Chapter 84 : Planning!!

"Kaido and Big Mom, hmph, they're formidable opponents!"

Bullet snorted lightly, his eyes blazing with determination. He showed no fear of Umit and Giberson having the Four Emperors behind them!

The others in the conference room were disdainful and scornful. Most of them carried an air of superiority, as if they were the best in the world, showing not the slightest hint of fear!

Buggy clapped his hands and declared, "Alright, this matter is settled! You can do as you please for now, but if either I or Doflamingo contact you and need your assistance, I hope you won't resist! It's for the organization, after all."

"I'll search the suitable location for Cross Guild's headquarters as soon as possible, and we'll reconvene later!"

"Any questions?"

Everyone shook their heads, indicating there were no concerns.

Seeing this, Buggy paused for a moment before adding, "If you don't have a place to go, you can choose to follow me, or you can choose to follow Doflamingo!"

"Doflamingo is the king of Dressrosa, and I'm sure he'll take good care of you!"

Doflamingo smiled at this and said, "Of course, of course! I have everything prepared. It's time for you leaders to relax after being imprisoned for so long!"

Doflamingo knew that none of the people in the room were inferior to him, and he'd be glad to have a few of them join him for a while!

There were also people in the conference room who revealed their intentions. They had been locked up for too long and were somewhat unfamiliar with the outside world, so they indeed had nowhere else to go!

But whether to follow Buggy or Doflamingo, they would need to consider their options carefully.

Choosing to join Buggy would clearly mark them as future members of the Buggy Pirates!

This isn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, Buggy desires strength and power, and he aims to be strategic and clever—it's indeed a solid choice!

But as Buggy mentioned before, a man of his caliber, born to greatness, shouldn't be stuck in despair or live in the shadow of others!

Before their imprisonment, they were all dominant figures, and now the ones who once ruled are now confined and reduced to lesser roles. This inevitable shift creates a void in their hearts!

Buggy observed everyone's reactions and smiled. "Actually, you have another option, and that is to follow Teach!"

"Huh?"

At these words, everyone in the meeting room was taken aback, including Blackbeard himself, who had been addressed by Buggy!

Follow me? Why would anyone want to follow me?

Blackbeard was unsure of his next steps. Why was Buggy suggesting that everyone should follow him?

Blackbeard's original plan was to recruit forces in Impel Down, then seize the opportunity at Marineford to annex the Whitebeard Pirates' territory and replace Whitebeard as one of the new Four Emperors!

But now that Blackbeard's crew hasn't added any new member, and considering that the original five members may even be a spy, it can be said that he is a solitary figure. 

With his current situation, where would he find the mood to seize land?

Buggy glanced at Blackbeard and smiled, "Now that the elite forces of the Whitebeard Pirates have suffered immense losses at Marineford, and their territory lies vacant, aren't you even a bit excited?"

Blackbeard chuckled dryly and replied, "What's the point of being tempted? I barely have any men under my command now. Even if I were to seize the territory, who would guard it?"

Buggy said, "That's why I'm suggesting that you take them with you! With your abilities and their help, it's not impossible to become one of the new Four Emperors!"

Pausing, Buggy then addressed the others, "Don't think there's anything wrong with following Blackbeard. You've all seen his abilities. Joining forces with him can elevate your own strength to a new level!"

Many in the conference room were struck by this realization, understanding the implication of Buggy's words.

During the Marineford War, Blackbeard had seized Whitebeard's Tremor Fruit and had also helped Shiryu and Sanjuan Wolf obtain the Phoenix Fruit and the Buddha Fruit—facts that were well-known to all!

If they followed Blackbeard and encountered someone with the right Devil Fruit power, they could gain a substantial boost!

Considering this, the Corrupt King spoke up, "Hahahaha, Blackbeard, I look forward to your guidance in the future!"

Vasco Shot responded, "I'm not interested in Devil Fruits, but I'm very keen on seizing territory!"

Crescent Moon Hunter also spoke, "I don't want to live under someone else's rule, but I'm willing to join forces with you to claim Whitebeard's territory!"

Most people in the room supported Buggy's proposal. Those without Devil Fruits were attracted to Blackbeard's ability, while those with Devil Fruits were eager to seize land and become rulers themselves.

Blackbeard looked perplexed. It seemed he hadn't agreed to take them along for territory grabs, had he?

Buggy clapped his hands and said, "You decide how you want to handle things and how much territory you can claim is up to you! The more territory you gain, the better it will be for our Cross Guild in the future!

"But first, there are a few important things I need to address!"

"Now that we are all our own individuals, avoid discussing matters that could harm our unity! Don't engage in actions that could undermine our solidarity!

"If anyone breaks the rules, don't blame me if I turn against you and refuse to acknowledge you!"

"The world is vast, and there are many opportunities out there, so we must think long-term! Don't be distracted by small gains!

"There are some benefits that can't be achieved alone, but with the strength of all of us combined, we need not fear any force in this world!"

"The Whitebeard Pirates' territory is just the beginning. Our conquest is the entire ocean!" 

Buggy's commanding and charismatic words sparked a heated response from everyone in the conference room.

A surge of excitement filled the room as they started to believe that perhaps Buggy was indeed the one destined to lead them!

Buggy paused, seemingly remembering something important. He turned to Doflamingo and said, "By the way, Doflamingo, I need your intelligence network to assist me right away!"

Doflamingo did not hesitate. He nodded and replied, "Of course. If you have any requests, I'll do my utmost to fulfill them!"

Buggy held up three fingers and outlined his demands. "First, locate the Buggy Pirates. They should still be drifting near the edge of the Calm Belt within the Impel Down area. Contact them and have them come to me!"

"Second, find the Breed Pirates. They're a minor threat—don't worry about their crew. Just capture their captain, Breed, and bring him to me!"

Doflamingo considered this for a moment and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Buggy's grin widened as he added, "Yes, locate Buena Festa, the Master of Festivities. Inform him that a new era is about to dawn, and if he doesn't want to miss it, he should bring that item to me!"

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