Starting as a Roger Pirates Apprentice

Chapter 546: Buggy

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Crocodile brought up her idea.

"So? How about joining me?"

Hearing this proposal, Hawk Eyes was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected Crocodile to try recruiting him.

"Afterward, I thought it over carefully. The World Government being able to pass the proposal to abolish [Shichibukai]—it’s not impossible that Orin gave silent approval behind the scenes. After all, if that guy doesn’t want something to happen, no one can make it happen."

Hawk Eyes agreed with this point.

"If he truly opposed it, the Elder would certainly have reconsidered again and again."

Crocodile took a drag on her cigar and continued,

"Precisely because of that, I finally realized that the era called the [Black Emperor] has already passed. Now, you and I are nothing more than ordinary pirates—enemies in the eyes of the Navy."

Hawk Eyes remained silent, seemingly pondering Crocodile’s words.

"So? Think about my proposal."

"Orin has already gone further and further down the path of a legendary pirate. Even the Yonko and the World Government have to act according to his mood. We can’t keep standing still forever~"

"If you and I join forces, just the weight of our names combined would be a power that cannot be ignored. And... after all, there’s still some bond from having sailed on the same ship, isn’t there? Hawk Eyes."

Crocodile had completely forgotten that she once told Doflamingo,

"I won’t cooperate with anyone." Now she was lobbying Hawk Eyes, trying to persuade him to work together.

And after leaving Orin’s side, Hawk Eyes had indeed spent quite a long time living a leisurely retirement life. Now, facing the change in circumstances, a ripple stirred in his heart.

"Perhaps it’s not a bad choice?"

...

Elsewhere,

One of the current [Shichibukai] was also under attack—

The great pirate, Buggy!

"Captain Buggy!!! This is bad! Navy warships have appeared on the sea!!!"

"What should we do, Captain Buggy!!!"

At this moment, upon hearing the news, Buggy still maintained an expression of fury on his face.

"Damn it!!!"

"What the hell does the Navy mean by this?!!!"

"They just cancel it on their own like that? Did they even ask Orin’s opinion?!!!"

"...And why do I have to take the blame for what Crocodile and Doflamingo did?!!!"

Buggy raged helplessly at the distant sea for quite a while.

"Should we run?"

An old subordinate who knew Buggy’s true strength, asked worriedly.

Facing the expectant gazes of his many subordinates, Buggy waved a grand hand.

"In that case... let’s have a big fight!!! Boys!!!"

"Show the Navy our backbone!!!"

"As expected of Captain Buggy, one of the current three great legendary pirates!!!"

"Buggy!!! Buggy!!!"

After all, he still had a batch of die-hard fans from Impel Down. The current Buggy wasn’t that panicked. In fact, he was secretly preparing to pack up and run.

As for his subordinates, they were already dizzy with excitement from that title—standing shoulder to shoulder with [Black Gun] and [Red Hair]—howling that they would fight for Buggy.

Buggy’s men were fierce. They actually withstood the Navy’s first wave of attacks.

But the Navy forces were endless. Buggy still decided to pack up his belongings and escape.

He felt he could still handle things himself and didn’t need to call Orin.

Just as they were about to face another wave of Navy assault, the subordinates suddenly ran in.

"Captain Buggy, something’s happening!!!"

The subordinates shouted excitedly. Buggy, who was packing his bundle, was startled.

"What is it? Keep fighting the Navy!!!"

"Captain Buggy, the Navy outside is being attacked by another group!"

"Nani?!!!"

Buggy froze for a moment, then immediately a joyful smile spread across his face.

"Could it be..."

A figure appeared in his mind—a figure filled with a sense of security.

"Could it be Orin has come to save me?!!!"

Overjoyed, Buggy ran outside with his men. Looking at the once-imposing Navy fleet in the distance, it had now fallen into chaos.

The attackers were extremely powerful. Warships were continuously being destroyed.

One subordinate took out a telescope to see who was making a move.

Standing beside him, Buggy asked excitedly,

"Well? Is it Orin?!!!"

"N-no... it’s Crocodile."

"..."

Joy turned into shock. Buggy had to maintain an expression as if he had expected it all along.

"I see, so that’s how it is!!!"

A subordinate slammed his fist into his palm and shouted in surprise, drawing the attention of others nearby.

"So that legend was true after all! As the comrade of [Black Gun], Buggy has an extremely close relationship with him!!!"

"In that case, as subordinates of that great lord of [Black Gun], it’s only natural for Crocodile and the others to come provide support, right?!!!"

The other subordinates thought about it—it made sense. They all transformed into self-proclaimed experts.

"That must be it!!!"

"After all, even though Captain Buggy doesn’t need help, since he’s their Boss’s friend, they have to show the proper attitude!!!"

"Perhaps it’s also under the instructions of that great lord of [Black Gun]. After all, he’s one of the few men on the seas who can surpass Captain Buggy in strength!!!"

Between a few words here and there, the subordinates filled in the gaps together, pooling their wisdom,

And completely figured out the entire cause and effect of Crocodile and the others’ arrival.

Only Buggy forced himself to remain calm, while inside he was weeping bitter tears, his eyes practically bulging out.

What rescue?! They’re clearly here to collect a debt?!!!

It was all because of his pride back then. He felt that in some sense, he was a pirate on par with Orin and Red Hair.

At the time, he didn’t have startup funds and was too embarrassed to ask Orin for money, so he used a legitimate excuse to "borrow" a sum from Crocodile.

He knew full well that Crocodile looked down on him completely and had no intention of giving him any leeway. This time she was definitely here to demand repayment.

And that was indeed what Crocodile was thinking.

Since she planned to establish her own power and accomplish something big in the new era, she naturally needed a lot of funds.

So she came to Buggy to collect the money.

But in truth, because of business losses, Buggy had long since run out of money. He had nothing to repay her with, and now he felt utterly guilty.

"Buggy, pay back the money!!!"

"Well... our Buggy Express hasn’t been doing well lately..."

"If you can’t repay the money, I’ll sell you off as a slave."

Crocodile said with a dark expression.

"Don’t be like that. For the sake of our many years of friendship, Croco-chan~"

"It’s precisely for Orin’s sake that I lent you the money in the first place!!!"