Shadow Island.
A small island with a population of fifty thousand, famous for its beer.
At this moment, two figures sat by the counter of a bar, discussing the establishment of a pirate crew.
These two would be figures of great consequence twenty years later.
Both Shanks and Buggy were only fifteen years old.
Shanks, with his red hair, placed his straw hat on the table, picked up his glass, took a large gulp, and then said, "I will continue to sail and form a pirate crew."
Buggy, dressed as a clown, with a white skull pattern painted on his forehead, two blue strokes slashed across his eyes, a large red nose, red lipstick, and wearing a clown hat, looked disgusted and said, "It's not the time now, it's too chaotic."
Shanks smiled at his words and said, "Buggy, join my pirate ship."
Pfft!
He couldn't help but spit out the wine in his mouth, looking at Shanks in disbelief.
Then, Buggy angrily said, "Don't even think about it, I don't want to be your subordinate."
"Even if I become a pirate, I will form my own pirate crew."
Buggy's emotions were somewhat peculiar.
He had just been furious, but the next moment, he calmly began to ponder, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Shanks, I've decided. I will form the Buggy Pirates, and you can be my first mate."
Upon hearing this, Shanks looked at Buggy with wide eyes, and then burst into laughter.
Shanks knew that Buggy would never become his crewmate.
Although disappointed, he would always feel regret if he didn't try.
"Alright, I understand." After laughing, Shanks stood up, put on his hat, and said with a smile.
"Huh?" Buggy didn't understand Shanks' words and let out a confused sound.
Buggy harbored deep resentment towards Shanks, yet at the same time, he didn't want to lose their friendship.
In short, his psychology was very contradictory.
Back then, if it weren't for Shanks, he wouldn't have lost the treasure map, nor would he have eaten the Devil Fruit.
He truly looked down on his current Bara Bara no Mi, it was too weak.
Conversely, Shanks, as a swordsman, was very strong; he was no match for him.
Suddenly, Buggy thought of someone.
That chubby kid on Whitebeard's pirate ship was a monster.
Even he and Shanks combined couldn't defeat him.
"Yo, looks like I'm right on time."
Just as Shanks was about to leave, the bar door opened and Benedict walked in.
Seeing Shanks up close, then looking at Buggy sitting beside him, a smile appeared on his face.
Shanks listened to Benedict's words, examined Benedict's face, and immediately became vigilant.
Shanks recognized Benedict's identity.
In the past few days, the discussions about Benedict were no less than those about the deceased Roger.
He had also picked up a wanted poster of Benedict.
It was a man who called himself Marshal Genbu of the Navy, and he seemed to dislike pirates immensely.
"You... you... are, Benedict from that wanted poster?"
Buggy also realized who it was, and his body instantly split into pieces in fear.
Everything was due to Benedict's identity and the words he spoke.
And he was an apprentice on the Roger Pirates' ship, which was common knowledge.
Now, the Navy had discovered his identity.
Benedict hadn't expected to encounter these two future influential figures here.
His visit to the island was merely because their warship's food supplies were running low, and since the island produced a lot of beer, they planned to purchase some to take back for a party.
"You know us?"
Despite his vigilance, Shanks had no intention of attacking immediately, as his senses told him that Benedict was very strong.
"Two apprentices from the Roger Pirates' ship," Benedict replied.
"Shanks."
"Clown Buggy."
At this time, Benedict was actually not much older than Shanks and Buggy, only about three years their senior.
"Hey, hey, hey, what clown? I'm the great pirate, Clown Buggy."
Hearing Benedict's words, Buggy retorted furiously and indignantly.
However, the scene suddenly fell silent for a moment.
Shanks looked at Buggy with a calm expression, his eyes conveying a "you're an idiot..." sentiment.
Benedict, on the other hand, smiled at Buggy with a playful smirk.
Clown Buggy was completely bewildered, his fragmented eyes looking at his hands, feet, nose, mouth, clothes...
He seemed to be a clown.
"Since we've met, would you like to sit down and have a drink?"
Benedict broke the silence first, speaking to Shanks.
Clown Buggy was afraid of Benedict, both in his heart and in his words, he kept saying no.
This feeling was somewhat inexplicable.
Even the thought of resisting didn't arise.
Otherwise, given his usual personality, he would have already made a move upon seeing Benedict, who was around his age.
After all, when he saw Blackbeard, he was extremely displeased and even arrogantly provoked him.
In the end, he teamed up with Shanks to confront Blackbeard fiercely, but Blackbeard was not as easy to defeat as imagined.
Shanks pondered for a moment.
After a moment.
The three sat at the bar, each with a large glass of beer in front of them.
Shanks appeared very calm, while Clown Buggy trembled, feeling intimidated by Benedict.
Benedict noticed this but was somewhat speechless at Buggy's behavior.
The future Buggy would become a Yonko.
With his current demeanor, it was no wonder he struggled so much for the next twenty years, remaining in the East Blue. He clearly hadn't suffered enough beatings.
"I'm very optimistic about you two kids. Are you interested in joining the Navy?"
After drinking half a glass of beer, Benedict got straight to the point and extended an invitation to them.
"Ah, oh, is that so? Becoming a Marine, okay, okay."
Clown Buggy seemed to be scared, and he agreed without any hesitation.
Shanks turned to look at Buggy, shaking his head at him.
Was this the great Buggy who had just declared his intention to form a pirate crew and invited him to be his first mate?
Could he have some shame?
Facing Shanks' gaze, Buggy wanted to say something, but Benedict's smiling gaze made him speechless. Instead, he became flustered, looking quite comical.
"I refuse!"
Shanks turned back, finished the beer in his glass, jumped off his chair, and stood up to leave, saying with a smile, "Thanks for the beer."
"I still have my own mission to complete."
Benedict pondered for a moment and said, "Is that so? Then I'll give you some time. When you can't make it anymore, come to the Genbu Navy."
"However, by then, you'd better have enough strength."
"The Genbu Navy is not a place for just anyone to join."
Shanks scratched his hat, Roger's voice and smile flashing in his mind, then he left with a smile, not giving Benedict a reply.
Buggy watched Shanks depart, then looked at Benedict with fear and also prepared to leave.
"Clown Buggy, where are you going?"
Benedict grabbed Clown Buggy's head and said with a playful smile.
"I don't want to be a Marine."
"I also have my own mission to complete."
"I want to leave too!"