Chapter 16: Special Training!
"Uncle Rayleigh, people change. It's been almost seven years, hasn't it? To this day, I still can't forget the way the captain smiled and spoke his final words in Loguetown five years ago. Afterwards, I thought a lot and decided not to live in a daze just for treasure anymore. Perhaps it's precisely because of this change that I'm able to see you again today," Buggy said, half-truthfully.
"So that's how it is. You went to Loguetown? Have you seen anyone else these past few years? And how did you find me?" Rayleigh replied, patting Buggy's shoulder as he asked.
"Shanks was also in Loguetown at the time, but we separated afterwards, and I haven't seen him these past few years. Then, when I entered the Grand Line, I saw Uncle Crocus at Twin Capes. It wasn't too convenient at the time, so I didn't go to pay my respects, but I will make a special trip later. I haven't seen anyone else. As for how I found you, Uncle, it was quite a coincidence. I originally planned to go to the New World to take a look and, incidentally, train my strength. When I arrived at this archipelago, I suddenly thought of you all, and then this compass reacted. I followed its guidance and found you," Buggy said, taking out Captain Jack's magical compass.
"This compass is?" Rayleigh looked at the compass in Buggy's hand with considerable surprise.
"I obtained it by chance a few years ago. This compass is very magical. As long as the person you're hoping to find is on the same island as you, the compass will accurately show their direction. I relied on this to find you," Buggy placed a limit on the compass's search range in his explanation. It wasn't that he wanted to deceive Rayleigh, but rather to avoid bringing himself other troubles because of it.
Just as Buggy had guessed, Rayleigh's eyes dimmed slightly upon hearing this answer. If the compass had no search restrictions, Rayleigh would have really wanted Buggy to look for some other people. A full reunion might not be necessary, but it was indeed important for everyone to know that others were safe.
"So that's how it is. It's a bit of a pity. But next time you see Crocus, be sure to send him my regards. I really miss those times!" Rayleigh said, feeling somewhat emotional.
"That's a certainty. By the way, Uncle Rayleigh, I happen to have some questions about training that I'd like to ask you." Striking while the iron was hot, Buggy steered the conversation to what he wanted.
"Buggy, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have overlooked it. Your strength has improved rapidly these past few years. You've awakened Haki, haven't you?" Rayleigh continued to ask Buggy.
"Hehe, I unexpectedly went through a life-and-death battle and luckily awakened Conqueror's Haki. But there are still many things I don't understand," Buggy said, scratching his head, feigning a bit of nonchalance.
"Conqueror's Haki, eh? Roger really didn't misjudge people. Both you and Shanks possess that aptitude. Come on, let's go to my place for a couple of drinks. I'll try my best to answer any questions you have." With a comforting look, Rayleigh patted Buggy's shoulder again and then led Buggy towards his home.
A short while later, Buggy followed Rayleigh back to Shakky's Rip-Off Bar. Seeing Rayleigh come in with a tall young man, Shakky was somewhat surprised but still said, "Welcome back, Mr. Rayleigh!"
"I'm back, Shakky. This is Buggy, a former apprentice on the Roger Pirates. We haven't seen each other for seven years. Prepare some food; I want to have a good drink with Buggy." Rayleigh was in high spirits at the moment.
Seeing Rayleigh so happy, Shakky said "welcome" and then began to prepare.
Sitting at the bar with Rayleigh, Buggy then untied the package from his back, opened it, and took out the box containing the Devil Fruit.
"This is!" Rayleigh focused his attention on the small box Buggy took out.
"Uncle Rayleigh, this is a Devil Fruit I obtained on my way here," Buggy said as he opened the small box.
Without saying anything, Rayleigh took the box containing the Devil Fruit and looked at it.
After observing it carefully for a good while, Rayleigh finally spoke to Buggy, "I seem to have seen this Devil Fruit in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, but I can't recall what it is. However, looking at the patterns, it is indeed a Logia-type Devil Fruit."
"It really is a Logia-type Devil Fruit? Looks like it was a good harvest," Buggy felt much more at ease upon hearing Rayleigh's reply.
"Hehe, it's a pity you already ate the Chop-Chop Fruit. Otherwise, this Logia fruit would have been quite suitable for you," Rayleigh said with a smile, stroking his beard.
"I can't use it myself, but I can leave it for a companion. Back then in Loguetown, before Shanks and I parted ways, we made a promise to each other: in the future, we would find good companions, form our own pirate crews, and then have a proper duel at sea. After the fight, we'd have a hearty drink. I don't want to lose to Shanks in our duel, so naturally, the stronger my companions are, the better."
Looking at Buggy's expression of absolute determination to win, Rayleigh burst into laughter.
"You two, really... But this is good too. If Roger knew the pirate crew had such successors, he would definitely be very happy." After speaking, Rayleigh returned the box containing the Devil Fruit to Buggy.
Then, while waiting for Shakky to bring out the food and drinks, he began asking Buggy about what had happened after the pirate crew disbanded.
Early the next morning, Rayleigh officially began to explain Haki to Buggy.
It wasn't until he received Rayleigh's training that Buggy understood how little he, a self-taught practitioner, knew about Haki training. There were quite a lot of areas that needed attention and improvement.
Rarely encountering such an expert to guide him, Buggy wouldn't just listen and then leave. Instead, he stayed and began to training diligently.
Unlike when Rayleigh guided Luffy over a decade later, Buggy wasn't taken by Rayleigh to a deserted island for training. In Rayleigh's words, there was no need for that. Buggy had many shortcomings, but these were mainly in the techniques of using Haki, not in its awakening or basic control. Therefore, it didn't need to be so troublesome.
After having Buggy go to a clothing store and order an expensive, custom-made wetsuit that covered him up to his neck, Rayleigh took Buggy to a certain seaside spot on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Tying a rope to him and having him wear a bubble helmet, Buggy was directly sent by Rayleigh to a depth of fifty meters below the sea surface to train his Haki techniques and precision control.
To be honest, Buggy was still a bit apprehensive about Rayleigh's training regimen. After all, he was a Devil Fruit user and had a fear of the sea. However, once his entire body was encased in the custom wetsuit and submerged in the sea, Buggy felt much more at ease, because that feeling of weakness didn't appear.
Feeling the water pressure on his body, Buggy calmed his mind and began to train according to Rayleigh's instructions. Time quickly flowed by amidst this unconventional training method.
(End of this chapter)