Time flowed by like water. In the blink of an eye, five days had passed.
During that time, Buggy didn't leave all the navigation duties to Kuro—Daddy would occasionally take the helm as well.
Kuro's physical ability was still lacking, so Buggy took the opportunity to personally supervise his training, starting with teaching him the Navy's Rokushiki techniques every afternoon.
While Kuro's stamina left much to be desired, he surprisingly showed great potential in one particular move—Soru. Within just a few days, he had already grasped the fundamentals. It was clear: he was a natural when it came to Soru.
Daddy, though primarily a sniper, would also occasionally train in Rokushiki.
Even for a long-range fighter, these techniques had their value.
With the chance to learn them firsthand, he was eager and proactive, throwing himself into the training enthusiastically.
Five days wasn't enough time for any huge breakthroughs, but progress was steady, and morale was high. The crew passed by Loguetown once again, though they didn't stop this time. They'd already set out to sea—there was no point in turning back.
They made a brief stop at a small island along the way to restock supplies, and from there, they headed toward Reverse Mountain, planning to cross into the West Blue.
Their purpose this time: to recruit several extremely important future crewmates—individuals who would form the core of Buggy's future pirate crew.
These future recruits included:
Lafitte, the future captain of Blackbeard's 5th ship, was also known as the "Demon Sheriff."
Edward Weevil, the self-proclaimed son of Whitebeard, is later a Warlord of the Sea.
Hogback, the infamous surgeon who helped Moria create zombies in Thriller Bark.
Lafitte was an absolute must-have. Not only was he powerful, but he was also a top-tier navigator—a role they currently lacked.
Buggy had no moral dilemma about stealing him before Blackbeard ever found him.
If anything, it was a strategic strike, undermining a potential future enemy.
Edward Weevil, said to be Whitebeard's biological son, possessed strength said to rival Whitebeard in his youth. He'd even defeated former Admiral Zephyr.
With his immense power and easily manipulated mind, Weevil could be a terrifying asset, so long as Buggy handled his mother, Miss Bakkin, who was the real source of trouble.
As for Hogback, though morally bankrupt and obsessed with fame and fortune, his medical skills were beyond question. He had once saved countless lives and earned a prestigious reputation before falling from grace.
Buggy didn't care about his character—as long as he was useful, he could be a top-class ship doctor. And if it was just about money? Buggy had that covered.
Soon, the crew arrived at the foot of Reverse Mountain.
Before them stood a towering red mountain that pierced the clouds, surrounded by furious whirlpools and chaotic currents—a terrifying sight for any sailor.
But not for Buggy.
He confidently steered the ship toward the mountain, aiming for the ascending current that flowed up its slope.
Before them stood the massive water gate and the raging upward torrent. It was a sight that defied all laws of nature and logic—one that couldn't be explained by the science of Buggy's previous life.
Kuro and Daddy—who had never seen anything like this—stood frozen in awe, eyes wide in disbelief.
The water was flowing up a mountain. It completely shattered their understanding of the world.
"Captain… this is how we're getting to the West Blue?
Can our ship even handle this? It looks incredibly dangerous…"
Kuro's voice trembled as he asked the question.
He couldn't help but worry that the Glory might not survive the climb—and if it broke apart mid-ascent, they'd all be done for.
Buggy responded calmly.
"This? Compared to the New World, this is nothing.
This current might look scary to you now, but it's mild by New World standards.
Our ship can handle it—don't worry."
Buggy understood their fear, especially Kuro's.
They were still rookies, and this spectacle was overwhelming for them. But to someone who'd seen the real terrors of the sea, this was child's play.
Daddy, who'd been about to voice his concerns, quietly swallowed his words.
He didn't want to show weakness in front of the captain.
Seeing their tense expressions, Buggy decided to take over the wheel himself.
The Glory was built with Adam Wood and equipped with cutting-edge technology—he wasn't about to risk damaging it through amateur steering.
All three of them headed to the bridge, where Buggy activated the ship and guided it into the ascending current.
The climb wasn't nearly as dangerous as it looked.
With the natural upward thrust of the water and the Glory's superior design, they ascended the mountain without using the engine at all.
It required nothing more than a bit of steering skill, and Buggy had that in spades.
The process was surprisingly smooth.
In contrast, when Luffy crossed this same mountain in the future, his ship suffered heavy damage. But the Glory soared up with ease.
At the top, the sea felt like the clouds themselves, and the descent was even faster, riding the powerful downhill current straight to the base in moments.
At the bottom, Buggy looked around.
Just like before, there was no sign of Laboon the whale, nor did he find Crocus.
He searched for a bit but gave up quickly—there was no point in waiting.
He had no idea where Crocus had gone or when he'd return.
Besides, Buggy didn't have time to linger. The world was about to change drastically, and he needed to build his crew fast.
Steering the Glory around the Red Line, he quickly located the current leading to the West Blue.
He was already familiar with it—the Roger Pirates had traveled this path before.
With the ship's powerful propulsion system, Buggy once again scaled the mountain, and they successfully entered the West Blue.
Their primary target this time was Lafitte, who was likely located in the Kingdom of Illusia.
A powerful and wealthy kingdom affiliated with the World Government, Illusia was one of the most stable regions in the West Blue. Pirates rarely caused trouble there, and its proximity to the Red Line made it easy to reach.
Once they passed the Red Line, Buggy handed the helm back to Kuro.
He felt that he was on the verge of breaking through to the swordsman level of Kenshi (Swordmaster) and needed to focus entirely on training.
Five days later, they arrived at Illusia Kingdom, docking at the Mori City – Port Westgate.
In those five days, Buggy finally broke through, officially stepping into the realm of Swordmaster.
With a single slash, he could now cut open the sea across a hundred-meter radius.
His strength had leapt to a whole new level.
Across all four seas, only a handful of hidden monsters could rival him now.
From a distance, the port city was bustling. Countless people walked the streets, and many ships were docked.
People came and went—pirates included—but despite the activity, the place was well-organized and peaceful.
Buggy observed as pirates disembarked from their ships without causing chaos.
They behaved like ordinary citizens, without the usual arrogance and violence often associated with them.
Once they docked the Glory, only Buggy disembarked.
Daddy and Kuro stayed aboard to guard the ship—after all, the Glory was built from Adam Wood. If any pirate with sharp eyes recognized its value, it might tempt trouble.
Buggy's goal was simple:
Find Lafitte. Recruit him.
And for that, he could handle things alone.