Chapter 8: The Clown and the Straw Hat
As we neared Orange Town, it immediately became obvious that something was wrong.
The town looked eerily empty, and several buildings throughout the area had been destroyed as if a battle or something else had taken place recently.
“Yeah… Buggy is definitely still here,” Nami muttered darkly while observing the town through a spyglass.
“Kind of a shame Buggy turned into such a trash pirate despite his past,” I commented with a small frown.
“What do you mean despite his past?” Nami asked while turning toward me curiously.
I blinked before casually revealing the truth.
“I mean Buggy the Clown used to be a member of the Pirate King’s crew.”
“…Well, technically he was just a chore boy, but still.”
That immediately earned stunned blinks from both Nami and Zoro.
“W-What!?” Nami exclaimed in shock. “I thought all members of the Pirate King’s crew were hunted down and killed by the World Government!”
Then she narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“And how do you even know that?”
Realizing I had never actually explained it, I widened my eyes slightly.
“Oh right, I never told you.”
“Shanks, the pirate who gave me my hat, was also a member of the Pirate King’s crew. Him and Buggy were actually rivals back then.”
“You know a member of the Pirate King’s crew!?” Nami practically screeched, somehow looking even more scandalized than before.
Then her face suddenly paled.
“Wait!” she yelped while grabbing me by the shoulders and shaking me back and forth. “Doesn’t that mean Buggy is insanely strong!?”
“Why are we attacking him then!?”
“Heh.” Zoro smirked from nearby. “Sounds like a good challenge.”
“Relax, Nami,” I laughed while placing my hands on her shoulders to calm her down. “I wouldn’t bring us here if there was any real danger.”
Nami stared into my eyes for a few moments before finally calming down.
Then I turned toward Zoro.
“Don’t get your hopes up too much though. From what I know, Buggy was kind of the black sheep of the crew.”
“He shouldn’t be much stronger than the average East Blue pirate.”
“In fact…” I closed my eyes briefly and expanded my Observation Haki a little. “I can already sense his presence. He’s actually weaker than you.”
“Tsk. Sounds disappointing,” Zoro grunted in annoyance.
“…Huh,” Nami muttered thoughtfully. “I guess every group has a loser.”
“Yep,” I nodded before suddenly turning toward the left side of the ship. “Anyway, we’ve got company.”
The others followed my gaze and spotted a small boat approaching the island while flying Buggy’s Jolly Roger.
“Ooh~” Nami’s eyes instantly turned into Berry signs. “They’re probably coming back from looting something!”
She immediately pointed forward dramatically.
“Alright, Luffy! Zoro! Go beat them up!”
“You don’t order me around, woman,” Zoro replied with visible irritation.
“I got this,” I said casually before turning toward them with a grin.
“Remember how I promised I’d show you what Conqueror’s Haki looks like?”
The two blinked before focusing entirely on me.
I narrowed my eyes slightly and focused my will toward the approaching pirates.
A silent pressure spread outward from me like an invisible wave.
Then, a moment later—
The two pirates’ eyes rolled into the back of their heads before they collapsed unconscious onto the deck.
Silence followed.
“…Eh?” Nami blinked.
“I guess now I understand why it’s called Supreme King Haki if it can force weak-willed people to their knees,” Zoro muttered quietly while giving me a small look of respect from the corner of his eye.
“Did you guys feel that?” I asked as I turned back toward them with a small smile.
Nami shook herself out of her stupor before nodding slowly.
“Y-Yeah… now that you mention it, I felt some kind of pressure for a moment before it disappeared.”
“Same,” Zoro added thoughtfully. “Felt like something brushed against my mind for a second.”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “I still don’t have perfect control over it yet, but I tried to direct it only at those pirates.”
“Still, just remember that a focused blast from an experienced user can catch you off guard if you aren’t prepared for it.”
“In the end though,” I continued with a grin, “like I’ve told you guys several times already… believing in yourself goes a long way when it comes to unlocking Haki.”
Then I turned toward Tiche.
“Tiche, mind hopping over to their ship and bringing back anything valuable?” I asked casually.
“Of course, Luffy-sama. I’ll return shortly,” Tiche replied immediately before launching herself into the air.
Using Geppo, she quickly crossed the distance toward the unconscious pirates’ ship.
Nami watched her go for a moment before turning back toward me curiously.
“While we’re on the topic… why does Tiche always talk to you so respectfully?”
“That’s just how she is,” I answered with a shrug. “A bunch of stuff happened and Tiche pledged herself to follow me. I accepted. Simple as that.”
“Just be thankful she doesn’t constantly call me ‘Master’ anymore.”
“Huh…” Nami tilted her head thoughtfully. “You really don’t act like someone who grew up around mountain bandits.”
“I mostly have Makino and Sabo to thank for that,” I replied with a smile.
“Your brother and mother-figure?” Nami asked, her voice noticeably gentler now.
I nodded.
Over the past few weeks at sea, the topic of my childhood had naturally come up a few times.
I’d told them about Shanks, Dadan and her mountain bandits, and my sworn brothers Ace and Sabo.
Little by little, I could tell I was slowly chipping away at the walls around Nami’s heart that Arlong had forced her to build.
Honestly, it was probably inevitable.
There was only so much emotional distance someone could maintain while trapped on a tiny boat with the same people for weeks straight.
Sensing the mood turning softer, Zoro coughed into his hand and shifted the conversation.
“So the plan is beating Buggy, taking his treasure, and getting the Grand Line map, right?”
Me and Nami both turned toward him before I nodded.
“Pretty much. After that, I think it’s finally time we get ourselves a proper ship.”
“I hope you’re not planning to use my money for that,” Nami immediately said with a raised eyebrow.
“Shishishi, of course not,” I laughed. “Me and Tiche already have enough money to buy one.”
“The real problem is finding a ship that actually suits our needs and is in good condition.”
“More room to train would definitely be nice,” Zoro agreed with a nod.
“Hmm…” Nami crossed her arms thoughtfully. “I might actually know somewhere we could search, but let’s deal with Buggy first.”
The rest of us nodded.
A moment later, Tiche returned carrying a bag slung over one shoulder and a barrel under her arm.
Nami instantly forgot everything else.
“Treasure!” she squealed before practically diving at the bag while thanking Tiche enthusiastically.
Me and Zoro rolled our eyes at the exact same time before turning our attention toward anchoring the boat now that we had finally reached shore.
=====
After securing the ship, we began walking through the deserted town toward Buggy and his crew, with the distant sounds of explosions and loud partying making it easy to pinpoint their location.
As we got closer, I noticed Nami growing more and more nervous until she slowly drifted closer to my side.
“Are you sure we can’t just sneak into his treasure room and steal everything we need without fighting Buggy, Luffy?” Nami asked nervously while looking up at me hopefully.
“Yep,” I answered immediately with a cheerful nod, instantly crushing her hopes and causing her shoulders to slump.
“This is a perfect opportunity for you guys to get some actual combat experience while the enemies are still relatively weak.”
“Hm, sounds good to me.” Zoro grinned from beside us. “I think I’ve already gotten the basic hang of that breathing style you taught us.”
“That’s good,” I nodded approvingly. “Once you’ve got a proper grasp of the basics, I’ll teach you the next step.”
Zoro responded with an eager grunt.
“Wait!” Nami suddenly exclaimed in horror. “You don’t actually expect me to fight too, do you!?”
I smiled apologetically before patting her shoulder.
“Sorry, Nami, but like I told you before… nothing improves your training faster than real combat.”
“But—!”
Seeing the fear in her eyes, my expression softened.
“Relax. You know how fast I am by now. If you’re ever in any real danger, I’ll step in immediately.”
Nami studied my face silently for a few moments before swallowing nervously and nodding.
“F-Fine,” she muttered reluctantly. “But if I’m fighting too, then I want all of Buggy’s treasure as compensation.”
“It’s all yours,” I agreed instantly.
“I just want you to leave a little behind for the villagers so they can rebuild once we’re gone.”
Nami froze mid-step.
“…Are you really even a pirate?” she muttered while staring at me strangely. “What kind of pirate worries about random townspeople?”
“To be honest, I don’t really like the word pirate either,” I admitted, surprising her enough that she turned fully toward me.
“Because of my lineage and the things I want to accomplish though, people are going to label me one no matter what.”
“If I got to choose my own title…”
A small smile spread across my face.
“…then I’d rather be called an adventurer.”
Nami’s eyes widened slightly.
“The reason I went out to sea in the first place was because I wanted to explore everything the world had to offer.”
“When I was little, I just thought becoming a pirate was the only way to do that… so I went with it.”
A nostalgic feeling welled up inside me as memories of childhood dreams surfaced again.
Nami stayed quiet for several moments before eventually turning forward again and straightening her posture.
“…Alright,” she said more firmly than before. “I’ll fight.”
“Just make sure you keep your word, Luffy.”
“Of course,” I replied immediately. “You’re my precious nakama after all.”
Nami instantly sped up her walking pace while shielding part of her face from view, though the blush spreading across her cheeks was still completely visible.
“Hmph.” Zoro rolled his eyes from beside me. “That woman changes moods faster than breathing.”
He immediately regretted those words as a fist slammed into his cheek.
“Shut up, Zoro!”
=====
Before long, we finally came face to face with Buggy and his crew, finding them partying without a care in the world.
And sitting atop an elevated platform at the back was none other than Buggy the Clown himself.
Big red nose and all.
Buggy raised a curious eyebrow at our arrival, his gaze first landing on Zoro beside me, probably recognizing him from his reputation and three swords, before shifting toward me.
Then his eyes froze.
Specifically, on my straw hat.
A second later, his expression twisted into a glare.
“Well, well… what do we have here?” Buggy asked with a dangerous grin as his crew laughed loudly around him.
“Have you come to collect my bounty, Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro?”
“Nah,” I replied casually as I stepped forward with a grin and looked him straight in the eyes.
“We’re just here to beat you up and steal your treasure and Grand Line map.”
“Pirate to pirate.”
“Tsk, who the hell do you think you are, you flashy bastard!?” Buggy shouted angrily while baring his teeth. “You can’t just walk in here demanding my stuff!”
“The name’s Monkey D. Luffy,” I declared proudly while grinning wider.
“The future King of the Pirates.”
“Now hand over your treasure, red nose.”
Buggy’s crew immediately erupted into angry shouting and curses.
Then they all suddenly went silent as they realized I spoke the taboo.
Buggy’s face slowly turned bright red.
“W-What did you just call me…?” he asked in a terrifyingly calm voice.
“I must’ve misheard you.”
“Are you deaf and stupid?” I asked mockingly while grinning even harder.
“I called you a stupid big red nose.”
That was the final straw.
“Kill them!” Buggy practically screeched while foaming at the mouth in rage.
With excited grins, Buggy’s crew immediately rushed toward us.
I casually stepped back and nodded toward the others.
“You guys are up.”
“Leave it to us, Luffy-sama,” Tiche replied calmly before instantly disappearing with Soru.
A moment later, pirates started dropping one after another.
“Santoryu: Tatsu Maki!”
Without hesitation, Zoro unsheathed all three swords and spun forward, creating a miniature tornado that tore through the incoming pirates.
“Y-You better keep your promise,” Nami muttered nervously while assembling her staff.
Then the first pirate rushed toward her.
A second later—
CRACK!
Her staff slammed directly into the poor bastard’s crotch.
The pirate immediately collapsed while letting out an inhuman squeal of agony.
“…Ouch,” I muttered sympathetically while unconsciously moving a hand to protect my own junior.
Even Zoro visibly winced for a moment.
Thankfully for us, Buggy’s crew was nowhere near strong enough to seriously threaten Tiche or Zoro.
The two tore through pirates almost effortlessly, leaving only a smaller group for Nami to handle.
And surprisingly enough…
She was doing really well.
Thanks to the Observation training we’d been putting her through, she was already dodging attacks far more smoothly than before while making sure every strike from her staff landed painfully.
Meanwhile, Buggy’s expression steadily grew darker and darker as he watched his crew get dismantled by two girls and one swordsman.
As he watched Nami deal with the last pirate with a brutal smack to the head, Buggy suddenly grinned before launching his detached arm full of knives straight toward her back.
Not on my watch, you coward.
With narrowed eyes, I vanished with Soru and appeared directly behind Nami.
Startled, she immediately spun around with her staff raised to attack before freezing as she noticed me.
More specifically—
The detached hand I was gripping tightly in my own before it could skewer her from behind.
“Tsk,” I muttered darkly while tightening my grip hard enough for bones to crack.
“Attacking a woman from behind? That’s low even for you, clown.”
My straw hat shadowed my eyes as Buggy winced in pain.
“I’m a pirate, you idiot!” Buggy shouted angrily while struggling to pull his detached hand free. “Why the hell should I care about morals!?”
“H-His hand detached!?” Nami exclaimed in shock as she finally realized there wasn’t any blood.
“I see…” Zoro muttered while frowning thoughtfully. “So that must be the power of a Devil Fruit.”
His attention shifted toward the man riding a unicycle standing near Buggy.
“Despicable scum,” Tiche said coldly.
“Mohji! Cabaji!” Buggy screamed furiously. “What are you idiots standing around for!? Kill them already!”
“At once, Captain!”
Mohji, a white-haired man riding atop a giant lion with a pink mane, approached arrogantly before stopping as Tiche stepped directly into his path.
“So I have to kill you first, woman,” Mohji declared proudly. “Be honored. I, Mohji the Beast Tamer, shall personally take your head.”
“I’ll be the one taking your head, Roronoa,” Cabaji declared dramatically while rolling forward on his unicycle.
“Bring it, clown,” Zoro replied with a dangerous grin.
“You’ve done enough, Nami,” I said while turning toward her with a proud smile. “Why don’t you go search for Buggy’s treasure room while we handle the rest?”
At the mention of treasure, Nami’s eyes instantly lit up.
In her excitement, she even gave me a quick hug before immediately taking off.
“Thought you’d never ask!”
“Tsk! Get back here, woman!” Buggy yelled furiously. “Do you really think I’ll let you steal from me right in front of my face!?”
He immediately tried sending his remaining detached hand after her.
Only to scream in agony as I completely crushed the hand I was already holding.
“AAARGH! You bastard! My hand!”
“Your fight is with me, clown,” I said coldly before tossing the broken hand aside and jumping onto the elevated platform in front of him.
“You’ve really pissed me off now, Straw Hat!” Buggy snarled despite the pain. “You and that stupid hat of yours that brings back painful memories!”
“Shanks’ hat, you mean,” I replied with a grin.
Buggy’s face instantly twisted further.
“Tsk! So I was right! That stupid straw hat did belong to Red Hair!”
“Don’t badmouth Shanks in front of me, red nose,” I replied sharply.
Then I vanished.
Even I was slightly surprised when Buggy barely managed to track my movement as I appeared directly in front of him with both arms stretched backward.
“Gum Gum…”
My fists snapped forward violently.
“Bazooka!”
The attack slammed directly into Buggy’s stomach and launched him backward through the circus tent in an explosion of debris.
Huh.
That bastard actually managed to react to my Soru.
Guess he isn’t complete trash after all.
A few moments later, I sensed movement and watched Buggy slowly stagger back onto the stage while coughing blood.
“You’ve really done it now, Straw Hat…” Buggy growled weakly while glaring murderously at me despite his injuries.
“You’re dead!”
A grin slowly spread across my face.
“Alright then.”
I cracked my knuckles.
“Let’s do this.”
Honestly, I felt a little excited now.
Buggy was way tougher than I originally expected.