Chapter Nineteen: The Strange Youth

The boomerang flew instantly, brushed past Richie, and returned precisely to the boy's hand.

The purple mane around Richie's lion face was shorn off in one clean sweep, leaving his face looking remarkably smooth and bare. The lion reached out with his front paws in a human-like gesture, blankly touching his sunflower-like face. After a moment of cold silence, seemingly unable to accept the truth, he began frantically digging a hole in the sand and buried his head deep within the pile.

The boy in the animal skin rubbed his nose with his finger and chuckled, "Lion ingredients must be de-haired first, otherwise, it really ruins the texture."

As the words fell, a figure appeared behind him, and a whip lashed out like a flexible viper. The boy nimbly leaped five meters away. He toyed with his peculiar boomerang, looked at Mohji—who had circled behind him at some unknown moment—and pouted, "What a rude, upright ingredient!"

"You cocky little brat, watch me whip your mouth to shreds!"

Mohji closed in rapidly, wielding his beast-taming whip. The black lash danced through the air like a dazzling, intricate web, crackling with every snap.

The boy in the animal skin hopped left and right within the web of the whip, showing no signs of fatigue. His speed was incredibly agile; despite the density of the whip-web, it didn't even touch a hair on his head. At the same time, he said with ease, "That won't do. My mouth still needs to taste a mountain of delicacies; if it gets torn, I won't be able to do that."

Mohji roared in anger, "You sharp-tongued bastard, go to hell!"

He swung his whip with all his might. Amidst the swirling sand, the speed of the whip suddenly doubled, striking out like a piercing spear without a hint of mercy.

Judging by the tactile feedback from the whip, it seemed to have struck the opponent's body. A look of joy crossed Mohji's face as he continued to lash out relentlessly, "You foul-mouthed brat, this is the price for offending First Mate Mohji!"

"Wooo—"

As the sand settled, Richie lay on the opposite side of Mohji, covered in wounds and gashes, whimpering in his final breaths.

"Richie..." Mohji's eyes widened. He hurriedly stopped his whip and stepped forward nervously to check on the lion's injuries.

The boy in the animal skin stood not far away, muttering to himself, "After being processed by 'whipping,' the meat of the lion ingredient becomes much looser, and the texture and flavor will be much chewier. Now then..."

He held the boomerang horizontally across his chest, his lips curling into a predatory, eager arc.

In the next instant, a disembodied hand flew over, carrying four daggers. The boy hurriedly blocked with the boomerang in his hand.

Bang!

His body was knocked back two steps by the sudden force. Another disembodied hand followed immediately, and the sharp dagger, as if anticipating this exact position, instantly pressed against his throat.

Buggy stood with his arms folded in front of him, walking slowly toward the boy. He retracted the dagger, having changed his mind about killing him.

The strange pattern on the boy's face finally reminded him of the other's identity. Wasn't this a member of the Kumate Tribe from the original story?

The defining features of these natives were the bear-paw patterns carved around their eye sockets and on the backs of their hands; they were likely still-uncivilized cannibals.

In the original story, after Buggy was sent flying by Luffy, Cabaji and Mohji searched for him for a long time without success. They eventually arrived on this island and decided to settle the succession of the next captain through a duel. After twelve hours of fighting, they were exhausted and were knocked out by two punches from a sleeping Richie.

However, their fighting attracted the Kumate Tribe, and they were defeated. The pirates were thrown into a large pot to be steamed and boiled; if not for Buggy saving the day at the end, they would have likely become the Kumate Tribe's meal.

(PS: This is the story from the cover page of the original work.)

He hadn't expected that through a twist of fate, he would arrive at this Bear Paw Island early and in such a manner. It made one sigh at the mockery of destiny.

The boy in the animal skin touched the blood trickling from the slight cut on his throat, patted his chest, and retreated cautiously, "Almost got killed by an upright sashimi!"

Buggy paced over, a cunning smile on his face, "If the dagger in my hand had gone a few inches deeper, you would be dead. But I didn't kill you. Do you know why?"

The boy looked at the returning Buggy and rubbed his chin, "Why?"

"I think you are still too young and haven't seen the boundlessness of the sea or the vastness of the world. It would be a real pity to die like this. Besides, you met me... If you board my ship, you can travel all over the world, enjoy delicacies and scenery from everywhere, and witness the wonders of this world, instead of being confined to this remote little island."

The boy's fighting style leaned toward agility; his movement and reaction speeds were surprisingly fast, and judging by the strength he used to block his attack earlier, he was far beyond an ordinary person.

For such a visible combat asset who also appeared to have a very simple mind, Buggy began to consider recruiting him into his ranks.

The boy in the animal skin frowned in thought. Buggy's words seemed difficult for him to understand. After a while, a look of realization suddenly appeared on his face, and he said, "You mean..."

Buggy continued, "That's right, join my pirate crew and roam the free seas without restraint!"

"You mean let me become a parasitic ingredient on a sea beast?!"

Buggy stumbled, his face darkening. What kind of brain circuit did this idiot have?!

He roared, "That's called a pirate ship! Ship! Do you know what a ship is? It's not a sea beast, and we aren't parasitic ingredients! We are pirates, you bastard!!!"

Buggy felt a sense of frustration.

"Eh, not a sea beast? No wonder it didn't look very tasty." The boy turned his neck to look at Richie, smacked his lips, and added, "This lion ingredient should taste pretty good, though!"

Richie sneezed, and upon meeting the boy's demonic eyes, his injuries seemed to heal instantly. He stood up, full of vitality, and ran at full speed toward the Big Top.

"Are you even listening to me..." Buggy's eyelid twitched.

"You mean let me go with you, right?"

Buggy let out a breath. It seemed he wasn't completely incapable of understanding others.

"That's right. I've heard there is a blue sea in this world where all kinds of fish from all over the globe gather. Once you reach that place, you can find any precious ingredient you desire." Buggy continued to tempt him.

Hearing Buggy's words, the boy rubbed the boomerang in his hand, a look of hesitation appearing on his face.

"Hesitation means you want to go; being moved means you are willing." Buggy's expression now was like a devil seducing a mortal into sin. "Come on, join us and see the world!"

The boy gritted his teeth and finally said, "No."