Buggy's conversation with Cabaji and Mohji was overheard by Takumi, but he didn't really care what schemes Buggy was plotting. After all, he didn't believe Buggy could actually escape from him.
For now, Takumi simply waited.
Cricket, standing on the shore, watched Takumi as he gazed out at the sea, sipping his wine. The man's expression was heavy, deep in thought. He had suspected from the start that Takumi was not ordinary, and the power Takumi had demonstrated earlier only confirmed that suspicion.
Initially, Cricket had been reluctant to reveal everything he knew, but after realizing that Takumi had no connection with the pirates and had clearly used force to subdue them, he had decided to share the information.
He wouldn't have recommended anyone else to take on such a deadly gamble. Yet for some reason, he had a feeling that maybe, just maybe, this young man named Takumi could really pull off a miracle.
So in the end, Cricket had decided to bet on him.
"Kid," Cricket said as he approached Takumi, standing by his side and gazing out at the endless ocean. "What's your dream?"
Takumi took another sip of his wine, his expression calm. "To be a free traveler."
"A traveler, huh?" Cricket smiled. "That's a pretty good dream. Your strength might bring you a lot of challenges along the way, but if everything was easy, life would be boring. Remember, everything happens for a reason. Your future is long, so keep pushing forward. Tomorrow, no matter what, make sure you don't fall from the sky."
Takumi took another drink and replied with a quiet, "Mm."
That night, Buggy's lackeys really did manage to capture a South Bird.
Once everyone had settled down to sleep, Buggy, along with Cabaji, Mohji, and Mohji's lion, Richie, snuck out to the small boat they had prepared earlier.
"Are we really taking Richie with us?" Cabaji grumbled, casting a disapproving glance at the large lion.
Mohji shot him a glare. "Richie's been with me since he was little! We're practically family! Of course, he's coming with us!"
Without hesitation, Buggy slapped both Cabaji and Mohji on the head, hissing, "Keep it down, you idiots!"
Takumi, standing quietly on the deck of the ship, watched as the trio and their lion prepared to make their escape. The moonlight cast long shadows, and Buggy's small boat was bathed in the pale glow.
Noticing the silhouette above them, Buggy looked up and, to his surprise, saw Takumi standing there, staring down at them. Startled, Buggy stumbled back, accidentally stepping on Richie's paw.
Richie roared in pain, causing enough noise to wake everyone up.
"Buggy Captain? Cabaji? Mohji? What are you guys doing out here in the middle of the night?" one of Buggy's crew members called out, confused.
"Wait… is that the treasure from the ship loaded onto the small boat?" another pointed out. "Buggy Captain, were you trying to leave us behind?"
"Captain Buggy! How could you abandon us like this? If you were planning to run, why didn't you take us with you? We're so disappointed in you!"
Buggy's eye twitched in frustration. There was no point in hiding it now, but while his crew was easy to deal with, Takumi was not.
Damn it! He cursed inwardly. If Takumi hadn't caught him, escaping would've been easy.
Just as Buggy was struggling to come up with a solution, Takumi spoke up calmly, "Buggy, you're leaving?"
"Huh?" Buggy froze, looking up at Takumi with uncertainty. "You little brat, what do you want?"
Takumi pointed to the sky. "We're going to the sky island."
Buggy nearly collapsed in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding! You have no idea how dangerous it is to reach Sky Island! I've been there once, and I'm never doing it again! You can go if you want, but I'm not going!"
Takumi's expression remained unreadable, yet it was enough to send a shiver down Buggy's spine.
Cabaji whispered, "Buggy Captain, what do we do? These guys are angry… If a fight breaks out and we damage the ship, Takumi will get mad, and then we're in real trouble."
"I know!" Buggy clenched his fists. As the crew began to close in, Buggy suddenly yelled, "You idiots! Do you really think I'd leave you behind to escape on my own?"
The crew responded in unison, "Wasn't that exactly what you were doing?"
"I'm your captain! Do you really think I'd do something so low?" Buggy barked back, looking offended. "You've been with me for so long. Don't you know me by now?"
"Uh… well…"
"Wait, maybe we misunderstood Captain Buggy. But if he wasn't trying to run, why was he moving the treasure to the small boat?"
"Oh! I get it now! Captain Buggy wasn't planning to escape. He was preparing this small boat as a surprise for us! Maybe he's planning to let us escape while he stays behind to fight for us!"
"My God! I can't believe I misjudged such an amazing captain. Captain Buggy, you're incredible! We're so lucky to follow you!"
"Yeah, me too! Captain Buggy, I'll follow you to the ends of the earth!"
"Wait—what? That's not what I—"
Before Buggy could finish his sentence, his crew was already crying tears of admiration.
"Captain Buggy, you're the best leader we've ever had. If I make it out of this alive, I'll never forget your kindness!"
"Me too, Captain! If I get back home, I'm going to build a statue of you in my house and worship you every day."
"Hey, don't jinx it! Captain Buggy's going to live forever!"
"I'm not cursing him! I'm just showing my devotion!"
"Wait, hold on! That's not—" Buggy's words were drowned out by his crew's sobs and praise.
One by one, his crew members boarded the small boat, but since there wasn't enough room for everyone, they left the treasure behind.
"Captain Buggy, we'll leave the treasure for you. You deserve it."
"Yeah, Captain, you've done so much for us. It's the least we can do."
"Captain Buggy, you're going to survive. I know it!"
Buggy wanted to cry. Cabaji and Mohji stood next to him, their expressions equally miserable.
And just like that, Buggy's crew tearfully sailed away, leaving him behind on the island with all the treasure.
******
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