Chapter 40: Eternal Youth!
"It's just talking toys, no need to be so nervous. I saw a Devil Fruit in a Devil Fruit Encyclopedia a long time ago; its ability is to turn living things into obedient toys. It's called the Hobby-Hobby Fruit. The changes here are just a Hobby-Hobby Fruit user messing around. As long as you're not touched by that ability user, nothing will happen," Buggy said with a faint smile, trying to reassure him.
"Hobby-Hobby Fruit? Is this the birthday gift Captain is preparing?" Hearing this, Daz Bonez immediately understood Buggy's purpose.
"Of course. Bonez, there's something I haven't told you about the Hobby-Hobby Fruit. The reason it can be this special birthday gift isn't actually due to its special ability – though that ability is quite good too. Its truly special aspect is that whoever eats this fruit, their body will stop growing from that moment on. Do you understand the meaning of this accompanying ability?" Buggy said, slightly excited.
"Stop growing, huh? It doesn't seem to have much significant meaning," Daz Bonez didn't think too far ahead at that moment.
"Stopping growth indeed doesn't mean much to us men, but for women, it's completely different. What if it's a woman in her prime of youth? Eating it would be equivalent to eternal youth. I don't think any teenage girl could resist the temptation of this fruit."
"Mm, that's indeed true! No wonder Captain would choose this fruit as a birthday gift; it's truly very suitable!" Coming around to the idea, Daz Bonez instantly understood.
"Suitable is certainly suitable, but obtaining this fruit is actually quite difficult for me," Buggy nodded and said, staring at the distant island.
"What's wrong, Captain? Could that ability user be even more formidable than the Golden Lion?" Somewhat surprised by Buggy's words, Daz Bonez asked curiously.
"In terms of strength, they definitely can't compare to an old-school powerhouse like the Golden Lion. But their ability is very tricky, especially for someone like me who engages in close-quarters combat. Of course, this situation only applies to me and doesn't include you, who can perform long-range attacks. So, this battle is up to you," Buggy patted Daz Bonez's shoulder and said as if it were a matter of course.
"Alright, I also want a good fight. Ever since I got the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, I haven't found a worthy opponent to go all out against," After speaking, Daz Bonez prepared to flash onto the beach.
But just as Daz Bonez's body transformed into lightning, before he could move, Buggy's blackened right hand grabbed him.
"Captain, is there something else you want to say?" Stopping, Daz Bonez asked Buggy.
"I already told you to attack from a distance. Why are you still going onto the island? Just summon a thundercloud and let the lightning cleanse the entire island. There, see that house in the center of the distant island? Full power, hit that house hard first."
After Buggy finished speaking, Daz Bonez suddenly realized a fact: compared to the captain, he could almost be considered a gentleman.
Of course, thoughts were just thoughts; Daz Bonez still followed the instructions.
Thirty seconds later, the sky, which was about to clear up, was suddenly covered by dark clouds. And after the dark clouds had gathered for nearly three minutes, a colossal pillar of lightning suddenly descended from the sky, directly striking the center of the island. Needless to say, it was a one hundred percent hit because after the lightning pillar disappeared, the mansion-like building, faintly visible in the distance, had now vanished without a trace.
Just as Daz Bonez was preparing to start washing the ground with lightning, peculiar lights suddenly emanated from various parts of the island, followed by an unceasing torrent of various cries.
"Bonez, stop. It seems your luck is quite good. You hit the enemy in one strike. That Hobby-Hobby Fruit user was either killed by you or knocked unconscious by your lightning pillar; otherwise, the Hobby-Hobby Fruit's ability wouldn't have been dispelled. See those lights on the island? That's what happens when the Hobby-Hobby Fruit's effect wears off."
Buggy actually omitted one reason: the ability user might have deliberately released the ability to lure them into a trap. But Buggy believed this reason could basically be ruled out. After all, those people and animals who had been turned into toys, after changing back, would probably be seething with murderous intent and go after her before Buggy and the others even landed.
In reality, that was indeed the case. Having been played with as toys for a long time, the resentment in the hearts of these former toys was extraordinary.
Before Buggy and the others even landed, the excited cries of relief were followed by roars filled with chilling murderous intent.
By the time Buggy and Daz Bonez landed on the shore and reached the center of the island, they saw only the not-quite-complete corpse of a little girl.
Buggy silently thought in his heart: I'm sorry, Comrade Doflamingo. Not only did I snatch one of your future subordinates before, but now I've also indirectly caused the death of one of the most important members of the Donquixote Family. But who asked me, your brother, to need the Hobby-Hobby Fruit ability? So, I can only apologize.
Walking up to the corpse, Buggy took out the prepared potion, sprinkled it, then took out his compass and followed the direction it indicated.
Ten minutes later, in a certain part of the island's forest, Buggy plucked a doll-shaped fruit from a tree.
Placing it into a pre-prepared box, Buggy and Daz Bonez returned to the beach.
"Captain, it seems our ship has a few uninvited guests," Daz Bonez said, standing on the beach and looking at their distant ship.
"So what? Without sails or oars, who else but you can sail that ship? At most, it'll just drift. Good thing I had the foresight when we landed earlier not to leave the Devil Fruits we obtained on the ship, or we'd have another mess to deal with. Let's go; it's time to do the third thing."
In the Calm Belt of the Grand Line, near the South Blue, on the 48 Seasons Island, Rusukaina, not too far from Amazon Lily.
When Buggy brought Daz Bonez here, Daz Bonez finally understood that the third thing was related to him: the captain had finally freed up time to guide his Haki training.
Yes, Buggy had finally freed up time. However, bringing Daz Bonez to Rusukaina served two purposes for Buggy. Guiding Daz Bonez's Haki training was only one aspect; Buggy also needed to conduct his own training for the late stage of his ability's first phase. These were all things Buggy had planned in advance when he left Distan.
Collecting the needed fruits had taken Buggy a total of over three months. It was now January of 1509. Buggy planned to completely teach Daz Bonez the basics of Haki training before Hancock's birthday.
Eight months passed in the blink of an eye. Buggy, counting the days on his fingers, finally welcomed September 1st, 1509.
Only one day remained until Hancock's birthday.
(End of this chapter)