Chapter 66: The Unpopular Oba III!
The area of the Oba Kingdom's royal capital where the palace and nobles resided had now become a ruin. As the high-flying dust slowly settled, figures could be vaguely seen in the rubble.
"Who in the world are you, and why did you come to attack Oba Kingdom?" a tall figure asked Buggy, who stood unmoving in the center of the palace.
"I alone attacked a kingdom? I say, brother, your wording is incorrect. I'm just here to kill people. Don't go pinning something like attacking a country on me. Be careful, or I'll go to Enies Lobby and sue you for slander," Buggy turned his head, and after scratching his scalp, he replied to the large man who was the first to emerge from the ruins.
"You damn red-nosed ugly ghost! Who sent you to cause trouble in my country? Tell me, and I'll make your death a little easier," from behind the large man, a dusty and disheveled fellow who clearly hadn't grasped the situation stood up and roared.
"You must be Oba III, right? Oh my, if you hadn't spoken, I really wouldn't have been able to tell who the main target was just from the clothes. Thank you so much for solving that problem for me. I, Buggy, captain of the Red Nose Pirates, am a very fair person. Since you've solved a problem for me, I naturally have an obligation to answer your questions." As he spoke, Buggy turned around and walked towards Oba III.
"Your Majesty, look around you! This is a strong one! Guards, assemble! Block this red-nosed man for me!" The large man was much more perceptive than Oba III. If nothing else, he knew for a fact that he was absolutely incapable of shattering the ground of both the palace and the noble districts with a single punch.
Protected by the large man, the now-reacting Oba III finally realized that the fellow he had just called an ugly ghost was not an easy person to deal with.
"Guards, guards! Come and protect me! You damn fools, where did all your usual training go?! I haven't seen a single one of you! If you don't appear before me in ten seconds, I'll have you all hanged!"
Watching Oba III's flustered reaction, Buggy suddenly realized that his target this time seemed to be an ignorant and incompetent second-generation royal.
Buggy indicated that he quite liked this type of person, because he was surely not very good to his subordinates. At a critical time like this, the number of people willing to stand up for him would definitely be in the minority, which would make his job much easier.
"Your Majesty Oba III, rest assured. I certainly won't make a move until I've told you the reason I've come to kill you. You can summon your guards with confidence. Let's see how many are willing to die for you. It's a good chance to see how you usually treat people. By the way, I should also tell the conscious people around us that I'm only here this time to wipe out the Oba royal line. This is a purely personal grudge. If possible, I ask that you all refrain from interfering. In return, I will not take a single piece of the royal family's wealth."
The allure of profit truly moves the hearts of men. That saying was so damn true.
The people who were originally struggling to get up to show their loyalty before the king were now quietly lying back down.
The reason for this situation was actually simple, quite similar to the situation Mihawk's group faced in the Vonsale Kingdom.
However, there was a slight difference from the Vonsale Kingdom. Law had struck much more ruthlessly than Buggy, killing their king in one fell swoop. That, combined with Mihawk's pressure, was what made the nobles of the Vonsale Kingdom start having other ideas.
Buggy, on the other hand, had destroyed the entire area, including the noble district, in one go. The losses this time were not just to the palace, but also to the numerous nobles. In fact, most of the nobles had wanted to step up and help.
Because if they didn't stand up now, then later, when that second-generation royal started settling accounts, it wouldn't be as simple as just a massive financial loss.
The thought that the money for rebuilding the palace might come out of their own pockets was something no noble could tolerate. But Buggy's words made them hesitate.
A personal grudge with the royal family, and he wouldn't even take a single coin of the royal family's money.
Hmm, upon reconsideration, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not only could they get rid of that insatiably greedy fellow, but they might also have a chance to rise to power. Even if they didn't get the chance to rule, as long as they found the royal treasury, they could make up for the losses incurred this time.
How could the nobles, who could figure all this out with a simple turn of their minds, possibly stick their necks out after Buggy had said these words?
As for the kingdom escaping safely, don't be ridiculous. Could a person who could shatter the grounds of both the palace and the noble districts with a single punch be weak?
If nothing else, just the fact that he dared to come knocking on their door alone—who would dare do such a thing without sufficient strength?
And don't forget, only the captain of the Red Nose Pirates had appeared. Not a single one of his crew members had shown up. Oh, wait, one had. He was standing right outside the noble district, that guy in the cloak who looked like a wizard.
Analyzing the situation and making a comparison, after Oba III's voice fell, among the people who could still stand, aside from a few dependents who relied on their relationship with Oba III to survive, not a single one dared to step forward. Some who had stood up even shamelessly let out a groan and lay dead still on the ground again.
"It seems Your Majesty Oba III's character isn't that great, is it? No one is willing to help you. You're truly a failure as a person. I'm in a hurry, so I'll make it quick. I have a survivor from the White Town on my ship. I think you're certainly no stranger to that place, so you should naturally understand why I've come for you."
As soon as Buggy finished, Oba III immediately screamed, "Damn you bastard! I wasn't the only one who sent troops to destroy the White Town! There were two other countries! Why don't you go after them? In that battle, Sarkozy and Trebolsa both got more than I did! Why did you have to come for me first?"
"To be precise, I only chose to come to you, that's all. As for the other two countries, don't worry about them. For all you know, those two kings might have already been taken care of by now. So you see, I'm a very fair person. Since it's revenge, of course everyone has to be included. None of the countries that sent troops can escape retribution. Now then, shall we begin?"
After speaking, Buggy pressed his right hand directly onto the ground. Immediately, a slight tremor appeared on the surrounding ground.
Everyone around focused their attention on Buggy, wanting to see what this move was all about.
A few seconds later, Buggy clapped his hands and stood up straight.
In the next second, the place where Oba III was, the ground that had been tightly surrounded by soldiers and guards, suddenly crumbled. The people standing on the ground were all swallowed up by it in the next second.
"Damn it! What's happening?! What did he do?! Why is the ground suddenly like quicksand?! Who—is there anyone who can pull me out?! I swear I will reward him handsomely! I don't want to die!" As his body began to sink uncontrollably, Oba III screamed loudly.
(End of Chapter)