Shanks had a pained expression on his face. "Hey... Buggy, you can joke around, but this kind of joke is too much!"
"Who's joking?"
Buggy held a pair of handcuffs in one hand and reached for Shanks' arm with the other.
To be honest, the reason Buggy was particularly serious today wasn't because Captain Wagner's example inspired him.
Buggy wasn't doing this for justice; he simply wanted to catch the damn Shanks.
That bastard had caused him to accidentally swallow the Chop-Chop Fruit, making him a landlubber unable to explore underwater treasures, and he even lost a treasure map.
This grudge had to be avenged; it must be avenged!
Just as Buggy was about to grab Shanks' arm, Shanks smoothly dodged to the side, easily avoiding Buggy's move.
"Huh?"
Buggy felt a bit surprised.
Did he miss his target?
Yasopp, who had been worried, relaxed upon seeing the gap between Ensign Buggy and his captain.
Buggy, not giving up, tried to grab Shanks' arm again, but this time, Shanks caught Buggy's wrist instead.
What the...?!
When did this red-haired brat become so strong?
Buggy remembered that back when they were both apprentices on Captain Roger's pirate ship, they were evenly matched. How had the gap grown so much in just a few years?
"Buggy, do you have something you're not telling me?"
Though Shanks often bickered and played around with Buggy, they had a good relationship as shipmates.
Shanks fondly remembered the silly times they challenged Whitebeard together.
"Paper Art: Chop-Chop!"
Buggy used a technique he had learned over the past year, successfully escaping Shanks' grip.
With the precise control of Paper Art, Buggy had improved beyond simply dismembering himself. He could now break into smaller pieces, making ropes ineffective against him.
Shanks smiled in surprise. "Not bad, Buggy. You've improved over the years!"
"Men... I mean, soldiers, get them! Capture these three pirates!"
Buggy jumped back and immediately ordered his soldiers.
"Acrobatics: Steam Killing Incident!"
Buggy's former pirate crew strategist, Cabaji, now reformed, produced a cloud of white mist to obscure Shanks and his crew's vision, then lunged at Ben Beckman with a knife.
Clang!
Beckman deflected the attack with the butt of his gun.
"Beckman! Yasopp!"
"What's the plan?"
"Boss, what's up?"
"Run!"
"Run?"
Beckman and Yasopp, ready to teach the navy a lesson, were taken aback by Shanks' order.
"This is a casino! If we fight and break things here, we'll get scolded. Let's run first. Beckman, remember to retrieve my winnings later!"
"Oh... okay..." Yasopp was bewildered by Shanks' logic.
"This guy..." Beckman just laughed and shook his head.
Crash!
The casino's glass window shattered as the red-haired man in a straw hat jumped out.
"Who just said not to damage property?"
"Winnings can be sacrificed a bit..."
"Looks like the Buggy you mentioned really did join the navy. Otherwise, his prank wouldn't be this elaborate."
Beckman's expression turned serious, seeing another group of armed navy soldiers outside the casino.
"Why don't you two delay them while I go ask Buggy why he joined the navy..." Shanks had a bold idea.
"Boss..."
Yasopp's words were cut short as a figure jumped down from the rooftop, knocking him to the ground.
"Good job, Captain Wagner!"
Buggy, the last to leave the casino, excitedly shouted.
Although Yasopp was an excellent marksman, his hand-to-hand combat was no match for Wagner, who had mastered the techniques of Shave and Iron Body.
"Another expert?"
Beckman didn't expect the navy to deploy two officers and nearly a hundred soldiers to deal with a small pirate crew.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Silent air bullets punched holes in the ground, intercepting Beckman, who was heading to help Yasopp.
Flying Finger Pistol!
Buggy was moved to tears. "Commander Hailan, you finally arrived!"
But when Hailan intercepted Beckman, Shanks had already rescued Yasopp.
Standing on the rooftop, Hailan reassessed the straw hat kid's strength. "Buggy, didn't you say you were evenly matched with him?"
Buggy looked aggrieved. "We were evenly matched, but he's gotten stronger over the years!"
"Buggy, why are you betraying me?" Shanks was increasingly puzzled by Buggy's decision to join the navy.
"Betray you? I'm doing this for your own good!"
Buggy argued, "You haven't slaughtered civilians. If you follow Commander Hailan, I guarantee he can clear your name. Join the Navy, Shanks!
Oh, and Commander Hailan, I report that Shanks' hometown is actually in the West Blue, not the East Blue!"
Shanks was both amused and frustrated. "Buggy, you've changed..."
Buggy proudly declared, "I'm a righteous navy man now, Shanks. Join the navy!"
Shanks had a sudden idea. "Commander, I report that Buggy used to be a pirate!"
Buggy laughed smugly. "Haha, invalid report. Commander Hailan already knows I was a pirate!"
What started as a navy-versus-pirate battle turned into Buggy and Shanks airing each other's dirty laundry, much to the headache of Hailan and Beckman.
Of course, they tactfully avoided mentioning anything about Roger.
Finally, Hailan lost his patience. "Enough! Both of you, shut up!"
"Whatever you need to discuss, you can do it in jail!"
Shave!
Bang!
Muscle clashed against muscle, strength against strength, as Beckman raised a leg to block Hailan's kick.
"Shanks, this navy guy isn't simple. You and Yasopp run first; I'll follow shortly!"