Pirate: I, Buggy, am the Emperor, the Emperor of the Clown King!

Chapter 51 The Lady Pirates, Laughs (Please vote and follow!)

The sea breeze blew from the southeast, and the waves rolled on both sides of the ship.

Bucky leaned against the railing at the bow of the Giant, his arms crossed over his chest, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

I wasn't wearing the Clown King costume today; I was wearing everyday clothes.

That outfit is indeed great for showing off and looking cool, but it doesn't really look that great in everyday life.

Nami stood beside Buggy, holding a thin brochure in her hand.

"Whiskey Peak," Nami read the words from the book with a hint of uncertainty, "...to promote itself as a hospitable..."

Renowned for its fine wines and food, it's a welcoming town at the entrance to the Grand Line.

"Their trademark is their abundant whisky production, which is extremely appealing to weary pirates who have just conquered Reverse Mountain —"

She paused, looked up at Buggy, then lowered her head and continued reading, "It's said that the inhabitants there hold grand banquets for pirates who come from afar, providing the finest food and wine to help adventurers wash away their fatigue. At the entrance to the Grand Line, such a place is practically like... "Like paradise?" Nojiko chimed in, her tone clearly skeptical.

She stood behind Nami, her light purple dress fluttering gently in the wind: "Is the Grand Line really such a friendly place? I feel like—"

She shook her head and didn't continue, but her meaning was already quite clear.

Mochi and Kabaji, who were standing a little distance away, came over when they heard this.

"Something definitely doesn't seem right," Cabaji said thoughtfully. "Back in the East Blue, I heard that the Grand Line is a graveyard for pirates. Why would they open a small town at the entrance to welcome pirates?"

"That makes sense," Mochi nodded. "But what's written in a book can't be entirely baseless, can it?"

All eyes were on Bucky.

Bucky looked up at the distant horizon: "That was true before."

"But the past and the present are never the same concept."

"Therefore, we cannot view the future with the perspective of the past."

As a time traveler, he has an overwhelming information gap with Bucky.

Even though the plot has changed, some things remain the same, which are related to the overall world order and are the core underlying logic.

Nami asked, "What do you mean?"

Bucky turned around, leaned against the railing, and put his hands in his pockets.

His gaze swept across everyone's faces, the smile on his lips undiminished: "Whiskey Peak used to be a really nice place."

"It started as an ordinary town established by a group of pioneers, making a living by brewing wine. It had a pleasant climate and was suitable for living—just an ordinary, self-sufficient settlement."

The information in Nami's booklet wasn't entirely wrong; the only problem was that the information was outdated, and quite a bit outdated.

Noki listened attentively: "And now?"

"Now?" Bucky let out a meaningful laugh. "Now it's become a huge trap."

"A trap?" Nami's pupils contracted slightly.

In theory, as the chief of the Buggy Pirates, she should know all kinds of information, but Nami has only been a member for a short time.

The Buggy Pirates didn't have many sources of information, so she knew nothing.

Nami managing to get her hands on an introductory book is already a testament to her hard work and responsibility.

"Baroque Works—have you heard of them?" Bucky said calmly.

The group exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison.

The news about Baroque Studio wasn't exactly a secret, but it also didn't spread widely.

Insiders, such as veteran bounty hunters like Zoro, are aware of these rumors and have even been recruited by Baroque Works, but they declined, which is why Whisky Peak has a very bad reputation.

However, for those outside the circle, this information is completely unavailable.

For example, most rookie pirates who have just arrived on the Grand Line have no idea about this information and have no way to avoid it.

Just past Reverse Mountain, the record pointer must stay here for a period of time to lock in; there's no way around it.

This is the core reason why Baroque Studios can make money here.

Bucky shook his head and looked into the distance: "A huge, well-organized secret crime company centered around bounty hunters."

On the surface, they are an ordinary bounty hunter organization, but in reality, their ambitions go far beyond that.

2

"And their mastermind is Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

While it might be a bit strange that such a large amount of information was suddenly revealed out of nowhere, who is Bucky?

Buggy is the captain of the Buggy Pirates, and no one can force him to reveal the source of the information.

So even Baroque Works didn't know Crocdale was their boss, but Bucky could say it outright.

Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

The deck fell silent for a moment when the name was uttered.

To ordinary people, or even to weaker pirates, the Seven Warlords of the Sea are great pirates.

That is one of the monsters standing at the pinnacle of the world, an existence that even the Navy dares not easily provoke.

Otherwise, there's no reason why the Navy would issue legal plunder licenses to these notorious pirates!

Well, that doesn't stop many One Piece fans from sourly commenting: the Seven Warlords of the Sea are the Navy's lackeys.

—But if you ask these pirates if they want to become Shichibukai, the answer is definitely yes.

"The Seven Warlords of the Sea—Crocodile?" Cabaji's expression shifted from relaxed to serious. "Captain, you mean—Whiskey Peak is now under his control?"

"It's not under his jurisdiction." Buggy shook his head. "He chose Whiskey Peak because of its geographical location, the entrance to the Grand Line, where almost all pirates from the four seas have to pass through."

"So Crocodile arranged for Baroque Works to come over and turn the whole town into their hunting grounds."

"Disguise~" Buggy held up a finger and shook it gently. "During the day, they are the hospitable townspeople who welcome the exhausted rookie pirates who have just come down from Upside Down Mountain with fine wine and food."

"At night—they revealed their true colors."

Bucky gave a strange smile.

"Hunting".

"Every single one of those townspeople is a bounty hunter."

"Men, women, the elderly, children, everyone."

Bucky continued, "They get the pirates drunk with parties, then kill them in various ways—poison, knives, guns, traps."

"And those pirates who were killed will be buried on the mountain next to the town."

Speaking of this, Bucky thought there was a place that was very interesting.

"When you get there later, you will see a giant cactus."

"A giant cactus?" Nokiko was taken aback.

"Why would a green mountain be mistaken for a cactus?" Bucky's voice was soft, tinged with unspoken sarcasm. "From afar it looks like a cactus, but up close—it's all tombstones."

The sea breeze blew between them, carrying a hint of coolness.

There are so many tombstones that you could mistake a mountain for a cactus—how many pirates must be buried here?!

How many people actually died?

It's fair to say that every member of the Baroque Studio at Whisky Peak is a ruthless killer.

Including a certain Princess Vivi.

Do you really think that joining such a criminal organization means you can keep your hands clean?

Even Nico Robin, the child of a certain demon, is, in a sense, truly deserving of the title.

After all, Crocodile himself doesn't show his face; Nico Robin gives the orders for most things.

The reason why everyone felt a chill was that so many people were going to die on the very first stage of the Grand Line.

Nami gripped the brochure tightly. She looked down at the words "Hospitality, Fine Wine and Food" on the title page and found them particularly jarring.

"The thorns on that cactus mountain are the tombstones of the slain pirates," Buggy emphasized again. "All the peaks, densely packed with them."

Don't assume the world is happy just because Luffy seems to have a good time on his journey.

The overall setting of the One Piece world is extremely tragic and despairing.

It's just that Luffy's perspective makes it seem nonsensical and entertaining.

Silence. The only sound on the deck was the lapping of the waves against the hull.

Mochi and Kabaji exchanged a glance, and saw the same fear in each other's eyes.

If they hadn't followed Buggy, and if they had ventured into the Grand Line on their own, they would most likely have suffered a major setback in that "welcome town."

After all, even if the Buggy Pirates seemed reckless in the past, they didn't kill this many people.

"Captain," Mochi said, "you know too much!"

"Yes," Kabaji chimed in, "You've spent so many years in the East Blue, yet you know the true situation of a small town at the entrance to the Grand Line—this—"

"6

He paused, exchanged a glance with Moqi, and the two spoke at the same time: "It's simply strategizing within the command tent and winning battles a thousand miles away!"

"The captain is brilliant!"

"The captain's strategy was brilliant!"

The two of them started showering each other with compliments, each one more exaggerated and cheesy than the last.

Nami rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile slightly.

Nojiko shook his head slightly, his expression changing from solemn to helpless.

Nami and Nojiko think life in Buggy's crew is pretty good, quite harmonious, isn't it?

There are occasional little disturbances.

"—You two shut up." Bucky liked their flattery, but he couldn't stand it when it was so awkward.

"Um—" Nami hesitated for a moment before speaking, "What will Crocodile do now that he knows we're here?"

"So what if he knows? So what if he doesn't?" Bucky retorted, a hint of amusement in his voice. "He's busy; he hasn't had time for us lately."

"Very busy?" Nami frowned even more.

Nami is a smart person. Since Buggy said that Crocodile deliberately arranged for people to control Whiskey Peak, it means that this place must be of some importance.

So what are you busy with that's more important than this?

"We're here." Bucky glanced at her, his gaze falling on the faintly visible coastline.

Everyone followed his gaze.

On the distant horizon, a gray-green outline appeared. As the Giant moved forward, it became clearer and larger, until it was fully revealed to everyone.

Those were some strange mountains, round and full, like giant cacti.

If it weren't for Bucky's earlier warning, it would indeed look like a giant cactus no matter how you look at it.

But after Bucky pointed it out, the group focused their attention and saw that what was stuck on the surface of those cacti were not spikes, but densely packed cross-shaped tombstones.

Countless tombstones stretch from the foot of the mountain to the summit, densely packed and layered—it's unknown how many people are buried here.

"Oh my god—" Nami gasped, her fingers unconsciously gripping the railing tightly.

Nojiko's face also turned a little pale, but she didn't say anything, she just reached out and held Nami's hand.

Mochi and Kabaji also fell silent.

It was a hill decorated with tombstones, each representing a pirate who died there.

The Giant continued forward, passing through the waterway between two giant cactus-shaped mountains.

The river is wide and the current is gentle.

"Captain," Nami's voice was tense, "those people—were they all killed by Baroque Works?"

"Probably?" Bucky said calmly. "Who knows?"

Bucky's lips curled into a slight smile: "But none of that matters."

"Not important?" Nami turned to look at him, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Yes, it doesn't matter." Buggy repeated, his gaze shifting from the tombstones to Nami's face. "The dead are dead. What matters are the living."

Bucky said this in a calm tone, as if he had no emotion.

There was no sympathy, no anger.

That indifference, that detachment, sent chills down one's spine.

"Let's do a little disguise first~" Buggy snapped his fingers at the pirate flag on the Giant Ship.

Then the red nose pattern on the pirate flag turned into a heart.

Clown magic tricks are really useful, JPG.

Nami looked at Buggy, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't say anything.

Upon reaching the middle of Whiskey Mountain, a small town appears on the edge of the river.

The town is small and built along the river.

The dock area is right next to the Haihe River—can the seawater flowing there be considered a river?

"They do seem quite enthusiastic," Nojiko muttered, but the doubt in her tone didn't lessen at all.

Just then, a commotion arose from the direction of the dock.

It is cheerful and lively music with a strong exotic flavor.

Welcome—a warm welcome—

'

A group of people shouted as they poured out of the town and gathered toward the dock.

They were dressed in brightly colored clothes and carried all sorts of musical instruments: trumpets, accordions, drums, bells—

These people, both men and women, played music and danced, their faces beaming with smiles.

Many people were shouting, "Welcome to the hospitable town of Whiskey Peak!"

The leader was an extremely tall and burly man with a huge white spiral of curly hair on his head, like two large rollers hanging on his shoulders, swaying gently as he walked. He was holding a saxophone and playing it enthusiastically.

Upon seeing the Giant Horn dock, the burly man immediately stopped playing, opened his arms, and shouted with almost exaggerated enthusiasm, "Welcome to Whisky Peak! Friends from afar!"

"I am Ikaram, the mayor of this town!"

Icarum's smile was as bright as a blooming sunflower. "Judging from your appearance, you must have come all the way down from Upside Down Mountain, right?"

"You've worked hard!"

"It's incredibly difficult to conquer the Grand Line!"

"Come, come, we've prepared a feast! The finest wine! The best meat! The best music! Let's celebrate your successful ascent of Upside Down Mountain!"

As he spoke, he waved behind him.

The townspeople immediately played even more energetically, the music was deafening, and some even started setting off fireworks, with colorful confetti flying in the air.

The ordinary pirate henchmen on the Giant poured out of the cabins and peered down from the ship's railing.

Wow! It's so lively!

"Really? There's such a great place on the Grand Line?"

"I knew it! The captain is brilliant! Following the captain is the right thing to do!"

"Wine! They said they're having a banquet! There's wine!"

The pirates cheered and jumped for joy. Some were already drooling, some were tidying their clothes to get off the ship, and some had even started waving and interacting with the townspeople on the shore.

But what they didn't know was that the atmosphere on deck was completely different from that down below.

Baji stood at the bow of the ship, his gaze calm as he watched the townspeople singing and dancing on the dock. A slight upturn of his lips revealed no warmth in his smile.

Nami stood beside Buggy, her brows furrowed.

Nojiko stood behind Nami, one hand on Nami's shoulder, her eyes warily scanning everyone on the dock.

Mochi and Kabaji exchanged a glance, then nodded simultaneously.

Alvida stood at the very back of the crowd, dressed in a stylish and beautiful outfit.

Her long, black, curly hair cascaded over her shoulders, with a few strands obscuring half of her eyes.

Her face was expressionless, but something burned in her eyes.

It's something that's been suppressed for too long, about to overflow, and urgently needs to be released.

Bucky turned around and his gaze fell on Alvida.

Alvida's body trembled slightly, and she instinctively wanted to avoid his gaze, but she held back.

Alvida bit her lip, raised her head, and met Bucky's gaze.

The mark of obedience has been branded on Alvida.

"No need to be nervous, no need to suppress your emotions," Bucky said softly. "If they make a move, you can do whatever you want."

"————Okay." Alvida's pupils contracted slightly, then the corners of her mouth slowly curled up, revealing a dangerous, murderous smile.

Alvida is not known for her good temper.

His obedience to Bucky stemmed from his inability to defeat him, which instilled fear deep within him.

The strong oppress the weak, and the weak oppress the even weaker; that's all there is to it.

Buggy looked at her, nodded slightly, and then turned to Nami and Nojiko: "You two, stay with Alvida. Mochi, Kabaji, protect them."

"Yes!" Mochi and Kabaji responded simultaneously.

Nami hesitated for a moment, then spoke up: "Captain—do we need to kill them all?"

Currently, Nami is arguably the kindest member of the entire Buggy Pirates crew.

Noki gave her a second look, a helpless smile playing on her lips: "If those guys really had bad intentions and deliberately set a trap, then they deserve to die."

"I didn't say no," Nami muttered. "I just—"

"Just what?" Noki asked.

Nami shook her head and didn't say anything more.

She certainly hates actively harming others.

But if someone makes the first move, she won't show any mercy.

This was already established from the day she followed Bucky to slay the dragon.

"Alvida, you'll make contact with them as the captain," Buggy said with interest.

A pirate ship captain needs to be decisive and have the confidence and sense of being in charge.

Currently, in the Buggy Pirates, only Buggy and Alvida have had this experience.

"Yes!" Alvida nodded, took a deep breath, and then stepped onto the springboard.

This wasn't difficult for Alvida; in a sense, it was a natural performance for her.

She really was a pirate captain.

Nami and Noji followed behind her, one on her left and one on her right.

Mochi and Kabaji walked at the back, their hats pulled low, obscuring their faces.

"Then the Lady Pirates are formed~"

"The Great Lady Alvida~"

"Nami, the Second Lady~"

"The Three Ladies - Nojiko~"

"Hahaha~ My lovely subordinates, today you are the Lady Pirates~" Buggy said, laughing as he spoke.

Have fun!

The Giant came to a stop at the dock, and the gangplank was lowered.

Then Mochi and Cabaji started informing the pirate crew on the pirate ship: "The great Clown King Buggy wants to see a good show, so today Alvida will be disguised as the captain, and Nami and Nojiko will be Alvida's mates. Those of you who don't want to die, give it your all."

The pirate crew: As long as the captain has fun.

These pirate henchmen had no objections, the only problem was that the name "Lady Pirates" was too difficult to pronounce.