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"Hōng Lóng!"
Thunder roared as blue lightning arcs shot forth, illuminating the sky with an even brighter flash. The merciless bolts struck Buggy directly.
The entire sequence unfolded in an instant, leaving no time to react.
Nearby, Shanks watched the lightning dissipate, revealing the figure beneath. His expression twisted in shock, and without hesitation, he turned and fled.
"Shanks!" Buggy cried out, his body trembling violently as black smoke billowed from his charred form. He couldn't believe his comrade would abandon him so readily.
"Buggy, we're going our separate ways! I believe in you!" Shanks' laughter echoed from the distance. "He's too strong... I'm no match for him yet."
Buggy's body jerked as he opened his mouth and spat out a puff of black smoke.
He really wanted to curse.
But when he saw the towering figure looming before him, his body trembled again and he forced out a weak smile.
"Hey there, Marine little brother. We're not acquainted, so why did you suddenly attack me?"
Kojin bent down and looked at the red-nosed youth before him. Suddenly, he smiled.
"Buggy the Clown."
"Former trainee of the Roger Pirates."
"The one who just escaped... that must have been Shanks, right?"
Buggy shuddered at the words and forced a bitter smile. "You've got the wrong person."
"I remember you. In that battle years ago, you were the fastest to rush in, only to be instantly defeated by me."
Kojin grinned.
A bolt of lightning flashed through Buggy's mind as he suddenly recalled the most torturous memory of his life. He looked closely at the other man's face again and suddenly remembered.
The fear in his eyes deepened instantly.
'It was him! It was the monster who kept throwing cannon shells!'
Compared to before, Kojin was now taller, more muscular, and far more imposing. This transformation had initially prevented Buggy from recognizing him.
"Kojin!!" Buggy spat out the name with a forced, ugly smile on his face.
"The moment I saw you, I knew I had to keep you, Buggy the Clown," Kojin said with a smile.
"Huh?" Buggy stammered, then his lips twitched. "Why me?"
Indeed, there had been a far stronger opponent present, yet this man had chosen to attack him instead.
"Because," Kojin grinned, "You're a monster!"
Then, he spread his right hand open again. Electric arcs flickered between his fingers.
"50 Million Volt - Discharge!"
Another flash of lightning erupted. Buggy's entire body convulsed, and then he collapsed limply to the ground while black smoke continuously rose from his body.
Kojin picked him up with one hand and looked in the direction Shanks had fled.
"Compared to the future Red Hair... I think you have even more room for growth."
"Yonko Buggy!"
He muttered, then turned his gaze to the electrocuted youth in his arms.
The electricity around his suddenly intensified, flared violently, and vanished. With a sharp flash, he vanished from the spot.
Upon returning to their temporary camp, Kojin set Buggy down on the ground before him, gazing thoughtfully at the young man.
Bullet immediately recognized the trainee from Roger's crew, his expression shifting to confusion.
"Starting today, he's our ship's Trainee," Kojin announced, gesturing toward Buggy.
"What use could this good-for-nothing be?" Bullet retorted bluntly. In his eyes, Buggy and Shanks from Roger's crew were nothing but dead weight.
"Heh, his usefulness is far greater than you think!" Kojin chuckled softly.
Crocodile, Rosinante, Evans, and the others eyed the red-nosed youth with curiosity. They knew that Kojin never recruited haphazardly. Crocodile, Bullet, and the others were all terrifyingly powerful, their strength rivaling even that of Vice Admirals.
So, what special strengths does the red-nosed man before them actually possess?
Kojin smiled lightly.
In his view, the Chop-Chop Fruit was absurdly powerful. It could render all slashing attacks practically useless, giving its user an unbeatable, innate advantage when facing swordsmen.
Moreover, if Buggy were to grow stronger and awaken the fruit's full potential...
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Just imagining that scene was enough.
Shocking!
Buggy's awakening!
A world shattered into pieces!
Moreover, this red-nosed fellow was born with overwhelming fortune; he essentially has the ability of the Luck-Luck Fruit, a rare dual-fruit existence in this world.
Kojin believed that, with long-term guidance and training, Buggy would eventually shine brightly among his subordinates and undoubtedly shock the future world.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side, the Marine officers were preparing to depart from Loguetown.
A large number of Marines were boarding their battleships in orderly fashion, which slowly began to depart from the harbor.
Sengoku, Garp, and the other officers frowned as they observed the bustling scene outside the gate.
"Garp, you should handle this!" Sengoku said. "Just say a few words to these reporters from all over the world."
"Once we've dismissed them, we can head back to headquarters."
Stretching languidly, Sengoku sighed. "These past few days have been exhausting."
Then, a headache struck him. "Roger's final words will likely plunge the world into even greater chaos."
"What a headache!"
Hearing this, Garp burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Don't drag me into this. You know I've never been good with words. If I mess up in front of the world's media, it could cause even more chaos."
As he waved his hand dismissively, he tossed another doughnut into his mouth.
Sengoku looked helplessly at him, then turned toward Zephyr.
"You know I'm better at teaching students than dealing with reporters," Zephyr said gravely.
Sengoku rubbed his forehead, dreading the prospect of facing the world's press. Their questions were often embarrassing and left him speechless.
Suddenly, a thought struck him, and his eyes lit up.
"Then let Kojin handle it! He holds a high enough rank and has an impressive track record, having captured Roger and the Golden Lion. He's the perfect candidate to face those reporters!"
There was no doubt about it... Kojin had become a regular fixture in recent world news and a star figure within the Marines. Many young people idolized him as a symbol of faith and inspiration.
If Kojin stepped forward, he would likely be far more suitable than either Sengoku or Zephyr.
Most importantly... it would save Sengoku a lot of trouble!
Moments later, Kojin was summoned. When he heard Sengoku's orders, he was stunned.
"You want me to face reporters from all over the world?"
"But I... I don't know how to talk to thesee guys!"
Sengoku pushed him toward the door, chuckling as he did so. "Say whatever you want; just say whatever comes to mind. Your ideals, your belief in Justice, anything will do. Just get rid of them, and you'll have accomplished a great feat!"
And so, in a daze, Kojin found himself standing before a crowd of reporters and a Visual Den Den Mushi, their gazes burning with anticipation.
"Vice Admiral Kojin, is it true that you were the one who captured Roger and Golden Lion Shiki?" One reporter asked.
"Yes, I did" Kojin nodded.
"It's said that you are the disciple of the Marine Hero, Vice Admiral Garp. Is that correct?"
"Yes, Garp-sensei has always been my hero." Kojin nodded again.
"Vice Admiral Kojin, may we ask what justice means to you?" A reporter asked excitedly.
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(End of Chapter)