[U.T] Ch 19: The One Piece World Tradition!

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"Miss Thief, we're counting on you. Go ahead and unlock our captain's cage."

Luen looked at Nami with a grin.

Buggy Balls alone weren't enough to take down Buggy.

Right now, Luen's only real ace was his Conqueror's Haki.

Sure, in the East Blue, Luen's precision control of Conqueror's Haki was basically unbeatable. But against someone like Buggy, who couldn't be overwhelmed by sheer Haki and had a Devil Fruit ability, he'd have to rely on Luffy.

Luen remembered that in the original story, Nami managed to steal the key… though that dog, Chouchou, ended up swallowing it.

This was a perfect job for Luffy—let him earn his keep by getting Buggy's special abilities.

"Call me Nami, alright? No need for fancy titles."

Even though Luen and his crew were pirates, Nami was genuinely grateful for them saving her.

"Just wait here." With that, Nami darted off like a fox.

"Using your own men as shields, huh, Buggy?"

The dust and debris from the explosion slowly settled, revealing Buggy's figure once more.

Buggy's hands were already detached, holding two of his lackeys in front of him.

"Such powerful Conqueror's Haki at your age... your future is scary for sure. But right now? You're no match for me, the great Buggy, with my Chop-Chop Fruit powers!"

Buggy had completely recovered from the earlier Haki shockwave thanks to the Buggy Ball explosion.

Conqueror's Haki was a king's aptitude, sure, but until you mastered coating techniques, it could only be used for intimidation and shockwaves.

Having sailed with the Roger Pirates for years, Buggy had a sharp eye. And from what he could tell, Luen wasn't particularly strong. Only having Conqueror's Haki.

At least, not compared to him, someone empowered by the Chop-Chop Fruit.

Buggy didn't get why someone with such insane Haki could be so average in direct combat… but it didn't matter. All he had to do was crush him.

As for Zoro, the "Pirate Hunter," well… he was a swordsman. And Buggy, with his fruit powers, didn't fear swordsmen. Not even Mihawk, honestly—though mostly because Mihawk knew about his connection to Shanks and wouldn't go for the kill.

"Looks like I'll have to hold him off for now, Luen." Zoro drew his three swords, ready to face Buggy.

"Trying to show off before dying! Ha?!"

Buggy roared and charged at Zoro.

Slash!

With a quick step, Zoro cut Buggy clean in half, sending him collapsing to the ground.

"Quit faking. We know sword slashes don't work on your body, Buggy."

Luen looked at the "fallen" Buggy, who was clearly lying in wait for a sneak attack.

Pathetic. After being cursed by the sea for eating a Devil Fruit, Buggy, labeled "Born for the Sea (Super-Gold)," had fallen to such underhanded tricks.

Without the Chop-Chop Fruit, Zoro could've taken Buggy out easily.

"Oh!"

"Since you guys know my fruit's secret, no point in playing dead."

Buggy's upper half floated up with a sinister grin.

"Chop-Chop Cannon!"

Buggy yelled, his hands separating and brandishing knives as they flew toward Luen and Zoro.

"Gomu Gomu no—Bite!"

"What the hell?!"

Buggy's eyes nearly popped out of his skull as Luffy's head stretched out and chomped down on the knife right in front of Luen.

"What kind of body is that?! Are you a monster?!"

Having stolen the key and freed Luffy, Nami stared wide-eyed at Luffy's neck stretching several meters.

"Your body can stretch like that… You ate a Devil Fruit too?" Buggy twitched.

"Yup! I'm a rubber man thanks to the Gum-Gum Fruit!" Luffy replied, words muffled with the knife in his teeth.

Clang!

Zoro slashed away Buggy's flying attacks, then sliced through the ropes binding Luffy.

"I'm free! Hehehe, thanks a lot, Zoro, Miss Thief Navigator!"

Luffy stretched his arms and grinned.

"Quit giving me weird nicknames! I'm just repaying my debt for saving me." Nami rolled her eyes at the carefree idiot.

"I've decided! You're gonna be the navigator of our pirate crew! Hehehe. And I'm gonna get my hands on that Grand Line sea chart!"

Luffy rolled up his sleeves, eyeing Buggy.

"Don't go deciding things on your own! Whatever, you pirates can beat each other up all you want. I'm grabbing the treasure and getting out of here. See you around—maybe we'll team up again someday. Bye!"

Nami waved at Luen and the others, then darted off like the wind.

"Ah, thanks!" Luffy waved cheerfully.

"See ya later, Nami."

Luen smiled and waved as well.

Hearing Luen's words, Nami's footsteps hesitated for a brief second before she sped up and disappeared from sight.

Those words… sounded so familiar. It was like what Luen told her back when they first met. And just like that, fate was coming full circle.

"You bastards still got time to chat?! Straw Hat! That damn hat of yours reminds me of that cursed red-haired bastard! It pisses me off!"

Buggy's eyes were bloodshot.

"Red hair? You... you know Shanks?!"

Luffy's face lit up, like someone had just hit his keyword trigger.

"So what if I do?"

Buggy grinned wickedly.

"Where is Shanks now?!"

Luffy asked urgently.

"Who knows? Maybe I know him, maybe I don't. We used to know each other... or not. Who cares."

Remembering how he only ate the Chop-Chop Fruit because of Shanks, Buggy's anger flared.

"What are you babbling about? Are you stupid?"

Luffy gave Buggy a deadpan look.

"Like hell I'd tell you what you want to know!"

Buggy roared, his sharp teeth showing.

"Then I'll just beat it out of you."

Luffy rolled up his sleeves, ready for action.

...

"Let's just sit back and watch, Zoro."

"Buggy's all yours, Luffy."

Luen sat down with Zoro in a clean spot, calling out to Luffy.

Listening to their exchange, Luen's lips curled into a strange smile.

This was the One Piece World Tradition.

Before any real fight starts, everyone makes sure to lay out their backstory and connections first—just so nobody accidentally kills someone important.

Classic.

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