Chapter 43: Invitation (Part 2)!
"I found this fruit for you, precisely to preserve your most beautiful moment. When you eat it is up to you to decide. However, I think you are beautiful and lovely enough as you are now. Don't you think I'm right?" Buggy whispered the last sentence very softly in Hancock's ear.
A blush instantly spread up from her neck. Hancock nodded imperceptibly, her eyes watery as she looked at Buggy.
Looking at the beautiful and charming Hancock, Buggy suddenly took a step back.
"Ms. Boa Hancock, a woman of both wisdom and beauty, unparalleled in ability and Haki, would you be willing to join my pirate crew and become a member of my ship?" Making a gentleman's bow, Buggy formally extended the invitation to Hancock.
"I am willing!" Gently placing her hand on Buggy's palm, Hancock, whose heart was filled with a thousand unspoken words, poured all her emotions into those three words.
"Then I must proudly and happily announce that from today onwards, Boa Hancock is a member of my crew." Reborn for so many years, Buggy had never been this excited.
Taking Hancock's hand, Buggy said to her gently, "Go say a temporary goodbye to Sandersonia, Marigold, and Elder Nyon. We have to leave soon. But don't worry, I'll bring you back for a visit within a year at most."
His goal achieved, Buggy didn't want to linger in a place where he wasn't welcome.
Having agreed to Buggy's request and received his promise to return soon, Hancock naturally said a brief farewell to her two sisters and the others, then followed Buggy towards the outside of the island.
When they arrived, it was only Buggy and Daz Bonez. But when they left, the group had grown by two people. Besides Hancock, who had just accepted the invitation, Paula, who had been in Kuja City for nearly three years, also left with Buggy.
Although the team had grown to four people, it didn't hinder their departure. Riding Daz Bonez's super-fast ship at full power, the group rushed out of the Calm Belt, sent off by a group of Sea Kings.
After entering the Grand Line, the ship's speed immediately slowed down considerably.
"Captain, where are we going next?" Daz Bonez, who was steering the ship, asked Buggy.
"Bonez, before deciding on a destination, I have a question I need to ask you first." Instead of immediately stating the destination, Buggy asked Daz Bonez.
"Ask away, Captain."
"Back when I sent you to Mr. Tom's place, I told you about my future pirate ship. Are you confident you can build it with your current skills?"
After hearing Buggy's question, Daz Bonez rarely scratched his head.
"Captain, the pirate ship you designed is still somewhat difficult to build. There are mainly two problems that haven't been solved. The first is the material of the ship itself. That hard aluminum alloy you mentioned – Franky and I managed to develop it after two years of research, but building the ship would require a large amount of raw materials and manpower. It's definitely not something one or a few people can complete easily. Then there's the main cannon you mentioned, the one called an electromagnetic cannon; I still don't quite understand it."
Seeing Daz Bonez's reaction, Buggy knew that some things were too difficult for him. The principles had been written down, and all that was missing were some experimental parameters. If he still couldn't manage it, it seemed that research and development should indeed be left to the professionals.
"Bonez, you and Paula, go join the Marines!" In the next second, Buggy announced a decision that left all three people present speechless.
"Captain, did I hear you correctly?" Paula was the first to speak after regaining her composure.
"Captain, is there a reason you want me to go?" Unlike Paula's reaction, Daz Bonez was already prepared to carry out the order.
"In terms of research, why not utilize professionals if they are available? If you don't understand something, isn't it better to find someone who does to research it? And in the whole world, the place with the most knowledgeable people is probably the Marines' Science Division. Bonez, my decision to have you join the Marines was based on your answer. In my opinion, by joining the Marines, you can not only find people to help you research the parts you're lacking but also use the vast resources within the Marines to start building the ship directly. What do you think?" Buggy didn't use a commanding tone; he was merely discussing it with Daz Bonez.
"Captain, joining the Marines is possible, but achieving what you described won't be that easy. You also know that in the Marines, rank and resources are linked." It wasn't that Daz Bonez disagreed with Buggy's plan; he was just worried that Buggy's considerations were a bit too idealistic.
"I understand that, but this is also part of my plan. Bonez, you should have realized it too, right? You've reached a stage where you need a lot of combat. Whether it's awakening your Haki or integrating your abilities into combat, you need enough fighting opportunities. In the Marines, you'll definitely get more of that than by following me. While honing your skills and accumulating military merit, I believe that with your strength, you can reach the rank of Rear Admiral within two years at most. Won't you be able to start building the pirate ship then?"
After Buggy finished speaking, Daz Bonez fell into deep thought. It was obvious that he was quite tempted by Buggy's proposal.
"Captain, even if you're not worried about this big bald head, aren't you afraid that I'll join the Marines and never come back? And I'm very curious, the big bald head is going to the Marines for the ship, what am I infiltrating the Marines for?" Paula was very curious at this moment.
"Three purposes. One is to help me find a certain method. Another is to help Bonez find researchers for the main cannon. And finally, of course, is to train your intelligence gathering abilities through the first two purposes. As for whether you'll betray me, honestly, I'm not worried at all." Buggy was very confident about this.
"Oh, Captain, you have that much confidence in me," Paula said, drawing out her words.
"If I dared to invite you, naturally I trust you. And then, I'm confident in the reward I'm offering you. Although you can't eat the 'Youthful Joy Fruit' that Hancock has, I have other ways to help you maintain your youth. But the prerequisite is that you have to find that method. This is also the main purpose of having you infiltrate the Marines." After saying this, Buggy told Paula what he needed her to find out.
After listening to what Buggy said, Paula stared at him for a long while.
"Captain, I will do my utmost to complete the tasks you've assigned. But absolutely do not let me find out that you're deceiving me in the end, or you will definitely know how great a woman's resentment can be."
Looking at the very serious Paula, Buggy smiled.
"As long as you complete the mission, I definitely won't disappoint you. Bonez, what's your decision?" After reassuring Paula, Buggy asked Daz Bonez.
"I'll go to the Marines." After thinking it through, Daz Bonez no longer had any hesitation.
"Then I'll wait for your good news!" Nodding with satisfaction, Buggy began to look forward to his plan.
"Take me and Hancock to Water 7. After that, you two will go your separate ways and join the Marines."
(End of Chapter)