Chapter 27: Candidate for Intelligence Personnel!
"I've heard about this matter as well. Uncle Tom, we're the ones who implicated you." Although Buggy knew the fundamental reason was the Pluton blueprints, he didn't say it out loud, only offering a sincere apology.
"It has nothing to do with you all. However, I indeed cannot be distracted right now. If you want me to build a ship for you, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed." Old Tom also knew the real reason why the World Government was targeting him.
"It's not about shipbuilding. Although the ships Uncle Tom builds are exceptionally fine, I also know your situation and wouldn't make such an excessive request. This time, my purpose is simple. It's for this person beside me. His name is Daz Bonez; he is my companion. I hope he can stay here and learn how to build ships from you," Buggy said, shaking his head and stating his purpose.
"We don't have time to teach an amateur," Franky immediately interjected.
"Hehe, although he's an amateur and has never touched shipbuilding, Daz Bonez staying here will definitely be able to help you all." Buggy was very certain about this point.
"How can an amateur possibly help us? Can he help me build ships? Besides, we're already in enough trouble; we can't take in pirates," Iceburg asked, somewhat annoyed.
"Actually, he can. He is a user of the Logia-type Rumble-Rumble Fruit. He can use his ability to weld metal objects. I think you will definitely need this ability. As for him being a pirate, please rest assured. I haven't established a pirate crew yet. Daz Bonez's identity is merely that of a bounty hunter from West Blue; he won't bring any additional trouble. Bonez, show them your ability now." Without getting angry, Buggy explained very patiently.
Hearing this, Daz Bonez looked left and right, then casually picked up two pieces of scrap iron from the ground. After a crackling sound 'pīlipālā', the two pieces of scrap iron were welded together by Daz Bonez in a dazzling electric light.
"He can stay. I will also do my best to teach him, but how much he can learn will depend on himself." Knowing that Daz Bonez could electric weld and that his identity wasn't related to pirates, Old Tom immediately agreed.
His objective achieved, Buggy, after entrusting some matters and leaving a Den Den Mushi for Daz Bonez, hurriedly departed.
In Buggy's words, it was to avoid staying there and causing trouble for everyone.
Water 7 was very close to Gourmet Island. Buggy only took an hour to stroll there through the air.
Arriving at Gourmet Island again, Buggy had no special purpose, just to check on how Betty was doing along the way. After all, he had left a little girl here for over a year, during which Buggy hadn't even made a single phone call.
Without approaching directly, Buggy merely observed from the shadows.
From morning till evening, he watched all the daily trifles. Only then did Buggy nod. Undoubtedly, the owner of that medium-sized restaurant hadn't broken his promise; he was indeed training Betty as an heir, without treating her excessively.
Although the labor intensity was a bit much for a child of a few years, it was kept within her tolerance limits, which could also be seen as a way of training Betty's physical fitness in disguise.
Having reached a conclusion, Buggy still didn't show himself. He just took out his Den Den Mushi and dialed the number he had left for Betty.
After a long, meandering conversation lasting a full two hours, and signing countless unequal treaties, Buggy finally managed to soothe Betty's wounded heart.
Hanging up the phone, Buggy lay on the bed in his inn, a fond smile playing on his lips.
Next time I want to coax the little one, it will probably be even more difficult. I'll see when the time comes.
Sigh, being a captain really isn't easy. You have to worry about every crew member. Compared to those captains who attract followers just by their strength and fame, I'm probably the most tired one in the pirate world.
But the greater the initial investment, the higher the later returns, right? By training my crew members myself, I don't have to worry about loyalty, and their strength can also be guaranteed.
Taking the elite route, without a protagonist's plot armor, all I can rely on is the information I know and time to accumulate.
A night passed without incident. Early the next morning, Buggy quietly left Gourmet Island.
Regarding the candidate for the intelligence officer, to be honest, Buggy had struggled with this for a long time.
Among the characters who had already appeared in One Piece before his reincarnation, there weren't many suitable for intelligence gathering and analysis. There were both men and women. Considering the male-to-female ratio on the ship, Buggy planned to choose from among the women.
And among the women who had appeared, those suitable for intelligence gathering and analysis were quite limited. Apart from those in the Marines, there were only three or four: Kalifa, who graduated from the CP9 academy with excellent results; Nico Robin, who had experience being pursued by World Government agent groups; and Miss Doublefinger (Paula) who worked for Baroque Works.
Nico Robin was excluded by Buggy from the very beginning. It wasn't entirely because she would later be a member of the Straw Hat Pirates; the main reason was that Buggy didn't want to be targeted by the World Government because of Nico Robin.
Between the remaining Kalifa and Paula, after much agonizing, Buggy finally set his sights on Paula.
To be honest, compared to Paula, Kalifa's combat power was actually slightly stronger, but Buggy genuinely wasn't confident he could recruit her.
After various considerations, Buggy finally decided to go find Paula. Anyway, he was already poaching from Crocodile once (Daz Bonez), so poaching twice wouldn't make a difference. Besides, Daz Bonez and Paula could be partners again, couldn't they?
Leaving Gourmet Island, Buggy, following the compass's instructions, advanced towards his target without stopping.
Three days later, Buggy, having returned to West Blue again, followed the compass needle to an unknown island.
Landing on the beach, Buggy glanced towards the island, and his expression immediately became quite strange.
He was actually being watched by several lines of sight. It seemed he had been discovered when he arrived through the air.
Without advancing, after sensing the somewhat chilling gazes, Buggy first chose to rest where he was.
Through the perception of his Observation Haki, the people watching him weren't very strong; their auras were quite weak and wouldn't threaten him. But this didn't mean he could advance rashly. Who knew if there were traps or the like?
With safety as his primary consideration, Buggy planned to rest first and investigate after his stamina returned to normal.
And in several large trees about a kilometer away from the beach, three men were observing the resting Buggy with monoculars.
"Hey, Monkey, go back and tell Big Sis that the man is resting on the beach and shows no inclination of coming in for now."
"Got it." After speaking, Monkey quickly slid down the tree and then disappeared into the undergrowth.
A few minutes later, in a clearing in the woods, Monkey arrived in front of a teenage girl.
"Big Sis, that man is resting on the beach. He doesn't plan to enter the island for now."
(End of this chapter)