Chapter 53: A Span of Three Years!
As far as Buggy knew, the most important thing for an Op-Op Fruit user's combat ability was not skills, but stamina.
It was for this very reason that Buggy had brought Law back to Destin in the East Blue.
The "sky-climbing ladder" that Buggy had created at the base of the Red Line was originally just to prove he had been there, much like leaving a "so-and-so was here" mark at a tourist spot.
Ahem, Buggy had never imagined that this sky-climbing ladder would have such a great use a few years later.
To effectively train stamina, simply fighting constantly was not very effective. Therefore, what Buggy prepared for Law was a training method similar to the Korin Tower from Dragon Ball.
It was simple: use climbing up and down to train basic physical strength.
Having been to the top, Buggy knew the actual height of the Red Line and formulated a training plan for Law based on the real conditions.
During this time, aside from occasionally instructing Law on the knowledge of Haki, Buggy spent the rest of his days training his own physical fitness to the limit, while Law continued to study medical knowledge at night, in addition to his training.
As for Buggy himself, he was not idle. Vowing to leave a heavy mark on the history of pirates, Buggy had already prepared a way to pass the time for himself—digging a hole.
Yes, during the period of training Law, Buggy planned to dig a tunnel from the base of the Red Line, connecting the East Blue to the North Blue.
Anyone else, no matter who they were, would probably not dare to boast about being able to open a tunnel through the rock wall of the Red Line to connect two great seas. Perhaps the World Government could do it, but they would never do so, because if they did, the transit fees the Holy Land collected each year would instantly vanish by more than ninety percent.
But Buggy dared. The ability of the Chop-Chop Fruit allowed Buggy to drill through it with effortless ease. The only trouble was the transportation of the stone.
As for the tunnel collapsing, that was not even a consideration.
Buggy had tested the hardness of the Red Line's rock wall. The surface layer might not be much, but the deeper he went, the harder it became, with some places even comparable to steel.
If he were to open a tunnel with a height and width of two or three lanes, Buggy would definitely find an expert to do the calculations. But for a small passage with a length and width not exceeding five meters, no calculations were needed.
This was why Buggy dared to roll up his sleeves and do it himself.
A new day began. Law started climbing the sky-climbing ladder Buggy had created to enjoy the scenery of the Red Line. Hancock began her logistical work, while Buggy chose a spot and began his great hole-drilling enterprise.
Time slowly passed according to the three's orderly plan.
Nothing particularly major happened in the year 1511. The only thing worthy of being called an event was that the fish-man Jinbe responded to the World Government's call and became a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, for the sole purpose of getting his former comrade, Arlong, out of the great underwater prison.
Compared to the gentle breeze of 1511, 1512 was completely turbulent.
In March 1512, the four Sea Train lines around the Grand Line's Enies Lobby were all completed. However, the hero Tom, due to the Pluton blueprints and Franky, not only received no reward but was instead charged with attacking a judicial ship, taken to Enies Lobby, and sentenced to death, to be executed immediately.
In May 1512, the shipwreck of the Celestial Dragon, Saint Mjosgard, caused a worldwide uproar.
In July 1512, in Dressrosa in the New World, the Red Hair Pirates, who were listed as one of the Four Emperors' forces, and one of the Seven Warlords, Hawkeye Mihawk, suddenly attacked the Donquixote Family, who had seized the country only two days prior and had not even had time to crown a king. This directly kicked off a war between a Yonko, a Warlord, and another Warlord.
The three great powers fought for a day. Under the absolute advantage of two against one, the unprepared Donquixote Family was ultimately defeated, and Dressrosa returned to the rule of the Riku family.
After this battle, the major powers in the New World were restless. In the end, the Navy dispatched two new admirals, Aokiji and Kizaru, which slowly calmed the surging situation in the New World.
After the incident, the top brass of the World Government was furious and stripped Joraquille Mihawk of his title as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
In September of the same year, South Blue Marine Captain Daz Bonez was promoted to Rear Admiral due to accumulated military merit, becoming the record holder for the fastest promotion from Sergeant to Rear Admiral based on merit in Marine history.
At the end of December, the turbulent year of 1512 finally came to a close with the ringing of the Ox Bell at Marineford, and the whole world once again welcomed a calm 1513.
In the peaceful year of 1513, aside from the former Marine Admiral Zephyr losing an arm to a certain pirate and a ship full of trainees dying, there were basically no jaw-dropping events in the world.
In the blink of an eye, the Sea Circle Calendar finally welcomed the far-reaching year of 1514.
In She-Cut Town in the South Blue, near the Grand Line, the town, originally known as a pirate's paradise, underwent a subversive change three years ago with the assignment of an unknown Marine Major.
The former pirate's paradise became a pirate's graveyard. After wiping out the evil forces in She-Cut Town, Marine Major Daz Bonez guarded the entrance to the Grand Line, crushing all pirates who wanted to head to the Grand Line with absolute strength.
In less than three years, the former Marine Major became a Marine Rear Admiral.
For such a talented individual, Marine Headquarters originally intended to transfer him back to the Grand Line headquarters.
But the transfer order was rejected by the newly appointed Rear Admiral. The reason was simple: he wanted to build a warship that could bring out the full potential of his Devil Fruit ability.
Faced with this rising star, Marine Headquarters did not force the issue too much. Instead, they gave him great authority in the South Blue, allowing him to collect resources to build a new type of warship, as long as it did not harm civilians.
Upon receiving the reply from Marine Headquarters, Daz Bonez breathed a sigh of relief. He then brought what he had been doing in secret out into the open and began to recruit shipwrights to cooperate with him in the construction of the warship "Thor."
Regarding the name of the warship, Daz Bonez had originally intended to leave it for Buggy to name, but Buggy refused with the reason, "A ship that only you can operate should naturally be named by you."
After some thought, Daz Bonez named the warship under construction after his own ability—the "Thor."
Standing at the entrance of Dock One in She-Cut Town, Daz Bonez looked at the warship, which had already taken its initial shape, and couldn't help but feel excited.
Captain, it's almost time. Our pirate ship is almost complete. At the latest, by the beginning of next year, I will definitely be able to sail the Thor to the East Blue and rendezvous with you.
(End of Chapter)