Chapter 60: He's Here!
"I don't expect you to intervene, but could I trouble you to deliver a message for me? I suspect the news of my capture won't appear in the papers, and I'm afraid my captain won't be able to find me. You can speak with Red-Haired Shanks, right? If you happen to meet him, please tell him to help me relay a message to my captain, to say that I've been captured by the Marines. The captain said he and Red-Hair are good friends. Red-Hair will definitely help."
Hearing this, Mihawk suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Your captain, what's his name?" Turning around, Mihawk stared at Paula and asked.
"Buggy, Pirate Buggy!" Panting, Paula no longer cared about leaking Buggy's information.
Seeing that the conversation between the two was taking a strange turn, Momonga gestured for the surrounding soldiers to be on alert.
Sure enough, in the next second, Momonga saw Hawkeye turn his body and draw the black blade from his back.
"I originally thought the first crewmate I'd meet would be someone that guy Buggy introduced me to. I never expected to run into you here first. Fate is truly a wondrous thing."
After muttering to himself, Mihawk swung his black blade. A massive slash appeared out of thin air, pressing directly down on Momonga.
Before darkness consumed his vision, Momonga couldn't help but think: Damn it, these two strangers are actually on the same side! It's a conspiracy...
When he came to his senses, Momonga saw Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp before him.
Although he struggled to get up, Momonga was immediately pressed down by Garp.
"Momonga, your injuries are severe. You should be lying down and resting now. The intelligence you had someone bring over, you actually already said it while you were unconscious. But you were very incoherent at the time, just repeatedly calling out four names: Hawkeye, Paula, Red-Hair, and Captain Buggy. There are still some key points we haven't figured out. Do you have the energy to recount the entire incident? I want to confirm some things," Sengoku said.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral. It all started when I was returning from a mission." As Momonga spoke, he began to recall the events once more.
Two days later in Kuja City, Buggy saw the summoned Betty, Paula, and Monet in the palace.
"Captain, you're too much! You didn't even tell me the Great Swordsman Dracule Mihawk is our crewmate! If I hadn't gone all out, you'd probably have to look for me in the great underwater prison," Paula said, recounting her experience the moment she saw him.
After listening, Buggy was also stunned. He hadn't expected Mihawk's aimless wandering to actually lead him to run into Paula.
"This is the Vivre Card he left. I originally asked him to come with me to Kuja City, but he only took me to the edge of the Calm Belt before leaving. He said he was going to challenge Red-Haired Shanks," Paula said, taking out a small piece of a Vivre Card.
Buggy didn't take the card, but he nodded.
"Sandersonia and Marigold, can I ask you two to do me a favor this time? I'm in a hurry lately. I need to get to the North Sea by crossing the Red Line as soon as possible. Not just me, but the warship 'Thor' as well." Without continuing the topic of Mihawk, Buggy turned and spoke to Hancock's two sisters.
"Brother Buggy, this is a small matter. When are you planning to leave? Do you just need help flying over the Red Line?" Sandersonia asked.
"If possible, tonight. This time, I really just need help getting the 'Thor' across the Red Line," Buggy nodded and replied.
"Then let's set out tonight. Don't worry, with Marigold around, no one will discover the warship's existence. When you appear in the North Sea, everyone will probably be shocked."
Two days later, a warship rushed out from the Calm Belt near the West Sea in the New World. After shaking off a group of enraged Sea Kings, the warship quickly disappeared from the waters of the New World.
In the cockpit, holding the Vivre Card and standing next to Daz Bonez, Paula stared at the card, lost in thought.
And in the captain's room, Buggy sat on a comfortable sofa, with Hancock gently massaging his shoulders from behind. Opposite Buggy, a nervous Monet was looking at him.
"The promise I made to you back then, I'll start to fulfill it after I've finished my business in the North Sea. I know who Shanks has his eye on. When the time comes, I can send you to the sea where he is. Whether you get invited by him or not will be up to you," Buggy suddenly said.
"Um, Brother Buggy, there's actually no need to be in such a hurry. I'm planning to intern on your warship for a while first. Do you think that's okay?" Instead of a happy reply, Monet frowned after hearing Buggy's words, and only then did she speak.
"I don't object to you staying on the ship for an internship, but I'd really like to know if your decision means you're ready to give up on your original dream and no longer plan to be a crew member on the Pirate King's ship," Buggy was quite interested in Monet's answer.
After all, Buggy had a very good impression of Monet as a person. Judging from her performance in the anime, her strength might not be top-tier, and she might be cold, cunning, and even cruel to anyone outside her own group, but Monet had one quality that most people couldn't compare to: that absolute loyalty once she committed to someone.
To be so loyal that she was willing to die for Donquixote Doflamingo's command was quite shocking to Buggy, and it was also the reason why Buggy decided to help her when he first found her.
"My dream hasn't changed, and I don't plan on giving it up. But I want to accumulate more experience to become one of the irreplaceable members on the future Pirate King's ship. Therefore, I hope you can agree to let me stay for an internship for a while."
Buggy did not refuse Monet's request. After simply nodding, he sent her to the cockpit.
After Monet left, Hancock walked from behind Buggy to his front, then sat gently on his lap. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she asked, "Brother Buggy, are you waiting to find Mihawk before you announce the formation of the pirate crew?"
"It's only right. He was the first one I invited, after all. I can't very well form the crew before he joins. It's fine. I've already waited sixteen years, what's a few more days to hang the pirate flag? I have a feeling we'll find him soon."
Buggy's voice had barely fallen when Law's voice came down from the crow's nest.
"Captain, a small boat has been spotted one nautical mile ahead! There's a guy on board wearing a ranger's hat, can't see his face clearly, but he's heading towards us!"
"See? I told you. He's here."
(End of Chapter)