Red had always scoffed at the increasing emphasis on "destiny" and "bloodlines" in the One Piece lore.
As someone raised under the red flag, growing up by the TV hearing lines like "No bloodline is inherently noble", he considered such themes an insult to the Straw Hat crew's efforts and the scars they'd earned along the way.
But…
If wielding those very concepts could help him achieve his goals, he'd gladly hoist their banners high, preaching them like gospel to the world.
To him now, they were merely tools. Sharp, convenient tools.
As Red finished speaking, Buggy froze on the spot, as if his brain had completely shut down.
The tent fell into sudden silence—so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
Mohji and Cabaji were already overwhelmed by the sheer grandeur of what they had just heard. They wished they could puncture their own eardrums and pretend none of it ever reached them.
Even Nami and Zoro were staring at Red in surprise, their eyes flickering between disbelief and shock.
At that moment, only Luffy's cheerful laughter could be heard echoing from outside the tent, filling the tense air.
"..."
Buggy collapsed weakly into his seat and began muttering under his breath:
"Overthrow… the World Government…"
"Of course... of course..."
His eyes began to shine as tears streamed down his face.
"I knew it… There's no way Shanks would just change like that out of nowhere…"
"If it was Captain Roger's final wish, then it all makes sense!"
As a certain philosopher once said:
Had Shanks abandoned the Pirate King race merely to play hero, Buggy would've cursed him to the depths.
But if all this was just a grand scheme to take down the World Government and the Celestial Dragons all along.
And everything he's doing now is just an act, then Buggy would instantly become his fiercest ally in a heartbeat.
Buggy looked up.
The knot in his heart that had festered for decades was finally untangled, leaving him with a flood of complex emotions.
Even his tone had shifted to something uncharacteristically polite.
"Red... could you... explain properly in more detail?"
"Please, I'm begging you!!!"
The always arrogant Buggy, for the sake of the truth, lowered his proud head.
And yet, though he bowed, there was a new aura emanating from him.
Not overwhelming, but incredibly resilient!
'Looks like my talk-no-jutsu worked'
'To think I could evolve 'Buggy the Clown' into 'Buggy the King'—I really am a top-tier trainer!'
Red smirked to himself and decided to press the advantage, ready to fully recruit him by leveraging Luffy's unique identity.
"Captain Buggy, I can't tell you everything."
"All I can say is… in the not-so-distant future, our crew is going to turn the whole world upside down!"
"And when that time comes… we might just be the enemies of the entire world!"
"Fortunately…"
"We're ready prepared to fight the world!!!"
Red lifted his brows. His voice rang with conviction, and his eyes sparkled with confidence.
Though still just a rookie pirate, not a single person in the tent doubted his words.
Red continued:
"Here's probably something you've heard before."
"A few years ago, Shanks lost an arm in the East Blue."
"That was his gamble—his bet on the new era."
"This way, when the new age arrives, Shanks will be hailed as the greatest contributor to it!"
"Tell me, Captain Buggy..."
"Do you really want Shanks to claim all that glory to himself?"
"I…" Buggy, who had just unlocked years of inner turmoil, clearly wasn't ready for more deep thinking.
But the moment Red painted that righteous image of Shanks, disgust surged within Buggy's chest.
"HELL NO!!!"
"Of course I don't!!!"
He growled with a hoarse voice, full of resolve.
Red smiled faintly.
"Perfect"
"I don't want to live a life that feels pre-written, either."
"So once again, Captain Buggy—I invite you to…"
"Become the first pirate crew to join the Straw Hat Grand Fleet!"
"Let's wreck Shanks' little plan together!"
"And give this world a shock it'll never forget!"
Red stepped forward and extended his hand to Buggy.
He was certain, when it came to dealing with Shanks, Buggy wouldn't refuse.
Sure enough.
Buggy looked up, hesitated for only a few seconds, then firmly shook Red's hand.
"If I find out you lied to me—I won't go easy on you!!!"
"Hahaha!! Then you better get stronger fast, Captain Buggy!"
Red pulled Buggy up, eyes burning with energy.
"Straw Hat Pirates, Vice Captain Red!"
"Buggy Pirates, Captain Buggy!"
For the first time, it felt like a proper introduction.
The celebration was abruptly interrupted by Red and Buggy's dramatic exchange.
Then, a shocking announcement spread through the crowd:
"What!? Captain Buggy is joining the Straw Hats!? Why!?"
"Wait—by Straw Hats, you mean those kids!?"
"No way! I won't accept it! The great Captain Buggy can't be someone else's underling!"
"..."
"..."
The moment Buggy gave the order, the Buggy Pirates erupted into chaos.
Every crew member loudly protested the decision.
They had just learned that Buggy was part of the Pirate King's old crew! They were dreaming of following him to the top!
And now they were supposed to serve under some rookie crew!?
"Hey, Vice Captain Mohji, what's going on!?"
"Yeah! Cabaji, go talk some sense into Captain Buggy!"
"..."
With no answers, the crew turned to the next in command.
But even Mohji and Cabaji, who had heard everything in the tent, looked at each other blankly.
They were just as lost as the rest.
Still, as Buggy's right-hand men, they had to step up.
Crack!
"Everyone SHUT UP!!!"
Mohji cracked his beast whip above everyone's heads with a sharp snap.
Cabaji crossed his arms and shouted:
"What do you think you're doing!?"
"Questioning Captain Buggy's wisdom?"
"Or do you think you're smarter than him now!?"
"Since Captain Buggy made this decision, all we have to do as his crew is support him with everything we've got!"
"Anyone who spreads division—don't blame me for treating it as betrayal!"
After that harsh scolding, the crew finally calmed down.
Cabaji's words even lit a spark in most of them.
Right!
If it's Captain Buggy's decision, what was there to argue about!?
He must have his reasons—they just needed to follow!
There's no way they were smarter than Captain Buggy, anyway.
Just like that, the mood shifted, and everyone suddenly believed joining the Straw Hats was a brilliant idea.
Half an hour later.
"Oath Sake!? What's that!?"
Luffy blinked in confusion as Red called him back.
Though the feast had been interrupted, Luffy was already full, so he didn't mind.
Still, drinking some weird wine out of nowhere? He was totally lost.
Since this was about pirate crew structure, Red knew he'd have to explain:
"It's a tradition—when another pirate crew wants to become one of our subordinate fleets, they drink the 'subordinate's sake' to show loyalty."
"And you, as captain, drink the 'Oath Sake' to accept them."
"Ugh... sounds boring~."
Just as Red expected, Luffy instantly showed a sour face after the first sentence.
"Besides, why would I want a bunch of underlings~? I already have you guys! That's enough!"
"You little punk—you want us to do everything ourselves, huh?!"
Red rolled his eyes and shoved a wine bowl into Luffy's hand.
"Look, they're showing their loyalty. Don't reject people's goodwill."
"Okay…Okay, fine~!"
After Red's persuasion, Luffy reluctantly agreed.
"..."
'Am I... being looked down on?'
Buggy blinked, holding the wine.
He had been feeling a bit embarrassed about the whole ceremony—but after seeing Luffy's attitude, his temper flared up.
'Definitely Shanks' influence. So damn annoying!'
'Damn you, Shanks…'
'Once I drink this wine, I'll be the one to create the next era—before you!'
Thud!
He knelt abruptly before his entire crew. He solemnly declared:
"Buggy Pirates, 108 strong, request to join the Straw Hat Fleet!"
"Captain Luffy! Accept our oath!"
Behind him, Mohji and Cabaji also knelt with their bowls, leading the entire crew.
"Hmm…"
Looking at the wine, then at Red, Luffy said:
"I don't really get what's going on… but if Red says it's fine, then let's do it!"
With that, Luffy lifted the bowl and downed the wine in one gulp.
So
The Buggy Pirates officially joined the Straw Hat Pirates and became the first pirate group of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet!!