Buggy D Clown

Crimson Empire, Onigashima, First Floor – Council Hall

Buggy rose to his feet, clapping enthusiastically.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome Admiral of Neo Marine's Admiral Zephyr, and his students to the Crimson Empire!"

Clap! Clap!

The crowd followed suit, offering polite applause, though their expressions remained measured. While Zephyr had brought the NEO Marines and stated clearly that he was aligning with the Crimson Empire rather than the Buggy Pirates, everyone understood the unspoken agreement. Should the Buggy Pirates face a formidable enemy, Zephyr, and his forces would undoubtedly take up arms in support.

It was a similar arrangement to that of the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, who had joined the Crimson Empire on behalf of the Kuja Pirates, falling without directly affiliating with Buggy's crew.

Ultimately, the only thing that mattered was the Crimson Empire's ever-expanding power.

Buggy motioned for everyone to take their seats before addressing Zephyr directly, "I've always admired your justice, Zephyr. Since you're here, I'm entrusting the structure and command of the Crimson Empire's army to you and your students. How does that sound?"

The room fell into silence. Buggy's crew remained outwardly calm, their expressions unreadable. For warriors of their caliber, the army itself held little appeal—this was a world where power reigned supreme. No matter how disciplined or numerous, conventional forces could scarcely contend with someone wielding Conqueror's Haki capable of wiping out 100,000 soldiers in an instant.

The army was a tool for maintaining stability, not a source of power that could rival the elite.

However, not everyone was unfazed. Bullet and Gabban remained indifferent, but the seasoned members of the crew, like the veteran Crocodile and Law, were visibly taken aback.

Zephyr and his students had just arrived, and yet Buggy was proposing to hand over control of a vast and critical organization. The decision seemed almost reckless.

This wasn't a trivial gesture; in comparison to the world government, it was akin to handing over control of the Marines to a newly joined member nation.

Zephyr frowned, his deep voice cutting through the room. "Buggy, don't you think this is a bit… too hasty?"

"Exactly," Ain chimed in, nodding in agreement. "We've just arrived. Surely, this decision will stir dissatisfaction among your subordinates."

"Hehe——" Buggy chuckled, shaking his head as he spoke confidently, "Gentlemen, you underestimate both my partners and me. My crew isn't interested in such matters. And as for me, it's my way to employ people without suspicion. What's more, the Crimson Empire thrives on order—what I say is final!"

His words radiated authority. The Buggy Pirates smiled proudly; this was their captain in his true form.

Zephyr and his companions were momentarily stunned by Buggy's assertive declaration, but what struck them even more was his unwavering trust. His statement about "employing without suspicion" was not only a bold show of confidence in them but also a reflection of his faith in his leadership.

After processing this, Zephyr let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! Well said! You've got guts, kid! Fine, if you're so confident, then this butcher will take charge of your army structure!"

"Then it's decided." Buggy nodded decisively. He continued, "As for training, I'll leave instruction of the Rokushiki to Rob Lucci. Among my crew, he's the most qualified. Once we identify elite recruits, they can train under his guidance. You won't need to worry about overtraining or energy depletion during their sessions; our facilities ensure rapid improvement in physique and strength."

"Rob Lucci?" Zephyr turned his gaze toward Lucci, who stood clad in his sharp black suit, flanked by several members of CP9. Zephyr's eyes narrowed as he assessed them, recalling their impressive reputation.

He nodded thoughtfully. The CP9 agents had made quite the name for themselves during the Wanokuni War, where they took down several Donquixote Family officers and even Kaido's Flying Six. Their strength was undeniable.

After a moment, Zephyr nodded in agreement, satisfied with Buggy's arrangement.

At that moment, Ain, standing beside Zephyr, broke the silence. "Buggy, since you've just said you trust us completely, I'll be frank with you."

He fixed Buggy with a sharp gaze. "Navy construction is no small feat—it requires substantial funds. I'm curious, now that you've just established this empire, where are these resources coming from? What industries in this country can generate sustainable profits?

"If we have this information, we can establish a baseline and identify areas where temporary expenditures can be minimized. Otherwise, if the army is built without sufficient funding, it could lead to instability and chaos down the line."

Snap!

Hearing the request, Buggy snapped his fingers and said, "Blueno, show our future Marshal Marine just how confident we are. Open the door to the underground treasure vault."

"Got it, Captain!"

Blueno raised his hand and, with a resounding bang, slapped the air behind his chair. Instantly, a space door materialized in front of everyone, its edges shimmering with an eerie glow. Beyond it, a spiraling stone staircase descended into the depths.

Buggy rose to his feet and gestured toward the staircase. "Let's go. Most of you probably haven't seen it yet. This is the secret Tesoro uncovered beneath Wanokuni the last time he was here. There wasn't an opportunity to reveal it before, but now feels like the perfect time."

The crowd's curiosity was piqued. Interest gleamed in their eyes as whispers rippled through the room. During the recent months, Buggy and Crocodile had been preoccupied with overseeing infrastructure and water management projects across the Crimson Empire. For most of the crew, this left little time for such discoveries.

Tesoro, however, had stumbled upon something remarkable during his time in Wanokuni. After reporting it to Buggy, he had expected the worst—perhaps even death—for uncovering such a monumental secret. The fear lingered in his chest as Blueno escorted him out of the empire.

Yet, to Tesoro's astonishment, Buggy had simply thanked him and sent him back to his golden ship. No threats, no punishments—just gratitude.

Standing atop the Gild Tesoro, Tesoro had gazed down at the bustling crowds below, the vibrant life aboard his golden fortress feeling strangely muted.

In the weeks he had spent assisting Buggy and Crocodile with various infrastructure projects, he had seen something transformative. The grateful eyes of the people, their genuine smiles, reminded him of a different time—of a fiery, idealistic youth he thought he'd buried long ago.

For a fleeting moment, in his dreams, he could see Stella's radiant smile. Now, standing on his golden tower, Tesoro felt a pang of loneliness. Something's changed, he thought. Though his beloved Gran Tesoro remained the same, his perspective had shifted.

What exactly was that man—Godslayer Buggy—planning?

He recalled how the entire Crimson Empire had rallied around Buggy, their admiration and loyalty palpable. That unshakable charisma stirred something deep within Tesoro's heart, a feeling he hadn't experienced in years—a longing, a thrill, a purpose.

Godslayer Buggy, Tesoro mused, as his lips curled into a faint smile.

Crocodile sneered, his arms crossed and his cigar trailing smoke. "Huh? That's it? The Poneglyphs? I thought we were here for something bigger. But I suppose those red stones are the key to Raftel—and everything else."

Binz, ever curious, leaned forward. "I didn't expect there to be a Poneglyph beneath Onigashima... and another one beneath the Flower Capital! Wanokuni's history must be something else."

Law, standing slightly apart, adjusted his hat and studied the scene. "The sheer scale of this is unreal. A secret Poneglyph under Onigashima and another beneath the Flower Capital? And then there's this..."

He gestured to the glittering mounds of gold scattered around them, the sunlight catching on every surface.

"My God..." Ain whispered, her eyes wide. "Look at all this gold!"

Shuzo, who'd already taken a step closer, let out a low whistle. "There's even more gold underwater? This isn't just treasured—this is an entire mountain of gold!"

Even Zephyr's usually calm demeanor faltered for a moment, his brow furrowing. "How much is all this worth? Hundreds of billions of Berries? No... this has to be in the trillions."

Crocodile, ever the pragmatist, smirked. "Wanokuni's original rulers must've been sitting on this wealth for centuries. How the hell did they amass so much gold without collapsing under the weight of their greed?"

When they reached the underground vault below the Flower Capital, everyone was stunned by the sight before them.

Not only was there a Poneglyph, but the sheer amount of gold was overwhelming. The golden riches stretched endlessly, glittering in every direction. Even beneath the water, shimmering mounds of gold could be seen glinting faintly in the depths.

Buggy laughed as he observed the shock on their faces and began to explain,

"Before Tesoro left, he told me that the gold here makes up more than half the reserves he once controlled. Let me put it into perspective—this is gold worth at least hundreds of billions of Berries.

"And judging by the state of it, this gold wasn't naturally piled up. Originally, it must have been stored as individual pieces. Someone used a Devil Fruit to melt it into this hill of gold you see now.

"The type of fruit capable of such a feat is rare. But without Tesoro's Gold-Gold Fruit abilities, there's no way anyone could have found this treasure buried beneath the sea floor."

Buggy's tone shifted, now carrying a note of intrigue. "Which brings us to an interesting question: Why was this gold hidden so thoroughly? It's as if Wanokuni's rulers deliberately concealed it, and whoever knew of this treasure must have taken the secret to their graves. How else could such an astronomical fortune have remained untouched for so long?"

The crew moved closer to examine the golden mounds, confirming Buggy's explanation. The gold was melted and solidified into irregular shapes, suggesting the use of a Devil Fruit. The sheer magnitude of the treasure left them speechless.

"Indeed," Zephyr muttered under their breath. "Who wouldn't be tempted by a mountain of gold like this?"

Zephyr stood silently, his mind racing. The wealth before him was beyond comprehension. He had known Buggy was resourceful, but this... this was a fortune that could topple governments and kingdoms alike. Even Gild Tesoro, the man who once controlled the world's gold, had been won over by Buggy's sheer audacity.

Zephyr let out a breath, his admiration for Buggy growing. With wealth like this, funding the Crimson Empire was no longer a concern. Money would never be an obstacle.

For now, there was no need to worry about finances. At least, not in the short term.

However, Zephyr knew that a nation couldn't rely solely on one source of income. He refrained from voicing his concerns, trusting that a man as sharp as Buggy had already considered this. The fact that Buggy had chosen to reveal the gold to them only reinforced this belief. It signified that everything in the Zhise Empire was firmly under his control. This realization gave Zephyr confidence in their collaboration.

Then, Buggy spoke again, and his next words left everyone stunned, "Do you know what's even more interesting about all of this?"

"The mountain of gold we see here is just a fraction of what's underwater. More than half of it has already been cut away!"

The revelation hit like a thunderclap. Gasps and murmurs spread through the group.

"What?!" Jinbei was the first to speak, his usually calm demeanor giving way to stunned disbelief. "Half of it—gone?!"

Sunbell, who had been gazing at the glittering mound in awe, took a step forward, his voice filled with excitement. "Are you serious?! If that's true, then the size of the original mountain must've been..."

"Unimaginable!" Jinbei finished for him, shaking his head as though trying to process the scale of the treasure.

Before anyone else could react, there was a splash—plop! Plop!

"I'm going down to take a look!" Sunbell declared, already halfway into the water.

"Me too!" Jinbei shouted, diving in right behind him, his broad frame cutting through the waves with practiced ease.

The group onshore watched in a mix of awe and curiosity, the realization sinking in. If what Buggy said was true, this treasure was beyond comprehension—a fortune that could buy empires, even the world.

Zephyr crossed his arms, a rare moment of speechlessness overcoming him. Crocodile, meanwhile, simply smirked, the glint in his eyes betraying the gears turning in his mind.

"More than half cut away..." Robin murmured, her analytical side kicking in. "The question is, who took it—and where did it go?"

From the water, Jinbei's voice rang out, muffled but excited: "Captain Buggy wasn't lying! There's even more down here!"

Another splash echoed as Shuzo dove in to join them, his laughter audible even as he disappeared beneath the surface.

Buggy stood at the edge of the gold-laden shore, his grin widening. "Now do you see? This is just the tip of the iceberg. What lies below will make even this look small."

Zephyr glanced at Buggy, who gave him a casual nod. Taking the cue, the seasoned Marine instructor jumped in as well.

Meanwhile, Enel stared at Buggy in disbelief. "Captain, are you saying that this much gold was already cut away?"

Buggy nodded with a grin. "Exactly. The part that was removed is likely bigger than the mountain we're looking at now. Think about it—this much gold surpasses even the reserves of the legendary Golden City, Sandora! And yet..."

He trailed off, his tone turning thoughtful. "If that much gold had surfaced in the world, it would've caused an uproar. But I haven't heard a thing about it. Have you?"

The crew exchanged glances. Even Robin, who had been intently studying the Poneglyph, paused to reflect. After a moment, she shook her head.

"There's no record of this in any of the history I've studied," she admitted. "It's very peculiar. Was it hidden deliberately? And by whom?"

Bullet, Gabban, and Doringo exchanged uneasy looks, their expressions filled with curiosity and apprehension.

Splash!

Just then, Sunbell broke the surface of the water. His face was pale, and his expression was as strange as his words were cryptic.

Buggy glanced at Sunbell, then at Bullet and the others. A bold theory began to form in his mind.

Moments later, Jinbei, Shuzo, and Zephyr returned to the shore. The shock etched on their faces confirmed what Buggy had suspected.

"It's true!" Jinbei exclaimed.

"This mountain of gold might just be a fraction of the one that was moved!" Shuzo added, his voice filled with awe.

"Incredible... A gold mountain this vast could probably buy the entire world," Zephyr muttered, his tone heavy with disbelief.

The rest of the crew couldn't help but sigh in amazement.

Buggy observed the frowning expressions of Empress Hancock, Little Hancock, and Robin. Then, his gaze shifted to Bullet, Gabban, Duolingo, and Sunbell, whose expressions were laced with unease. He suddenly broke into loud laughter. "Hahahaha—!"

Everyone turned to him, confused.

"Captain, what's so funny?" Crocodile asked, visibly puzzled.

Buggy ignored Crocodile's question and instead directed his attention to Bullet, Gabban, Doringo, and Sunbell. A sly grin stretched across his face.

"The mountain of gold that was taken… it's in Raftel, isn't it?"

The room fell deathly silent.

Even Zephyr's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the four former crewmates of the Pirate King. The rest of the crew's gaze followed, brimming with curiosity and longing. It dawned on them all at once: these men had sailed with Gol D. Roger, journeyed to Raftel, and witnessed the legendary treasure, the One Piece, firsthand!

Gabban let out a heavy sigh, his face a mixture of astonishment and reluctant amusement.

"I didn't expect you to figure it out. Should I say, as expected of you?" he muttered.

"When you mentioned that a large part of the gold mountain seemed to have been cut away, I had a hunch. But after seeing Sunbell's expression, I was certain. Yes, the enormous gold mountain you spoke of— is wealth he claimed was his treasure—is very real. And it's far larger than what we see here."

Sunbell, who had been quiet, raised his hand and made a gesture with his thumb and index finger, mimicking the shape of a small circle.

"And what you see here is only a small fraction of the gold mountain hidden in Raftel," he said solemnly.

His—!

Everyone collectively drew a sharp breath, their shock palpable. No wonder Roger had been able to start the age of piracy. He was too damn lucky. The mountain had enough gold to buy the entire world.

It wasn't just a bold claim—it was the absolute truth.

"How big is that enormous gold mountain?"

It was immeasurable! But that wasn't the point. What had they just heard?

This was the final island, the secret of Raftel! Everyone's gaze remained fixed on Gabban and Bullet, their eyes unblinking.

Clap! Clap!

Buggy clapped his hands, shaking his head with a dumbfounded smile.

"Why are you all so impatient?" he asked. "Wouldn't it mean more to discover the truth for ourselves, rather than just hearing it from someone else? Think about it—right now, we already have two of the Road Poneglyphs. Once the Crimson Empire stabilizes, we'll head to Totto Land to claim the third from Big Mom. After that, we'll find the fourth. And when we do, we'll reach the end ourselves."

"That's exactly right!" Enel exclaimed, his voice booming with excitement. "If it's truly the greatest secret treasure in the world, shouldn't we be the ones to uncover it? Hearing about it secondhand from someone else would be meaningless!

What kind of 'World's Strongest Pirate Crew' would we be if we relied on handouts? It'd be embarrassing—don't you think, everyone?"

"Ha ha ha ha—!" Crocodile laughed, a rare grin spreading across his face. "Enel, for once, I agree with you. Your words resonate with me!"

"The Great Treasure..." Gekko Moria sighed wistfully. "I never imagined I'd have the chance to chase something this legendary in my lifetime. Following Buggy... truly, now I could die without regrets."

"Hahaha!" Buggy gave Moria a hearty pat on the shoulder. "Alright, Moria, no need to be so dramatic! You'll have plenty of opportunities to see the Great Treasure when the time comes.

But until then, have some faith in me—and in our crew! We're the strongest pirates in the world!"

"Ooooooh!!!"

The crew erupted into cheers, their excitement shaking the room.

Zephyr, Ain, Binz, and Shuzo exchanged glances before shaking their heads, a mix of exasperation and awe on their faces. To be fair, the temptation was real. Who wouldn't want to know the truth behind the Great Treasure, the secret that could change the world?

Bullet, Gabban, Doringo, and Sunbell exchanged knowing smiles.

They had chosen the right man. This kind of boldness—this kind of courage—was exactly why Buggy deserved to be their captain.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the New World...

On Egghead Island, inside a sleek laboratory, the sound of electronic beeping filled the air.

"Beep beep."

A voice echoed from a console. "Primary unit, I've successfully locked onto the locations of S-Eagle and S-Snake. Should I deploy someone to retrieve them now?"

The response came swiftly: "No. Instead, deliver this sound shell to them and ensure it reaches Godslayer Buggy. Let the bear handle it."

"Understood. I'll send it right away."

---

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