New World, Karai Bari Island—the stronghold of the newly crowned Yonko, Buggy the Clown.
"What do you mean you couldn't find Weevil? What's that supposed to mean? Didn't I tell you he was still on that Oven Island yesterday?"
Inside the lavish hall, Buggy remained clad in his signature deep-red robe, using his Bara Bara no Mi powers to stretch his limbs and puff up the oversized garment, making himself appear larger than his actual size.
A ship-shaped captain's hat sat atop his head, his hair neatly styled like a proper adult.
Present in the hall alongside Buggy were Mr. 3, Cabaji, Mohji, and a lone swordsman lounging with one leg crossed over the other, leisurely sipping red wine from a crystal goblet, utterly unfazed by Buggy's outburst.
Mr. 3 spread his hands, his expression equally puzzled.
"The scouts reported they couldn't locate Oven Island. Buggy, are you sure the coordinates you gave were correct?"
Buggy blinked, rummaging through the folds of his robe before pulling out a stack of papers.
After flipping through them, he handed one to Mr. 3.
"That can't be wrong. The coordinates are right here. It's a huge island—you wouldn't even need an Eternal Pose. Just follow the sea chart, and you'd find it. Besides, Oven Island is on the outermost edge of Totto Land's waters, practically next to our territory. Ugh, useless idiots! Mihawk! You—go check Oven Island yourself. See if Weevil's still there."
Buggy barked at the man seated at the single table, still savoring his wine.
The man sat with one leg elegantly crossed over the other, a black hat shading his face.
His piercing golden eyes, sharp as a hawk's, carried an intimidating aura that made anyone who met his gaze shrink back.
He wore a wine-red patterned shirt beneath a sleek black vest, paired with fitted violet trousers that accentuated his tall, imposing frame.
His demeanor exuded natural nobility, the air of a born ruler.
Strapped to his back was an enormous black blade, secured within its sheath.
This was the world's greatest swordsman, former Warlord of the Sea—Dracule Mihawk.
After the World Government abolished the Warlord system, Mihawk—like Weevil and the others—lost the protection of their Warlord Status and became targets of Marine pursuit.
Though the so-called "capture operation" was little more than the Marine flexing its authority, there was no way they could easily apprehend men of such formidable strength like him.
Mihawk effortlessly annihilated the Marines sent after him before setting sail alone.
A peerless warrior and a lone wolf, he could go wherever he pleased.
Unburdened by allegiances, Mihawk had initially planned to retire to some quiet corner of the world.
But then, his old friend Shanks approached him with a proposal: the disbanded Warlords should band together for mutual survival.
[This is not what happen in the canon but since this is an AU i wont change it]
With a Yonko's influence paving the way, Buggy quickly tracked down Weevil.
They had hoped to recruit Boa Hancock as well, but the proud Empress dismissed Buggy outright, refusing to join.
Weevil was too dim-witted to lead and Mihawk had no interest in leadership.
Thus, Buggy the Clown naturally assumed command of their little alliance.
Additionally, former Warlord of the Sea Sir Crocodile also expressed interest in forming an alliance with him.
This was precisely why Buggy was able to rise so quickly after Kaido and Big Mom's defeat, becoming one of the new Four Emperors.
Seeing that Mihawk remained indifferent to his words, Buggy gritted his teeth in frustration and floated over, glaring at him.
"Mihawk! You eat my food, drink my wine and do nothing all day! At least Weevil, dumb as he is, helps us expand our territory! Even if you're renting a place, you should pay some rent, shouldn't you?"
Mihawk gave Buggy a cold glance before reaching behind his back.
"What are you doing?! Don't you dare—I'll tell Shanks!" Buggy yelped, scrambling backward.
Cabaji and the others couldn't help but feel their captain had no dignity as an Emperor at all.
"Boring people, boring matters. Fine, I'll go."
Mihawk merely adjusted his hat, picked up the bottle of red wine from the table and strode out without another word.
Buggy glared at his retreating back, muttering under his breath, "Who the hell do you think you are, Mihawk? I'm the Emperor here! You're not even a Warlord anymore, yet you dare act so high and mighty! If it weren't for Shanks, I wouldn't even let you join my crew! Serves you right, getting chased around by the Marines!"
Mihawk paused mid-step.
Buggy flinched, immediately plastering an exaggerated grin on his face.
"Mihawk, ah, you're working hard! How about this—let's go check it out together. If possible, maybe we should avoid provoking Caesar for now."
With that, Buggy floated out of the hall.
Outside, countless pirates busy with their tasks turned their attention to him, some even shouting his name in fanatical excitement.
"Woooh! Captain Buggy's here!"
"Look! That terrifying ten-meter-tall monster is our boss—Emperor Buggy!"
"Ahhh! The sheer presence! Even the world's greatest swordsman can only walk ahead to clear the way for him! I'm gonna faint!"
Buggy cackled, puffing out his chest and trying to appear composed under his oversized red coat.
"Listen up, men! Keep up the good work! I'm off to negotiate with the Beast God Pirates. Hold down the fort while I'm gone!"
The pirates erupted into wild cheers, howling like madmen.
"We won't let you down!"
"Did you hear that? A summit between the strongest Emperors! This is huge!"
"Is Captain Buggy gonna be okay? I heard the Beast God Pirates have Kaido and Big Mom—total monsters!"
"What nonsense are you spouting? Our Captain Buggy's an Emperor too! You think he's weaker than them? Look at how calm he is—that means he doesn't even see them as a threat! That's the demeanor of a true powerhouse!"
Amids the flattery, Buggy followed Mihawk off Karai Bari Island and boarded a large ship bound for Oven Island.
****
Over an hour later, aboard the ship—
Buggy held up the nautical chart, squinting at it before looking ahead, then back at the chart.
Rubbing his eyes in disbelief, he gasped, "What the hell? Oven Island was right here—how did it just vanish?!"
Ahead, Mihawk narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the shimmering sea before him.
There were no large islands here—only a solitary hundred-meter-high reef standing alone amidst the waters.
Mihawk's aura flickered as his expression shifted slightly.
He exhaled deeply and stated gravely, "This is Oven Island. We haven't come to the wrong place."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Buggy and Mr. 3 exchanged confused glances, their faces full of question marks.
Mihawk pointed at the sea ahead.
"Oven Island has been shattered. Only that thing remains."
The air instantly grew still—so quiet you could hear a pin drop on the deck.
Buggy's gaping jaw froze mid-laugh while Mr. 3's flaming hair suddenly flared three meters high.
Thud.
Cabaji and Mohji's legs gave way as they collapsed onto the deck.
"What did you say? Oven Island was over ten square miles! What kind of power could shatter and sink it? Wait..."
Buggy's face twisted violently as he recalled something he witness decades ago—when his former captain Roger, clashed with Whitebeard.
The aftermath of their battle had completely erased an island from the sea.
Gulp.
Buggy swallowed hard, staring at the ocean in disbelief.
"Mr. 3... I think we should get out of here. We clearly can't return to Karai Bari Island. That monster Weevil... he must be dead."
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