R–Really, sir? We're truly free now?
From inside one of the cells, a man who had regained a bit of strength looked at Jessica with hopeful eyes. He had heard her words and found himself believing Buggy's earlier statement.
To them, Jessica was a benefactor. Without her care, many of them might have starved to death on this ship long ago. If Jessica was saying this, then there was a high chance it was true.
"I'm not lying to you. You are free now. And if you still don't believe us, we can even hand over this ship to you. If any of you know how to sail her, you can take her and leave. We won't stop you."
Buggy said this to make his sincerity clear. He meant it, too—this ship had little value to him apart from a few things he wanted to take. Everything else could be theirs.
Hearing his words, the light returned to their eyes, and excitement began to show on their faces. One by one, they stepped out of the cells.
Seeing that their spirits were mostly restored, Buggy asked if any of them could operate the ship. If there were capable hands among them, they could leave right away—after all, escorting so many people would be a burden for his crew.
A few stepped forward, saying they had sailing experience. After some discussion, they decided to pilot the ship themselves and take everyone home.
It was a calculated choice on their part. They still didn't fully trust Buggy's crew, and by sailing the ship themselves, they felt more secure.
After giving them instructions, Buggy led his people to a certain room—one that held what he considered the most valuable prize on this vessel.
The door was made of thick iron and secured with a massive lock. The room's defenses were tight enough that ordinary people would never break in.
But for Buggy's crew, it was nothing. With a single swing of his great blade, Weevil split the door open.
A golden gleam filled their vision—the glow of coins piled on the floor. At the far end of the room stood a wooden table, and atop it sat two wooden boxes.
Buggy ignored the gold and jewels entirely. His eyes had been locked on those boxes from the moment he entered. This was the real treasure.
Everyone followed Buggy inside. Apart from Jessica, none of them paid much attention to the treasure hoard—they had seen far greater spoils from the pirate ships they had plundered before.
"Captain, you brought us all the way here for… just this little stash of gold?" Kuro asked, puzzled.
Buggy gave him a flat look. "Do you think I'd make a special trip for this pocket change? If that's all there was, I would've left it for the people still aboard. No, our biggest haul this time… is inside those two boxes."
All eyes turned to the boxes, curiosity filling their gazes. Only Daddy seemed to have an inkling of what was inside.
A knowing smile spread across Daddy's face. "Oh, now that… is something worth billions of Berries."
Under the crew's growing anticipation, Buggy strode up to the table and opened the boxes. Inside lay two strangely shaped fruits.
The others gathered around. Except for Daddy and Lafitte, most of them wore puzzled expressions—why would the captain prize these odd fruits above gold?
Seeing Kuro, Weevil, Hogback, and Jessica still confused, Lafitte stepped in to explain exactly what these were.
Some were too young, some too dim-witted, and others had simply never been exposed to such things, so they didn't recognize Devil Fruits.
When the explanation ended, surprise lit up their faces—everyone except Weevil, who didn't care. If it had been an ordinary fruit, maybe he would've shown interest.
After hearing about the strange powers Devil Fruits could grant, several members showed signs of desire.
"Captain," Lafitte asked, "do you know what powers these two fruits hold?"
"These are the Zoan-type Golden Eagle Fruit and the Paramecia-type Clear-Clear Fruit," Buggy replied without hesitation. The moment he had seen them, he knew—after all, the Pirate King's ship had no shortage of Devil Fruit encyclopedias.
Both fruits had excellent potential.
The Golden Eagle Fruit was among the stronger Zoan types. It granted its user not only enhanced physical abilities but also the incredible speed and power of a golden eagle, the fastest bird species, capable of reaching speeds up to 322 kilometers per hour.
As for the Clear-Clear Fruit, it needed little introduction. It could render the user completely invisible, and at higher mastery, even make surrounding objects vanish from sight. In the right hands, it could be an extraordinary asset.
Buggy already knew exactly who he planned to give the Clear-Clear Fruit to—one of his key objectives in coming to the North Blue.
After he explained both fruits to the crew, Lafitte's gaze remained fixed on the Golden Eagle Fruit, his interest plain as day.
The others, hearing the abilities, realized the fruits didn't suit them and lost interest.
Buggy looked at Lafitte. "You've got your eye on the Golden Eagle Fruit, haven't you?"
Yes, Captain, Lafitte admitted. Ever since I learned about Devil Fruits, I've always wanted a flying ability. The Golden Eagle Fruit is perfect for me.
Then it's yours, Buggy said. Develop it well—this fruit's potential is massive. Master it, and you'll be the king of the skies.
It was a perfect match. Not only would it boost Lafitte's combat power, but it would also strengthen the bond between them. Why wouldn't he give it to him?
Lafitte's lips curled into a smile. Receiving this fruit was more than he could have hoped for.