Based on Buggy's years of wandering around the seas, he knew that ordinary natives of the Four Blues almost never possessed Haki.
Only those who had been to the New World had a real chance of gaining such power.
"You guess?" Lucky Drake smirked.
"Oh, right—your Chop-Chop Fruit isn't invincible, is it?
It has weaknesses.
I'd love to know the best way to deal with you."
Gulp.
Buggy instantly broke into cold sweat.
This guy was terrifying.
"Y-you… what's your name?"
"And are you really just the vice-captain of the Thunder Pirates?"
"Hehe, my name's Lucky Drake.
And yes, I am the vice-captain just recently strong enough for the position though."
Gulp.
Buggy felt chills up his spine.
So this Thunder Pirates' captain…
must be even scarier?
No wonder he had the guts to challenge Buggy's hundred-plus crew alone.
And they even had another Devil Fruit user?!
Can't mess with them.
Absolutely cannot mess with them.
Buggy exhaled heavily.
"Alright… I won't say anything more.
How much money do you want?"
"We settle this privately, yeah?
Let's not spread this around."
Lucky Drake burst out laughing.
Everyone—Thunder Pirates and Buggy Pirates alike—was dumbfounded.
What the hell was going on?
Why were the two standing so close?
Negotiating? Flirting?
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Buggy quickly whispered.
"Fine. If we're settling this privately, I have one condition."
"What condition?"
"Fight me."
"Fight—? Fight what?!"
Buggy nearly screamed.
"I'm a man who loves treasure, not battles!
And you're clearly pretending to be weak—
I'll just admit defeat, okay?!"
Buggy declared decisively.
He had already realized the truth if the enemy understood his weakness, what was the point of fighting?
He would just get humiliated.
"Admit defeat?"
"You can do that?"
Lucky Drake frowned.
He needed to complete the system task.
Would it count?
Ding!
"Congratulations, host.
You have completed the task by defeating Buggy mentally!
Reward: 1000 lottery points."
Lucky Drake froze for a moment—then understood.
So the defeat didn't need to be physical.
Crushing the opponent in spirit also counted.
He never expected Buggy to be scared to this extent.
"Damn it… just take it as making a friend, yeah?
What else do you want?" Buggy said miserably.
Lucky Drake thought for a moment.
"Alright. No fighting then.
My last condition—
give us 100 million Berries."
"WHAT?!
A hundred million?!" Buggy nearly fainted.
"Why don't you just kill me instead?!"
"Look at you, so stingy."
Lucky Drake clicked his tongue.
"You just said we were 'friends,' didn't you?
This is my friendship price."
"A mere hundred million— that's nothing for you, right?
Especially since you're about to get rich again soon."
"You—
w-what do you mean by that?!"
Buggy stiffened.
Could he… know about the treasure map?
"Relax. I'm not interested in treasure.
Too time-consuming."
Lucky Drake smiled.
"We just want money to enter the Grand Line."
Buggy's eyelids twitched wildly.
"Why… why did I have to run into these vampires…"
"Hahaha, look at it this way— if we killed you, we'd take all your money.
Now you only lose one hundred million.
Isn't that a bargain?"
Buggy inhaled sharply—
"…Fine.
I'll give you the hundred million Berries."
"But once you get it, leave this town immediately."
"No problem!"
Lucky Drake smiled broadly.
Time was the most important factor— he needed to advance before Luffy and Zoro arrived and "stole" his experience.
Buggy forced out a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! Not bad at all!
We met through combat, but who knew you Thunder Pirates would be so interesting?
You're friends of Captain Buggy from now on!"
"Bring one hundred million Berries for my new friends!
May their voyage be smooth!"
"C-Captain Buggy… you're really giving them a hundred million?"
his subordinates asked in disbelief.
Everyone knew Buggy loved money more than his own life.
"You guys are too small-minded!" Buggy snapped proudly.
"Yes, I love money— but I've always been generous with my brothers and friends!"
"Ohhh!
As expected of our captain!"
"Captain Buggy is so loyal!"
"We've truly followed the right man!"
Buggy's crew looked at him with sparkling eyes.
Soon, a large suitcase filled with a hundred million Berries was carried before Lucky Drake.
"Thanks, Brother Buggy."
Lucky Drake said politely.
No need to ruin this relationship— Buggy could be a future cash cow.
In the original story, Buggy was practically the most normal pirate—
only cared about money, never about power or women.
If Buggy knew Lucky Drake's evaluation, he might faint from frustration.
But judging from Buggy's current behavior, he'd probably avoid Lucky Drake for life.
"Alright, let's go!"
"Buy food and supplies, then we'll set sail!"
Lucky Drake's eyes narrowed happily.
Thunder Pirates' crew was ecstatic.
Their vice-captain was too insane!
He got 100 million Berries
from a 16-million-Berry pirate
without lifting a finger!
"Lucky Drake, what did you do to make him hand over so much money?"
Captain Red asked curiously.
"Haha, I told him the captain was stronger than me.
He panicked."
"I see…
Then I must train harder!"
The Thunder Pirates bought provisions in town and returned to their ship.
Suddenly— the system chimed in Lucky Drake's mind.
"Obtain the navigation map from Nami to receive lottery points."
"Huh?"
"Nami?"
Lucky Drake narrowed his eyes.
The system only triggered tasks when the target character was nearby.
Meaning—
Nami was probably hiding somewhere on their ship.
Considering her need for money to help the Arlong Pirates, she must have been eyeing the huge amount they just obtained.
"It's getting interesting…"
~~--------------------------------
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