The next day, Weiss was awakened by a loud commotion. The Chris was docked in a remote, quiet corner of the harbor—practically on the edge of the port itself.
Normally, no noise should have reached this far.
But…
"Quit yapping and move that damn ship out of the way! I need to dock here! Don't block me—I'm family of the Shichibukai, Donquixote Doflamingo! Ugh!"
Weiss stepped onto the deck and saw a ship not far off, flying a familiar pirate flag—one with a grinning face.
Standing on its deck was a woman in a maid outfit, a cigarette dangling from her lips.
Next to her was a large, rotund man with hair spiraled like helicopter blades and chains wrapped around his body. He was shouting at the port workers, demanding that his ship dock right here. He wouldn't take no for an answer—not even if they offered him another spot.
That man was none other than Buffalo, an officer of the Donquixote Family!
It made sense for them to show up—this auction had some items prepared by Joker.
Joker was Doflamingo's alias in the underworld. Still, Buffalo showing up with such fanfare seemed a bit over the top.
...
In the underworld, people knew that name. But not many in Paradise (the first half of the Grand Line) were aware that it belonged to Doflamingo.
Officially, he was still the beloved king of Dressrosa, a "model citizen" under the World Government!
The harbor manager was nearly pulling his hair out. Who would've thought this auction would attract a Shichibukai from all the way in the New World?
If he'd known that, he'd never have taken this damn job.
But it's not like the people already docked were easy to deal with either.
Word had already spread: two foolish pirates were killed on the island—both with bounties over 80 million berries.
"Lord Buffalo, please don't make this difficult. That ship over there belongs to the Sword Demon. We don't dare drive him off," the manager pleaded, practically begging.
"Sword Demon, huh? Just some guy who happened to get caught up in a battle with an Admiral and one of the All Stars. No way he's actually that strong. Ugh," Buffalo scoffed.
As one of the Shichibukai's officers, Buffalo had the arrogance to back up such words.
Shichibukai were known for their pride, and their subordinates weren't much better.
"Miss, perhaps you could try instead? Maybe the Sword Demon will listen to a lady and vacate the spot?"
"Oh? You're asking me to do something? I'm needed again, huh?"
The manager was stunned by Baby 5's reaction. He hadn't expected this strange quirk of hers—he just thought a woman might be more reasonable and gave it a shot.
Surprisingly, it worked.
"Buffalo, take me over there!"
Baby 5 knocked on Buffalo's head, urging him to use his Devil Fruit power to bring her over.
"But…"
"No buts. Do it!"
Reluctantly, Buffalo activated his ability and carried Baby 5 over to the Chris.
Weiss watched the two arrive, yawning out of boredom. Being woken up early was annoying—he'd wanted to go back to sleep.
"Hey! I'm requisitioning this dock. Move your ship out!" Buffalo barked like Weiss was one of his underlings.
"What did you say?" Weiss rubbed his eyes, still groggy.
"I said move your ship! I'm a combat officer of the Donquixote Family! A Shichibukai crew member! Ugh!"
"Do I look like someone who backs down?" Weiss turned to ask Karina, who'd just stepped out.
"Nope."
Having gotten confirmation, Weiss turned back and let loose.
"What the hell did you say?!"
Buffalo pretended not to hear, as if this kind of attitude was beneath him. Shichibukai were used to throwing their weight around—when had one ever been talked back to like this?
"Read my lips: Get lost."
Weiss barked the words with raw aggression. Who the hell did this guy think he was, demanding someone just give up their spot?
Buffalo trembled with rage, face twisting with fury.
"You've made me angry! Ugh!"
His hair began to spin like airplane propellers, and a powerful wind formed out of thin air, spiraling into a full-blown tornado.
This was his Devil Fruit power: the Spin-Spin Fruit. It allowed him to fly and generate huge gusts of wind.
Basically, he was a high-powered fan on steroids.
"I'm gonna kill you! Ugh!"
"Ugh, what are you, a grown man making baby noises? Disgusting."
Weiss couldn't take it anymore. In a flash, he vanished from his spot—then reappeared with a powerful kick.
Buffalo, caught completely off guard, flew through the air like a cannonball. The moment of impact sent him crashing into the side of the pirate ship, the grinning-flag one, leaving a deep dent in its hull.
Buffalo tried to stop himself, but the overwhelming force behind the kick gave him no control. He blasted clean through the ship and finally fell into the sea with a splash.
The crew scrambled into the water to rescue him. Everyone knew what happened when a Devil Fruit user fell into the ocean—and it wasn't pretty.
It all happened in the blink of an eye. Baby 5 couldn't even react in time. When Buffalo hit the water, the whirlwind he'd generated was still spinning!
That's how fast Weiss was.
The wind gradually died down, fading into the sea breeze.
Baby 5 stared at the gaping hole in the ship's side, her neck stiff as she turned to look at Weiss. At that moment, she finally realized—this man really could go toe-to-toe with an Admiral.
He took out a Donquixote officer with just one kick.
If Weiss knew what she was thinking, he'd be laughing his ass off.
An officer? So what?
That flag-obsessed freak who got wrecked by Robin and the others—he didn't last more than a few hits either.
The Shichibukai themselves were strong, but their officers? Not so much.
"So tell me, esteemed Shichibukai officer… do I still need to move my ship for you?"
Weiss stepped up to Baby 5, towering over her.
Baby 5 didn't respond. After a moment, her long leg suddenly transformed into a gun, aimed straight at Weiss.
"You bastard! You hurt Buffalo!"
Watching from a distance, Jack's eyes lit up. Now that's a fun-looking Devil Fruit...
"My beautiful lady," Weiss said calmly, "could you perhaps lower your leg? It's not exactly the most modest posture."
Of all the pirates in the world, the easiest one to deal with—the one most likely to let you live—was definitely Baby 5. Because of her traumatic childhood, she desperately wanted to be needed. That made her unable to refuse any request.
And well, since she was wearing a maid outfit… Weiss decided to show some mercy.
"Oh! Are you asking me to do something? I'm needed again!"
Sure enough, Baby 5 blushed bright red, covered her cheeks with her hands, and lowered her gun-leg, returning to normal.
"Then, would you please return to your ship?" Weiss asked politely.
"Yes, sir!"
"Wait, no—hold on!"
To Weiss's surprise, Baby 5 turned around and leapt straight into the sea with a splash.
She forgot one very important detail: she couldn't fly.
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