Shuma the Youth

Buggy frowned deeply. He hadn't used lethal force and had spoken quite kindly, yet this guy was just brushing him off like this.

However, considering the fellow was a fighter with excellent combat ability and youthful potential—and looked remarkably easy to swindle—how could Buggy just give up? He asked, "Why not?"

"Because the cuisine I prepare has yet to be acknowledged by Lord Bear Spirit, so I do not yet meet the requirements to become an adult," the boy said without reservation.

"Bear Spirit? Cuisine?" Though Buggy didn't quite understand, he went along with it. "Then, if your cooking is acknowledged, can you set sail with us?"

"If I am acknowledged by Lord Bear Spirit..." The boy trailed off, his gaze drifting involuntarily toward the Big Top. "Is this really not a sea beast?"

"This is the transportation we use to sail," Buggy sighed, rubbing his forehead. This guy's train of thought took such sharp turns; not only that, he was so sheltered he didn't even know what a ship was.

"Oh," the boy responded, looking as if he half-understood. "Once Lord Bear Spirit acknowledges me, I will have the choice to do anything."

"I see..." Buggy's eyes darted around. "We will help you complete the Bear Spirit's test. As a trade, the condition is that you join us."

The boy rubbed his finger under his nose and flashed a bright, sunny smile. "Okay!"

Since Captain Buggy let this guy on board, Mohji naturally had no objections. However, the other party's swift agreement made him quite nervous. He leaned in and whispered, "Captain Buggy, does he have some sort of conspiracy?"

Buggy said in a low voice, "Emotionally, I think this guy is just a single-celled organism. Of course, logically speaking, you aren't wrong. However, our ship's mainmast was damaged by the waves, and even repairs will take a day or two. During this gap, I have more important things to do, and I need to interact with him. If he really has any ill intentions toward us, he will eventually reveal some clues."

The East Blue chart in the captain's cabin of the Big Top did not record the location of this island. In other words, Buggy had no idea where they had drifted or their current position. Therefore, he needed to know where this sea area was in the East Blue to confirm their sailing direction, which meant he had to communicate with the island's natives. If he was lucky, there should be some gains.

Buggy stepped forward and extended his hand toward the boy. "Captain of the Buggy Pirates, Buggy."

The boy looked at Buggy's gesture in confusion, then looked at his own hand, and shook it. "Hehe, I'm Shuma."

"Uh... don't grip so tight. Also, you can let go of my hand now!"

"Oh, oh, oh." Shuma hurriedly let go, looking at his own hand like a curious baby.

This guy had quite a grip... Buggy began to ask, "So, what must be done for Lord Bear Spirit to acknowledge you?"

Shuma looked up toward the mountain on the island, his gaze becoming focused. "That is where Lord Bear Spirit lives. We need to prepare a pot of delicious cuisine. If we succeed in having Lord Bear Spirit eat it all, that counts as receiving their acknowledgment and blessing."

From the patterns on the boy's body, it was clear this was a tribe that revered totems. That the totem was a bear was within expectations. Buggy said immediately, "In that case, let's start preparing the cuisine now."

Shuma said with some annoyance, "But I don't have high-quality ingredients. Without them, I can't make delicious cuisine, and I will absolutely not be acknowledged by Lord Bear Spirit!"

His gaze shifted rapidly toward Richie, who was hiding on the ship. "If the ingredient were lion, perhaps Lord Bear Spirit would be very satisfied."

"Hey, don't you dare have bad ideas about Richie!" Mohji stepped up and snorted.

"What a stingy upright ingredient," Shuma said with dissatisfaction. "It's just borrowing some meat from the body; how stingy!"

Who was the stingy one, really... Buggy was speechless. He stood between the two, pushed the incompatible pair apart, and pointed at the wild boar carcass on the ground. "Alright, Shuma, whether you're a worm or a dragon, let's let the facts speak. My tongue has ten thousand taste buds; let me, the professional, evaluate the cuisine you make. As long as you pass my test, I believe Lord Bear Spirit will also be satisfied with your culinary skills!"

Of course, a normal person's tongue had ten thousand taste buds; Buggy wasn't bragging.

"Wow, ten thousand taste buds!" Shuma shouted exaggeratedly. He immediately felt full of drive and ran toward the jungle. "Wait for me!"

Before long, Shuma returned with a neat set of kitchen tools and an exaggeratedly large pot. He set it on the ground and patted his chest confidently. "I will make a feast immediately. Buggy, you must evaluate it well!"

"Of course."

Without a word, Shuma pulled out a sharp razor and began to strip the fur from the wild boar.

It was mentioned in anime that this race were natural gourmets (chefs). Perhaps due to racial talent, Shuma appeared extremely focused and skilled during the process, clearing away the redundant parts in a flash.

Next, he switched to another blade and shaved the meat off slice by slice. With a flick of the blade, he tossed them precisely into the large pot.

Buggy clicked his tongue in secret. He hadn't expected this guy's culinary skills to be so good. This dazzling knife work was not something an ordinary person could compare to. Was it really a racial talent...

Into the pot, light the fire, add water, add various seasonings, control the heat.

Wisps of white smoke rose from the large pot, and the rich broth made nostrils twitch.

Buggy and his crew, who hadn't eaten much all day, couldn't help but swallow their saliva at the scent of the meat. The pirates on the ship didn't know when they had run over, and they gathered around as well.

Buggy ordered his men to bring over the liquor from the ship.

Soon, Shuma took out a bowl, ladled some soup, and handed it to Buggy. "Here, Buggy, use your ten thousand taste buds to taste the cuisine I made. But since the ingredients aren't quite up to par, the taste might not be great."

Buggy took the bowl and took a sip. The boiling hot broth flowed into his stomach like magma, seemingly churning and roaring within him.

This taste... Buggy closed his eyes and slowly savored it. "Soft and smooth upon entry, the flavor is fresh and delicious. It's as if countless sprites are spinning and leaping on the tip of my tongue, releasing graceful, light dance moves. I feel as if I've returned to the time long ago when I swam freely in the sea—no, like swimming in magma. The erupting magma bubbles and rises around me, the scorching heat washing over my body, enveloping my soul. At this moment, my soul finally feels sublimated, as if the holy messengers of heaven are calling to me... This taste is truly too delicious!"

Hearing such high praise, Shuma covered his eyes, tears streaming down his face. "Buggy, you are the first gourmet to praise me like this. I'm so moved!"

Mohji looked at Buggy's flushed face. "Captain Buggy, is it really that delicious?"

"Try it and you'll know..." Buggy forcibly shoved the remaining broth into Mohji's mouth.

"Gulp, gulp."

Mohji finished all the broth and sat there, stunned. His face turned red from the bottom up, and finally, even his white hair was dyed a vivid crimson. White smoke puffed from his head, and suddenly, he spewed flames from his mouth like a fire dragon. "It's burning me!"