Chapter 108: Breaking News

—Sir Crocodile, the "Hero" of Alabasta, stripped of his Warlord title!

—A Navy officer thwarts a secret society’s conspiracy!

The front-page article causing a stir across the world was published by the World Economic Journal.

The news sent shockwaves through both pirates and the public. Sir Crocodile, a Warlord of the Sea, had been one of the original members since the system’s inception. Known for his strength, reputation, and decorum, he had earned the World Government’s trust and was even respected among pirates.

He fulfilled his duty as a pirate who hunts other pirates admirably. Thanks to his presence, the seas around Sandy Island in the Kingdom of Alabasta saw significantly fewer pirate attacks compared to other regions. The government trusted him enough not to station any Marines there.

But then, that very man caused a major incident.

The Kingdom of Alabasta had been plagued by internal unrest for several years, and now it was revealed that Crocodile had been the mastermind behind it all—pulling the strings from the shadows, organizing a secret society in an attempt to seize the nation.

The article detailed his involvement in various incidents, not only in Alabasta but also near the entrance of the Grand Line.

However, any information inconvenient to the government was buried—thanks to a hefty payoff to the president of the World Economic Journal, “News King” Morgans.

Thus, the narrative was altered: the one who resolved this massive scandal wasn't a pirate, but someone within the Navy. They couldn’t allow the truth—which would severely damage the government’s credibility—to be known by the public.

As a result, even within the government, very few knew the truth about the pirate who stopped Crocodile's schemes. But—

“Captain of the Straw Hat Crew, ‘Straw Hat Luffy’—Bounty: 100 million Berries”

“Combatant of the Straw Hat Crew, ‘Pirate Hunter Zoro’—Bounty: 60 million Berries”

Naturally, those observant enough to notice such dramatic bounty increases without any public incident, or those with access to underground intel, began to piece things together. It's impossible to hide everything. You can’t shut people’s mouths forever.

But the government understood this. It was acceptable if only a few knew the truth. What mattered was preventing that truth from spreading.

There were more pressing matters to debate.

“Yay~~!! How’s everyone in the government doing~~? Still wearing gloomy faces every day and talking about justice? Ahaha! Well, for all you stressed-out folks, here’s a gift from the cutest girl ever!!”

“…………”

—The Holy Land, Mariejois.

In the center of Pangaea Castle, in the Room of Authority, sat the Five Elders—the supreme rulers of the World Government.

Each of them bore a grim expression.

While many incidents had contributed to their mood, the greatest source of tension lay on the table before them: a Tone Dial and a single box.

The Tone Dial, which records audio, is commonly used in the music industry. The one sent to the government contained a girl’s voice, accompanied by music.

“The severed head of your so-called hero of justice, ‘Z Zephyr,’ is now up for grabs! Display it! Eat it! Use it as a paperweight! The possibilities are endless! I’ve sent it over, so hold a bingo tournament or whatever to decide who gets it! Oh, and no thank-you letters or complaints, please! No cancellations either! If you’ve got a problem, take it up with the higher-ups who sent him on a suicide mission in the first place!”

“…………”

The Five Elders listened in silence, brows furrowed, then turned their eyes to the box beside the Tone Dial.

Inside was the severed head of a man once called a former Admiral of the Navy, known for having trained an entire generation of Marines.

His expression was one of utter despair and sorrow—evidence of the horror he had witnessed in his final moments.

“Such a waste, really. Letting a powerhouse like Zephyr get killed—how cruel of you! Life is precious, you know? You promised Nue-chan you’d take care of yourselves, remember?♡ And that concludes the message from your cute little dark hero, N-chan!! Now, on to announcements!! My 96th single, Unknown☆Hero, drops next month!! But just for you guys in the government, I’ll give you an exclusive early preview♡ Here we go~~~~!!! Dark hero, Nuuuue-chan~~~—”

“…………”

As the intro music began and the song was about to start, one of the Elders clenched his teeth and abruptly pressed the top of the Tone Dial, stopping playback. The other four either held their heads or sighed in frustration.

“…That damn ‘Demon Beast’…”

“She’s as troublesome as ever…”

“On the contrary, she—and the entire Beasts Pirates—have only grown more dangerous over the years.”

“We may have been careless. Zephyr wasn’t enough to deal with her after all.”

“Lately, Zephyr had been acting on his own more frequently. He was always a difficult pawn to use… but even so, losing him is a painful blow.”

The Five Elders voiced their individual thoughts on the incident. There were many matters to discuss regarding the future direction of the World Government—countermeasures against the “Demon Beast Nue” and the threat posed by the Beasts Pirates among them.

“It’s best not to act rashly regarding ‘Red-Hair’ and ‘Whitebeard’s’ contact. But at the same time, we can’t take the Beasts Pirates lightly either.”

“If we provoke ‘Hundred Beasts,’ the collateral damage could be severe. But we can’t just ignore them either.”

“For now, we’ll have to engage them beneath the surface.”

“We can’t afford to let their power grow—but if they shrink, that brings other problems.”

“We’ll have to leave this to CP again… but after the Zephyr incident, there’s unrest among the Marines and growing resentment toward the Beasts Pirates. Let’s hope there aren’t more unauthorized actions.”

They always spoke with calculated calm. Their actions and principles never wavered.

Maintaining the balance among the Three Great Powers was essential to upholding the World Government.

With one of the Warlords removed, and Red-Hair and Whitebeard in contact, they couldn’t afford to get tangled up with the Beasts Pirates as well.

A direct clash with the Beasts Pirates—who boasted the world’s greatest military force—was something the government didn’t even want to imagine.

But they couldn’t leave them unchecked either. That’s why they’d ordered Zephyr and the Pirate Guerrilla Unit to investigate the area. But they hadn’t anticipated full-on combat.

And certainly not that it would lead to Zephyr’s death. Perhaps they’d angered the Demon Beast… or maybe she was just in the mood. There was no point in trying to understand her motives.

They had hoped to avoid provoking her. After all, the government had a business relationship with the Beasts Pirates.

To be precise, weapons and armaments produced in Wano Country—under the de facto control of the Beasts Pirates—were being funneled through Donquixote Doflamingo, a Warlord and king of Dressrosa with ties to the Celestial Dragons. So, while there was no direct deal, the government still relied on them.

Losing that supply chain would be troublesome. In this era of piracy, weapons were always in short supply against pirates and the Revolutionary Army.

Beasts Pirates weapon distribution already accounted for over 30% of the government’s arsenal. Losing that would force them to procure replacements from elsewhere—likely through illicit means.

“We must fill the vacant Warlord seat quickly.”

“According to reports, someone calling himself ‘Blackbeard’ has stepped forward…”

“The man who defected from Whitebeard’s crew… Marshall D. Teach, ‘Blackbeard’…”

“Can he really replace Crocodile? As it stands, he’s just another nameless pirate.”

“We’ll have to make a decision soon… but for now, we watch and wait.”

As expected, their main concern remained the balance of the Three Great Powers. Replacing the fallen Warlord came first—that was the Five Elders’ conclusion. Glancing once at the wanted poster bearing a winking girl’s photo, they ordered the guards to remove the Tone Dial and the severed head.

---

The death of Zephyr, former Admiral and the man who trained all Marines, sent shockwaves throughout the government—especially among the ranks of the Marines.

“No way…!!”

“Zephyr-sensei!?”

“Who… who in the world did this!?”

“…It was the ‘Demon Beast’… He was on a mission investigating sightings of the Beasts Pirates when he encountered her… and was killed.”

“Damn it… This can’t be…”

At Marine Headquarters, Marineford, the report was delivered in a meeting room filled with numerous officers. Even the most elite among them twisted their faces in shock and disbelief.

More than a few covered their faces with their hands, eyes brimming with tears. Seasoned Marines tend to be desensitized to news of comrades falling in battle and can normally receive such reports with cold composure—but Zephyr was a different matter altogether.

To these Marines, Zephyr wasn’t just a mentor—he was like a father.

Separated from their families and friends, these new recruits came to Marine Headquarters and underwent training, where they were taught the spirit and skills of a Marine directly by Zephyr himself.

“Damn it!!”

“Hey, stop!! Where do you think you're going!?”

“Let go of me!! I’ll take down the ‘Demon Beast’… I’ll destroy the Beasts Pirates!!”

To them, this was no different from losing a parent.

While higher-ranking officers remained composed, some of the lower-ranking Marines erupted in anger, drawing their swords and shouting about taking revenge on the Beasts Pirates, driven by grief and fury.

They were restrained with urgency. The Beasts Pirates—one of the Four Emperors—were not an enemy that a lone Marine could hope to defeat. As one of the world’s three great powers, equal in stature to the Marine Headquarters itself, they were rumored to possess strength even surpassing that of the Whitebeard Pirates.

And the fact that Zephyr’s Anti-Pirate Strike Unit was utterly annihilated by Nue alone gave grim credence to those rumors.

Challenging any of the Four Emperors requires a Marine Admiral at minimum, plus a fleet far larger than even a Buster Call. And even then, it’s unlikely one would reach the Emperor themselves.

The damage sustained in such a conflict would be catastrophic. Even if the full strength of Marine Headquarters and the Seven Warlords of the Sea were assembled to crush one Emperor, it would leave the others with an opening to strike. That delicate balance among the three great powers is what keeps the current order intact, and the Marines are no exception. They cannot move recklessly.

Because of this, the World Government will never authorize any aggressive action against the Emperors, and the top brass of the Marines understands this well. …But understanding it doesn’t make the emotions any easier to bear.

“…So? Has a replacement for Crocodile been decided?”

“…It’s currently on hold. A pirate named Blackbeard has stepped forward.”

“‘Blackbeard’~~~!? What, some relation to Whitebeard?”

“According to CP’s report, he’s a former member of Whitebeard’s crew… Well, the Warlord seat can wait. Right now, it’s clear the shock from Zephyr’s death runs deep.”

“Yeah, anyone can see that.”

In a room within the stirred-up Marine HQ, two old warriors exchanged heavy words.

One was the man who sat at the desk of this admiral’s office—Fleet Admiral Sengoku the Buddha, the highest authority in the Marines.

The other was the man lounging comfortably and munching on senbei—“Garp the Fist,” a Marine hero. Though his rank was Vice Admiral, his fame and honor eclipsed even Sengoku’s. With countless accomplishments and the unwavering trust of many, he was a Marine like no other.

Together with “Great Advisor” Tsuru, who was absent from this meeting, the three of them had been Zephyr’s peers—friends and comrades for over fifty years.

“There’s hardly a Marine in service who hasn’t been influenced by Zephyr. That’s why this shock will linger for a long while.”

“…Yeah. It’ll take time to come to terms with it. Tsuru-san said she’ll handle the funeral arrangements.”

“I see.”

Yet neither of them shed tears for their fallen comrade. They mourned, yes—but they had seen too much to cry.

For over fifty years, they had fought criminals on these seas, learned the many faces of “Justice,” seen the light and dark truths of the world, and experienced the deaths of countless loved ones. For them, the death of a comrade was something they could accept with calm.

As Fleet Admiral and Vice Admiral, all they could do now was carry out their duties with quiet resolve. Unlike the younger Marines, they didn’t lash out with vengeance or wallow in helpless fury.

“Zephyr may have weakened with age… but the enemy was just too formidable. If it hadn’t been Kaido or Nue, he might’ve survived, even against the Beasts Pirates.”

“…Between the Red-Haired and Whitebeard incidents and now the Crocodile matter, we can’t afford any reckless moves. Keep your eyes open too, Garp.”

“I know that, dammit.”

If any Marines who admired Zephyr went on a reckless path of revenge, it would only bring more sorrow. Zephyr himself wouldn’t want that.

At the same time, from an organizational standpoint, the fall of a Warlord had already shaken the balance. They couldn’t afford to needlessly mobilize or lose forces. That was a major concern for the leadership.

As long as they bore the name of “Justice” and continued their fight against pirates, there was little room for mourning. If they stopped moving, more lives would be lost. And with so many Marines shaken, it was up to the leaders to restore order.

“…Right. A change of subject, but—Garp. This man who defeated Crocodile… he’s your relative, isn’t he?”

“Hmm…? Oh, did I forget to mention? Bwahahahaha!! Taking down Crocodile, that’s my grandson for you!!”

“You what!? Garp, you bastard~~~!!!”

The room, so heavy with grief over Zephyr, suddenly erupted into chaos. The man who defeated a Warlord of the Sea—“Straw Hat Luffy”—was none other than the grandson of the Navy’s own hero, Monkey D. Garp. That fact had just become known to the upper echelons of the government.

---

“…As expected, the government’s been thrown into chaos dealing with the aftermath of the Crocodile incident and covering it up.”

“Well, yeah, makes sense~♫ …So? What’d they think of my song? Did anyone say anything?”

“Unfortunately, it seems no one even listened to it.”

“That’s unforgivable. I guess I’ll just have to hold another live show in Mary Geoise someday—ahh, chomp♡”

—Somewhere on the seas of the Grand Line.

Aboard a ship flying the flag of the Beasts Pirates, I sink my teeth into a delicious steak of crocodile meat. It’s from a Banana Gator we caught in Alabasta. A little sweet for meat, but surprisingly tasty.

Steak’s gotta be rare, of course! I think, as I chat with one of our All-Stars—“Joker of the War Scars,” Stussy.

It’s rare for her to approach the ship, but apparently, she’s been tasked by the higher-ups to continue overseeing and spying on the Beasts Pirates, so she stopped by to report—and decided to head back with us.

The ship’s rowdy due to the ongoing party, but around us, there are only a few female crew members pouring drinks, so it’s not too noisy. Amidst this, we’re basking in the intoxication of fine liquor earned by acquiring a Poneglyph and the secrets within it. After eating some meat and downing a glass, the topic naturally turns back to that earlier matter.

“Still, I really didn’t think that Crocodile would lose to a pirate worth only 30 million. Even if he is the grandson of that Marine hero.”

“You heard the reports, right? I saw it with my own eyes—this Straw Hat actually beat him♪ Ahaha!! But wow, you already knew he was Garp’s grandson, huh?”

“Of course. We were instructed to look into Monkey D. Luffy’s background after he defeated Crocodile. If needed, I could share the findings with you?”

“Hmm~ I wonder? I know quite a bit myself~♡ For example… did you know he’s not just Garp’s grandson, but also Dragon’s son?”

“!?”

“…!! That’s…”

With that, I casually wave around the recently updated wanted poster for “Straw Hat Luffy.” His bounty’s been bumped up to 100 million, and his swordsman buddy, “Pirate Hunter Zoro,” is now worth 60 million. Looks like they’ve finally earned their stripes as proper pirates.

As expected, even someone like Joker was taken aback to learn he’s Dragon’s son. The crew nearby who overheard were just as stunned. That’s how well-hidden the identity of the Revolutionary Army’s leader is.

Even CP couldn’t trace a single lead despite years of investigation. He’s not challenging the World Government lightly. The man labeled the world’s worst criminal is not only powerful but also an expert at running an organization and counterintelligence.

Once Joker hears this from my own lips, she takes a sip of her red wine and smiles thoughtfully.

“I see… That does explain a lot. Dragon, the global criminal, is the son of the Marine hero, and his son is this Monkey D. Luffy… With that pedigree, it actually makes sense that he could take down Crocodile. Honestly, I thought maybe you just made it look like Straw Hat did it.”

“Ahahaha♡ Well, I could’ve if I wanted to! But it’d be too much hassle. If Luffy had failed, I’d have let Pei-tan handle it. The only reason I stepped in personally was for Zephyr.”

Joker’s not wrong—faking it was possible… but the setup, the acting, the whole production would’ve been a pain. All I needed was the Poneglyph and its contents anyway. And I knew Luffy would win.

“What about this information? You going to tell the government?”

“Hmm~ I’ll leave that to you. Even if I did, someone like Garp would probably slip up and let it out eventually… Oh, right. How’s the Navy? I killed Zephyr, so they must be in quite the uproar, huh?”

Revealing Dragon’s background now wouldn’t really change anything, so I leave the timing and method to Joker. These things go better when left to the experts, after all!

But more importantly, I’m eager to hear the reaction to Zephyr’s death. Joker gives a pleasant smile.

“Oh yes. Many were weeping or wailing, and even those who weren’t looked deeply shaken—it was quite the sight♡”

“Ehhh~~ So jealous~~!! I wish I’d seen that~~!!”

“That said, the upper brass remained composed.”

“Oh, really?”

I’m a little jealous after hearing about the Navy’s reaction, but it seems the higher-ups weren’t that affected. Hmm, maybe not cold-hearted—just used to making those kinds of sacrifices. I figured admirals and above wouldn’t flinch.

Then there’s Garp and Tsuru. Given their history with Zephyr, I’m sure they felt something… but as soldiers, it’s not surprising they’d bear it. Especially since it was me. They were probably prepared.

Still, the resentment from the lower ranks seems intense.

“They called him the man who trained all the Marines. And now that you killed him, the hatred toward you—and us—is on the rise. I imagine future encounters with the Navy will be far more entertaining than before.”

“Something to look forward to♪ Wrath-filled avengers, blinded by hate, coming for revenge—those kinds of guys…”

I grab a bone from a nearby piece of meat, gnaw on it, crush it, and swallow it down before continuing.

“…are so much fun to crush in return…!!!”

“Vengeful hatred can be terrifying… but compared to you, Nue-san, it’s not even worth mentioning♡”

Saying that, Joker finishes off a glass filled with a different red liquid—not wine. Her powers alone are scary enough for most people. But it’s good to see she’s enjoying herself!

“…Though really, people driven by rage or revenge are never that impressive, are they…”

“They can be a nuisance, but… Jack’s made a habit of ensuring no one’s left to come after him.”

“Well, that’s the smart way to run things. I approve. I mean, most people are so thoughtless. They overestimate themselves, get consumed by revenge, and completely ignore the gap in power.”

As a new drink is poured by the girl next to me, I let out a small sigh and continue. I’ve seen more than enough of those so-called avengers.

Once they realize the difference in strength during the fight, they’re gripped by fear and despair.

Or else they just go mad with rage. Or collapse in tears.

It’s absurd. You came here knowing that—didn’t you?

“What misjudgment and naïve thinking lead to… is death. That’s the kind of sea this is, and we are the kind of enemies they face. If you want revenge, you better think before you come. Logic or justice—meh, those don’t matter much to me. But still, I’d appreciate if they considered our side too. Fighting weaklings is boring. Of course we’re going to lean into the bullying.”

“Fufu… So, the samurai don’t make the cut, then?”

“Hmm… There are a few worth noting. Like little Komurasaki… But that girl’s practically my own creation, so for now, I guess she’s still borderline.”

I’ve clashed with samurai, marines, pirates—killed many. And while desperate revenge-seekers are easy to torment, they’re not much fun as fights.

Zephyr was the same. None of them seem to understand the obvious.

“Feelings, beliefs… even willpower—they all matter. But there’s something even more important.”

That’s something much easier to understand.

“The outcome of a battle isn’t decided by will or feelings alone—it’s pure power. Whoever has the most of it… wins, simple as that!!”

Yes, no matter how strong your will or feelings may be, without power, it’s all completely meaningless.

If crying or getting angry were enough to win fights, there’d be no need to train. No reason to look for better tactics. All the effort you put into getting stronger, all the struggle—it would be utterly pointless.

This world is merciless, cruel, and unfair to its core. No matter how pitiful you are, if you’re weak, you die. And no matter how vile someone is, if they’re strong, they survive.

If you can’t understand that—or worse, can’t enjoy it—you won’t last long in these seas.

“Weakness is a crime… If someone rushes into a fight without recognizing their own weakness, then it’s only kind to help them understand the consequences, don’t you think~♪”

“Since it’s the result of their own weakness, they have to accept it, right!!”

“Exactly. You’re really getting it, Bao Huang-chan♡ Want some of this sweet liquor?”

“Yes, please!!”

Since Bao Huang-chan, one of the Gifters and a Shinuchi, was standing nearby and seemed to truly understand what I meant, I gave her some praise and poured her a glass of sweet liquor. Watching her straighten her posture like an athlete as she took the cup, I thought again—these are things even the kids among our crew understand, but sadly, most people in the world today don’t.

“Back in the day, there were real pirates and true warriors who did get it—people like me and Kaido… Linlin, Shiki… Whitebeard, Garp, Roger… There used to be so many of them~~. Nowadays, real pirates are getting rare.”

“So there are more enemies who lack resolve. Even among us, like Dullark…”

“Dullark? Oh, I made sure he learned his lesson!! Keep an eye on him for me as his superior, okay!!”

“Of course. Kaido-san was quite pleased too. Once we’re back, we should have another celebration.”

“And I’ve gotta get the next song recorded too!! So we’d better… hmm?”

“? Something wrong?”

I sensed something through my casually extended Observation Haki. A group of presences out at sea—not too many, but enough to suggest a pirate crew. Probably not the Navy. If it were them, the numbers would be greater.

I could ignore them… but maybe I’ll take a little peek. Standing up and floating into the air, I called out to Joker.

“Found a pirate ship, so I’m gonna go mess with them a bit!!”

“Shall we go as well?”

“Nah, it’s fine♡ I’ll be right back, so no need to change course!!”

“Understood.”

No one can stop me when I decide to act freely. I casually approached the source of that presence—probably just some small-time pirates anyway!

---

Treasure isn’t something you just stumble upon that easily.

In this Great Age of Pirates, there are countless pirates roaming the seas. And among the many things they seek, wealth is always high on the list.

Some salvage treasure sunken beneath the waves, others explore ruins or caves on distant islands in search of it. And some simply steal it from others—that’s just another way to claim treasure.

“Damn it… I botched it bad last time, but this time I’m definitely getting it…!!”

—And on the seas of the Grand Line, there was a man who was chasing treasure and ambition in the flashiest way imaginable.

His ship looked more like a circus troupe than a pirate vessel, and his crew were dressed like acrobats or street performers.

At the head of it all stood “Buggy the Clown,” captain of the Buggy Pirates, known far and wide for his unmistakable red nose.

“Listen up, you lot! This time, you better keep your heads on straight! We’re talkin’ about Captain John’s treasure here. Like I told you before, there’s no telling what kinda traps or trials are waiting for us.”

“Well... last time, we just went to the wrong island.”

“Exactly!! If we don’t screw up the location, then the treasure’s as good as ours!! Which means—getting our hands on a mountain of treasure is practically guaranteed!!!”

“Right!!! That’s our Captain Buggy for you!!!”

“Captain!! Let’s throw a party!!”

“Gyahahahaha!! Hell yeah!! Let’s make this a big ol’ pre-celebration bash!!!”

Fired up by Buggy’s words, the Buggy Pirates burst into laughter and kicked off a wild feast—booze, food, entertainment, you name it.

Captain John’s treasure. Buggy, claiming to have found a lead on the legendary treasure once hoarded by the ruthless pirate, was riding high on confidence. He acted like getting the treasure was a done deal. He had not a single worry in the world.

While First Mate Mohji and Chief of Staff Cabaji joined in the rowdy celebration, one woman simply sighed and looked on in exasperation.

“All this fuss, and you haven’t even found the treasure yet… You people are really something.”

“Gyahahaha! Don’t sweat it, Alvida! As long as we’ve got the location, it’s already ours!”

Alvida of the Iron Mace, currently allied and sailing with the Buggy Pirates, could only shrug at Buggy’s carefree attitude.

Their main target was the infamous Straw Hat Luffy, someone they both had a bone to pick with—but Buggy had always been obsessed with treasure. There was no way he’d pass one up along the way. Alvida didn’t exactly mind scoring treasure either—it was just the part where she doubted they’d actually get any that annoyed her.

And then—someone else, seemingly responding to Buggy’s excitement, casually chimed in.

“Captain John, huh. You really think his treasure’s in a place like that?”

“Gyahaha!! Oh c’mon, now you’re getting cold feet too!? What, you don’t trust the intel I got my hands on!?”

“But that guy—he was such a sly, stingy, mean-spirited jerk, wasn’t he? He was always scheming to steal whatever people cared about most, even from his own crew. And he always tried to take the biggest share of the loot for himself. But then when it came time to hand out treasure, he wouldn’t give a single coin away. That’s why even his own subordinates hated him. On top of that, he had athlete’s foot.”

“Oho! What a damn scumbag!!”

“Right? I mean, sure, he ruled his crew with brute strength for a while—but in the end, they betrayed him and killed him off. Hilarious, right? And even then, they still couldn’t get their hands on his treasure. That kind of stubbornness is almost admirable!”

“What a dumbass! If it were me, there’s no way I’d ever—”

—Wait a sec.

Buggy had been happily chatting away with this stranger, but suddenly something clicked. He didn’t recognize the voice or the face—except... he did.

Black hair. Red eyes. A girl’s face, with a pair of wings on her back—red and blue, and shaped like no creature from this world.

She looked just like the girl from that enemy crew Buggy’s old pirate crew once fought, over twenty years ago—

“Gyaaaaaaahhhh!!! The Beastie!!???”

“Yup, that’s me! Always cute, always mysterious, with a pretty face and a pretty figure—world’s number one adorable lil’ Nue-chan here~! Anyway, like I was saying—John wasn’t the type to go scattering clues to his treasure all over the place. I bet he kept it somewhere close, like right on him.”

“Hey—HEY!!! Don’t just keep talking like nothing happened!! I’m the one freaking out here!!!”

“W-Wait—‘The Beastie’!? You mean… Nue the Beastie!?”

“The Vice Governor of the Beasts Pirates…!!”

Eyes bulging, Buggy screamed and stumbled backward at full force.

The rest of the crew erupted into panic. And who could blame them?

The girl who had somehow snuck aboard and was now chatting with Buggy like an old friend was none other than Nue the Beastie, the infamous right hand of Kaido, one of the Four Emperors.

A pirate whose bounty easily surpassed 3 billion. A genuine monster.

Faced with this real-life nightmare, even Buggy and Alvida broke into a cold sweat, their faces going pale.

“C-Captain Buggy!! What should we do!?”

“D-Dammit!! Calm down, you flashy idiots!! Listen up!! Don’t make any sudden moves—we need to first see what she—”

“Umm… I’m actually doing a signing event right now…”

“Here you go!! Thank you~♪ This is my best album CD—hope you like it♡ And if you check that poster over there, you’ll see my live tour dates, so feel free to come by♡”

"Ah, yes. Thank you very much."

"Hey!! What the hell do you think you’re doing holding a cute little autograph and handshake event on my ship, huh!? And now you’re even selling merch!?"

"Ehhh~ Is that bad? I just happened to see you nearby, so I thought I’d sing a song and maybe get a few more fans."

"...!! I mean, it's not exactly that it's bad, but..."

Seeing Nue, who had somehow already set up a tent and a long table for her autograph session, Buggy hesitated. She tilted her head in a cute, innocent way, but if this monster girl lost her temper, their ship would be shredded into mincemeat in an instant.

(But keeping her here is just as dangerous...!! There’s gotta be a way to get her off this ship...! But I can’t afford to provoke her either...!! What the hell do I do...!?)

His thoughts kept going in circles. She was way too dangerous to leave on board, but offending her might be a death sentence.

"Hey, are we good to start yet? I’m gonna go ahead and finish setting up, okay? Actually—never mind, I’m doing it!"

"~~~~~gh!!! Damn it all!! Thinking’s a pain in the ass!!! Fine!!! Just go ahead and hold your flashy autograph session or guerilla concert or whatever the hell you want!!!"

"Ahaha!! Now that’s the Buggy I know!! You’re so easy to deal with!! —Aaalright then!! Time for Nue-chan’s surprise pop-up guerilla live show!!! Let’s get flashy and wild~~~!!!"

"Wooohhh!! I don’t get what’s going on, but this is hype!!!"

—And so, for a while, the guerilla concert by the monstrous "Phatnom Beast" continued on, the whole event turning into a wild celebration that never lost momentum.