[U.T] Ch 14: Target Locked – Buggy the Clown

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Looking at the glowing text box in front of him, Luen didn't hesitate. He immediately selected "Beast Physique (Deep Purple)" and "Demonic Aura (Special)" to load.

As for "Three-Sword Style" and the absurdly strong jaw strength that could rival a hyena's, he decided to leave those for Zoro himself.

Watching the loading progress bar appear behind Zoro's "Beast Physique (Deep Purple)," as well as Luffy's "Superhuman Physique (Deep Purple)" already being about one-third complete, Luen smirked.

Very soon, he would fully unlock his ticket to becoming a true monster.

"That's so cool!" Luffy exclaimed in excitement, admiring Zoro's unique Three-Sword Style.

"Now that I've fought the Marines here, I guess I'm officially a wanted criminal... but," Zoro lifted his head, flashing a fierce, beast-like grin at Luffy, "I'm going to be the world's greatest swordsman. If sailing with you prevents me from achieving that, you'd better be ready to die."

"Hehehe, anyone aiming to be the Pirate King's crewmate better have at least that much resolve!" Luffy grinned back.

"Zoro, duck!"

"Gomu Gomu no... Muchi!"

Using his Devil Fruit ability, Luffy stretched his right leg and sent a powerful kick flying, knocking down the Marines behind Zoro.

"You bastards!" Morgan roared furiously. Then he made sure that the one he feared most—Luen—hadn't made a move yet. The Marine Captain swung his massive axe-arm down with a deadly force.

"Three-Sword Style – Oni Giri!"

Slash!

A spray of blood filled the air as Zoro unleashed one of his strongest techniques.

Thud!

Under Zoro's attack, Morgan's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground.

"We won! Hehehe!" Luffy cheered, throwing his hands up in celebration.

"Your captain has been defeated! Anyone else wanna try their luck?!" Luffy shouted, rolling up his sleeves.

"Mor... Morgan was defeated?!"

The remaining Marines exchanged glances.

The next second—

Clatter! Clatter!

They all threw their weapons into the air.

"Finally! Morgan's been taken down! We're finally free from his tyranny!" The Marines cheered in celebration.

"..."

"Huh? Shouldn't they be upset that their captain got beaten?" Luffy blinked in confusion.

"Most people who join the Marines do so because they want to protect civilians. Scum like Morgan are just the exception." Luen shrugged.

Though he had chosen the path of a pirate, he wasn't delusional enough to think all Marines were corrupt. In the chaotic world they lived in, the Navy was often the only source of security for ordinary people.

Pirates like Luffy—who acted more like adventurers and even saved people—were rare. They never stayed in one place for long, meaning most civilians couldn't rely on them for protection.

That was why so many nations willingly allied themselves with the Four Emperors. Having a stable territory under their control offered civilians a sense of security.

"Yeah, that makes sense! Hehehe, these Marines don't seem too bad!" Luffy nodded, laughing.

"You two really are different from typical criminals." Zoro was a little surprised but soon smirked.

He was a man of his word. Since he had promised to join, he would stick to it. But it was still reassuring to know he had joined a pirate crew that wasn't evil.

After all, his decision wasn't just about escaping execution and chasing his dream—

It was because he could tell that Luffy and Luen weren't like the pirates who plundered and slaughtered for fun.

Not to mention, Luen possessed a power as overwhelming as the Conqueror's Haki that he wanted to learn it.

And a man like that recognizing Luffy as his captain meant there had to be something extraordinary about him too.

And now, looking at them, Zoro knew he had made the right choice.

[Bond with Roronoa Zoro has strengthened. Trait Loading Speed Increased.]

Seeing the notification, Luen's smirk widened.

"Ahh, I'm starving."

Right then, Zoro suddenly collapsed.

After twenty days without food, the only reason he had managed to take down Morgan was thanks to Rika's rice balls giving him a final burst of energy.

"Big brother, come eat at my place! We have meat!" Rika invited them happily.

"MEAT! Can we come too?!" Luffy's eyes lit up.

"Of course! You saved our town!" Rika beamed.

"Luen, hurry up! Meat!" Luffy turned to him.

"You guys go ahead. I got word that this Marine base has a map of the Grand Line. I'll grab it first," Luen replied, eyeing the base.

"Alright, we'll be off then!" Luffy cheerfully dragged the completely exhausted Zoro by one leg.

"Oi! You damn—wait, you're not actually—?!"

With no strength left to resist, Zoro could only twitch in frustration as Luffy dragged him away.

"MEAAAAAAT!" Luffy whooped, picking up Rika along the way as she guided him to the restaurant.

Meanwhile, Zoro was being unceremoniously dragged along the ground.

"At least carry me properly, you bastard!!"

His angry shouts were drowned out by Luffy's excited yells.

— — —

Watching this hilarious moment play out, Luen chuckled before making his way to Morgan's office.

"Just as I thought. Nami already cracked this safe, but she left this behind... classic move from one of the Coward Trio."

Opening the safe, Luen found a note with the Jolly Roger of the Buggy Pirates and the words, "I'm taking the map, suckers!"

How did he know it was Nami?

[Safe Trait: A safe that has already been unlocked and relocked by Nami.]

With the valuable map gone, Nami had cleverly left the note behind to avoid drawing unnecessary Marine attention.

Luen wasn't disappointed, though. He didn't expect to catch Nami so easily without Observation Haki. A skilled infiltrator like her wouldn't be found unless she wanted to be.

But it didn't matter—he'd meet her soon enough at Buggy's base.

"Buggy the Clown, huh?"

Luen studied the note, his eyes flickering with intrigue.

A former crewmate of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, alongside Red-Haired Shanks...

During the legendary battle between the Roger and Whitebeard Pirates, Whitebeard himself remembered Buggy more vividly than Shanks.

What exactly made Buggy special?

That had always been a mystery to Luen.

In the original story, Buggy's rise was pure luck—using his past with Roger's crew to attract followers, getting broadcasted at Marineford, and later gaining the backing of Mihawk and Crocodile to become an Emperor.

But with his Trait System, Luen was confident he'd uncover whatever made Buggy truly unique.

"Roger saw something in you... Let's see if you can surprise me, Buggy."

With that, he pocketed the note and headed toward Rika's restaurant.

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