Chapter 49 : Fateful Encounter!!

Although Buggy's forces consisted of only a few thousand—far fewer than the nearly 50,000 pirates of the Whitebeard Pirates or the 100,000 Marines of Marine Headquarters—their high-end combat power was in no way inferior! 

Let's not forget, Buggy's crew includes hundreds of pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million berries each!

What does a bounty of over 100 million mean? 

Pirates from all over the world travel through the Grand Line's seven routes, and eventually, they will reach the Sabaody Archipelago, which marks the boundary between the first and second halves of the Grand Line.

After navigating the first half of the Grand Line, those emerging pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million are known as Supernovas!

Luffy is one of this year's Supernovas!

Ignoring factors like the protagonist's aura, there are hundreds of pirates out there just like Luffy and Buggy!

Furthermore, a bounty over 100 million doesn't necessarily mean it's just slightly above that mark!

Individuals like Sanjuan Wolf, Avalo Pizarro, Vasco Shot, and Catarina Devon were all core members of Blackbeard's crew, who eventually became crew members of one of the Four Emperors in the original plot!

In other words, in terms of top-tier combat power, Buggy's crew is on par with any of the Four Emperors!

That's why Buggy is confident in joining the war as a third-party force, equally formidable as the Whitebeard Pirates and Marine Headquarters, rather than merely being a subordinate to them!

"Hahahaha, that's exactly what I want! I want Whitebeard's head! I want Sengoku and Garp's heads too!"

Bullet was thrilled with Buggy's response, which perfectly aligned with his own ambitions!

Ever since Roger's surrender, Bullet, who had always set his sights on Roger, had been lost in confusion. 

However, after twenty years of reflection, he had finally refocused his goals. 

His new aim was clear: to defeat everyone and become the strongest in the world, to claim the title of Pirate King!

So when Bullet heard about the war between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Marine Headquarters, he decided to dive into the fray. 

But rather than siding with either the Whitebeard Pirates or the Marines, Bullet chose to join the conflict as an independent force, intent on taking down both sides!

He was a one-man army.

Yet, after hearing Buggy's proposition, Bullet was open to forming a temporary alliance. 

With so many insignificant enemies at Marine Headquarters, he wasn't keen on wasting his strength on them.

Bullet's imposing figure radiated Conqueror's Haki as he addressed the group, echoing Buggy's challenge: "Now, who's with me and who's against?"

Initially shocked by Buggy's audacious plan, the crowd's gaze shifted to the commanding presence of Buggy and the intense Bullet. Their enthusiasm began to ignite.

"Dammit, let's do it! The worst that can happen is death! If we win, we'll have the power to reshape this world!"

"It's just the Marine Headquarters and the Whitebeard Pirates! Let's crush them!"

"Captain Buggy!!!"

The prisoners roared with battle fervor, their collective spirit momentarily united.

"Excellent!" Buggy declared with satisfaction, his voice booming. "Let's go and turn this world upside down!"

"Wow!!!"

The cheer echoed from the crowd!

Well, not everyone was celebrating.

In the shadow of the mast, Domino stood in stunned silence, her gaze fixed on Buggy floating in the air. A shiver ran down her spine.

Domino had originally planned to die alongside Buggy when they left Impel Down. However, to her shock, instead of returning to the sea, Buggy had gathered a large following and was heading straight for Marine Headquarters!

Domino realized that Buggy had a far more terrifying plan in store. 

She had initially intended to stick with her plan of "dying together" with Buggy, but now she needed to understand his true intentions. 

To her horror, Buggy's real plan was even more insane than she could have imagined! 

He aimed to wipe out both Marine Headquarters and the Whitebeard Pirates in one fell swoop. If Buggy succeeded, it would truly be the end of the world!

Confusion and dread gripped Domino as she struggled to decide what to do.

"Captain Buggy! There's a warship approaching!"

At that moment, a shout cut through the commotion of the crowd, grabbing everyone's attention.

Buggy, suspended in the air, squinted at the stout, black man standing at the bow of the approaching warship. He coolly remarked, "Don't worry, they're not our enemies!"

Indeed, the figure on the approaching warship was none other than Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach, who was on his way to Impel Down to recruit new crew members.

However, Blackbeard was also puzzled. Why was a warship from the direction of Impel Down approaching now? 

Could it be an ambush set up by the Navy Headquarters?

"Captain, it looks like the people on the opposite ship are not from the Navy!"

Van Augur, the sniper of the Blackbeard Pirates, observed through the scope of his rifle before speaking up.

Blackbeard was taken aback. "Not the Navy? Then who could they be? Could it be that the Marine Headquarters is in such dire straits that they've called for reinforcements from Impel Down?"

Van Augur lowered his rifle and said calmly, "That's impossible. Can't you see that the man who looks like a small mountain is wearing a prison uniform from Impel Down?"

"I remember him now! He's Sanjuan Wolf, the infamous criminal. The prisoners from Impel Down must be aboard those three warships!"

"Captain, it seems your plan has hit a snag!"

"But this is fate!"

Blackbeard's expression darkened. "Kikyo, who exactly has sabotaged my plan? Burgess, bring the ship closer!"

"Yes, Captain!"

At Burgess' command, the ship was steered towards the three enemy vessels.

As they drew nearer, Blackbeard could clearly make out the figures on the three warships.

Demon Heir Bullet, Crocodile, World Destroyer Byrnndi World, Corrupt King Alvaro Pizarro, Crescent Moon Hunter Catarina Devon, and Heavy Drinker Vasco Shot...

It was certain that these were all prisoners from the sixth level of Impel Down!

"How can this be repaired! Who on earth has spoiled my good fortune?" Blackbeard's expression grew darker.

Just as the distance between the two sides closed to two hundred meters, a figure suddenly flew over from the opposing warship!

The four crew members under Blackbeard all assumed serious expressions and took up defensive stances.

"Hey, isn't that Teach from Whitebeard's crew? It's amazing how we keep running into each other!" Buggy hovered a few meters in front of Blackbeard, ignoring Van Augur and the others, and grinned playfully at Blackbeard.

"You're… the one with the red nose…" Blackbeard was initially stunned, but upon seeing Buggy's distinctive red nose, he instinctively rubbed his cheeks and laughed, "Hahahaha, I was wondering who it was, and it turns out to be Buggy from Roger's crew!"

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