After a long silence, Kuro finally exhaled, his expression complicated as he looked at Buggy.
"Boss… is all of that true?"
With his own experience, he couldn't even imagine the scenes Buggy had described.
Buggy rested a hand heavily on Kuro's shoulder, his face unusually serious. "Kuro, you need to understand. The Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line—people call it Paradise. But the New World… the second half… that's the realm of monsters."
"I see…"
Kuro adjusted his glasses, a rare trace of awe flickering in his eyes. He could only nod, humbled by the thought of such overwhelming strength.
"So," Buggy said, a smug grin spreading across his face, "the Donquixote Family… is finished."
For the first time in his life, he thought his luck had truly reached its peak.
"Buggy called for help?"
After Rain hung up the Den Den Mushi, Mira tilted her head curiously.
"That's right," Rain said with a calm smile. "It's an underground broker. Their crew has many Devil Fruit users, so Buggy wants us to intervene."
"Hmph. That guy hasn't grown at all."
Douglas Bullet scoffed, contempt heavy in his voice.
"Buggy's talent doesn't lie in strength," Rain replied evenly. "It's in his cunning… and his luck."
"...Tch."
Bullet had no counter to that. As much as he despised Buggy's weakness, he couldn't deny the man's absurd fortune.
"I have no interest in dealing with small fry."
Bullet crossed his arms and turned away, his decision firm. "In the first half of the Grand Line, who could possibly be strong? I'll remain here in the New World."
He paused. "Actually… I'm planning to visit Wano."
Rain raised an eyebrow. "Wano? The land occupied by Kaido? Don't tell me… are you planning to help Kozuki Oden?"
The thought slipped out instinctively—but then Rain dismissed it. Oden only joined Roger's crew after Bullet had left. There shouldn't have been any connection between them.
"Kozuki Oden? Who the hell is that?"
Bullet blinked, genuinely confused.
"Well…"
Rain looked at Bullet's expression and realized he had been overthinking. Without hesitation, he explained who Kozuki Oden was.
"Boring."
That was Bullet's only response. Without another word, he boarded his submarine and set off alone toward Wano.
"…Interesting."
Watching him go, Rain's eyes narrowed, a spark of expectation flickering within. What kind of storm would sweep through Wano once Douglas Bullet entered the scene?
"Come on, Mira. Let's head for the first half."
He reached for Mira's hand.
"Mm!"
Mira's face lit up with joy as she grasped it tightly. With that "light bulb" finally gone, this journey was now hers and Rain's alone.
Ten Days Later — The First Half of the Grand Line, Sicily
Sicily, a land where gangsters gathered and shadows of power intertwined.
Among the many forces vying for control, one stood above the rest—the Donquixote Family.
Their influence dominated the island, and their network of underground dealings reached far beyond.
Inside the grand hall, Donquixote Doflamingo sat with his signature grin, sunglasses glinting under the light.
"What's the latest from this so-called Buggy's Delivery?"
His sharp gaze shifted toward Diamante at his side.
"...It's strange."
Diamante frowned, hesitation clouding his face.
"Oh?"
Doflamingo tilted his head, curiosity sparking. Fear? That was nonexistent.
The Donquixote Family had no reason to fear upstarts in Paradise.
So long as they didn't provoke the Navy, their empire in the first half was untouchable.
Buggy's Chamber of Commerce had only been around for a single year. Under normal circumstances, it wasn't even worth mentioning.
"That clown… should've been crushed already," Doflamingo muttered with a smirk. "But instead… he's still alive? Interesting."
He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.
"Let's play with him a little longer. I want to see what cards this so-called Buggy is hiding before we decide to end his game."
"The other side has been mobilizing men," Diamante reported, brows furrowed. "But… they don't seem eager to start a war. Instead… they're just watching us."
"Watching us?"
For a moment, Doflamingo blinked in surprise—then his shoulders started to shake.
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Hohohohoho! That's rich! What the hell are they plotting?"
"Doffy," Trebol wheezed, his slimy body twitching, "don't waste time with them. Let's crush them now! If we annex their little business, we'll have enough influence to push into the New World!"
Doflamingo's grin sharpened. "You're right. No point in playing around then. We'll wipe them out here and now."
But before he could give the order—
BOOM!
The villa's massive double doors were blown clean off their hinges, crashing to the marble floor with a thunderous echo.
Four figures walked through the smoke and splinters—Buggy, Kuro, Rain, and Mira.
"...Hah?"
The Donquixote executives froze, wide-eyed. No one in their right mind stormed the heart of their stronghold. The audacity was almost unbelievable.
"Fuffuffuffuffu…"
Doflamingo rose slowly from his throne-like chair, laughter bubbling up dark and violent.
"You dare… barge into my home?" His shades caught the light, hiding the fury burning behind them. "You bastards… you're begging for death!"
"Kill them all!"
At his command, dozens of family soldiers in sharp black suits rushed forward, guns raised.
"Oi oi oi!"
Buggy threw his hands up in panic, sweat dripping down his face. Mira and Rain, however, didn't so much as flinch.
Only Kuro looked shaken—cold sweat forming as countless muzzles locked onto them. For all his scheming, he was still a man without monstrous strength.
"…Guess I'll warm up a little."
Mira stepped forward, her eyes sharp.
"These small fries… let's clear them out first."
She drew in a deep breath, her aura swelling.
"Conqueror's Haki—!"
A wave of overwhelming will burst from her body, exploding across the hall like a crashing tide.
BOOOOM!
The air itself seemed to tremble.
One by one, the black-suited men dropped, eyes rolling back, foam spilling from their mouths as they collapsed en masse. Guns clattered against the floor, echoing through the hall.
In seconds, the Donquixote Family's foot soldiers were wiped out.
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