Buggy D Clown

In the underground cell of Thriller Bark's castle, Doflamingo sat bound, his once-formidable power nowhere to be seen. The injuries he bore, despite the potential of his String-String Fruit, were severe, with dried blood still crusting his skin. However, his trademark grin never left his face as Buggy and his crew entered the cellar.

"Fufufur... So, it's come to this—falling into the hands of a little upstart like you," he jeered, his sharp eyes locking on Law. "Corazon must've taken a liking to you back then? If I had entrusted you with the Op-Op Fruit's [Perennial Youth Operation], I should've truly considered you as one of my own."

Doflamingo's voice lowered, carrying a venomous edge as he continued. "He'd rather trust a strange kid than his brother. Tell me, was I wrong to kill him, Law?"

His words sent shockwaves through Buggy's crew, sparking an immediate uproar. Eyes turned toward Law, filled with disbelief and curiosity.

Robin's curiosity piqued. "Perennial Youth Operation? Is it real?"

Lucci glanced at Law, his tone nonchalant but sharp. "Wait, the Op-Op Fruit can do that?"

Kaku's voice was laced with memory. "I remember hearing about it... Didn't the World Government issue a bounty for it over ten years ago? Marines were all over it, weren't they?"

Crocodile looking at Law with a lazy smile, chimed in, his voice low and dangerous. "Yeah, I think Vice Admiral Tsuru was the one leading the operation. She was relentless in chasing down that fruit..." He leaned back, his eyes gleaming with a cold interest. "No wonder she was after Doflamingo all this year."

After hearing the murmurs of the group, Law sneered and turned his gaze to Doflamingo.

"As expected of you, Doflamingo. You're still trying to kill me," he said coldly. "I might as well tell you straight—I made a deal with Buggy. Once the Op-Op Fruit awakens, I've agreed to perform the Perennial Youth Operation for him. In exchange, for your life."

The moment Law finished, a wave of another shock rippled through the group. Eyes darted between Law and Buggy, filled with disbelief. No one had anticipated such a revelation.

Meanwhile, Robin and Gabban noticed that Blueno and Kalifa remained unusually calm. Rob Lucci, catching this, glanced thoughtfully at the two. Their lack of surprise indicated they had known about this information for some time—meaning Buggy trusted them completely.

Realizing this, a sense of ease settled over Lucci, and Kaku couldn't help but smirk slightly. Buggy's openness about something as critical as the Op-Op Fruit's secret was a sign of absolute trust. Bringing them along to witness such a sensitive moment only confirmed it. With Buggy's intelligence, he would never risk revealing such information unless he trusted them wholeheartedly.

Just like Buggy's plan to groom Crocodile as the second-in-command of the Crimson Empire this trust between partners was undeniable. 

'So, this is what it feels like', Rob Lucci thought, a sudden understanding dawning upon him. 'Monkey D. Luffy, I think I finally understand your reckless ways.' At that moment, Rob Lucci's mindset began to shift.

And it wasn't just Rob Lucci experiencing this change; the former CP9 members—Fukurou, Kumadori, Jabra, and Kaku—felt it too. As elite spies with exceptional powers of observation and analysis, they quickly read the situation. The calm expressions of Blueno and Kalifa, coupled with Buggy's deliberate decision to include them in such a secretive affair, spoke volumes. The message was clear: Buggy's trust in them was absolute. 

There was something deeply satisfying about that—being trusted, especially by someone in power. The sense of validation washed over them. 

Even those less keen on observation, slower than the sharp CP9 agents, began to understand this unspoken bond. 

"Fufurfur!"

Doflamingo's laughter cut through the atmosphere after hearing Law's declaration. 

"I didn't expect you to have such guts!" Doflamingo sneered. "From what I know about you, the awakening of your Op-Op Fruit shouldn't be far off." He paused briefly, as though considering something, before shrugging it off. "But never mind. Soon, you'll die just like me. One eternal life for three lives—I'm hardly at a loss."

Hearing Doflamingo's remark, Law sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Sorry to disappoint you again, Dover. Captain Buggy asked me to perform the Eternal Life Surgery when I was far too old to care about dying. So, I've still got decades left in me." Law smirked, his eyes glinting. "Looks like I'll be sticking around to witness the changes in this era. And… wait a second," he said, his tone shifting as confusion crept in. "Did you say 'one eternal life for three lives?"

Realizing something was amiss, Law's eyes narrowed with suspicion as he glanced back at Doflamingo.

Doflamingo, however, wasn't paying him much attention. Instead, his gaze was fixed on Buggy, who stood calm and unwavering amidst the tension. After a few moments of quiet observation, Doflamingo broke into a laugh, a tone laced with admiration and irony.

"Buggy, only you could resist the temptation of the Eternal Life Surgery. I shouldn't be surprised—this is just like you," Doflamingo mused before his smile widened. His head tilted slightly toward a nearby cell, and he continued in a low voice, "As for that 'other life'... well, isn't it right over there?"

Law's eyes followed Doflamingo's line of sight to a cell not far away, and there, bound tightly in seastone chains, was none other than the Golden Emperor, Gild Tesoro—secured and immobilized like a prisoner awaiting judgment. Doflamingo's final words echoed in Law's mind, "You're still too slow, Law. This isn't good at all."

Feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on him, Gild Tesoro could no longer play dead. He immediately snapped, yelling at Doflamingo, "Doflamingo, you bastard! I came here to help you, and now you turn around and drag me into this mess! I swear, I'm going to hammer you to death!"

The group couldn't help but laugh at the outburst. It turned out Tesoro had been pretending all along. But as always, Doflamingo's twisted antics managed to make the situation even worse.

"Fufurofur—" Doflamingo's mocking laughter echoed through the cell as he completely ignored Tesoro's insults. "Tesoro, you are too naive, aren't you? They were planning to strip me of my String-String Fruit, and now you've overheard the secret of the Eternal Youth Surgery. Do you think you can walk away from this alive? I'm just giving you a reality check, something you refuse to accept."

"What the hell, you bastard! Of course, it's easy for you to talk when you're about to be killed!" Tesoro exploded in frustration, his face twisted in despair. "If I don't make it out of this alive, what's going to happen to my gold?"

"Exactly! Who wants to die if they can avoid it?" Buggy chimed in suddenly, drawing everyone's attention.

He then turned his gaze to Tesoro, his expression unreadable. "Tesoro, do you know why I took away everyone else's Devil Fruit abilities but left yours untouched?"

Tesoro, who had been sulking in despair, squirmed within the confines of the seastone chains, hope to spark in his eyes as he looked up at Buggy. 

"Buggy… what do you mean by that?" Tesoro asked, his voice trembling with a glimmer of expectation.

"It's quite simple," Buggy said with a sly smile, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Tesoro. "I need the power of your Gold-Gold Fruit to help with something. You've already mastered it and awakened its ability. Frankly, I don't have the time or patience to groom another user and hope they awaken the fruit's full potential. After all, awakening a Devil Fruit is rare, as you well know."

Tesoro's eyes lit up, energy returning to his worn-out face as he leaned forward eagerly. "Buggy, I'll do anything you need! Just spare me! I can help you with whatever you want—just don't kill me!"

The room fell into a strange silence. Everyone glanced at Buggy, their faces etched with confusion. Wasn't the plan to extract the last bit of use from Doflamingo? Why suddenly take an interest in keeping Tesoro alive? Moreover, Tesoro had overheard the secret of the [Eternal Youth Surgery]. Letting him live seemed risky.

The crew exchanged glances, uncertain of Buggy's motives. It felt like something was being left unsaid, a layer they couldn't quite understand. If there wasn't a special reason, wouldn't it be safer to silence Tesoro permanently?

Tesoro, too, had thought his fate was sealed the moment he overheard the immortality secret. When Buggy had previously stripped Doflamingo of his String-String Fruit powers, Tesoro had hoped to blend in and survive. But once Doflamingo called him out, it seemed like a death sentence. Yet now, with Buggy offering him a lifeline, Tesoro wasn't about to let the opportunity slip.

As for the secret? Tesoro knew that unless Buggy died or the Buggy Pirates dissolved, no one would dare to expose it. He had no choice but to throw his loyalty behind Buggy and hope for survival.

"I want 30% of Gran Tesoro's annual income," Buggy said, raising a single finger to emphasize his demand. "I know your Gran Tesoro is the largest entertainment city-ship in the world, co-owned with the king of the underground. But I don't care about the rest—you can handle that yourself. When I find pure gold, I'll add another 20% to that. That's the first point."

"Pure gold?!" Tesoro's eyes widened in shock. While others in the room might not understand the significance, as the possessor of the Gold-Gold Fruit, Tesoro knew exactly what it was—an elusive treasure capable of granting immortality. Did such a thing exist? But with Buggy mentioning it, there was no room for doubt. Pure gold might indeed be somewhere, and Buggy needed him, a golden fruit user, to get it. No wonder his life had been spared.

Realizing his worth, Tesoro let out a quiet breath of relief, but he didn't let arrogance creep into his tone. Instead, he nodded with deference. "No problem at all! If Captain Buggy finds pure gold, forget an additional 20%—they'd agree even if it was 30% without hesitation!"

"Very good!" Buggy said with a satisfied smile. He was pleased with Tesoro's compliance. The income from the world's largest entertainment city, Gran Tesoro, was immeasurable. With this deal, Buggy could secure tens of billions in annual revenue. For the Red Empire, which needed early-stage funding to grow, this was more than ideal.

"Second point," Buggy continued, "I need you to help me investigate the underwater areas of my Empire. Can you detect any gold or other metal objects down there?"

"Of course!" Tesoro immediately assured him. "My Gold-Gold Fruit isn't just for controlling gold. It's highly sensitive to detecting all kinds of metals. It's how I built my wealth—there's no problem with that."

Snap!

Buggy snapped his fingers in satisfaction and raised a third finger. "The third point is simple—keep this secret. I trust you know what I mean."

"Understood! Of course, I understand!" Tesoro said eagerly, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.

Whoosh!

Clang!

In the next moment, Buggy raised his hand, and the seastone chains around Tesoro shattered. Tesoro immediately felt his powers returning and laughed heartily, savoring the feeling of narrowly escaping death. 

"Hahahaha!"

As Tesoro reveled in his newfound freedom, it was Doflamingo's turn to be stunned. After a moment, he shook his head and smirked.

"Fufufufufu... Godslayer Buggy, you really are something else," Doflamingo drawled, his voice laced with a mix of sarcasm and genuine amusement.

His sharp gaze flicked toward Tesoro, who was reveling in his newfound freedom, before returning to Buggy. Despite the noose tightening around him, Doflamingo's grin never faltered. He leaned back slightly, exuding an air of defiance. "But tell me, what do you think happens next? Do you expect me to grovel? That's not my style."

Buggy's voice rang out, sharp and cutting. "Doflamingo, do you want your family to end up like you? Forgotten. Broken."

The words hit like a thunderclap. Doflamingo's smug facade cracked, his trademark sunglasses doing little to hide the sharp tension in his jaw. His shoulders stiffened, and for a brief moment, his grin vanished. "My family... they're alive?" His voice carried a rare softness, almost disbelief. The flicker of hope in his eyes was quickly swallowed by calculating resolve.

"That's great," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else, before his grin returned, razor-sharp and deadly. "Alright, Buggy, let's talk. Do you want something? Information? Power? A kingdom to call your own? Say the word, and I'll give it to you. Just keep your hands off my family."

Doflamingo's posture straightened as he laughed darkly. "After all, I've always been good at cutting deals."

Buggy watched as Doflamingo's expression softened with relief, and for a moment, he almost felt uncomfortable. Robin, who had been silently observing, broke the tension with a wry smile. "You know, it almost feels like we're the villains here. Maybe we'll get struck by lightning when we leave."

"Ah! Robin-san, don't say such scary things!" Shirahoshi whimpered, looking shaken by the dark joke.

The rest of the crew shared awkward looks, unsure whether to laugh or feel unsettled. Hancock however, smiled confidently. "Of course we're villains. We're pirates, aren't we?"

"Makes sense!" the crew echoed, their sudden acceptance of their roles giving them an odd sense of camaraderie.

Doflamingo, still reeling from the shift in the atmosphere, glanced at Buggy expectantly. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly at the bizarre scene, but he remained focused on his crew's fate.

Buggy sighed, amused by his crew's antics. Turning back to Doflamingo, he continued, "I'll spare your subordinates, but here's the deal. I want your connections, money, and influence from the underground forces."

Doflamingo's eyes narrowed in thought, but Buggy wasn't finished. "I'll let your men live, but they're not getting off easy. They'll work for the Red Empire for ten years. They'll get paid, the same as any other worker, but they can't leave until their time is up. After that, they can settle down with a house and a business here, free to live their lives."

Doflamingo, though weakened, smiled bitterly. "Ten years, huh? That's a fair deal... for them. Alright, Buggy. You have my word. You'll get everything—just make sure my men live."

Buggy nodded, sealing the agreement with a simple, firm handshake.

Buggy watched the scene unfold with quiet intensity, his expression unreadable. Doflamingo, even in his final moments, remained composed, a twisted smile still playing on his lips as Law delivered the fatal blow. Blood sprayed from the wound, but Doflamingo's eyes stayed sharp, focusing on Law and then Buggy as his life slipped away.

"Fufurofur..." Doflamingo's voice was weak, but his words carried a weight that hung heavy in the air. "Godslayer Buggy, I feel like I've glimpsed the future... a world falling under your control. I wish I could live to see it... Can you make your dream come true?"

His voice began to fade, but he continued, his eyes never leaving Buggy. "The old age will end... the strong will have their place... and the young will rise. A world where the outcasts... the broken... the forgotten... all have a place of power. Wouldn't that be something?"

With a final, bloodstained smile, Doflamingo's laughter faded into nothingness, and the once-mighty Heavenly Yaksha was no more.

Buggy stood there, absorbing Doflamingo's last words, his face a mixture of contemplation and satisfaction. The crew around him remained silent, all of them recognizing the gravity of the moment. Doflamingo, a man who had shaped the world in his way, was gone. And yet, his death marked not just an end, but the beginning of something greater for Buggy and his Red Empire.

The world had lost one of its most infamous villains, but a new era, one shaped by Buggy's ambition, was just beginning.

The news spread like wildfire, rattling both the World Government and its affiliated powers. Each faction—be it the Marines, the Five Elders in Mary Geoise, or even the remnants of the NEO Marines—had their reaction to the announcement of Buggy's newly founded Crimson Empire. 

---

At Naval Headquarters, Akainu, as usual, was the first to voice his anger. His fiery temper flared, and his voice rang through the smoky Marshal's office. "What did you say?! Buggy has abolished Wanokuni and founded an Empire?" His hands clenched around the phone, his mind reeling. This wasn't just some random pirate—this was Buggy, the so-called "Godslayer," the man who had gone from clown to conqueror. Even in the highest echelons of the Marines, this news shook them to their core.

Crane, Smoker, and Kizaru—all gathered in the room—exchanged bewildered glances. Smoker, his cigar still hanging from his mouth, was the first to speak, his voice tinged with skepticism. "Buggy? A country? Wasn't he just a laughingstock from East Blue before?"

Kizaru, who had just returned from his mission in Wanokuni, barely concealed his amusement, though there was a trace of wariness in his eyes. "Well, I suppose anything's possible for him, isn't it? Though, a 'Crimson Empire'? That sounds like something right out of a bad joke."

But Akainu wasn't laughing. His anger simmered as he barked, "Damn it, Sengoku! Did you hear this?!" He stormed out of the office, his mind racing with possibilities. Buggy had become a force to be reckoned with, and this sudden power shift—having his nation now—was dangerous, especially if the Marines or the World Government underestimated him.

...

Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the Five Elders were also grappling with the news. The scene in their office was one of rare confusion. The five powerful figures stood together, eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Buggy? A Pirate Empire?" one of the Elders exclaimed, his voice low and gruff. "Impossible! A pirate founding an empire? Does he think he's Doflamingo?" 

Another Elder shook his head, the wrinkles on his face deepening with the weight of the news. "No, Doflamingo never had a kingdom. He had snatched it. And now Buggy's doing the same? This is unacceptable!"

The Elders exchanged grim glances. They had already underestimated Buggy before, and this information was the last straw. "We need to monitor him closely. What does he intend to do with this so-called 'Crimson Empire'?" Mars muttered. "He's always been an unpredictable clown but in the end, he was just another pirate. But now, with his nation, he could become a serious problem."

..

Back in the New World, Zephyr, the former Marine admiral turned leader of the NEO Marines, was equally shocked by the announcement. The news had reached his base through Ain, his disciple, who had been gathering intelligence on Buggy and his activities. "What?! That guy Buggy started a nation?!" Zephyr shouted, his usually calm demeanor shattered by the information.

Ain nodded, confirming the details. "Yes, teacher. After the Great War on Onigashima, they've been calling it the Crimson Empire. Even our submarine forces reported that Buggy and his fleet let them pass without interference. It seems like Buggy has really set up the harbor in Wanokuni, or should I say the Crimson Empire now."

Zephyr leaned back, his hands clasped together in contemplation. This news changed everything. While he had once seen Buggy as a mere nuisance, a clumsy clown of a pirate, the man's rise to power had turned into something far more dangerous. "This is going to cause trouble. If Buggy manages to consolidate his power, he could disrupt the balance of the entire New World. We need to be prepared."

The same sentiment echoed across the seas. Buggy's empire, a sudden and unexpected development, had sent ripples through the world. Whether it was the Marines, the World Government, or the NEO Marines, all knew one thing: Buggy was no longer just a Pirate. He had become a true King in the grand chessboard of the seas. And no one—least of all his enemies—knew what he would do next.

---

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