Chapter 52: The Deal!
Continuing forward along the Red Line, Buggy and Hancock didn't even bring a template for a Super Buoy Wood. When they felt it was about time, they simply used his ability to carve a cave into the rock wall of the Red Line to rest.
The three of them advanced towards the East Blue at a naturally fast pace. In just one day, they had already entered the Calm Belt near the East Blue.
Sitting in the temporarily carved-out cave, the three of them didn't speak, just quietly ate and rested.
Seeing that they were well-rested, Buggy stood up, preparing to set off again.
But just as Buggy was about to depart, a piercing shriek reached their ears.
"That's the cry of a Sea King!" Having fought Sea Kings in the Calm Belt for years, Hancock was no stranger to their sounds.
"It's the sound of a battle, and not one between Sea Kings," Buggy sensed, noticing the difference.
"Should we go take a look?" Hancock asked Buggy.
"No need. Let's wait a bit. That ship is heading our way." Buggy was very confident in his senses.
Hancock nodded and said no more, instead standing at the mouth of the cave with Law, gazing into the distance.
About an hour later, a ship with its sails furled was rowing with large oars towards the area below them.
Looking down with a monocular telescope, Buggy's expression became quite strange in the next second.
"Law, you wait up here for a moment. Hancock, let's go down!" After speaking, Buggy didn't wait for Hancock and leaped directly out of the cave, plummeting towards the sea surface.
At the same time, the several people standing on the deck raised their heads in unison to look at the sky above.
A few dozen seconds later, the people on deck saw two figures land on the deck.
"Hahahaha, this is truly a fateful encounter. Everyone, allow me to introduce myself first. My name is Buggy. I was once an apprentice on the Roger Pirates' ship, a contemporary of Red-Haired Shanks, and a pirate destined to be recorded in the annals of history. This is my fiancée, the warrior from Kuja, Boa Hancock." Before the people on the deck had a chance to ask, Buggy introduced himself first.
Uh, after hearing Buggy's arrogant self-introduction, the people on the deck were momentarily at a loss for words.
After a moment of awkward silence, a man of medium build finally stepped forward.
"Brother Buggy, may I ask your purpose for coming here? Do you need our help?" the medium-sized man asked Buggy in a unique voice.
"I don't need any help from you. I've come before you for a deal," Buggy replied, shaking his head.
Receiving such an answer, the few people on the deck were clearly very surprised.
"Buggy-BOY, you don't even know who we are, and you're coming to make a deal with us? Is there any possibility of a deal between us?" Behind the medium-sized man, a person with a very large head, whose entire body was shrouded in a cloak, suddenly asked.
"Hahahaha, you don't know me, which is why I introduced myself. As for you all, I never said I don't know you. Especially you, the other party in my deal, Her Majesty the Queen of the Kamabakka Kingdom on Momoiro Island—Emporio Ivankov."
Ivankov abruptly threw off his cloak, looking at Buggy with utter disbelief in his eyes.
In his memory, Ivankov was certain he had never met this red-nosed man before, but it was precisely for this reason that he was so shocked.
"Who in the world are you?" Ivankov asked Buggy.
"Buggy, Buggy the Pirate. Alright, talking about this is pointless. Let's talk about the deal. I've taken a liking to a set of recipes, ones unique to the Kamabakka Kingdom. I think you know what I'm talking about."
After hearing Buggy's words, Ivankov's eyes widened as he stared at Buggy. After maintaining this expression for nearly a minute, he finally spoke: "The 99 Vitality Recipes are not to be casually traded with outsiders. You should give up."
"You're refusing before you've even heard my price? I think you'd better listen before you decide," Buggy wasn't angered by the refusal.
"There's nothing to talk about. No matter what you say, you can't change my decision." Ivankov was clearly unwilling to make the deal.
This wasn't strange. For one, the 99 Vitality Recipes were indeed a secret of the Kamabakka Kingdom. For another, Ivankov was very wary of Buggy, who somehow knew who he was.
"Three kingdoms, plus one raw material production site. I wonder if this price is sufficient?"
"I said I won't trade with outsiders... wait, what did you say?" Before he could finish the word "trade," Ivankov, who was shaking his head, was stunned by Buggy's price.
"Brother Buggy, three kingdoms and a raw material production site, you're not just making things up, are you?" the leading medium-sized man suddenly asked.
"Of course not. If I say it, I will absolutely do it. But not right now," Buggy replied with great confidence.
"Then let's talk about it when the time comes."
To Ivankov's words, Buggy just shook his head and said, "The 99 Vitality Recipes—I will go and take them as soon as I am free. But the completion of the deal will have to wait until the year 1516. I will do this whether you have an opinion or not. If you give the people on the island a heads-up, then this will be a fair trade. But if you don't want a fair trade, I don't see a problem with a forced one."
"You—" Just as Ivankov stepped forward, the medium-sized man held out a hand to stop him.
"Why 1516, and how will the deal be completed?"
"1516 is just the final deadline; it might be earlier. How the deal is completed is your business. I will only show up at the appointed time to do what I need to do. I won't meddle in the rest. However, I can guarantee that during this process, we will not take any treasure, and that is the greatest concession."
Hearing Buggy's words, the medium-sized man roughly guessed some of the details. After frowning, he asked, "Where is the transaction location?"
"Right here!" Buggy took out a book and handed it to the medium-sized man, answering faintly.
Seeing the book, a strange look appeared in the medium-sized man's eyes.
"Alright, we accept this deal. We hope you can complete it on time. Before we part, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Monkey D. Dragon. It's a pleasure to meet you, Great Pirate Buggy!" After a moment of thought, Dragon extended his hand to Buggy.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, son of Vice Admiral Garp. I hope to see you again at the next transaction. Well then, we'll take our leave." After speaking, Buggy and Hancock soared into the air. After returning to the rock wall where they had been resting, they grabbed Law and headed towards the East Blue.
(End of Chapter)