— “Let him take the heat, and we can get rid of him whenever we want.”

Tension hung thick as Mihawk's words to Crocodile echoed. Crocodile's piercing glare at Buggy spoke volumes of the underlying animosity. Before Mihawk would start walking away, he turned his head to you, his nod at you spoke volumes. It signaled the time for departure.

The misunderstanding orchestrated by Cross Guild's facade unintentionally elevated Buggy to the rank of a Four Emperor, despite Mihawk and Crocodile being the founders of the Cross Guild.

Standing up silently, you trailed behind Mihawk, his figure cutting through the shadows as you both exited Buggy’s delivery hideout.