ALL NOVEL
Chapter 483: Not A Negotiation
Buggy orders all the pirates to retreat while his crew gets closer to New Marineford. Aokiji and the high-ranking marine officials are on high alert as they look at the approaching Black Pearl. Kizaru and Fujitora have passed Buggy's message to them, so they don't attack the crew.
"Aokiji, my man, you look really handsome today. Oh, Mr. Sengoku, you have become much older in just a year. Your hair has turned completely white like that Uncle Garp over there. Seems like all your stress over the years of being the Fleet Admiral has been released at once. Uncle Garp, I heard you've met my son and daughter. They're not bad, right? Ah, and this must be the new Admiral, Mr. Aramaki, or should I call you Ryokugyu? Heh, you look more like a pirate than a Marine. Oh, right, Madam Tsuru, why haven't you caught that damn flamingo yet? You should hurry up and put him in jail. It will help my business grow faster. The other Vice-Admirals, sorry I can't say anything about background characters like you. Maybe I'll remember you when you make great impacts. As for everyone else, I don't even know your faces, sorry guys."
Buggy teases the Marines right when he lands on the island and approaches them while carrying Imu's tied-up head on his back. He then throws Imu's head at Garp who catches the seastone chain. Garp isn't a devil fruit user, so he isn't affected by the seastone.
"What is the meaning of this, kid? Who's this guy?"
"That is the person who stood above all Celestial Dragons. The true leader of World Government. The owner of Pangaea Castle's empty throne. Your so-called King of The World, Mr. Imu something."
"What?! The empty throne doesn't have an owner. It is just a symbol of equality between the 20 founding Kingdoms."
Sengoku frowns and rebutes Buggy's explanation.
"That's what you and people believed. But it is the truth, and I have someone who can prove it."
Buggy snaps his fingers and Palu throws a chained man from the ship to Buggy's side. The Marines widen their eyes when they see the man. It's their former Fleet Admiral who has become the Chief Commander, Kong.
"You can ask him for the details later while we talk. I hope you've prepared some food and drinks in a good room for our important discussion."
The Marine soldiers clench their fists and grit their teeth when they see Buggy step on their former Fleet Admiral. But there's nothing they can do despite their anger. They know Buggy just needs a little force to break Kong's body if he wants.
"Follow me. Aramaki, you stay here."
"Yes, sir."
Aokiji leads Buggy into the base building where they'll talk. Fujitora, Kizaru, Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru follow him. Buggy follows them with Dragon, Sabo, Cricket, and Dela. They also bring Kong and Imu with them. Everyone else stays outside to wait.
"You look healthy, father."
"Hmph, I would be healthier if you and Luffy stopped giving me a headache every now and then."
Garp and Dragon have some father-son moments on their way to the meeting room. It would be very touching if they stopped arguing every time they open their mouths. They even fight a little and no one stops them because it's their family business.
The group finally arrives in the meeting room that has a big round table. Buggy hands Kong over to Sengoku before sitting on a chair with his feet on the table. His friends sit around him while the Marines sit on the opposite sides.
"You speak first, old gorilla. Tell them who this guy is and don't try to lie coz I have proof to show them the truth."
Buggy talks to Kong who has been released from the chains that tied him up while pointing at Imu's head. Imu hasn't said anything since he arrived here because he has been weakened so much. Not only his head is tied with a seastone chain, but his body parts have sunk into the sea, weakening him even further.
To add to his misery, Buggy chopped his mouth apart and rearranged it to seal his mouth. So now Imu really can't speak even if he tears his mouth open. Buggy wants to make sure that Imu can't say anything that will affect the Marines' minds with whatever speech ability that he has after living for hundreds of years.
Kong seems reluctant after Buggy asks him to explain this issue. But he eventually says all they need to know, or rather, everything he knows about Imu. He actually doesn't know much because even he has just known about Imu's existence in this war.
But he is a smart person, so he understands a lot of things immediately after seeing and hearing a few things. Besides, he has worked alongside the 5 elders on Marie Geoise for years, so obviously, he has heard one or two things even though he wasn't sure that those things were real at first.
The Marines are in shock after hearing Kong's explanation. Kong was working for the World Government as Commander in Chief. But he was a Marine Fleet Admiral and he had a strong sense of justice. He just didn't have any choice as someone who worked under the World Government.
But the World Government has crumbled now and he knows this is the best chance for Marines to be what they should really be, a real justice enforcer, not the World Government's dog. Buggy has talked to him on their way here and they've made some agreement, so Kong is very cooperative now.
While Kong says everything he knows, Dela gives the marines all the proof they have collected before attacking Marie Geoise. All the pieces of evidence are solid and the Marines know these are real. It makes them speechless because now they realize just how badly they've been used by the Celestial Dragons.
"The truth is shocking, right? But I don't come here just to talk about that."
"Is this the reason you attacked Marie Geoise and destroyed Celestial Dragons?"
Aokiji asks while frowning because this is too noble of a reason for pirates like the Clowns.
"Nah, I don't care about this motherfucker even after knowing about him. If it's the Revolutionary Army, then it could be their reason. But we are pirates, you know. Our reason was much simpler and selfish. They simply stood in our way to get what we wanted, so they need to be removed, as simple as that."
What Buggy says really makes more sense to the Marines now even though they don't know what these pirates wanted that they even need to wage war against the World Government to this extent.
"So, do you come here to talk about that reason and tell us to not get in your way?"
"This is why I like smart people. Marines, let me tell you our reason to destroy Celestial Dragons. Our crew's dream is to explore every place on this planet. All 4 blues, Grandline, Calm Belt, the Sky, and obviously the Red Line."
The Marines widen their eyes as they understand what Buggy means. They couldn't explore Red Line while Marie Geoise and Celestial Dragons were still there. However, they also know that exploring the Red Line couldn't be the only reason because it was too excessive. "Is that really all the reasons?"
"Yeah, but I can see that you don't fully understand what I said. I said we want to explore every place on this planet, or at least explore as many places as we can. That includes the places owned and ruled by the World Government. Marine bases are included in that."
*BAM*
"IMPOSSIBLE! NO PIRATE IS ALLOWED TO EXPLORE MARINE BASES. THE ONLY PLACE FOR PIRATES IN MARINE BASE IS JAIL."
Garp slaps the table while standing up. What Buggy wants is really ridiculous for the Marines, after all.
"You think so? Then maybe we can only destroy the Marines too just like the Celestial Dragons. Don't think that I won't dare to attack you even though we are in your base. I'm not trapped here with you, you are trapped here with me."
The Marines become tense for a moment when they hear that. They don't even need to consider fighting all these pirates if things go south. Buggy alone is enough to give them much trouble and destroy this island even with them here.
"Marine bases are very important to us. Even royalties can't just explore marine bases, especially the marine bases in Grandline that occupy whole islands. Even World Government's officials couldn't just enter those places willy-nilly without any orders."
"There is no World Government anymore, at least that old World Govermment. You should also know that we can just force our way into those bases and you can't do anything about it. But we kindly talk to you about it first to get your approval so that there won't be any unnecessary conflict later."
"Is that how you negotiate?"
"Negotiate? Do you think we come here to talk with you on equal ground? We came here to say what we want so that you'll know what we'll do and your only choice is to agree. This is not a negotiation, this is an announcement from us. We just want to tell you first so that you won't be surprised and won't disturb us when we visit your bases later. But don't worry, we'll kindly not enter your bases' important rooms and only focus on exploring the islands. Anyway, your so-called negotiation isn't with us, but with them."
Buggy points at Dragon and the Marines immediately understand what he means. Dragon immediately confirms their speculation and starts the discussion.
"Alright, let's talk about the forming of the new World Government. No matter what, this world still needs order, and we need World Government. Now that the Celestial Dragons' World Government has crumbled, we need to build a new World Government quickly before the world falls into chaos. The Revolutionary Army is ready to take over the role of World Government. But we'll need the Marines' cooperation because we'll be very weak in the beginning. So let's start the discussion."
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