Chapter 24: Daz Bonez!
"An ordinary pirate crew is composed of a captain, vice-captain, navigator, cook, doctor, shipwright, sniper, main combatants, and so on. You can choose any position except captain. Decide which one, and then we'll talk."
"I want to become a navigator! I want to lead the Pirate King to find ONE PIECE."
"Then you'll have to read many books and learn a lot of knowledge."
"But I can't afford books." With a pitiful look in her eyes, little Monet just stared at Buggy.
"I know a place where there are not only many books but also people who can teach you a lot of knowledge. Are you willing to go?"
"I'm willing, I'm willing!" Nodding eagerly, little Monet readily agreed.
"Then leave this place with me. We'll set off right now, heading to that place with many books."
Having coaxed little Monet, Buggy, after replenishing some dry rations and fruit, left Dressrosa with her.
Although he could head straight to his destination relying on the compass, bringing an extra person not only reduced Buggy's speed but also significantly increased the frequency of needing supplies. Especially since Monet was a girl, and with the so-called "three urgencies of man" (a polite way of saying bathroom needs), this journey turned out to be exceptionally long.
It took a full half a year. Starting from the New World, they passed through the Calm Belt to reach West Blue, then crossed the Red Line to arrive at a certain sea area in the South Blue before Buggy finally stopped.
"Big Brother, are you tired? Why are you stopping now?" Monet was a little puzzled.
One must know, this Big Brother, apart from stopping once an hour for the first few days, would stop only once every two hours after a few days, then every three hours, then four hours. He would carry her through the air for almost half a day before stopping to eat.
But today, he had stopped after traveling for just over an hour, so Monet was naturally very curious.
"We've arrived at our destination!" He was very happy. One must know, these past six months hadn't been easy for Buggy; he was almost driven mad by Monet, this curious child.
Several times, Buggy even wanted to give up on Monet. In the end, he endured it only because he saw it as an opportunity to train. Now that they had finally reached their destination, how could Buggy not be happy?
"But there's nothing around here but the sea. Big Brother, you're not thinking of abandoning me, are you?" Monet's face once again showed a pitiful expression.
"If I wanted to abandon you, I would have done so long ago. I am a pirate of my word; if I say I'll do something, I'll do it, unless I didn't say it. You say there's nothing because you're only looking around, not up and down. Our destination, the small sky island Weatheria, is in the sky. I'll send you up there. Whether you can learn anything after that will be up to you. Do you have any more questions? After I send you up, I'll leave directly. If you want to ask, ask now." Buggy was uncharacteristically patient this time.
"Big Brother, if I learn the knowledge, can I really become a crew member on the future Pirate King's ship?"
"I'm not lying to you."
"But how do you know who the future Pirate King will be?"
"Let me tell you a secret. The Pirate King, Roger, had a characteristic different from others. Only the Pirate King's right hand, 'Dark King' Silvers Rayleigh, knows this characteristic. He's still alive, you know. The person he has in mind is most likely the next Pirate King."
"But how can I find him? Big Brother, you know where he is, tell me, okay?"
"I don't know. But it will be soon. I received related news before I met you. Afterwards, I just need to go look, and it should work out. In a few years, when you feel you've learned enough, go to the Sabaody Archipelago, a key point in the first half of the Grand Line. On Grove 13 of the island, there's a bar called Shakky's Rip-Off Bar. Go there, find the proprietress Shakky, and tell her I sent you. Have her arrange for you to go to Amazon Lily to find Elder Nyon for combat training. If possible, also get some practical experience with the Kuja Pirates using the knowledge you've learned. When you think you're satisfied, return to the Sabaody Archipelago and find Shakky. She will tell you how to find me. By then, I should be able to give you the answer you want."
Listening to the long speech, although it felt very troublesome and almost made Monet dizzy, she still memorized it. She nodded. Although Monet was still young, she also knew that to become a pirate, not knowing how to fight wouldn't do. So, she had no objections to Buggy's arrangements because she knew this Big Brother was doing it for her own good.
Without saying much more, Buggy picked up Monet and rushed straight into the sky. Before long, he saw their destination, Weatheria, among the clouds.
After placing Monet in a certain corner of Weatheria, Buggy directly turned and plummeted through the clouds, quickly disappearing from Monet's sight.
It wasn't until a cry rang out that the old scholars of Weatheria discovered a new guest on their island.
As for how Monet was to learn the knowledge, Buggy didn't care. If someone couldn't grasp an opportunity even when it was handed to them, it would be useless to manage them any further.
Having spent half a year on Monet, the Sea Circle Calendar had also turned to 1504. This was a relatively peaceful year, with few events worth recording. At most, a future queen was born in Alabasta of the Grand Line, and that was about it.
After sending Monet off, Buggy found an island and relaxed properly for a few days before once again embarking on the path to find companions.
And this time, Buggy's destination was very clear: West Blue.
There was one person Buggy really wanted to confirm if he could become his companion.
Having specially trained his leg strength for over half a year while with Monet, Buggy's speed had increased again. It only took him a week to travel from the central South Blue, cross the Red Line, and reach the central West Blue.
On an island in West Blue called Fate Island, Buggy met a bald man about his own age in a tavern.
"I'm looking for a bounty hunter named Daz Bonez. Is that you?" Buggy asked with a smile, approaching the future Mr. 1.
"Need me to take action? The price isn't cheap." Without asking who Buggy was, Daz Bonez's reply was very concise and clear.
"I suppose so. But this isn't a good place to discuss terms. Can we find a quiet place?" Buggy nodded and replied.
"Follow me!" Draining the wine in his cup in one go, Daz Bonez stood up and then walked outside.
A short while later, in a patch of forest on the island, Daz Bonez stopped.
"Speak!" Still as concise as ever.
"I want to know, are you a Devil Fruit user?" Buggy said something that made Daz Bonez somewhat surprised and, at the same time, somewhat angry.
"Does it matter?" Daz Bonez's tone turned cold.
(End of this chapter)