After deciding on their crew's name, the group stayed on the island for a few more days to rest before setting off. This time, their destination was the New World. But there was more to it than simply sailing forward—they had debts to collect, and people to bring under their banner.
One man in particular was responsible for Buggy's near-death injuries: none other than the "Heavenly Yaksha," Donquixote Doflamingo, young master of the Donquixote family.
If it hadn't been for Doflamingo deliberately stalling him, Sakazuki might never have found Buggy in the first place. It was almost certain that the information about their whereabouts had been leaked by Doflamingo himself.
Had Buggy not been as strong as he was—and had Sakazuki not still been short of his full peak strength—that delay would have been fatal. In truth, Doflamingo had practically handed them a death sentence. Such an act was a grudge of life and death. If Buggy didn't settle this score, it would be an insult to himself and his crew.
But revenge wasn't as simple as killing Doflamingo outright. Buggy wanted him to suffer—to feel pain to his very core.
Destroying Doflamingo's dark underworld network in the North Blue might do the trick, but the cost would be far too high. Information on underground organizations was notoriously difficult and expensive to obtain, and even if they managed it, Doflamingo could always rebuild his influence elsewhere. That would only wound him temporarily, not permanently.
They could also target Donquixote family members directly. But knowing Doflamingo's cunning, he'd easily sense their movements before they could even make a move. With no reliable intelligence network, Buggy's crew could spend countless time and money chasing shadows, only to be led into one of Doflamingo's traps.
If that happened, and Doflamingo brought Sakazuki, Borsalino, or Kuzan down on them… even the strengthened Buggy wouldn't stand a chance against the three Admirals. That path was simply too dangerous.
After weighing the risks and consequences, Buggy finally thought of the perfect target—one that would both hurt Doflamingo and avoid unnecessary danger.
That target was Punk Hazard.
The island's master was the infamous scientist Caesar Clown, who happened to have close ties with Doflamingo. If they made trouble for Caesar, Doflamingo would be forced to send someone to handle it. But with Punk Hazard far from the North Blue, Doflamingo himself likely wouldn't come. Instead, he would probably dispatch one of his most important New World operatives—Vergo.
If Vergo came, Buggy's crew could strike two birds with one stone: capture Caesar and execute Vergo. Then, by exposing Vergo's double life as a Donquixote spy within the Marines, they could deal Doflamingo a devastating blow and humiliate the Navy.
The fallout would be severe. The Navy would be forced to turn its anger toward the Donquixote family. Meanwhile, Doflamingo's carefully laid path to power—Caesar's research into artificial Devil Fruits—would be crippled.
And of course, if Buggy managed to seize Caesar, he would gain one of the most brilliant scientists in the world. As the second greatest scientist after Vegapunk, Caesar's value was immense. For Buggy, he could be a powerful asset. That alone made the trip to Punk Hazard worth it.
With their goal decided, the crew packed up their belongings, boarded the Splendor, and set sail for the New World.
Their first obstacle was Reverse Mountain. By sheer coincidence, they encountered Laboon while descending. The great whale was ramming its head repeatedly against the Red Line, just as always.
But unlike Luffy, Buggy didn't pick a fight with Laboon, nor did he try to comfort him. Instead, he used the simplest method at his disposal: his overwhelming Conqueror's Haki. With a single burst of killing intent, Buggy forced the whale to stop its self-destructive assault and calm down, clearing the way for their ship to pass safely.
Seeing Laboon reminded Buggy of another familiar figure—Crocus. If Laboon were here, then the old lighthouse keeper had to be nearby as well. And since fate had brought him this close, Buggy decided to visit the man.
At the Twin Cape lighthouse, Buggy spotted him from afar: an old man in a floral shirt, lying back in a deck chair, soaking up the sun in peace.
After docking the Splendor, Buggy led his crew toward him. Crocus seemed to notice their approach and removed his sunglasses, slowly sitting up to get a better look.
When his eyes fell on Buggy, a flicker of surprise flashed across his face—quickly followed by a broad, warm smile.
It hadn't been long since Shanks had passed through here, and now, to see Buggy as well… fate truly had a sense of humor.
"Hahahaha! Little Buggy, you've come all the way here? Not long ago, Shanks stopped by, and I asked him about you. I didn't expect to see you so soon myself!"
Buggy grimaced slightly. "Uncle Crocus, just call me Buggy. I'm not little anymore."
Even Buggy, with his thick skin, felt awkward being called "little Buggy" in front of his crew. He was their captain now—hardly a child.
Crocus noticed his embarrassment, but the sight only made him laugh harder. He glanced at Buggy's companions and nodded approvingly. "Alright, alright—Buggy has grown up. Shanks has grown up, too. Good, very good."
That warm, fatherly smile softened Buggy's unease, replacing it with something else: joy. To him, the former Roger Pirates were family. Seeing them again filled him with genuine happiness.
"Buggy," Crocus said after a pause, "I saw your name in the papers not too long ago. You've made quite a stir. I never imagined you'd grow so quickly. You've given us old timers a surprise."
Buggy scratched his cheek, suddenly shy. "No, no… compared to the Captain, I'm still far behind. By my age, he'd already made a name for himself across the seas. I've only just begun my voyage."
Crocus's words were those of an elder proud of a younger generation, and Buggy's reaction was a mix of embarrassment and excitement. But deep down, he knew his hard work and training hadn't been in vain—he had earned the recognition of his family.