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

After finalizing the plan with Garp, Karl informed Buggy to begin locating Barret's (Douglas Bullet) whereabouts.

However, upon learning this news, Buggy was so terrified that he immediately returned to Loguetown, refusing to linger outside any longer.

Although Buggy was merely an apprentice pirate aboard the Roger Pirates, he had spent some time with Barret before the latter left the crew.

He was well aware of how terrifying Barret's strength was.

Given his timid and cautious nature, upon discovering that Barret was near the Calm Belt in the East Blue, Buggy didn't even dare venture out to sea.

Yet, Karl still ordered him to search for Barret.

At the same time, Kuro suggested spreading false rumors about Roger Pirates' treasure to lure Barret toward an uninhabited island near the Calm Belt.

Kuro's plan was solid, but Buggy wanted no part of it.

Karl, unable to convince him otherwise, had to assign Smoker and Kuro to accompany and protect Buggy.

To sweeten the deal, Karl also promised Buggy a reward of treasure worth at least 20-30 million berries.

Although treasures in the East Blue were scarce, Buggy had practically dug up every last one. He had uncovered treasures worth nearly several hundred million berries.

As a result, the East Blue had become so peaceful under Karl's influence that not even pirates were a common sight anymore—it was a thriving and prosperous region.

Reluctantly, under the combined allure of Karl's bribe and veiled threats, Buggy accepted the task with a sense of impending doom.

"Buggy, what's the situation on your end? Have you spotted Barret yet?"

"I haven't seen him yet, but I have a hunch—Barret must be around here somewhere!

Kuro, you and Smoker should be cautious not to get noticed. Barret's Observation Haki is terrifyingly strong!"

"Buggy, you be careful too. The moment you encounter Barret, notify Lord Karl immediately as planned!

Smoker and I will rush to your aid to ensure your safety!"

Buggy and Kuro were conversing through Den Den Mushi.

Buggy was leading a small team, searching for Barret's trail on the island.

According to Kuro's plan, Buggy had already spread the word that a treasure belonging to Roger Pirates was hidden on the island.

Despite Buggy's recent public affiliation with the Navy, his treasure-hunting crew, the "Buggy Treasure-Seeking Brigade," still maintained its reputation in the East Blue.

Given Buggy's fame, no one would suspect him of spreading false information, especially since he was convincingly pretending to search for the treasure himself.

Still, they weren't certain whether Barret had taken the bait, so Buggy was tasked with probing the situation.

Meanwhile, Kuro and Smoker stayed close behind, ready to step in at a moment's notice.

The three of them weren't a match for Barret, even combined. But if they worked together, they had a decent chance of retreating to the naval warship at the shore.

Moreover, Karl and Garp were hiding nearby in the surrounding waters, ready to provide reinforcements at the fastest possible speed!

The Buster Call fleet was also stationed in the Calm Belt, awaiting further orders.

In the dense forest, Buggy grumbled under his breath as he led his team, slashing through the thick underbrush on his way to the designated location.

To make the act convincing, Kuro had already planted a treasure chest at the site.

However, this "treasure" was a trap. Opening the chest would activate mechanisms that would unleash a barrage of deadly flying blades.

Buggy was the safest choice for this task since his Devil Fruit ability rendered him immune to such slashing attacks.

"Everyone, stay here and hold your position. I'll handle this alone!

Stick to the plan and be ready to report to Kuro and Lord Karl at any moment!"

Swallowing hard, Buggy cautiously stepped into the cave.

Even though everything had been pre-arranged, the thought of potentially encountering Barret still made him anxious.

Just as Buggy gingerly moved deeper into the cave, a massive hand emerged from the darkness and grabbed his head, lifting him forcefully into the air.

"Red-nosed Buggy?"

"So, you've joined the Navy now? What a disappointment!"

"B-B-B-B-Barret! I hate it when people talk about my nose!"

"Hahahaha! You're still as amusing as ever! With you here, things won't be so dull!"

Douglas Bullet revealed his menacing face as Buggy shrank back, unable to utter a single word.

"You're after the captain's treasure too, aren't you? As a Navy officer, you must know some inside information.

Spill it—what's in the treasure?"

"Why don't you see for yourself?" Buggy retorted, stiffening his neck and shouting boldly.

Barret chuckled at Buggy's sudden show of courage.

"Hahaha! This is hilarious. So joining the Navy has given you some guts, huh?

If you're so daring, opening that treasure chest and triggering its traps shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Gripping Buggy's head tightly, Barret dragged him deeper into the cave.

"Help! Somebody save me! He's going to kill me!

Barret is out for blood—hurry up and save me!" Buggy screamed.

"Hahahahaha!!!" Barret's boisterous laughter echoed through the cave, mingling with Buggy's cries for help.

Outside, the Navy personnel overheard Buggy's pleas and Barret's deep laughter through their specialized equipment.

Initially hesitant to report the situation, the soldiers were jolted into action by Buggy's desperate screams and Barret's unmistakable voice.

"Everyone, fall back and follow the plan. Notify Lord Kuro and Lord Karl immediately!"

"Understood!"

Before long, Kuro and Smoker received the report and rushed toward the location.

At the same time, Karl also received the update.

"Old man Garp, the fish has taken the bait!"

"Hahaha! You're good, kid. I've been chasing that guy for months, but he's so slippery he always manages to escape.

But here in the East Blue, it took less than ten days for your plan to trap him on that island. Not bad at all!"

"Hahahahaha!!!"

Garp laughed heartily, slapping Karl on the back with enough force to rattle his bones.

Karl smiled modestly and gestured for the ship to set sail before explaining further.

"This was just the framework I proposed. The real credit goes to Kuro for executing the plan.

He's a rare talent, and though he's joined the Navy, he hasn't been placed in any official unit yet.

My goal is to have him infiltrate that place. Our information on it is far too limited."

"That place? Are you talking about the Underworld? He's not even sixteen yet—are you sure he can pull it off?"

Garp was taken aback by Karl's statement.

But Karl had unwavering confidence in Kuro.

"He can do it."

"Hahaha, confidence is good! But let's deal with Barret first.

As long as that guy's roaming free, more people will suffer. We need to lock him away in Impel Down as soon as possible!"

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