Chapter 21: Stop Underestimating Yourself!

"You guys listen to me, it's true! The Revolutionary Army's Dragon just invited that kid to join his ranks!"

"Besides that, the kid was hiding his strength. He almost defeated Dragon! He must have some conspiracy, which is why he disguised himself as an ordinary Navy Petty Officer and infiltrated your Loguetown base!"

At the Loguetown base, in the training ground.

Buggy, with only half of his body left, was handcuffed with Seastone handcuffs and tied to a cross, spitting as he desperately explained what he had seen and heard.

However, the navy soldiers in front of him couldn't help but burst into laughter upon hearing his words.

"Who are you trying to fool?"

"That weak-looking Petty Officer Vivian almost defeated the World's Most Notorious Criminal?"

"That's too far-fetched."

"I think he's just unwilling to accept being captured by Petty Officer Vivian, so he's making up stories to frame him."

"Exactly, you dirty, despicable pirate, pfft!"

Everyone spat at Buggy.

Meanwhile, Vivian, with his right hand wrapped in bandages, walked to the center of the training ground with the help of Kuto, pointing at Buggy with a trembling voice, "You… how can you slander someone?"

Buggy: ???

Slander you?

"I, the great Captain Buggy, saw with my own eyes the scene of you fighting Dragon!" Buggy said, his red nose fuming with anger, word by word.

But Vivian chose to ignore him, turned to the others, coughed heavily a few times, and said, "Don't believe him, not a word from his mouth is true."

"Besides, capturing Buggy the Clown wasn't just my achievement; it was the result of everyone's efforts. Please don't misunderstand."

"Petty Officer Vivian…" The navy soldiers' eyes became moist upon hearing this.

They couldn't help but recall the scenes of Vivian being repeatedly knocked down by that ferocious lion and then standing up again and again.

"How could we possibly capture Buggy the Clown?"

"Yes, Petty Officer Vivian, if it weren't for the determination you gave us, we wouldn't have had the courage to stand up and face such a notorious pirate…"

"Stop underestimating yourselves!"

Vivian suddenly straightened up, shedding his previously sickly demeanor, and shouted loudly, "You fought the pirates bravely and protected the civilians. I believe these actions came from your hearts, not because of anyone else! Remember that, understand?"

"Un…understood."

The navy soldiers nodded, wiping the tears from the corners of their eyes.

They then recalled the scene a month ago when Vivian volunteered to personally escort the hostages back to their hometown.

Petty Officer Vivian… still as kind and selfless as ever…

Meanwhile, Kuto, who was supporting Vivian, choked up.

He kicked me unconscious before and stuffed me into a roadside trash can, probably to keep me, who was seriously injured, out of the fight. Then he faced the world's most notorious criminal alone and ended up in this state.

He… he really, I'm crying…

"Vivian, you damn bastard… boohoo…"

Vivian: ???

Wait, I'm talking to them, why are you crying?

Vivian pushed away Kuto's hand that was supporting him with some disdain.

"What a weirdo…"

Looks like I'll have to keep my distance from him in the future.

On the other side…

Seeing that no one believed him, Buggy's red nose was about to explode with anger.

It was bad enough that he got struck by lightning while trying to behead Luffy, but now he had been captured by the Navy. And to top it off, he had no idea where the lower half of his body had gone.

"Am I really this unlucky?" he thought.

He could only feel his weak and sore legs moving forward, but he had no idea where he was going. After all, his lower half didn't have eyes.

"Damn Navy… I, Buggy, will definitely… definitely take revenge on you!" he thought fiercely, gritting his teeth.

Before long, Smoker, who had finished clearing the battlefield, walked in through the base entrance.

"Captain Smoker!" Everyone stood at attention and saluted him.

Smoker, however, simply put on a pair of leather gloves and said expressionlessly, "Prepare the ships. I am entering the Grand Line to continue pursuing Straw Hat."

"Huh?" Papanov, standing behind Smoker, widened his eyes and couldn't help but say, "But Captain Smoker, Loguetown is under your jurisdiction. If you leave and Headquarters calls to question it…"

"Just tell them I insisted on doing this. They can't order me around," Smoker replied. "Also, after I leave, Loguetown will be temporarily under your management."

Papanov: (⊙o⊙)!

"Under… my management?" He swallowed instinctively, feeling a surge of excitement.

He quickly saluted and said solemnly, "Captain Smoker, please make sure to capture Straw Hat and bring him to justice!"

"I will," Smoker replied.

"I want to go too!" Tashigi stepped forward from the crowd, her expression angry. "Wado Ichimonji must not fall into the hands of someone like Roronoa Zoro."

"Officer Tashigi…" The male marines showed expressions of reluctance as Tashigi expressed her desire to go with Smoker.

Smoker suddenly looked at Vivian and asked, "Vivian, do you want to come with me to the Grand Line?"

"Me? I…" Vivian was about to decline when suddenly…

[Mission: Successfully capture or kill Buggy the Clown (Completed)]

[Next mission: Escort Buggy to Impel Down (Current second phase)]

Vivian: ???

"So I don't have a choice," he thought, sighing. He nodded, "Alright, I'll go with you."

Kuto looked at Vivian in surprise, "I thought you didn't like getting involved in trouble?"

"I want to escort Buggy to Impel Down. This guy is too cunning, and I'm worried someone might be deceived by him," Vivian made up an excuse, while secretly planning to part ways with Smoker's team once they entered the Grand Line.

As for chasing Luffy and the others? No way! He didn't want to get involved with the main characters.

However, Tashigi misunderstood his intentions. Seeing Vivian's gaze sweep over her, she blushed slightly.

"Is Vivian… concerned about me?" she thought.