One Piece: Signing In as a Pirate Begins with Roger's Execution

"That's right, Buggy is a mascot!"

"This guy's luck is outrageous. With him around, our Navy's fortune is bound to improve. So, I want him to join me and become a part of the Navy!"

At this point in time, Buggy had always been seen as Shanks' sidekick, leading most people to assume he was nothing more than a lackey.

No one would ever associate him with being an apprentice on the Roger Pirates.

The reason? Simply because Buggy was just too weak—so weak that he could only hold his own against a few elite soldiers of Navy Headquarters.

Naturally, no one would connect someone so weak with the legendary crew of the Pirate King.

This was why Sengoku and the others didn't recognize him at all—Buggy simply wasn't noteworthy enough to be remembered.

Meanwhile, Sengoku's expression twitched uncontrollably.

Hearing Karl's ludicrous explanation left him momentarily speechless.

Karl, however, whistled nonchalantly and turned his head, avoiding eye contact with Sengoku entirely.

"Fine! Since you claim he's useful, do whatever you want with him. But if he causes any trouble, you'll deal with it personally! Understand?"

"Heh heh! Don't worry! I'll make sure to teach him a proper lesson!"

In the end, Sengoku begrudgingly agreed to let Buggy join the Navy.

Karl, of course, beamed with delight.

After settling the matter with Karl, Sengoku held a brief meeting to discuss the far-reaching consequences of this execution.

The fallout was more disastrous than Sengoku and Kong could have anticipated.

Fortunately, Karl's speech and subsequent actions managed to overshadow Roger's final words, directing the public's attention toward Karl instead.

It was a small blessing amid the chaos.

Following the meeting, Kong personally called via Den Den Mushi to give Sengoku further instructions, urging him to return to Navy Headquarters to report immediately.

Originally, Kong wanted Karl to accompany Sengoku to provide firsthand testimony to the Five Elders. However, Sengoku intervened.

This was at Karl's request, as he wasn't keen on returning just yet.

Moreover, Sengoku himself didn't want Karl to come into contact with the Five Elders too soon. Instead, Sengoku chose to shoulder the burden himself.

Having spent 17 years together, they were practically family, and Sengoku naturally wanted to protect Karl.

Later, during an internal discussion, Karl was excluded from participating. He returned to his quarters to begin "training" Buggy.

"Listen up, Red Nose. You have two options:

Join the Navy and follow me. Do that, and I promise you'll live the good life—eating well, drinking well, and even getting your hands on treasure maps.Refuse me, and I'll toss you into the sea to feed the fish.

You've got two seconds to decide."

"I—"

"Time's up. Since you didn't answer, I'll assume you chose the second option."

Before Buggy could respond, Karl swiftly drew the Sandai Kitetsu and stabbed it into the ground between Buggy's legs.

The razor-sharp blade stopped just millimeters from Buggy's "family jewels," leaving him frozen in terror.

"Karl-sama, please don't be rash! Don't lose your grip—if your hand slips, I'm done for!"

Buggy stammered, trembling as he tried to scoot backward.

Unfortunately for him, with his hands cuffed in seastone shackles, he had no strength. Two centimeters was the best he could manage.

"Make your choice. If you don't speak now, I'll assume you've made your peace." 

"I—I, Buggy the Clown, am honored to join the Navy under your command, Karl-sama! I swear my allegiance with no ulterior motives!"

Buggy's face was stiff as he spoke, and though Karl could hear the reluctance in his tone, he still retracted his blade and unlocked Buggy's shackles.

"Die! This is for the Captain!"

The moment Buggy's shackles came off, he lunged forward, launching an attack with his Bara Bara ability.

However, his counterattack was utterly ineffective against Karl.

With ease, Karl dodged and moved the sheath of his blade, pressing its tip right back onto Buggy's vulnerable spot.

If Karl pushed even slightly, Buggy's fate would be sealed.

"Karl-sama, I was too hasty! Please, have mercy—don't be angry! Spare this poor clown's life!"

While Buggy lacked many redeeming qualities, he excelled in reading the room.

Karl admired that about him, which was why he brought Buggy along.

As for the claims of him being a lucky charm? Karl, with his perpetually unlucky streak, didn't care about such nonsense.

He didn't care at all.

"Buggy, what's your connection to Roger? Does he really warrant this kind of loyalty from you?

He was just a pirate—a mere criminal. Even as the Pirate King, he couldn't escape that truth.

Pirates are nothing but scum—thieves who kill, burn, and plunder without a shred of conscience.

The Navy, on the other hand, is different. Not only do we uphold justice, but we also earn wages, hunt for treasure ourselves, and enjoy excellent benefits.

If you still want revenge for Roger, I won't stop you. But consider the consequences carefully."

Karl's tone was calm, though a faint wave of Conqueror's Haki emanated from him.

He casually brushed the sheath across Buggy's lower half again, sending shivers down the clown's spine.

Buggy could only nod obediently, his fear overriding any thought of rebellion.

Buggy was terrified of death, and Karl knew exactly how to exploit that.

"Smoker, take our lucky charm Buggy to the recruitment office!"

"Yes, sir!"

Smoker, who had been waiting outside the door, immediately obeyed, dragging Buggy off to register with the Navy.

Buggy, still seething, planned to vent his frustrations—until he discovered that Smoker was a Logia user.

Despair washed over him.

And so, the night passed uneventfully—except for Buggy, of course.

The next morning, Sengoku and the others departed Loguetown to return to base.

Karl lounged at his desk, completely motionless, exuding laziness.

"Finally, a peaceful day. It's about time..."

"Karl-sama, you might not want to say that just yet. You should take a look at this report first."

Bellemere placed a stack of documents in front of him, leaving Karl puzzled.

"What is this?"

As he flipped through the papers, Karl's expression grew increasingly grim, his eyes sharp and his brows furrowed.

"Bastard! What a bastard!"

"I didn't expect the previous manager of Loguetown to commit so many heinous acts! Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"

Though furious, Karl directed none of his anger at Bellemere. Instead, he gazed out the window, his thoughts distant.

"Karl-sama, I've been gathering this evidence all along. It wasn't until yesterday afternoon that I had it all.

These documents are enough to convict him of capital crimes. What we knew before was just the tip of the iceberg.

This scum had deep ties with the largest pirate organization in the East Blue—the CreteFleet. That's something we didn't know before."

"The Crete Fleet? Who the hell are they?" 

~~~~~~~~~~

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