After the old woman had finished revealing everything about the trafficking organization, Buggy not only learned how to contact them but also got some valuable information about key figures within the group.
Once he was sure he'd heard enough, Yan Yang, the blade in Buggy's hand, just so happened to "slip" straight into the old woman's chest. She dropped dead on the spot. If hell truly existed, she had surely earned herself a place in its deepest level.
Buggy didn't bother cleaning up. He kicked the bodies one by one into the nearby woods. Maybe, in some twisted way, that was their final contribution to this world.
Returning to his bench, Buggy sat down, lost in thought. The idea of confronting a massive underground network like this was a headache. Even if they succeeded, it would come at great cost—and provoke a powerful enemy. Was it even worth it?
After much contemplation, Buggy concluded.
Human trafficking was nothing new in this world. No matter where you went, it existed in some form. Trying to take it all on would be like trying to drain the ocean with a spoon.
But this particular organization… had already crossed him. He'd killed some of their people. Whether he chose to pursue them or not, they'd already marked him.
Even if he found Hogback and left the kingdom quietly, the traffickers might still come for him. There was no avoiding this.
Besides, now that he'd uncovered this darkness, as someone who still clung to the ideals of a good citizen—even in this new world—Buggy couldn't just ignore it.
While he was deep in thought, time passed quickly. Soon, Kuro, Daddy, and the others returned.
Noticing Buggy's serious expression, they asked what had happened. After a brief explanation and some discussion, they all agreed with his decision.
They couldn't ignore it either. If evil had appeared in front of them, they had to face it head-on. Danger wasn't something they feared. Wasn't that the meaning of life at sea? Sailing in pursuit of dreams, justice, and freedom, even in the face of chaos and risk?
If they were going to turn back every time things got scary, they might as well stay on land.
Buggy was satisfied with their response. Right now, his crew was made up of young men who still had kindness in their hearts, who hadn't been dulled by the world's cruelty. They were in their prime—idealistic, passionate, and still righteous. Their answer made perfect sense.
Still, going after a sprawling criminal network wasn't something they could do overnight. So first, they decided to proceed with their original goal—finding Hogback.
It didn't take much asking around. Hogback was famous. Practically everyone in town knew where he was.
He ran a clinic right in the city center, in one of the most prestigious areas. Getting there was easy.
At the same time, inside a luxurious building elsewhere in the city, someone was reporting Buggy's actions.
"Didn't I tell you not to come to me unless it was necessary?"
"My lord, an important member of the organization was eliminated. It seems she may have spilled quite a bit before dying. I wasn't sure how to proceed, so I had no choice but to report it directly to you."
"So she died. Big deal. Is there anyone in this entire kingdom who can truly shake things up? Just send some people and get rid of him."
"Sir, it's not that simple. That man… he's not ordinary. The bodyguards I sent were wiped out instantly. Sending average goons is useless."
"Oh? So he's that capable? Fine, I'll handle this myself. You just keep an eye on his movements. Report anything unusual right away. I'll send someone to deal with him. You needn't worry about that part."
The subordinate bowed and quickly left, leaving only one man behind.
A tall, imposing figure with a cold, authoritative aura—someone who held power for a long time.
"If he wants to die so badly, I won't stop him.
This kingdom has no room for unstable elements."
Meanwhile, Buggy and his crew arrived on the street where Hogback's clinic was located.
The place was bustling—one of the most prosperous areas in the entire Illusia Kingdom. The roads were broad, lined with carriages carrying nobles in fancy attire.
Land here costs a fortune. For Hogback to own a clinic in such a spot said everything about his skill and success.
Soon, they spotted the clinic. It wasn't hard to find. Unlike others, Hogback hadn't even bothered giving it a fancy name—his name was displayed boldly on the clinic signboard.
There was a decent crowd inside—not overcrowded, but not empty either. Most of the patients wore fine clothes. Not a single one looked poor.
Buggy smirked inwardly. This aligned with what he'd heard about Hogback. The man didn't practice medicine for kindness or healing—he did it for money.
His medical skill was indeed exceptional, but the price surely matched. Poor folks couldn't even get near the place.
He pondered how to approach this. Forcing their way in wasn't an option—not in this place. The commotion would be enormous. They'd draw attention, maybe even the kingdom's army.
No, the only viable option was to go through official channels. Pay the fee, book an appointment, and meet the man.
After asking a staff member about the rules, Buggy was shown the pricing tiers:
100,000 Beli got you into the top 10 of the waiting list.
1,000,000 Beli got you in immediately.
Everything here was monetized. Even standing in line.
Buggy couldn't help but admire the ruthlessness.
"If this guy weren't a doctor, he'd make one hell of a businessman."
Buggy paid the 100,000 Beli for a top-ten spot—not because he couldn't afford more, but because he didn't have that much on hand. Besides, there was no need to rush. No one was sick. It was just a cover.
About ten minutes later, it was their turn. Led by a clinic staff member, they entered a consultation room.
Inside sat a young man in his twenties, tall, plain-looking, and not yet the bloated version Buggy remembered from the future. His face hadn't yet become the weird patchwork it later would. Right now, he looked like an ordinary young doctor.
As they walked in, he paused what he was doing and looked up.
His eyes swept across the group, and there was a glimmer of disdain in them.
Judging by their clothes and age, he assumed they were just a bunch of nobodies, not nobles, not rich. In his eyes, it was not worth his time.