Buggy's eyes widened as he stared at the steam beginning to take on a humanoid shape. His thoughts raced.
Years of experience had broadened his horizons, his tumultuous life as a pirate had sharpened his reflexes, and the challenges he had faced had honed his agility.
The moment Buggy suspected that the steam was likely the manifestation of a Logia-type Devil Fruit ability, he made a resolute decision without hesitation—he turned and ran. Clutching the blueprints tightly in his hand, even as he fled, he maintained the demeanor of a seasoned pirate who had weathered countless storms. He shouted to his crew, "Scatter and run!"
As Buggy passed by the cannon, he grabbed the torch from the gunner and tossed it onto the fuse. Moments later, without turning back, Buggy heard a deafening explosion behind him. The bank ruins, already devastated by the previous Buggy Ball, were swept by another blast, scattering the concentrated steam cloud into fragments.
Though confused, the Buggy Pirates took their cue from their captain's swift retreat and scattered in different directions.
The consecutive explosions of the Buggy Balls created quite a commotion, drawing the attention of several Morgan Pirates officers stationed throughout the town to prevent unrest. They began converging on the bank.
Harden and Selkirk arrived at the Flash Gold Bank, dragging the bound and unconscious Hatchan (Hachi) with them. They were shocked to see the once-grand bank reduced to rubble in such a short time.
Suddenly, a cloud of steam coalesced before them, and from within the swirling mist, William emerged, his expression dark. He glanced at the cannon and the remaining Buggy Balls left behind by Buggy and his crew. Turning to Harden, he ordered, "Have someone secure that cannon and the ammunition."
Then, addressing Selkirk, William commanded, "Take a team and dig out those Fish-Men trapped underground."
"What just happened?" Harden couldn't help but ask.
"Some rats tried to stir up trouble while we were fishing," William replied, his gaze following the fleeing Buggy Pirates. A sinister smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "And now they think they can escape after seeing how things turned out?"
"Who's in charge of the dock?" William asked.
Harden immediately answered, "It's Yasopp."
"Excellent," William said as he knelt on one knee. Suddenly, he drove his fist into the ground with immense force.
The soft earth couldn't withstand William's iron fist, and his arm plunged deep into the ground. Moments later, his entire arm transformed into steam. Not long after, the ground in front of him began to bulge and crack, and with a sudden eruption, a plume of white steam mixed with dirt and debris shot skyward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground ruptured repeatedly, and countless jets of steam burst forth from underground. In an instant, the entire area was engulfed in a dense steam cloud.
Selkirk swallowed nervously. William was a man who rarely showed his emotions, making it difficult for others to gauge his thoughts. But this time, even Selkirk and the others present could tell—William, the true ruler of this town and the entire Navia Kingdom, was enraged.
"Gather our men and seal off the dock and all exits from the town," William's voice echoed faintly through the thick steam, his figure already obscured by the mist. "No one leaves this island without my orders!"
...
Night had fallen over White Pine Town, and the streets were filled with drunken pirates. The frantic escape of the Buggy Pirates barely drew any attention.
The Buggy Pirates' first mate, Mohji, known as the "Beast Tamer" for his skill in training wild animals, slowed his pace as he reached a commercial street.
He still didn't understand why their captain, Buggy, had suddenly ordered everyone to scatter and flee. Having run a fair distance and blended into the crowd, Mohji felt he was now safe.
Just as Mohji was about to enter a tavern to drown his frustrations over their failed heist, he heard a drunken pirate beside him, holding a wooden mug, shout in terror, "What's that!?"
Mohji's heart skipped a beat. He turned uneasily to look behind him, only to see a massive cloud of steam rolling toward him from the direction he had fled. The steam moved at an alarming speed and carried an ominous presence in the night, resembling a ghostly mist.
More and more people on the street began to notice the anomaly. From the houses lining the road, residents peeked out from doors and windows, drawn by the commotion outside.
The steam quickly engulfed the street. Near a water tower, the steam seemed to concentrate more heavily. Moments later, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the water tower suddenly exploded. Its contents spilled out, but the water rapidly vaporized, joining the growing steam cloud that now enveloped the entire street.
"What's happening?"
"The temperature seems to be rising!"
Voices of alarm echoed throughout the street. Shrouded in steam, the people could only make out faint silhouettes, turning the entire area into a scene of eerie shadows.
Despite the rising heat, Mohji's hands and feet felt ice-cold. Though he didn't understand the cause of the current situation, he knew it must be related to the Buggy Pirates' earlier actions. No wonder Captain Buggy had fled without hesitation—he must have realized they had provoked an enemy far beyond their ability to handle.
...
At the dock, Yasopp sat casually atop the unconscious Chew, a Fish-Man resembling a kissing gourami. Holding a Transponder Snail, Yasopp was in the middle of a conversation.
From the snail came Harden's voice: "The Flash Gold Bank has been reduced to rubble. Who knows how much of the captain's documents have been destroyed. Luckily, we evacuated the civilians from the bank beforehand to avoid casualties while dealing with the Fish-Men. Our people weren't affected, but the Fish-Men weren't so fortunate."
"So the captain is angry?" Yasopp asked.
"Very angry," Harden confirmed.
Yasopp chuckled, "How angry?"
Harden hesitated before replying, "You'll find out soon enough."
No sooner had Harden spoken than several Morgan Pirates at the dock began shouting and pointing toward the town.
Yasopp looked up to see steam rolling toward the dock, obscuring the moon and stars. The entire town seemed shrouded in mist, its eerie atmosphere amplified by the occasional cries of alarm. It resembled a ghostly realm.
Yasopp stared for a moment, then spoke into the Transponder Snail, "You're right. I understand now."
After hanging up, Yasopp glanced at the approaching steam and kicked the unconscious Fish-Man at his feet. "You lucky bastards."
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