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A pirate carrying drinks immediately stopped and instinctively looked up at the sky.
Then, he saw it—
In the sky, painted red by the setting sun, a strange figure was falling straight toward them.
!!!
His face twisted in fear, sweat breaking out instantly. But by the time he realized what was happening, it was already too late.
BAM!!!
A thick cloud of dust rose within the Buggy Pirates' base.
"Eh!?"
All the pirates, including Buggy the Clown, turned their heads toward the sudden crash.
As a breeze passed through, the dust quickly cleared, revealing four figures—three men and one woman.
One stood normally with a goofy grin.
One lay face-first on the ground like a collapsed dog.
The third, though not in the most graceful pose, still managed to look somewhat cool as he held the girl in his arms.
"Hah~ I finally did it! Thanks to the machine for the reward!"
For the first time, Red had landed properly despite Luffy's recklessness, successfully shielding Nami. A relieved smile spread across his face.
"Red! You bastard! Prioritizing girls over your friends!!!"
On the ground, Zoro, now wearing the marks of his fall, stood up, looking both furious and disheveled.
Seeing this, Red quickly set Nami down and reached out to block the spit flying from Zoro's mouth.
He chuckled sheepishly. "You can't blame me! I warned you beforehand, but you didn't pay attention!"
"Like hell I knew your 'warning' meant this!!!"
"Speaking of which…"
Zoro seethed but then turned his anger toward Luffy, ready to give him a piece of his mind.
However, by then, Luffy had already vanished—drawn away by food. He was now happily munching away from a pirate's plate.
"HEY! LISTEN WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!!!"
Veins bulged on Zoro's forehead. This was his first real taste of Luffy's chaotic nature.
Who in their right mind would suddenly say, "I smell meat," and then just scoop everyone up for an airborne free fall!?
"Alright, alright, calm down, Zoro."
"No. No, I won't."
Red hovered around him like an overly eager peacemaker.
"Hey… you guys…"
Nami, finally recovering from the sheer terror of their sky-high leap, cut in with a helpless sigh.
"Do you even realize the situation we're in right now?"
"We're in the enemy's lair!!!"
She groaned.
Sure, she'd accepted that they were going to fight the Buggy Pirates for a decent meal… but this? This was practically declaring war!
Red grinned, unfazed. "Relax. Just watch me."
"You punks!!!"
Buggy, who had been completely ignored this whole time, finally snapped. He yanked several knives from his waist and glared at them with a menacing grin.
"You dare crash into my base and ruin my banquet—!?"
"HEY, YOU! STOP EATING THAT!!!"
"SERIOUSLY, QUIT EATING, DAMN IT!!!"
Buggy's fury exploded as he saw Luffy still stuffing his face, completely unfazed.
Zoro, now back on high alert, swiftly drew his three swords. The evening light gleamed off the sharp blades.
But just as he was about to charge, Red stretched out a hand.
"Hold on, Zoro!"
He locked eyes with Buggy, his red pupils shining. "You're no match for him."
Then, despite the Buggy Pirates glaring daggers at him, Red stepped forward, his expression relaxed.
With a light smile, he said—
"Senior Buggy, I didn't expect to meet you here."
"Hah!?" Buggy's brows furrowed. Something about this felt… off.
And then, Red spoke the words that made Buggy's pupils shrink.
"As a former member of the Pirate King Roger's crew and the sworn brother of the Yonko Red-Haired Shanks… why are you wasting your time occupying such a meaningless town?"
CLANG—
The sound of a metal tray crashing to the ground echoed through the air.
The entire Buggy Pirates fell silent for a moment, all eyes shifting between Red and Buggy in disbelief.
Zoro and Nami's eyes widened.
"What!?"
"A former crewmember of the Pirate King!? The brother of a Yonko!?"
"T-That's impossible!!!"
"Pirate King? Shanks?"
Even Luffy, still stuffing his face, paused for a second when he heard those key words. His gaze flickered with curiosity.
Buggy's mouth twitched. His hands trembled slightly. He locked eyes with Red's deep crimson gaze and felt like his entire being was laid bare.
This wasn't common knowledge—only a handful of people should have known.
Unless…
A thought struck him like lightning.
Buggy's eyes darted to the straw hat sitting on Luffy's head.
And suddenly, memories rushed in.
Painful, infuriating memories.
The day Gol D. Roger gave that hat to Shanks… putting greater hopes on him.
For Buggy, who had competed with Shanks over everything, that moment had felt like a complete and utter defeat.
His hands clenched into fists.
"You… you know Shanks!?"
His tone had turned dark, laced with frustration and resentment.
But Red simply smiled.
"That guy is my captain."
Buggy's eyes twitched.
"And it looks like he made some kind of agreement with Shanks~" Red continued. "Using the Straw Hat as a symbol, right?"
Hearing that, Buggy scoffed under his breath.
"Tch… that does sound like something Shanks would do."
But inside, his anger flared hotter.
'Damn you, Shanks!!!'
'You were always a thorn in my side! And now, even after all these years, you're still causing me trouble!?'
Buggy's mind raced.
It wasn't Red's strength that worried him—it was his own crew.
What if they turned on him? What if this information spread? If the world found out his past, he'd be hunted! He didn't want to spend his life running!
No.
There was only one option.
Play dumb. Deny everything.
However—
Before he could put his plan into action—
"WHAT!?"
The surrounding pirates suddenly erupted in excitement.
"Captain Buggy was part of the Pirate King's crew!?"
"Did you hear that!? Our great Captain Buggy has a sworn brother who's a Yonko!"
"OH MY GOD! We've been following such a legendary figure all along! We're so lucky!!!"
"LONG LIVE CAPTAIN BUGGY!!!"
…
…
Buggy's face paled.
A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"W-Wait… what!?"
Before he knew it, his crew had already launched into full-blown celebration mode, cheering and clapping like they had won a grand prize.
Panic surged through Buggy.
"SHUT UP!!!"
His upper body split off and flew into the air as he waved his arms frantically.
"I'm not that great!!!"
"That brat is talking nonsense!!!"
"DON'T SPREAD THIS AROUND!!!"
…
But it was useless.
The pirates were drowning in their own delusions, too busy praising him to hear a single word of his protests.
Buggy felt his head throbbing.
"DAMN IT!!!"
Furious, he dropped back down, gripping his knife tightly as he glared at Red.
"You little brat… you ruined my plans… I'll—"
WHOOSH!
A sharp noise cut through the air.
A rock—dense with raw, crushing force—whizzed past Buggy's face and slammed into the ground behind him.
BOOM.
A crater half a meter wide formed instantly.
Buggy froze.
For a brief moment, his mind cleared.
Red took a casual step forward, an amused smile playing on his lips. His voice dropped to a quiet, almost teasing tone:
"Don't act recklessly, Buggy-senpai~"
"My ability directly counters your Bara Bara no Mi."
A cold shiver ran down Buggy's spine.
Red continued, his smile widening slightly.
"If you took a hit from that rock, even your split-up body would feel pain, right?"
Buggy's pupils shrank.
He knows about my powers!?
A drop of sweat rolled down his temple.
"W-What the hell do you want!?"
Red casually placed his right hand on Buggy's shoulder in a way that looked almost… friendly. Their stance made them appear oddly close, as if they were comrades.
With a grin, Red leaned in slightly and whispered—
"Relax, Buggy-senpai."
"We're here to discuss a little cooperation with you."