Chapter 16 – [16] : Buggy’s Secret! A Super Trait!

~ Long Chapter!

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Orange Town.

This town, famous for its oranges, was now the base of operations for the Buggy Pirates.

“Finally got it!” A slender figure clutching a sea map was running for her life.

It was Nami, having just stolen the Grand Line map from the Buggy Pirates.

Behind her, Buggy’s grunts were in hot pursuit.

“AAAAHHH! Help me!” High above, the large bird was still flying, Luffy clamped firmly in its beak.

“Captain Buggy! There seems to be an unidentified object above the harbor!” Inside a large tent set up on high ground in Orange Town, a man with a conspicuously large red nose opened his eyes.

“Shoot it down,” Buggy ordered coldly.

BOOM!

A cannonball accurately struck the bird. Luffy was released, plummeting towards the ground—landing precisely between Nami and her pursuers.

“W-What happened?” Nami stared at the deep crater billowing dust.

“Ah, saved! That was an interesting trip!” Luffy hopped out of the crater, adjusting his straw hat.

“Y-You are?” Nami stared at Luffy, finding him incredibly familiar.

A moment’s thought brought back the image of the handsome face she’d danced with on the luxury liner, the one who’d told her ‘until we meet again’.

His name was Rowen, right?

This straw-hatted boy was the one who had been on Rowen’s boat when they escaped!

Nami quickly glanced around but didn’t see Rowen anywhere.

“Hey! It’s you!” Luffy noticed Nami at that moment, his face registering shock.

Just as I thought! He remembers me!

Just as Nami was about to say something, Luffy tilted his head, a look of utter confusion—complete with question marks—appearing above him.

“Who are you?”

“…” Nami’s eye twitched uncontrollably.

If you don’t remember me, why did you look so shocked when you saw me just now?!

“Captain! It’s me! The one who knows Rowen!” Seeing the pursuing Buggy pirates hesitate, Nami quickly composed herself and called out with a smile.

“Oh! You’re the thief Rowen mentioned!” The mention of Rowen finally jogged Luffy’s memory.

“That’s right! You came to save me, right? I’ll leave these guys to you, then!” Nami didn’t care what Luffy called her at this point. Pointing at the Buggy pirates, she quickly made her escape.

“Hey! If you’re that woman’s Captain, then we’ll capture you first! Then we’ll make her hand over the map!” The Buggy pirate grunts shifted their target to Luffy.

“Ah, I’m starving,” Luffy complained, clutching his stomach, looking weak.

“Bastard! I’m talking to you!” One of the pirates roared in anger, punching Luffy’s straw hat off his head.

“Don’t touch my treasure!” Luffy’s arm stretched out, snatching his hat back. His eyes turned incredibly dangerous.

Having angered Luffy, the pirate grunts were naturally dealt with easily.

“Wow, you’re really strong!” Nami, who had escaped to a nearby rooftop to observe, exclaimed in pleasant surprise upon witnessing Luffy’s power.

“I’m Nami, a thief specializing in stealing from pirates. How about we team up?” Seeing Luffy’s skills, Nami, who initially only wanted the Grand Line map, now set her sights on the Buggy Pirates’ treasure as well.

“No way. I don’t wanna team up with you,” Luffy glanced at Nami, then turned to leave.

“Don’t say that! I’ll treat you to a meal!” Nami offered with a charming smile.

“Really?!” Luffy’s face instantly lit up with delight.

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“Delicious!” Inside a nearby house, Luffy devoured a hamburger in one bite, grinning happily.

“Do you live in such a big place all by yourself?” Luffy asked curiously, looking around at Nami.

“No, I’m not from this town. Everyone fled because they were afraid of Buggy,” Nami explained.

“So you broke in, then,” Luffy stated bluntly, always saying whatever was on his mind.

“How rude! I’m a thief who specializes in stealing from pirates! Don’t compare me to common burglars!” Nami retorted indignantly.

“But a thief is a thief, right?” Luffy commented casually between bites.

“I absolutely have to save up 100 million Beri! With this Grand Line map, I can definitely do it!” Nami declared with fierce determination.

“Map? You’re a navigator?” Luffy’s expression changed instantly upon hearing that.

“I’m way better than your average navigator,” Nami stated confidently when it came to her navigational skills.

“Then join my pirate crew as our navigator!” Remembering Rowen’s words about needing a skilled navigator for the Grand Line, Luffy immediately extended the invitation.

“No way! So you are a pirate! I hate pirates more than anything!” Nami’s expression soured instantly.

The image of Rowen also flashed through her mind.

She had initially thought Rowen’s strange behavior on the ship meant he was another thief like her.

Turns out, that guy was a pirate too!

“Oh, okay,” Luffy didn’t push it, simply returning to his food.

Knowing Luffy was a pirate, Nami dropped the subject of teaming up and prepared to leave.

But as she reached the window and saw Buggy’s pirates patrolling outside, an idea sparked. She turned back to Luffy.

“However… if you agree to one condition, I might consider it,” Nami offered with a sly smile.

“Really?! I’ll agree to anything!” Luffy exclaimed excitedly.

“Okay. You have to come with me to meet Buggy,” Nami said, pulling out a rope and quickly tying Luffy up.

“Why are you tying me up?” Luffy asked, confused.

“Is there a problem?” Nami smirked, seeing Luffy securely bound.

Nami was fundamentally kind-hearted—otherwise, she wouldn’t specifically target only pirates to earn her 100 million Beri.

But when it came to tricking pirates, she felt absolutely no guilt.

“Nope! I wanted to meet some pirates anyway! Let’s go!” Luffy replied with a surprisingly carefree grin.

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Meanwhile, Buggy was fuming because the thief hadn’t been caught yet.

“Captain Buggy!” A pirate grunt ran towards him, shouting.

“What is it?” Buggy snapped, still furious about the stolen Grand Line map, which was very important to him.

“That thief! She came back on her own!” the grunt yelled.

“What did you say?” Buggy stared in disbelief.

Looking over, he saw the thief herself escorting a tied-up boy wearing a straw hat towards them.

“That’s them! That’s the woman who stole the map!” Another Buggy pirate pointed at Nami, shouting.

SMACK! Nami didn’t panic. She just gave Luffy a hard shove, sending the bound boy tumbling to the ground.

“I’ve captured the thief for you, Captain Buggy the Clown! Here’s your map back!” Nami held up the sea map.

“Glad you brought it back. But what exactly caused this change of heart?” Buggy asked, taking the map and giving Nami a strange, unsettling smile.

“My Captain and I had a falling out! I’ve had enough of him! Please let me join your Buggy crew!” Nami exclaimed with feigned enthusiasm.

This was Nami’s improvised plan. Surrounded by Buggy’s crew, escape was impossible.

So, she decided to use this pirate and the map to gain Buggy’s trust, then find another opportunity later to steal the map back and escape.

“Hm?” Hearing her words, Buggy’s eyes suddenly filled with rage.

“C-Captain Buggy’s angry!”

“He’s gonna use his devil powers!” The surrounding Buggy Pirates looked terrified.

“Devil powers?” Luffy, still tied up on the ground, blinked upon hearing this.

Could this Buggy guy be a Devil Fruit user too?

“HAHAHAHA!” The next moment, Buggy burst into uproarious laughter instead.

“Couldn’t stand that guy anymore, huh? You’re an interesting woman! Alright! You can join!” Buggy laughed heartily.

Nami’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled brightly.

Infiltration successful! Pirates really are simple-minded and easy to fool.

Buggy’s crew then dragged Luffy away and threw him into a cage.

“Why are you locking me up?!” Luffy yelled.

But no one paid him any attention.

“I’m in a great mood today! What’s your name, woman?” Buggy asked Nami.

“Nami,” she replied with a smile.

“Alright! Everyone, let’s throw a welcome party for Nami! Let’s have a flashy celebration!” Buggy threw his arms wide, laughing grandly.

“OOOHHH!” Buggy’s crew roared in response.

Soon, food and drinks filled the Buggy Pirates’ base.

The pirates’ way of celebrating was always through feasts and parties.

“What’s wrong? Eat up! This is your welcome party!” Buggy urged Nami, who was seated opposite him.

“Okay! Thank you very much!” Nami replied with a smile.

Having successfully infiltrated, Nami was already scheming how to steal the map back—and maybe even Buggy’s treasure hoard.

The Buggy Pirates were notorious in the East Blue, and Buggy himself was famous for his love of treasure. If she could steal his stash, she’d surely make a fortune.

“Hahaha! Feeling great! Men! Prepare the special Buggy Ball!” After downing several drinks, Buggy suddenly roared with laughter.

“What are you doing?” Nami watched with confusion as Buggy’s crew rolled out a large cannon and loaded a peculiar-looking cannonball into it.

“Watch closely! The power of the special Buggy Ball!”

“Light the fuse!” Buggy grinned sadistically.

BOOOOM!!!

With a tremendous blast, the special Buggy Ball was fired. The massive explosion tore straight through the town center in front of them, obliterating countless buildings in a violent blast.

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“What was that explosion?” Zoro, having already reached the shore, stared at the bright flash of light in the distance.

“Th-That’s Captain Buggy’s ultimate move! The Buggy Ball!” one of the three Buggy pirates Rowen and Zoro had ‘commandeered’ explained, sweating nervously.

“Buggy Ball?” Zoro repeated the name.

“Let’s go. Luffy’s probably right over there. He has a knack for attracting trouble,” Rowen commented, looking towards the direction the Buggy Ball was fired from, a faint smile on his lips.

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“Isn’t it magnificent?! With my Buggy Balls and my Devil Fruit powers, I’ll definitely conquer the Grand Line! Right, Nami?!” Buggy gloated, admiring the destruction wrought by his Buggy Ball.

“Y-Yes, Captain Buggy,” Nami managed to reply, trying to suppress the turmoil within her.

Thank goodness the townspeople already left… no casualties.

“Huh? I’m the one who’s gonna conquer the Grand Line! I’m gonna be King of the Pirates!” Luffy yelled indignantly upon hearing Buggy’s boast.

“Hm?!” Buggy’s face instantly contorted with rage, veins popping on his forehead.

“Hahaha! Now I see why you couldn’t stand this idiot, Nami!” Buggy scoffed, finding it ridiculous that such a little brat dared claim he’d be Pirate King.

“Exactly! He’s just a naive fool who hasn’t seen the world! That’s why I couldn’t follow him anymore!” Nami quickly agreed, forced to play along.

“Alright then! As a reward, I’ll let you fire a Buggy Ball! Blow your former Captain away!” Buggy grinned cruelly.

“This will also serve as proof of your true loyalty to me! This is the real welcome ceremony, Nami!”

Click! A new Buggy Ball was loaded into the cannon, aimed directly at Luffy’s cage.

“Fire! Fire!” The surrounding Buggy pirates began chanting wildly.

“…” A box of matches was thrust into Nami’s hand, but it trembled uncontrollably.

She knew perfectly well that if she didn’t fire, Buggy would kill her.

But… how could she become one of them—one of the pirates?

“What’s wrong? Your hand is shaking,” Luffy suddenly commented.

Nami flinched.

“It’s because you challenged pirates without having the necessary resolve. That’s why you ended up like this,” Luffy stated calmly, showing no fear despite being trapped in a cage with a cannon aimed at him.

“Resolve?! What resolve?! To kill people casually?! Is that

 what pirate resolve means?!” Nami shot back, biting her lip as painful memories surfaced.

“No. It’s the resolve… to bet your own life,” Luffy replied, his usual carefree expression replaced by a glimpse of the true depth of his own Kingly Disposition.

“Fine! Let me do it!” Seeing Nami hesitate, one of Buggy’s crew snatched the matches, preparing to light the fuse.

WHOOSH! THWACK!

Just as he was about to light it, Nami whipped out a collapsible Bo staff and struck the pirate down hard.

“Nami! What do you think you’re doing?!” Buggy’s face turned ugly.

“I’m sorry!” Nami blurted out impulsively, her usual cautious nature returning as she bowed deeply in apology.

“You think a simple apology is enough?!” Buggy roared, his face twisting into a furious snarl.

“What the heck? You’re only trying to save me now?” Luffy looked confused by Nami’s actions.

“Don’t be ridiculous! It was just an impulse!”

“I just… don’t want to become like those cruel pirates!” Nami retorted, gripping her staff tightly as Buggy’s crew began to surround her warily.

“Oh. So it was just an impulse, huh?” Luffy sounded slightly disappointed, having thought maybe Nami was finally joining his crew.

“Pirates took the life of the most important person to me! Who would ever want to associate with them?!” Driven to the edge, Nami finally vented her true feelings.

“Oh, so that’s how it is,” Luffy finally understood why Nami, who had initially seemed willing to cooperate, had instantly rejected his offer the moment she learned he was a pirate.

Fsssssss! Just then, the sound of a burning fuse filled the air.

“Ah! The fuse is lit!” Luffy panicked. His rubber body could withstand punches, but not explosions!

“Don’t push your luck, little girl! Kill her! Flashily!” Buggy was completely enraged now, his eyes bloodshot.

“Die! Flashily!” Several Buggy pirates eager to impress their captain charged at Nami.

Nami dodged agilely, then sprinted towards the burning cannon fuse.

“Water! Where’s water?!” Luffy frantically looked around.

“Damn it! Not enough time!” Seeing the fuse about to burn out, Nami grit her teeth and grabbed it directly with her bare hands.

“AAAAHHH!” The searing pain of the burning fuse made Nami cry out.

“You!” Luffy stared, shocked by Nami’s action.

The fuse slowly sputtered out in Nami’s grasp.

“Die!” But the danger wasn’t over. The Buggy pirates behind her raised their weapons, charging in for the kill.

Nami closed her eyes in despair.

CLANG!

“Ganging up on a defenseless woman like this? How pathetic.” A mocking voice cut through the tension.

“Zoro!” Luffy exclaimed happily, seeing Zoro appear, swords drawn, having just dispatched the attacking pirates.

“Been a while, Miss Thief.” Then, a familiar chuckle reached Nami’s ears.

Nami turned towards the sound, seeing the figure she had danced with on the luxury liner slowly walking towards them.

“Rowen! How did you guys find this place?!” Luffy asked excitedly.

“Rowen… Long time no see,” Nami replied automatically.

She hadn’t expected, on this vast sea, that they would actually meet again.

Especially not under circumstances like these.

“Check Traits.” Rowen, however, didn’t have much time for reunions right now. He focused his gaze intently on Buggy.

VMMMM!

A brilliant, dazzling golden light flared into existence.

Buggy… definitely has a huge secret!

Rowen’s eyes shone with intense anticipation.

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