Buggy did not leave Twin Cape immediately. Instead, he decided to stay for a while, for two important reasons.
First, he wanted Hogback to learn from Crocus, who was perhaps the most skilled doctor alive today.
Though Hogback was a genius surgeon, his age and experience were still far behind Crocus. With Crocus's vast medical knowledge and years of treating countless conditions, Hogback had much to learn. For him, this was a rare opportunity.
Crocus, kind as always, did not hesitate to accept Buggy's request. He even solved several difficult medical problems that had long troubled Hogback. With each explanation, Hogback's medical skills grew sharper, and he felt he had gained tremendously from this exchange.
The second reason was for Lafitte. Buggy wanted him to learn about navigating the New World from Crocus. When Buggy sailed with Roger, he had been too young to grasp the intricacies of the sea. Crocus, however, had unmatched knowledge about those dangerous waters.
As expected, Crocus generously shared what he knew. He taught Lafitte the basics of New World navigation, warned him about dangerous currents and sea regions, and filled in gaps in his knowledge. He even gave Lafitte something invaluable—a permanent Log Pose pointing to Punk Hazard.
This gift solved a major problem for Buggy. Originally, he had planned to search for such a Log Pose once they reached the New World. Yet Crocus's collection was surprisingly vast—he even had one for Punk Hazard, their very destination.
According to Crocus, this Log Pose pointed to one of seven magnetic routes across the New World. Though it was not the same route Luffy and his crew would take, all seven paths eventually converged on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Buggy didn't mind whether it was the same route as Luffy's or not. For him, there was no particular advantage in following Luffy's exact path. The seas ahead were unpredictable, and danger lurked in all directions. Since Crocus had provided the precise Log Pose they needed, there was no reason to hesitate.
Thus, Buggy and his crew remained at Twin Cape for half a month. If not for Crocus's growing impatience, Buggy might have stayed even longer, eager to let Hogback and Lafitte learn all they could.
But clearly, they had overstayed their welcome. Crocus, tired of having his peaceful retirement disturbed, firmly urged them to move on.
When the day of departure came, not only did Crocus see them off, but even Laboon, the giant whale, came to bid farewell.
During their stay, Buggy had revealed the truth about Brook to Crocus. At first, Crocus found it hard to believe. But Buggy assured him that Brook was alive, trapped within the Florian Triangle. Seeing the sincerity in Buggy's eyes, Crocus finally accepted his words, and together they told Laboon the news.
Though Laboon was just a whale, it clearly understood. Upon hearing Brook's name, it stopped its endless ramming of Reverse Mountain. Tears welled in its massive eyes, emotions overflowing like a human's.
Moved by the whale's loyalty, Buggy swore that one day, he would bring Brook back. Laboon, reassured, finally accepted Buggy and his crew, and their bond grew strong during those weeks.
Grateful, Crocus shared nearly everything he knew, passing down precious medical and navigational knowledge. But after two weeks, he made it clear—it was time for Buggy to go.
And so, with Crocus's blessings and Laboon's sorrowful yet hopeful cry, the Glory set sail once more.
The first half of the Grand Line, while less perilous than the second, was still unpredictable.
One moment, the skies were clear; the next, storms raged. At times it snowed, at others hail crashed down. Hurricanes tore across the sea, thunder split the heavens—like the end of the world itself.
Without Crocus's Log Pose and guidance, Lafitte might have lost their way entirely.
For three to four days, they sailed without encountering a single inhabited island. Most of the lands they passed were barren, primitive, and devoid of even small animals.
The journey was strangely peaceful—too peaceful. For anyone sailing alone, such emptiness could easily drive one to madness.
Even more unsettling was the absence of pirates. On this route, unlike the Four Seas where pirate ships crowded the waves, the sea seemed utterly deserted.