Thick smoke filled the courtroom. Bucky the Clown rubbed his eyes, squinting at Vivi. She looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place her.
"Who are you calling Red Nose? You looking to die, messing with Captain Bucky?!"
Vivi was taken aback. Seriously?
Does this guy really only care about gold and treasure? No memory of me at all? Do women mean nothing if they aren't holding a treasure map?
After a few probing comments, it was clear—Bucky had absolutely no recollection of her.
The confidence she'd lost to Smaller and Belo Betty returned.
Vivi didn't bring up Kotaro or Bakijiro again. Instead, she casually gestured toward the still-blazing courthouse.
"I heard someone in there yelling 'Red Nose.' I don't know if they meant you."
"I'm not a Red Nose!" Bucky snapped, clearly agitated.
"Of course not. I'm just repeating what they said inside."
Since he didn't recognize her, she decided not to press her luck. Not worth fighting him. There wasn't much else to say.
Despite his usual buffoonery, Bucky had a survival instinct sharper than most. The idea that he would stay and fight CP9 or Mr. 5 was absurd—unless treasure was on the line. Otherwise, his combat motivation was practically nonexistent.
Vivi stepped back. After all, the troupe already had a Revolutionary Army cadre on board. Adding a low-threat pirate wouldn't be the worst. From another angle, it wasn't likely the Navy or World Government were actually prioritizing Bucky's capture. Especially now—with the explosion on Enies Lobby, they had bigger problems.
After clearing the "red nose" misunderstanding, Vivi and Bucky returned to the troupe, and they resumed their escape.
Chaos had spread across Judicial Island. The stationed marines were utterly confused. Officers barked into Den Den Mushi, demanding updates. Some claimed a Warlord had gone rogue. Rumors flew.
By the time the Randoluff Theatre Troupe reached the gates of the main island, the courtroom explosion had finally died down.
Vivi figured Mr. 5 had already been subdued. That CP9 agent with the zipper mouth may have been one of the weaker members, but even the lowest-ranked CP9 could easily handle Mr. 5 in a straight fight. Earlier, things had happened too fast for him to react, but once serious, he'd mop the floor with someone like Mr. 5.
At the main gate, giants Oimo and Kashii—on the verge of resignation—stood guard. As friends of the Straw Hats, and acquainted with Vivi, they waved from afar and opened the gate without question.
The troupe rushed out of the island's front gate, each heading toward their ship. But it was too late. Navy warships had already encircled the island. Setting sail now? That would be suicide.
Old man Randoluff quickly assessed the situation. "Forget the ship! We'll take the Sea Train to Water 7 and lay low!"
Most of their belongings were on the ship, and the last of their money had gone to bribes earlier. Now, with the Navy tightening security, even boarding the Sea Train required not just tickets, but bribes to the station staff and guards.
Weiwei didn't hesitate. She paid 500,000 Berries to the stationmaster, plus 100,000 each to the twelve soldiers guarding the train.
Don't ask where the money came from. Just assume a rich grandpa with tea plantations in the mountains.
After she settled the bribes, she looked back. The troupe was still frozen in place.
"We... we don't have money for tickets," Randoluff said, looking ashamed.
Tickets too? Vivi shot a glare at Belo Betty. You're a Revolutionary Army officer with a 100 million bounty, and you're broke?
Still puffing on her cigarette, Betty smiled lazily. "I'm tapped out. Revolutionary work isn't cheap. We don't have noble wallets like yours."
Vivi gave up on arguing and turned to Bucky, who was still blending into the crowd, pretending to be a duck.
"Fine! You all win!" she muttered, frustrated, and shelled out more cash.
A ticket cost 2,000 Berries. Thirty-three people meant 66,000 more.
Vivi bought all the tickets, and the troupe swarmed onto the Sea Train like refugees.
"Miss Jaina, I'll repay you every last Berry. I promise," Randoluff said gravely as he climbed aboard last.
He could tell Vivi wasn't ordinary. Regular folks didn't carry that kind of money. He realized she was helping for both urgency and because—frankly—she could afford it.
Vivi knew his character. If she refused his offer to repay, he'd agonize over it for the rest of his life.
"Sure, no rush. Let's just get out of here."
The Sea Train was crowded. Enies Lobby had long been a lawless melting pot. Belo Betty often came here to scout for potential comrades. There were arms dealers, slavers—every shade of outlaw. With Mr. 5 blowing up half the island, the World Government was preparing for a crackdown. Most passengers just wanted to flee before they were caught in the chaos.
With a long "woo-woo," the Sea Train got clearance and sped toward Water 7.
Fifteen minutes after Mr. 5's courthouse brawl, the news had already reached Alabasta...
And Crocodile was stunned.
Bucky the Clown's arrest had been strategic. With him locked up, pirate momentum had been disrupted. Crocodile had just begun relaxing—finally free of headaches.
Then came the news.
He'd sent Mr. 5 to escort Bucky for trial. And now the guy had blown up Judicial Island?
Was this a joke?
Did he not consider the consequences? What was he thinking—fighting Admiral Kizaru or Akainu? Did he have a death wish? Was he secretly working for the Nefertari family?
Before he could wrap his head around the situation—or its implications for Baroque Works—his Den Den Mushi rang. It was the Five Elders.
"We require an explanation. You. Mary Geoise. Now. Immediately." The line went dead.