Orange Town was much closer compared to Syrup Village.
With Tushan rowing the boat personally, they traveled not only at an incredible speed but also tirelessly.
By the time the sky began to darken that day, the two had already arrived.
However, Orange Town appeared somewhat deserted.
Despite being a large town and not too late in the evening, not a single living soul could be seen along the shore.
Tushan secured the small boat and beckoned Makino to join him as they ventured into the town.
Tushan naturally remembered what had happened here.
The town had long been occupied by Buggy's crew.
They wreaked havoc, causing destruction everywhere, and the townspeople had fled in fear.
Tushan had no regard for Buggy's crew.
Even if he brought Makino into conflict with them, he felt no pressure.
He wondered if Luffy and his group had already been here.
If they had, Buggy's crew would have been defeated, and he could head straight to Syrup Village to take the two girls!
If they hadn't been here yet, he could deal with Buggy's crew at his leisure.
Then, he could guard Buggy's treasure room and wait for Nami to arrive!
Having the perspective of a god made Tushan feel like he was playing a cracked version of a game...
As he pondered, Tushan and Makino slowly entered the town.
The desolate and disheveled streets, swept by a gust of evening wind, stirred a sense of unease in Makino's heart.
She quickly moved closer to Tushan, wrapping her arm around his warm and strong arm, pressing her body tightly against him, and finally felt at ease.
Being close to this man seemed to dispel all her fears.
"Tushan... do you sense anything unusual?"
"Unusual?"
Tushan muttered. This scene seemed perfectly normal to him.
"This town has been taken over by a group of pirates. We're here to defeat them!"
"What?"
"We're going to confront a group of pirates who have taken over this town?!"
Makino said, somewhat flustered.
After all, she was just an ordinary person. Hearing about pirates who occupied a town was terrifying enough, let alone seeking them out!
At that moment, Makino's steps began to falter.
With her lips tightly closed and a face full of reluctance, she looked at Tushan with a pleading gaze.
"Tushan, can't we just not go?"
"I believe in your strength, but I think we should just stay out of trouble. We can't afford for anything to happen to us."
"Aren't you going to Syrup Village to find someone?"
"Let's go there now, okay?"
"..."
Listening to Makino's worried words, Tushan turned to look at her gentle face and couldn't help but pat her head.
"Don't worry, it's just a small group of pirates."
"But I did misspeak earlier, sorry. I should be the one to deal with them, and you can just watch."
Feeling the warmth from his hand, Makino's expression softened, though she still felt a bit worried inside.
"But..."
"You have to trust your man. The things I plan to do in the future might be hundreds of times scarier than this. As my first woman, wouldn't you be living in constant fear?"
"If you put it that way, of course, I'd be scared..."
Makino said softly.
Her ideal life now was to live peacefully, raising a family.
Although she hadn't expected a calm life since following Tushan, hearing that he would do even more dangerous things inevitably worried her.
"I'd rather you go find women every day than do dangerous things..."
Makino suddenly looked at Tushan with a hint of resentment.
Tushan naturally understood that Makino was worried about his safety.
But he knew better than anyone that there was no one in the world who could pose a danger to him now!
And the dangerous things he planned to do naturally involved finding women...
Makino's complaint was half right.
Tushan not only wanted to find women in the East Blue but also planned to go to the Grand Line and the New World!
He intended to confront the Four Emperors like Kaido, demanding people from him. If he didn't hand over Hiyori and Yamato from Wano Country, Onigashima would become a dead island!
He would seek out Shanks and Big Mom, as they also had beautiful daughters!
Even the Navy wouldn't escape. Hina, Momousagi, and Tashigi...
All of this wasn't because Tushan was driven by lust.
It was all to build an empire of 'love'!
Tushan always thought this way.
...
Makino couldn't persuade Tushan, so she could only follow him into the depths of the town with a heavy heart.
Watching Tushan walk calmly beside her, as if he knew exactly where he was going, she grew even more curious.
She didn't know that Tushan had quietly activated his Observation Haki.
With his S-class Supreme Conqueror's Haki unleashed, the entire Orange Town was almost enveloped!
As a result, Tushan felt increasingly calm.
He quickly sensed several figures beyond his sight, including their positions, numbers, and even their actions...
"Forty-seven."
"Are these guys having a party? They sure are in high spirits!"
"It seems Luffy and his crew haven't arrived yet."
Tushan suddenly chuckled to himself.
He already knew the exact location of Buggy's crew.
He led Makino straight to that location.
Since Buggy's crew was still around, Luffy and his group, including Nami, hadn't arrived in this town yet.
He could only intercept Nami midway.
For now, he would play with Buggy's crew!
"I haven't had a good workout since setting out..."
"Those Sea Kings were brainless, not satisfying to fight."
"I hope these guys with some reputation can provide me some fun!"
Tushan sneered, fixing his gaze on the only rooftop in the entire town that was lit up!
——
At the rooftop banquet hall.
The Buggy Pirates were singing and dancing, holding a banquet.
It wasn't to celebrate any special occasion.
Holding banquets was just a regular occurrence for Buggy's crew.
As a pirate with no grand ambitions, who only wanted to be free and occasionally search for treasure, these were the happiest days for Buggy!
In the banquet hall, the vice-captain, beast tamer Mochi, was petting a lion.
Chief of staff Cabaji was drinking with a few underlings.
Buggy lounged in a chair, holding a wine glass, watching his subordinates perform a comical show for him.
"Ah—another incredibly relaxing day!"
He downed a mouthful of wine, letting out a satisfied burp.
Just as he was about to laugh and call it a day, an unusual disturbance suddenly erupted in the previously joyous hall...
Suddenly!
The pirates who had been laughing, eating, and drinking just moments ago suddenly rolled their eyes and collapsed, unable to move!
In just a second.
The only ones left standing on the rooftop were Buggy, Mochi, Cabaji, and the lion Richie, who sensed the approaching danger!
"What happened!"
"Who!"
"Which bastard did this!!"
"Captain! Just now, there seemed to be a powerful aura sweeping through. Could it be a strong enemy approaching?!"
"A strong enemy?"
Buggy's expression turned fearful, his drunkenness instantly evaporating.
"Could it be Conqueror's Haki?!"
"Damn it, I told you not to let your guard down, to have some underlings standing guard outside!"
"Anyone with Conqueror's Haki... is no ordinary foe!!"
Shouts echoed across the rooftop.
From the nearby staircase.
A slow, deliberate set of footsteps approached in the dark...
*TAP—*
*TAP—*
*TAP—*
The most cautious transmigrator, only setting sail after reaching the pinnacle!
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