“I’m starving…” Luffy lay sprawled across the deck, staring weakly up at the sky.
Just as hunger left him seeing stars, with his stomach practically glued to his back, a pink bird happened to fly overhead.
“Food!” Luffy’s eyes lit up.
“Gomu Gomu no—!” His arms shot forward and grabbed the bird by the head.
Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on his side today.
For the second time that day, things went completely wrong.
The “bird” turned out to be a gigantic seabird.
Instead of pulling it down, Luffy was lifted into the sky, dangling helplessly as the bird clamped onto his head and flew off into the distance.
“What a spectacular sight.” Shielding his eyes from the glaring sun, Dazai watched the absurd scene unfold before casually lying back down.
Somehow, he had already produced a copy of The Complete Guide to Suicide and was reading it with great interest.
“This method isn’t bad…” “Hmm…
too painful.
Not for me.” His long legs swayed lazily in the air as he turned another page.
“YOU IDIOT, CAPTAIN!” Zoro’s eyes bulged.
He immediately grabbed the oars and rowed after Luffy with all his strength, practically smoking from the effort.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Dazai lounging peacefully.
“Hey, Dazai!” Zoro growled, flames practically burning behind him.
“Luffy’s been carried off!
Quit lying around and help row!” “What a hassle…” Dazai sighed dramatically before giving the oars a few completely half-hearted strokes.
By then, the giant bird had already disappeared beyond the horizon.
Blue sky.
White clouds.
An endless sea.
There wasn’t a single landmark in sight.
Only the salty breeze drifted across the water.
Eventually, a tiny black dot appeared on the horizon.
As it drew closer, its shape became clear.
“Zoro,” Dazai said, poking him excitedly in the back, “looks like we’ve found some free labor.” In the distance sailed a pirate ship more than ten times larger than their tiny boat.
A pirate flag bearing a grinning skull with a bright red nose fluttered in the wind.
The Buggy Pirates.
Several figures noticed the pair, and the crew immediately began shouting and waving excitedly.
“They’ve mistaken us for easy prey,” Dazai said cheerfully, placing a hand dramatically over his chest.
“Please protect me, Zoro.
I’m just a weak office worker.” Zoro shivered in disgust.
“Protecting my crewmates is the vice captain’s job.” He’s annoyingly dependable.
Dazai gave up trying to tease him.
People like Zoro—and Luffy—were simply too straightforward.
They were his natural enemies.
Aboard the Buggy Pirates’ ship…
“Hey!
There are two unlucky idiots drifting around in that little boat!” a burly pirate shouted through a telescope.
“Let’s rob them!” Several others crowded around to look.
Only two people.
Perfect targets.
“Sounds good!” another pirate laughed.
“Captain Buggy gets to enjoy himself in town while we’re stuck on patrol.
I’m bored out of my mind.” The others burst into laughter.
“Move out, boys!” “Let’s show them the power of the Buggy Pirates!” The pirate ship accelerated and quickly caught up to the tiny boat.
A grappling hook flew out and latched onto it.
Several pirates brandished their swords and eagerly prepared to board.
“Three Sword Style—” A flash of white.
Silence.
Moments later…
Every pirate lay tied together on the deck, helplessly struggling.
Without breaking a sweat, Dazai and Zoro had successfully acquired themselves a much larger ship.
“Don’t get cocky!” one of the pirates shouted.
“We’re the Buggy Pirates!
Captain Buggy possesses the power of a Devil Fruit!
Untie us right now!” “Oh?” Dazai crouched down with great interest.
He twirled a confiscated dagger in his hand while smiling pleasantly at the pirate who seemed to be the leader.
“So your captain is that strong?” He glanced at Zoro.
“Ever heard of him?” “No.” Zoro thought for a moment.
“Must be some small-time pirate.” “You bastard!” one of the crew yelled angrily.
“Don’t underestimate Captain Buggy!
Even if you cut him into pieces, he won’t get hurt!” Thud.
“AAAAAAAHHHHH!” The dagger pierced the leader’s hand.
Dazai continued smiling.
“Oh dear.” “I’m so scared.” Despite his words, he showed no mercy.
He stabbed the man’s hand again.
And again.
And again.
Blood dripped steadily onto the deck.
Within moments, the surrounding planks were stained crimson.
The remaining pirates huddled together, trembling in terror.
Dazai crouched down once more.
His voice was as gentle as ever.
“So…” “Could you tell me more about Captain Buggy?” “I’m rather curious about this…
‘devil’s power.'” The leader had already gone pale from blood loss.
Looking at Dazai’s smiling face only made him shiver harder.
“I’ll talk!
I’ll tell you everything!” Words poured out of him in panic.
“Captain Buggy ate the Chop-Chop Fruit!”( Bara Bara no Mi) “Mohji is the beast tamer!
” “Cabaji is one of the officers!
He specializes in acrobatic swordsmanship!” “They’ve occupied a nearby town!” Dazai mentally organized the information.
That was enough to form a basic picture of the Buggy Pirates.
Zoro stood nearby with his swords folded in his arms, quietly watching everything.
As someone born in this world, scenes like this weren’t unusual to him.
Pirates chose this path themselves.
They had to bear the consequences.
Besides…
Dazai was his companion.
Trusting one’s comrades was only natural.
The pirates clearly weren’t important members.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been assigned such a dull patrol while Buggy and his officers enjoyed themselves in town.
Dazai gave Zoro a glance.
Several flashes of steel later, the ropes binding the pirates fell away.
The freed pirates stared at one another in confusion.
“Boss…” their leader asked cautiously while pressing a cloth against his bleeding hand.
“What would you like us to do?” Dazai rubbed his chin.
“Take us to your captain.” “Of course!
Right away!” The leader was overjoyed.
Once we reach our base, Captain Buggy will make these two pay!
His thoughts were written all over his face.
Dazai noticed…
He simply didn’t care.
Fear.
Affection.
Hatred.
As long as people could be used, any emotion had value.
The pirates hurried back to their stations and resumed sailing.
Soon, the coastline came into view.
“There,” the leader said respectfully with a bow.
“We’ll be docking in just a moment.” Closing his book, Dazai walked to the bow and gazed toward the harbor.
The town looked quiet.
Its level of technology seemed strangely primitive.
Then again…
This world’s technological development is rather…
eccentric.
Dazai smiled to himself.
“Zoro.” He leaned casually against the railing.
“Get ready to disembark.” “I’m pretty sure Luffy’s somewhere in that town.” “Yeah.” Zoro sheathed the sword he had been polishing, stood up, and walked over.
The ship finally reached the dock.
A gangplank was lowered.
Dazai hopped ashore with surprising enthusiasm.
Zoro followed close behind.
The pirates—who were effectively prisoners—trailed after them in silence.
“B-Boss…” the leader asked nervously, wiping sweat from his forehead.
“Any other orders?” “Lead the way.” “When we find Captain Buggy…” “I’ll let you all go.” The pirates were ecstatic.
At last!
They could finally escape this smiling monster.
They immediately hurried ahead to guide the two through town.
“This way, Zoro~” Dazai watched expressionlessly as Zoro confidently started walking in the exact opposite direction.
Zoro froze.
“…I knew that.” His face reddened as he awkwardly turned around and followed the pirates instead.
A terrible sense of direction…
What an amusing hidden trait.
Chuckling to himself, Dazai happily followed after him.