~ Next Bonus Chapter at 200 Powerstones.
"Rowen? Y-You're that... 'Sky Sovereign' Rowen?!" Buggy's face changed drastically as he stared at Rowen.
Lately, the hottest topic across the seas was that World Economic News Agency report about a new King about to be born in the East Blue.
—'Sky Sovereign' Rowen.
That was the man's epithet.
"Y-Yeah! That's right, Captain Buggy! This guy, he's that 'Sky Sovereign' Rowen! And the green-haired one is 'Pirate Hunter' Zoro!" One of Buggy's nearby subordinates pulled out a newspaper, comparing the picture to Rowen's face, and swallowed hard.
"A user of Conqueror's Haki..." Even Buggy felt cold sweat prickle his forehead now.
While 'Pirate Hunter' Zoro had a fearsome reputation among East Blue pirates, Buggy wasn't worried about swordsmen, thanks to his Chop-Chop Fruit.
But Conqueror's Haki was different.
As a former crewmate on the Pirate King's ship—having sailed with the Roger Pirates nearly everywhere except Laugh Tale (due to a sudden illness)—Buggy had practically conquered the entire Grand Line alongside them.
No one in the East Blue understood better than Buggy what Conqueror's Haki truly signified.
It was the disposition of a King!
Anyone who awakened it was considered a formidable power, even in the New World.
And such a man had appeared here, in the East Blue?!
Something clicked in Buggy's mind. He stared incredulously at Luffy, still locked in the cage.
This Rowen guy... is this brat's crewmate?!
That 'Sky Sovereign' title... don't tell me he chose it because this brat wants to be Pirate King, mirroring Vice-Captain Rayleigh's 'Dark King' epithet?!
Does that mean this Conqueror's Haki user actually believes this brat can become the next Pirate King?!
What kind of sick joke is this?!
There was a world of difference between some arrogant little punk saying he wants to be Pirate King, and a man acknowledged by a Conqueror's Haki user as having the potential to become Pirate King!
But why?! Why would someone possessing Conqueror's Haki acknowledge this brat?!
Buggy's eyes turned bloodshot with disbelief and indignation.
"'Sky Sovereign'... Rowen?" Nami murmured the name, looking at Rowen with disbelief.
These past few days, Nami had been completely focused on the Grand Line map, with no time to buy the latest newspaper.
Even without seeing the report, the sheer imposing nature of the 'Sky Sovereign' title, combined with the reaction of Buggy the Clown—a pirate with a 15 million Beri bounty, a major figure in the East Blue—spoke volumes.
Buggy's palpable tension and fear upon hearing Rowen's name said everything.
Nami knew the weight 'Pirate Hunter' Zoro's name carried in the East Blue.
Yet Buggy only showed surprise at hearing Zoro's name. Hearing Rowen's name, however, elicited genuine fear and apprehension.
Just his name alone made a major pirate like Buggy this nervous?
Could this man really be that strong?
Nami stared blankly at Rowen, who now stood protectively in front of her.
—[Kingly Disposition increased. Conqueror's Haki intensity increased.]—
Another notification appeared.
Rowen noted Buggy sweating nervously at the mention of his name, and Nami's shocked gaze behind him. A slight smirk played on his lips.
The reactions of mere grunts to his name no longer boosted his 'Disposition'.
But the reactions of significant characters from the story, like Buggy and Nami? That still gave Rowen a distinct sense of satisfaction, enhancing his 'Disposition'.
The process of strengthening Haki in the One Piece world resembled a culling—using the blood and failures of enemies to forge one's own stronger Haki.
The fame and reputation of powerful individuals in this world were also built upon the blood and failures of their enemies. The principle was the same.
Therefore, to continuously increase his 'Disposition'—and thus his Haki—through his reputation, Rowen needed his name to become ever more renowned.
The best way to showcase a pirate's fame was naturally their bounty. No wonder pirates valued their bounty amounts so highly.
Of course, relying solely on reputation was unpredictable. A more convenient and stable method for boosting 'Disposition' and Haki lay right before him—in the form of Buggy the Clown's Born of the Sea (Apex Gold) Trait.
Just as Buggy started to speak, the crimson-black light in Rowen's eyes flashed intensely.
A terrifying wave of pressure surged outwards, sweeping over the Buggy Pirates.
"..." The numerous Buggy pirate grunts froze in place. The next moment, their eyes rolled back, and they collapsed, unconscious.
Buggy's crew littered the ground.
Conqueror's Haki—unleashed!
In the presence of a King, the weak do not even possess the right to remain conscious!
"SUGEEEEEE! Rowen!" Luffy yelled enthusiastically, providing ample positive reinforcement.
"Impressive," Zoro commented, sheathing his swords with a look of awe.
No matter how many times he saw it, that power was terrifying.
"W-What happened?" Nami stared at the scene in utter disbelief.
Judging by Luffy and Zoro's reactions, Rowen was responsible for this.
But Rowen hadn't moved! At most, he'd just narrowed his eyes, and nearly all of Buggy's crew was instantly wiped out!
W-What kind of power was this?!
Arlong's strength was terrifying, but at least it was tangible, something you could see and understand.
What just happened completely defied Nami's comprehension.
She stared incredulously at Rowen, whose lips were curled into a confident, almost domineering smirk.
"Conqueror's... Haki..." Buggy's forehead was now drenched in cold sweat.
Although he already knew Rowen possessed Conqueror's Haki, feeling its impact firsthand was no joke.
If he hadn't already grown accustomed to such pressure during his time on Roger's ship, he likely would have fainted instantly too.
Conqueror's Haki... and from a user who could control it with such precision!
How could such a man appear in the East Blue?! And why would he choose such an unremarkable, arrogant brat as his captain?!
What kind of sick joke was this?!
"Just as expected. You didn't pass out." Rowen noted Buggy sweating but still conscious, feeling slightly disappointed.
Well, he was an apprentice on Roger's crew, a man who had experienced the clash of Infused Conqueror's Haki between Roger and Whitebeard.
Even though Buggy hadn't awakened his own Conqueror's Haki yet, knocking him out with just a basic Haki blast was probably unrealistic.
Alright then. Time for Plan B.
Buggy needed to lose consciousness.
"Zoro." Rowen glanced towards Zoro.
"Got it!" Understanding Rowen's unspoken command, Zoro instantly dashed towards the loaded cannon.
Before arriving, Zoro had learned from Rowen that Buggy possessed the Chop-Chop Fruit, making conventional sword attacks ineffective against him.
"Hup!" Under Buggy's horrified gaze, Zoro spun the heavy cannon around, aiming it directly... at Buggy.
"St-Stop! Don't! There's a Buggy Ball loaded in there!" Buggy shrieked in terror.
The next moment, fire erupted from the cannon's mouth. The Buggy Ball slammed into the ground right at Buggy's feet.
A violent explosion of flames instantly engulfed the area.
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