Chapter 12: Luke Pirates!
"I don't have the leisure for that. Your appraiser told me that if it can be confirmed, the price will be higher; if it can't be confirmed, the price will be slightly lower. In other words, as long as I don't intend to ask for a high price, the ability doesn't matter, correct?" Feeling the chill and looking at the person in front of him, Buggy replied bluntly.
"In that case, the price is fifty million Beri," the man said coldly.
Hearing this price, Buggy looked up at the man and immediately replied, "Hand over the money!"
Somewhat surprised by Buggy's decision, the man gave Buggy a deep look. In his script, even if Buggy agreed, it should have been under the duress of his murderous intent, forced to bow his head.
In reality, Betty in Buggy's arms was shivering at that moment, but Buggy himself had only stiffened for a moment at the very beginning and had maintained a calm expression thereafter.
Withdrawing his killing intent, the man clapped his hands. Another man walked in carrying a large leather suitcase, opened it, and placed it in front of Buggy.
Without even counting the money, Buggy immediately closed the suitcase, tossed the Weapon Fruit in his hand to the man opposite him, picked up the suitcase, and, holding Betty, walked towards the door. Just as he reached the doorway and was about to leave, Buggy stopped, turned his head, and said, "Such heavy killing intent. You're a member of the Vinsmoke family, aren't you?"
"You know me?" the man asked, looking at Buggy with great surprise.
"Whether I know you or not isn't important. But for a Devil Fruit worth one or two hundred million Beri, you only gave fifty million. That's indeed a bit unscrupulous. The sea is vast, but the world is small. Someday, we will meet again." After speaking, Buggy left directly, regardless of the man's reaction.
Watching Buggy's retreating figure, the medium-built man had a feeling that he might have been a bit reckless this time. But this feeling quickly disappeared. As a member of the Vinsmoke family, this was his style of doing things. As for Buggy's parting words, they meant nothing at all; the Vinsmoke family was not someone anyone could threaten.
If it weren't inconvenient to act here, just based on Buggy's words, this man would have wanted to keep Buggy from leaving.
Leaving the auction house, Buggy was still a bit surprised because the man from earlier looked very much like Sanji from the manga, especially the curled eyebrows. The difference was that Sanji's curl was to one side, while that man's curled on both sides. His relationship with Sanji was likely father-son or some other close relative.
Of course, this had nothing to do with Buggy. He had suffered a small loss, and Buggy had noted it down. If he hadn't been with Betty, Buggy would have wrecked the auction house just now. As for the Vinsmoke family's power, it wasn't within Buggy's considerations.
The purpose of his arduous training for several years wasn't to be bullied. Even if today wasn't suitable, he would get even sooner or later.
Taking a carriage straight to the port, Buggy, with Betty, directly boarded a ship heading to Witter Town, the North Blue entrance to the Grand Line.
Since the Kabas Kingdom wasn't very far from Witter Town, two days later, the merchant ship, having had smooth sailing, carried Buggy and Betty to their destination.
Without entering Witter Town, just as the merchant ship entered the port and before it even docked, Buggy suddenly jumped off the ship with Betty, using [Moon Walk] to rush directly towards another ship that was setting sail and leaving the port.
A pirate ship in Witter Town, heading towards the Red Line, with excited shouts coming from aboard – needless to say, Buggy knew it was another group of pirates planning to enter the Grand Line.
Buggy's original purpose in coming to Witter Town was to hitch a ride into the Grand Line. That's why, upon seeing this ship, he immediately rushed over holding Betty. As for whether this ship could safely navigate the mountain-climbing current, Buggy wasn't worried at all. As long as they reached the entrance of the Grand Line, even if the ship sank, Buggy could take Betty across the Red Line again following the current. At worst, they could just wait for other ships at Twin Capes, and he could even chat with that old ship doctor.
With this plan in mind, Buggy, holding Betty, landed on the deck of the excited pirate ship.
Alright, to be honest, seeing someone suddenly run through the air and land on their ship, the pirates who were excited just moments ago were now all silent. But in the next second, they all drew their weapons and looked at Buggy and Betty nervously.
"Friend, what business do you have on our Luke Pirates' ship?" A man dressed like a captain cautiously stepped forward and asked.
"Are you the captain of the Luke Pirates? Don't be nervous. I came aboard just to ask if you are planning to enter the Grand Line." Seeing a group of people pointing weapons at him, Buggy wasn't nervous at all and just asked calmly.
"Of course, we're entering the Grand Line! Who doesn't want the great treasure left by the Pirate King!" Before Captain Luke could answer, another rather dumb-looking fellow suddenly replied.
"Hehe, as long as you're entering the Grand Line, that's fine. I happen to have some business in the Grand Line. Can I hitch a ride with you?" Buggy still replied nonchalantly.
"Why should we let you hitch a ride?" the lewd-looking fellow continued to ask.
Without answering, Buggy simply tossed the suitcase he was carrying onto the deck, directly in front of the captain.
"There are fifty million Beri in the suitcase. As long as you can take me to the island I want to go to, twenty million of it will be the fee for our passage," Buggy didn't want to waste too many words and directly answered with practical action.
"Hmph, kill you, and all the money will be..." Before the lewd-looking man could finish his sentence, he suddenly felt his vision blur, and then his body was sent flying by a powerful force.
Amidst screams of "Aaaahhh," the pirates saw their companion, who had been beside them moments ago, now thrown off the ship while yelling, and then fall into the distant sea with a splash.
"I don't want to cause trouble, but I'm never afraid of trouble finding me. Pirates can plunder, but you should look at your target first, don't you agree?" Buggy, already back in his original position, asked the pirates gently.
"Yes, yes!" the pirates hurriedly replied.
Are you kidding? We didn't even see clearly how he attacked, and our companion was thrown overboard. If we really fought, even with more people, it would be a dead end. Speaking of that speed, even bullets might not be able to hit him.
Under the deterrence of Buggy's absolute strength, the Luke Pirates immediately made a deal with Buggy. They completely ignored the lewd-looking man who had been thrown into the sea. Seriously, to pick a fight with a strong person for a guy who didn't respect them? Their brains would have to be fried to do that.
With this consideration, Luke directly waved his hand and had his crew adjust their course towards the entrance of the Grand Line.
(End of this chapter)