down his face.
Really… provoking Caelan had been the worst decision of his life.
This cursed East Blue was no place for him anymore.
He, the great Buggy the Clown, was going to the Grand Line!
Buggy's body shot through the air like a comet, aimed directly at the Buggy Pirates' ship, still floating over a thousand meters away.
Bang!
"Nice. Home run."
Watching the pirate ship shake violently from Buggy's impact, Caelan nodded with satisfaction.
(To be continued.)