One Piece : Strongest Vice-Captain Mr. 3!

"The World Government has already made up its mind to abolish the Seven Warlords system," Mr. 3 stated. "This means that not only us, but also the likes of Hawkeye and the Pirate Empress will lose their privileges, becoming just like any other pirate with bounties on their heads." 

He continued, "These people, used to a life of security, will suddenly find themselves thrown back to the unpredictable world of the pirates. Even with their strength, adjusting to this change will be difficult at first, and they'll run into trouble." 

"If we can be the first to help them deal with those problems, wouldn't that mean we have a chance to recruit these powerful individuals to join us?" 

Mr. 3's eyes gleamed. 

"And once we unite the former Warlords under the Buggy Pirates, do we really have to fear the Four Emperors or the Admirals anymore?" 

Hearing this, Buggy rested his chin on his hand, nodding slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. 

"That actually makes some sense," Buggy said, grinning. "Not bad for a brain like yours, Mr. 3! HAHAHA!" 

The others, who had shown little interest at first, now leaned in, intrigued. 

It was clear that putting Mr. 3's idea into action would be extremely challenging. But the logic behind it was sound—if they couldn't convince the former Warlords to join, just forming alliances or leaving a good impression would still benefit them. 

They were all seasoned pirates, having navigated the treacherous waters of the Grand Line. After some thought, they quickly recognized the enormous potential hidden within this plan. 

"Even if I've got a pig's brain, it's still better than the three pounds of cow dung crammed into your head," Mr. 3 shot back, unbothered by Buggy's earlier insult. 

"So, great idea and all, but how exactly do we pull it off?" 

Alvida, the wielder of the Slip-Slip Fruit, approached, hefting her massive spiked club over her shoulder, her expression serious. 

"Those people aren't the kind you can trick easily," she warned. 

Mr. 3 glanced up at her. Alvida's revealing attire and near-flawless figure were hard to ignore. 

Though images of her former, tank-like self flashed briefly through his mind, he had to admit—this Alvida was stunning. 

Seeing her in person was a far cry from the stylized version you'd see in manga panels or screens. Mr. 3 was certain that if this Alvida somehow crossed into the real world, she would be nothing short of a top-tier supermodel. 

And her skin—smooth to the point of absurdity—seemed like it could deflect blunt weapons with ease. He imagined hitting her with a club, only for it to slide off with a slick "whoosh," as if striking polished glass. 

Unfortunately, the seas were full of beautiful women. After a moment of distraction, Mr. 3 calmed his mind, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand.

He pointed to his forehead with a mysterious, unreadable smile. 

"All the detailed plans are stored right here. If everything goes as expected, we should be able to recruit at least two members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!" 

His arrogant demeanor naturally irritated Buggy, his troublemaking friend. 

"You bastard, Galdino! When did you become such a show-off?!" 

The fact that Buggy didn't even call him by his alias, Mr. 3, and instead used his real name showed just how annoyed he was about being overshadowed. 

"Heh, this is what I call confidence," Mr. 3 replied with a chuckle. 

"So, what's your plan? Those guys won't be easy to fool with just a few sweet words," Buggy said, his annoyance shifting to seriousness. 

He then offered a suggestion, "How about we find a way to form an alliance with them? We'll focus on providing intelligence." 

The implication was clear: let the other Warlords do the heavy lifting while they hide behind the scenes. 

They'd have the freedom to plunder and wreak havoc when things were good—and disappear without a trace when trouble came knocking. 

Mr. 3 instantly understood what Buggy was implying and couldn't help but marvel to himself: As expected from a guy whose name sounds backward—this one's truly scheming to the core. 

Honestly, it was the smartest move for the Buggy Pirates at this stage: use alliances as cover for underhanded operations. 

But then again... 

What about his image? 

How could he become more stylish and commanding if they took the sneaky route? 

"Relax, leave the recruiting to me," Mr. 3 said, still brimming with confidence. 

As someone who had transmigrated into this world and watched One Piece from start to finish, he had unparalleled insight into these characters—their personalities, experiences, and weaknesses. 

This was his greatest cheat, second only to the system that came with him. 

"Are you serious?" 

Buggy scrutinized Mr. 3's eyes, trying to find any trace of hesitation or uncertainty behind his goggles. But there was none—only calm assurance. 

"Well, if that's the case, I guess we don't have a reason not to go along with your plan." 

"Tell us what you need." 

Having fought side by side in life-and-death situations, Buggy ultimately decided to trust him. 

Mr. 3 knew it was time to get serious. "I need you to secure Karai Bari Island and the surrounding isles. These will be our base of operations going forward." 

"After all, our goal isn't just to recruit a few Warlords—we're aiming to become one of the Four Emperors. If we can't even defend our own territory, forget the Warlords—even the New World pirates won't take us seriously!" 

He emphasized the importance of holding their ground. The other Four Emperors—like Kaido and Big Mom—had their headquarters firmly established, and even the Navy wouldn't dare attack them without careful planning. 

Though the situation involved a tacit understanding between opposing forces and a complex network of gray-area interests, this was, in itself, a demonstration of true strength. 

Without displaying a presence comparable to the Four Emperors, their chances of recruiting into the Shichibukai would drop significantly. 

It was absolutely necessary! 

"I see… Now I get it, brother!" 

Buggy rubbed his chin with his right hand, thinking deeply, and then turned to the senior members of his crew. "So, what do you all think?" 

While he feared death, Buggy was also an extremely ambitious pirate. 

As a former apprentice aboard the Pirate King's ship, seeing his fellow apprentice Shanks rise to the top as one of the Four Emperors—respected even by the Fleet Admiral of the Navy—made it impossible for him to remain content. 

So after hearing Mr. 3's suggestion, Buggy's heart was already stirring with excitement. 

This chaotic era was the perfect time to secure a spot in the Four Emperors of the Sea! 

However, since the Buggy Pirates were a team, as captain, Buggy felt it was necessary to hear the opinions of his crew first. 

"That fiery look in your eyes says it all, doesn't it?" 

Alvida swung her iron mace a few times, as if warming up. "Come to think of it, ever since we joined the ranks of Shichibukai, I haven't had much chance to fight…" 

Cabaji, balancing on his unicycle, drew the sword from his belt and ran his tongue along the blade. "My unicycle has been thirsting for action!" 

Mohji grinned mischievously. "Hey, Richie, looks like it's time to fight side by side again. How about we snack on fifty people this time, hehe?" 

Richie, the lion, bared his sharp fangs. "Roar!!" 

Mr. 3, observing the sudden shift in the crew's expressions from casual to menacing, couldn't help but feel a chill. 

This was the true nature of pirates! 

The next moment… 

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! 

In the blink of an eye, Buggy and the others dashed toward Mr. 3, surrounding him with eerie grins. 

"Brother, you're not planning to trick us into staying here as a distraction while you pack up and run off, are you?" 

"I also think this makes more sense than that nonsense plan to recruit the Seven Warlords." 

"Mr. 3, I'm not trying to insult you, but you really do seem like someone who'd come up with a scheme like that!" 

... 

The chaotic and unrestrained roasting left Mr. 3 utterly speechless. 

These guys' behavior was even more outrageous than what you'd expect from the anime. Their mood switched at a moment's notice, with no rhyme or reason. 

Also, just how sneaky and conniving had Mr. 3 been in the crew for them to doubt him this much?! 

"Rest assured, everyone! I swear on the name of Galdino that one day, our pirate crew will sit at the top of the Four Emperors!" 

As he made his promise, Mr. 3 didn't forget to keep hyping them up with grand ambitions. 

His speech was vague and over-the-top, but somehow, everyone seemed to buy into it. They nodded thoughtfully, as if the vision had truly resonated with them. 

They seemed convinced, at least for now. 

"By the way, who's the first Warlord you plan to recruit?" 

Buggy asked the most critical question. 

At his words, the room fell silent, and all eyes turned toward Mr. 3. 

With a faint smile, Mr. 3 strolled out onto the balcony, his hands clasped behind his back, gazing calmly at the fierce battle between the Navy and pirates raging along the coastline. 

After a few moments of contemplation, his lips parted, and he spoke slowly. 

"It's none other than..." 

"The current empress of the pirate nation, Amazon Lily, and the captain of the Kuja Pirates..." 

"Pirate Empress Boa Hancock!" 

**********

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