One Piece is an action-packed manga series with a story that spans over a thousand chapters, and the end is still nowhere in sight. However, Oda has started sidelining the characters who won't be playing any role in the final saga of One Piece. He has already taken out Eustass Kid and Trafalgar Law from the race. The two Worst Generation captains were considered the frontrunners to claim the One Piece. But within a few chapters, they were left utterly defeated and without their ships. Eustass Kid and his crew were on board when Dorry and Brogy destroyed the Victoria Punk. Meanwhile, Law was taken out by the Blackbeard Pirates, and things could have become worse for him had Bepo not intervened.
The defeat of the two young captains meant that their opponents were the ones who would join Luffy in the race to claim the One Piece. The thing that is common between the three is that they are all Emperors. Out of the four Emperors, only Buggy seemed content with what he had. He was happy with his status as an Emperor and was using it to spread his influence. His reputation had increased by several folds after Mihawk and Crocodile arrived at Emptee Bluffs, and the Marines mistook it for the two pirates becoming Buggy's underlings. Things were going great for the Cross Guild until Buggy made a shocking admission in Chapter 1082.
What Is Buggy's Goal?
After learning about Shanks' decision to make a move, Buggy was reminded of their discussion on the day of Roger's execution. Buggy was confident that Shanks would follow in the footsteps of their captain and claim the One Piece. But he was dumbfounded to learn that Shanks was putting off his quest for the One Piece. So Buggy declined Shanks' invitation to join his crew and then ran away. Back in the present, Buggy was badly beaten up by Crocodile and Mihawk. As the two powerhouses began talking among themselves, Buggy overheard them speaking about wealth and power.
Their words stirred something inside Buggy, and he couldn't help but talk about his dream to become the Pirate King. Mihawk and Crocodile were shocked to learn about Buggy's ambitions. They tried to silence him, but the Emperor wasn't going to let that happen. Buggy began to talk loudly in an attempt to rile up his followers. As expected, Buggy's words reached their ears, and they were more than willing to follow their chairman on his quest for the One Piece.
His Journey So Far
Initially, Buggy was introduced as a villain who had great malice. He came off as an evil pirate who would punish even the tiniest offense. But as the story progressed, it became increasingly evident that Buggy was more of a comic relief character. He was involved in several arcs where he won the hearts of the audience with his antics. His character peaked in the Impel Down arc, where he tricked more dangerous prisoners into believing that he was their savior. Everything that Buggy did, the prisoners would mistake for something else. This continued even after they reached Marineford. The escapees had the wrong idea that Buggy was among the strongest characters on the island. Despite his antics, Buggy ended up playing an important role in the arc. He carried Luffy and Jimbei to a secure location. He even delivered the straw hat to Law at Shanks' behest.
Following the events of the Summit War, Buggy was named one of the Shichibukai. Normally, the World Government would have never even considered Buggy for the position, but the reports of him being affiliated with the Roger Pirates and being on good terms with Shanks left them with no other option. Buggy used his position to start his delivery service, which employed giants and many other people. The organization would send mercenaries to different locations, and it made them a lot of money. However, Buggy's joy didn't last for long as the World Government dissolved the Shichibukai after the Reverie. Buggy was once again on the radar of the Marines, but as fate would have it, he was named among the Emperors. Buggy's character since the time skip has remained the same, but the latest chapter showed he still had goals that he wanted to achieve.
What Will Happen To The Cross Guild?
Considering Buggy's emotional speech to his underlings, it is very likely that the Cross Guild is going to be forced to take some kind of step. Crocodile and Mihawk are undoubtedly powerful in their own right, but they cannot build an organization without Buggy's support. They will have to go along with his decision to claim the One Piece.
If they do join the race, the organization will meet its end sooner rather than later, as they will have to fight some of the strongest pirate crews in the world. Also, this gives Oda the perfect opportunity to pit them against the Straw Hat Pirates. So, the fight between Mihawk and Zoro is definitely on the cards. The last time the two fought each other was in the Baratie arc, but since then a lot of things have changed. Crocodile has a history with Luffy, and it is possible that he might fight him again. As for Buggy, he will be left without a crew and, very possibly, a shattered dream.