Set a Flag

Buggy was slightly satisfied with the determination shown by his two officers. He detached both his hands and lifted the two men up from the ground. "Very good."

The East Blue might harbor some hidden powerhouses, but finding them was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Furthermore, strong individuals were often arrogant, and bringing them into his fold would be no easy task—not to mention that their loyalty could never compare to the two officers who had followed him for so many years.

Rather than searching aimlessly, it was better to make his own pirate crew's combat strength more powerful and reliable.

Buggy stood up, took out the nautical charts he had recorded over his many years of roaming the East Blue, and spread them flat on the table.

He pointed a finger at an island circled in ink. "Our next destination is here."

"This place is...?" Cabaji and Mohji recalled the location, then suddenly exchanged glances. A memory of a strange and unforgettable island they had landed on a year ago surfaced in their minds.

Buggy continued, "That's right. It's the uninhabited island we stayed at a year ago. Once we arrive this time, we will stay there for one to two years."

In his memory, the pirate crew had discovered an uninhabited island while wandering the East Blue a year ago. However, due to the nature of the island itself, they had stayed for only two days before leaving in a hurry, marking it with a warning sign to avoid returning.

But as things stood now, this island was undoubtedly the best place for training.

Cabaji and Mohji gulped, their expressions turning nervous and uneasy. Staying on that strange island for one or two years would be enough to cost them their lives...

Seeing their expressions, Buggy asked, "If you have any objections, speak your mind."

Mohji hurriedly opened his mouth, "We..."

"Shut up... you white-haired freak." Cabaji closed his eyes. "Have you forgotten what we just said? Have you forgotten the lesson that bounty hunter taught us? Rather than dying a pathetic death in the future, it is better to endure the pain of training now. That swordsman—I will definitely have my revenge!"

Although Cabaji's reprimand made Mohji feel very unhappy, he did not argue this time; or rather, there was no fault to be found in his companion's words. He said in a low voice, "I have no objections."

Buggy nodded. "Very good. We should be able to reach that island in three days."

After all, this sea area was not the Grand Line, so the weather was not nearly as erratic. The navigator's role was not that critical; as long as they sailed straight toward their target, they would reach the island. Besides, Buggy had already instructed the half-baked navigator and helmsman on board to maintain their heading. If nothing went wrong, three days would be enough.

Two days later, the waves on the usually calm sea became much more violent. Surges began to rise aggressively, water spilled onto the deck, and the pirate ship started to rock from side to side.

Buggy, who had been resting in the captain's quarters and reading the essentials and techniques of the Six Powers from his notebook, could no longer keep his mind settled. He stood up from his chair and walked outside.

The navigator was standing on the deck, occasionally directing the helmsman to adjust their course. Buggy walked up to him, looked at the thick clouds gathering in the distance, and asked, "What's going on?"

The navigator was a man in his thirties with a square face. He wore a smile as he said, "Captain Buggy, it's just ordinary wind and waves. The currents beneath the sea are churning upward due to the pressure of the surrounding flow. It will calm down on its own in a little while."

Buggy nodded slightly without saying a word. He knew nothing about navigation, but deep down, he felt that things were not as simple as the man claimed.

Under the direction of the square-faced navigator, the Big Top continued to sail forward into the wind. The humidity in the air began to thicken, and the clouds in the nearby sky converged into a vortex shape.

Buggy looked at the clouds, suddenly remembered something, and roared, "Turn the helm! About-face! Get out of this sea area, now!"

The helmsman in the control room heard the captain's urgent voice and dared not delay. He frantically spun the wheel to steer toward the outer edge.

The clouds in the sky changed in an instant, and dark clouds gathered together with even greater speed.

Soon, the weather in this sea area changed completely. Countless shades of gray descended like a black curtain hanging from the heavens. The light vanished, and despite it being daytime, it was as dark as night, with one unable to see their own fingers.

Thick layers of water mist filled the air. Drip, drop. Raindrops as large as beans began to pour down.

Beneath the center of the gathering storm clouds was a powerful hurricane, howling as it churned the seawater from all directions.

On the sea, the waves were turbulent. Countless giant waves over ten meters high rose one after another, with overwhelming momentum. Countless whirlpools intertwined on the surface, forming terrifying barriers.

The Big Top turned around just in time. By sailing along the outer edge before the hurricane fully formed, they avoided being caught by the most intense winds at the center. Even so, the wind at the periphery was still incredibly fierce, and the Big Top struggled to sail outward.

"Cumulonimbus Tornado!" Buggy gripped the railing with one hand, his face grim. If they had continued forward, they would have undoubtedly been pulled into the vortex of this terrifying hurricane, resulting in the destruction of the ship and their deaths.

The square-faced navigator trembled, his entire body soaked by the rain and seawater, looking even more miserable than a drowned rat. Only moments ago, he had been making confident guarantees, but now that the world had changed, his face was nearly twisted by the sheer power of nature and his own burning fear.

Several unlucky pirates, not yet realizing what was happening, were swept into the sea by the dual force of the giant waves and the gale.

The wind howled, and the deck rattled loudly. The pirates on deck had their ears and noses filled with the frantic sea breeze, and they could barely keep their eyes open.

The wind and rain were so terrifying that it felt as if the heavens had opened a giant mouth to swallow everything. Buggy found it difficult to even stand on the deck, let alone the other pirates.

"Get into the cabin, all of you!" Buggy roared. Without waiting another moment, he turned and walked toward the interior of the ship. His captain's cloak blocked the seawater, and even though some splashed onto him, it did not drain too much of his strength. He struggled toward the interior with his back to the wind.

The pirates around him were not so lucky. They could barely steady themselves on the deck, and as the Big Top tilted, their bodies swayed back and forth. Even though they were only a dozen meters from the cabin entrance, it felt like a vast chasm that was impossible to cross. The giant waves that rose up from time to time were like waterfalls hanging from the sky, crashing down and carrying the gale with them, sweeping the men into the sea.

Rain flew through the air in sheets. The ship felt as if it were being pulled toward the eye of the storm by invisible hands. With the whirlpools and the hurricane intertwined, the Big Top was like a rootless duckweed, rising and falling in helplessness. Compared to the boundless sea, it was like a thin paper boat, drifting with the waves and sailing so unstably that it might be capsized by a towering wave at any moment.