Chapter 433: He Was a Crew Member of the Pirate King
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"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! I request permission to pursue the pirates on the island!"
Sakazuki (Akainu) looked over the chaotic square, his eyes flashing with severity.
Sengoku was still processing what had just transpired.
Hearing Sakazuki's voice, he glanced at the surging crowd below. His eyes also turned sharp.
"Begin the arrest of every pirate on the island!"
Sengoku turned to Sakazuki, Kuzan (Aokiji), and the gathered Marine officers.
"Yes, sir!"
All the officers responded in unison.
History had changed.
The emergence of Rockefeller Sharo had successfully stirred the winds of fate. Events were now spiraling in an unpredictable direction.
"Not good! The Marines have sealed off the port!"
A sudden shout drew everyone's attention toward the harbor.
"Trash like you belongs back in the trash heap."
Sakazuki, his body radiating intense heat and molten magma, marched forward. His cold gaze locked onto the crowds attempting to flee the port.
"Damn! It's one of the Marine monster Vice Admirals—Akainu Sakazuki!"
Many who saw him turned pale with fear.
Perhaps in the New World, Sakazuki had little fame and no major battles that gained recognition. In fact, he was even less well-known than Kuzan, who had already made a name for himself there.
But in Paradise, the first half of the Grand Line, Sakazuki was a nightmare.
Especially for the pirates of Paradise—most wouldn't survive even a single encounter.
"Great Eruption!"
With a swing of his magma fist, Sakazuki launched a massive lava blast into the crowd—uncaring if it included civilians.
The enormous molten fist crashed through the people like a meteor.
There was no resistance.
Nearby, Kuzan frowned deeply.
"Akainu! There might still be civilians in there!"
Kuzan couldn't help but protest.
"Better to kill a thousand by mistake than let even one slip away."
Sakazuki gave Kuzan a cold glare and responded mercilessly.
"You—!"
Kuzan was stunned by Sakazuki's ruthlessness.
Sakazuki continued forward.
Everyone in his path died.
Marine officers and soldiers followed close behind, killing anyone armed.
Kuzan silently watched for a moment… then followed.
"Ice Spears!"
With a flick of his hand, a pirate trying to sneak attack was instantly frozen and shattered.
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In town—
"Fufufufufu! Looks like the Marines want to wipe us all out! How about a team-up?"
Doflamingo swaggered as he observed the massacre, then looked around, offering a proposal.
"Tch."
A cold scoff rang out.
Crocodile, biting a cigar, shot a dismissive glance at Doflamingo's pink coat. Then, without a word, he turned into sand and vanished.
No one, pirate or Marine, could stop him.
Doflamingo next glanced at the youth wielding a black blade: Dracule Mihawk.
Mihawk didn't even spare him a look.
He walked straight out—anyone who got close was cut down in one strike.
Doflamingo's face darkened.
He turned to another figure cloaked in green.
But just as he looked—the cloaked person vanished.
Doflamingo's pupils shrank.
He scanned the area but found no trace of the mysterious figure.
Unwilling to give up, he looked at the large man surrounded by underlings: Gecko Moria.
"Well? Want to team up and break out?"
Doflamingo's face was tense.
"Shishishishi! I don't team up with weaklings!"
Moria grinned, then charged toward the port.
Doflamingo stared at Moria's back and lowered his head.
"Fufufufu… yeah. No teaming up with weaklings."
His chest burned with repressed rage.
"Doffy! Let's move, or we'll be trapped!"
Diamante urged beside him.
"Fufufufufu… let's go!"
Doflamingo returned to his usual arrogant smirk and strode quickly toward the port.
Had you not seen him kill just now, you'd think he wasn't bothered at all.
"Urgh..."
Diamante looked away from the mutilated corpses around them.
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In a small alley—
"Come with me, Buggy!"
Shanks looked at Buggy, extending an invitation.
He wanted to ask this friend to sail together.
Buggy was stunned, staring at Shanks' serious face.
Then—
"No way! I'm not being your lackey, idiot! I'm gonna start my own pirate crew!"
Buggy refused, then bolted.
"Buggy!"
Shanks reached out, but Buggy had already disappeared from the alley.
Staring after his vanishing silhouette—
"I guess… I'll be sailing alone too."
Shanks stood silently for a moment, then touched the straw hat on his head and stepped out.
In that moment…
Shanks seemed to grow up.
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Meanwhile, Buggy…
"Damn it! Why are there so many Marines?!"
He stood amidst the chaos, flying knives in hand, glancing around nervously.
"Ara ara…"
An out-of-place voice echoed nearby.
The sound made Buggy's hair stand on end.
As a former crew member of the Roger Pirates, this voice was all too familiar over the years.
Buggy slowly turned—
Cold mist rolled through the streets.
Step. Step. Step.
Kuzan walked forward.
Everyone instinctively cleared a path for him.
He stopped in front of the red-nosed youth blocking his way.
"Ara… if it isn't the Roger Pirates' intern. What are you doing here? And wasn't there a red-haired brat with you? Where'd he go?"
Kuzan looked at Buggy's nose, surprised.
"What?! A crew member of the Roger Pirates? A member of the Pirate King's crew?!"
Everyone nearby gasped, their eyes snapping to Buggy.
His legs trembled. The flying knives in his hands shook.
Staring at Kuzan, Buggy swallowed hard.
"That's right! I'm a proud member of the Roger Pirates! A crewman of the Pirate King!"
Buggy shouted out, as if resigned to his fate.
He figured there was no way he could survive an encounter with Kuzan.
But after his declaration—
Everyone around, whether pirates or would-be adventurers, stared at Buggy with fiery eyes.
"Ara… looks like I'll be earning some merit today. A member of the Pirate King's crew!"
Kuzan chuckled as cold air gathered in his hands.
Just as Buggy braced himself for the end—
A loud voice shouted:
"He's a crewman of the Pirate King! He can lead us to One Piece!"
Everyone's attention turned to Buggy.
"Stop the Marines! Protect the Pirate King's crewman!"
Another yell broke out—and Buggy finally snapped back to his senses.
To be continued...
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