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The moment Aero stepped into Orange Town, he felt something was off.
Too quiet.
Unnaturally quiet.
The streets were completely deserted. Not a single resident in sight. Every door was shut, every window locked, as if the entire town had vanished.
Eddie used [Moonwalk] to leap into the air. After scanning the area, he dropped down beside Aero and murmured, "Captain, this isn't right. Not a soul out there."
Aero nodded. "Gin, check that house."
"Yes, Captain." Gin walked up to the nearest home and knocked firmly. "Anyone home?"
Silence.
He banged the door harder. Bang! Bang! Bang!
Still nothing.
So Gin raised his foot and kicked the door in, then stepped inside. After a quick scan, he emerged and shook his head. No one.
"Looks like this town's been emptied," Aero said. "Let's head to the center and see if anything's moving."
They walked through empty streets and shuttered alleys, but the silence never broke. It felt less like a town and more like a tomb.
Suddenly, Aero paused, his eyes narrowing.
"I feel it too," Eddie said, stepping closer. "We're being watched."
Aero didn't respond immediately. His [Domain] had been active since they arrived. After two intense battles, his range had grown significantly he could now monitor nearly half the town.
His [Listening] ability caught movement nearby. Subtle. Quiet. But close enough.
"They've been tailing us for a while," Aero said calmly. "I just don't know if they're townsfolk... or Buggy's men."
Dylan vanished with [Soru], then reappeared, tossing three men dressed like sailors to the ground in front of them.
Aero stared down at them coldly. "Talk. Who sent you?"
One of the men leapt to his feet and swung a fist at Aero huge and heavy.
But before it could connect, a force slammed him backward. He crashed into a wall, coughing blood.
The other two froze, eyes wide, then stumbled to explain.
"W-we're with Captain Buggy!" one stammered.
"Buggy, huh?" Aero muttered with a faint smirk. "Looks like we're in the right place."
"Then start walking," Eddie said, stepping forward and kicking one of them in the ribs.
"Yes, sir!" they scrambled up and began to lead the group.
No one even looked back at the pirate embedded in the wall.
Some time after they left, the downed pirate groaned and peeled himself out of the rubble. A few more pirates emerged from the shadows to help him up.
"He's strong..." the pirate wheezed. "I didn't even touch him before I was blown away."
The others grinned wickedly. "Don't worry. Captain Buggy's already set the trap. Once they step into it, even Aero won't walk out."
Then the pirate fainted.
Elsewhere, Aero and the crew followed their reluctant guides through countless twists and turns. The route was suspiciously long.
Eddie finally snapped. With Aero's nod, he grabbed one pirate by the collar and slammed him against a wall.
"You screwing with us?" he growled. "It's been too long."
"C-c-close… we're close!" the man choked out.
Eddie released him with a glare. "Better be."
As they walked on, the pirate turned away with a sly grin.
Meanwhile, up high on a nearby building, another pirate held a Den Den Mushi to his mouth.
"Captain Buggy! Captain Buggy! They're nearly there!"
The Den Den Mushi's face morphed into a wide red nose and grinning clown makeup.
"Yeah?" came the voice.
The real Buggy.
He sat lazily on a wooden throne, dressed in his trademark orange cape, striped shirt, and clown hat, with a massive cannon pointed forward and dozens of pirates around him.
"They're being led right into our trap—Aero, Dylan, Gin, Eddie the whole Hurricane crew."
"Perfect!" Buggy cackled. "Doesn't matter why he came. Once he walks into my Buggy Bomb's blast radius, he's finished! Hahahaha!"
Buggy roared with laughter, already picturing his name in the headlines: "Buggy Crushes the Hurricane!"
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