Just like that, one of the Five Emperors of the sea, the [Star Clown], [Clown Emperor] Buggy-sama, officially stepped into the center of the world stage.
Inside the core conference room of the Cross Guild,
Crocodile sat at her desk, reviewing several intelligence reports spread across the table. Hawk Eyes, meanwhile, just like when he used to stay with Orin, continued refining his swordsmanship through daily training.
As for their "leader," Buggy, he had been sent out by them to work — tasked with constructing the Cross Guild's main battleship.
"Tch..."
Putting down the intelligence in her hand, Crocodile frowned and held her cigar between her fingers.
Sensing something unusual, Hawk Eyes glanced over. Since they were already familiar with each other, he asked directly,
"What's wrong?"
Crocodile handed the report to him.
"This sea is really getting lively… That guy Orin seems to be stirring up trouble in Wano again."
Hawk Eyes thought for a moment.
"If I remember correctly… that's Kaido's territory, right?"
"It's not just Kaido anymore. Even the Big Mom Pirates have joined in. It looks like they've formed a dual-Yonko alliance to wage a decisive battle against the rookie alliance led by Straw Hat Luffy."
Crocodile sighed, then seemed to recall something and asked Hawk Eyes,
"What role do you think Orin is playing in all this?"
"Is he siding with Straw Hat Luffy's alliance, or with Kaido and Big Mom?"
"Orin, huh…"
The question actually made Hawk Eyes think for quite a while before he arrived at a rather certain conclusion.
"If I had to guess… probably neither. With his personality, he'd most likely make both sides join forces against him."
"Hahahahahaha!!!"
A rare smile appeared on Crocodile's usually gloomy face.
"Exactly… just what I was thinking."
While feeling emotional about the situation, Crocodile also sensed a growing urgency deep inside.
Even the Yonko had begun forming alliances. Could the so-called "utopian" military nation they planned to build truly remain secure with their current strength alone?
Her sharp mind began turning rapidly. Ideas started forming.
Fine grains of sand drifted with the wind, gathering a Den Den Mushi into her hand. She dialed a call.
"Beru Beru Beru..."
The Den Den Mushi rang for quite some time before finally connecting.
A fierce face appeared on its shell.
"What is it, Crocodile?"
Crocodile didn't show any irritation at the blunt tone. She simply smiled with her cigar in her mouth.
"Still as straightforward as ever…"
"Bullet."
Hearing his name, Bullet narrowed his eyes.
"If you called just to say that, then there's nothing to talk about."
Just as the call was about to end, Crocodile stopped him.
"Wait… After what happened last time, you should have realized something, right?
(I'll drop a small teaser — the fanatical movie-timeline events between Wano and Totto Land will be written later.)
I'll speak plainly. How about coming over to my side? I'm building a new force. Hawk Eyes has already joined as well."
"..."
"Think about it. After all, none of us easily trust others — you, me, or Hawk Eyes. We're all the same kind of people."
To be honest, Bullet never thought highly of Crocodile's strength.
But Hawk Eyes was different.
To Orin, Hawk Eyes was like Rayleigh to Roger — and Bullet fully acknowledged his power.
Now, Bullet's own views had begun to change and waver.
"I'll consider it. But at least not anytime soon."
"Hmm???"
Crocodile didn't quite understand. A lone wolf like Bullet, similar to Hawk Eyes, shouldn't have anything tying him down on this sea.
Bullet answered straightforwardly,
"I owe Orin a favor. So at least for now, I have to go out and take care of something."
Hearing it involved Orin, Crocodile frowned slightly, surprise flashing in her eyes.
"Could it be… related to the Onigashima war?"
"More or less. If you want the details, go ask Orin yourself."
Clearly unwilling to discuss it further, Bullet quickly ended the call.
Crocodile turned back toward Hawk Eyes, who had already finished his sword practice and was now looking at her.
"You want to recruit that Bullet?"
"Yes… He's an extremely rare combat asset. Just like Orin, he was once a monster aboard the Pirate King's ship. The Cross Guild needs more powerful forces to hold the line."
Most importantly, Bullet belonged to the same category as them.
Half-villain archetypes, similar past experiences, and on good terms with Orin.
"Let's go take a look at that clown's newly designed ship…"
...
Meanwhile, Onigashima.
The army assembled to defeat Kaido had already begun landing on the island. Luffy and Kid charged ahead, recklessly rampaging toward the island's interior, competing to claim Kaido's head.
Their momentum was overwhelming. A gigantic Armament Haki-coated rubber fist instantly smashed the main hall into complete chaos.
In the distance, Enel heard the commotion. Sitting atop the dinosaur forms of Ulti and Page One, he bit into an apple while looking toward the noise.
"Looks like more mortals have arrived…"
Ulti and Page One, serving as his seats, had their eyes rolled back. Smoke still rose from their mouths, as if they had been thoroughly electrocuted by the electric baton in Enel's hand. They muttered weakly,
"You… cunning guy…"
"Calling a god 'cunning' is blasphemy!!!"
"After all, when it comes to Observation Haki range, I'm not inferior to that man."
During the earlier battle, Enel had never fought seriously. Instead, the dinosaur attacks of the siblings were wide and aggressive, every movement fully detected by the electric charges Enel had scattered throughout the area.
He easily avoided everything — and rewarded them with hundred-million-volt electrotherapy sessions.
If they weren't Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit users, they would probably have been cooked by now.
"I wonder what everyone else is doing…"
Enel looked slightly helpless. Why did it feel like he was the only one on this island? Weren't they supposed to arrive together?
The others aside, that Fish-Man whose Devil Fruit ability could perform combination techniques with his own — Enel had quite a good impression of him.
If that guy were here too, Enel was confident the two of them alone could face either the dual-Yonko alliance or the alliance of the new generation brats.
Enel pulled out a Den Den Mushi and made a call.
At the same time, Luffy was running around blindly. Somehow, he ended up here, bumping into Enel and the defeated Ulti siblings.
"Huh… what's going on here?"
An awkward stare-down followed. Holding his straw hat as if he had wandered into empty territory, Luffy walked right up to Enel and looked at the dinosaur he was sitting on.
"Long-eared uncle, are you here to attack the Beasts Pirates too?"
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