Transcended as Lord Buggy

Buggy & Cricket have won their battle with the Red Axe Gang. Buggy is now laying on the ground and can't move because of the paralysis poison. Mantis is sitting beside him, and they talk while waiting for Cricket to come.

"Thank you, for helping me."-Mantis

"We're not helping you, we do it for ourselves."-Buggy

"I know, but it still help me in a way."-Mantis

"Then, if you're really grateful, how about you join our crew?"-Buggy

"This thing again, i've told you i can't, i have important thing to do?"-

"What is it? Your debt? You can consider it to paid off already."-Buggy

"No, it's the restaurant. I need to stay here and keep my parents' restaurant safe. I've lost them, and the only thing that i have from them is that restaurant."-Mantis

"Will your parents be happy with that? Did you think a restaurant is more important than their daughter's life?"-Buggy

"You don't understand. That restaurant is also my home, i can't leave it like this."-Mantis

".... Did you have a dream, Mantis?"-Buggy

"Yeah, i want to learn cooking from all over the world. My parents also have the same dream and have explore North Blue, but they couldn't went to the other seas because they have me at that time."-Mantis' eyes are glittering and she smile excitedly when talking about her dream

"Then, isn't it the more reason why you need to leave? It's not only your dream, but your parents' dream too. Don't you want to make them happy by finishing their dream?"-Buggy

"I want, but...."-Mantis

"You know Mantis, i have a dream too. I want to explore the world and discover it's mysteries. So don't you think that we can help each other to reach our dream?"-Buggy

"But i can't leave my home, it's everything that my parents' left for me."-Mantis

"That's where you're wrong."-Cricket

Cricket have arrived with a lot of cuts from his fight.

"Your parents didn't only left the restaurant, but they also left you. You're their biggest treasure, and they even willing to gave up their dream for you."-Cricket

Mantis look down and didn't say anything. She know all of it, they didn't have to tell her about it. It's just that she feel responsible to take care of her parents' restaurant.

"If you feel responsible for it, then you need to make it bigger and prosper. If you just stay here, your restaurant will never grow."-Cricket

"Yeah, he's right, and you can always return anytime in the future."-Buggy

Mantis didn't say anything and just look at the ground. Buggy know she really want to go, but she think too much about her restaurant. Buggy & Cricket didn't say anything more, and just stay there. Then soon, the poison in Buggy's body have been neutralized, so he can move again.

"What should we do now, Captain?"-Cricket

"What else? We take our loots."-Buggy grin

"Just what i have in my mind."-Cricket grin too

"You still want to loot them now?"-Mantis

"Hey, we are pirates, we live from looting our enemies & treasure hunting."-Buggy

Buggy & Cricket then go to the Mafia's base. Mantis sigh and follow them, she want to know what they'll do.

"Wait! We can't waste all source of income."-Buggy

Buggy tell Cricket to take Visco's red axes, it must be made from good material and have a high price. They even check all pockets on Visco's clothes. They get some gold accessories and also a key.

After that, they go to the Gang's base that didn't have much people. There are some guards there, but Buggy defeat them easily with his spinning swords. The paralysis effect have start to disappear now, so Buggy can move his body a little.

They enter the base and check every room for valuables. They move fast and only take what they can carry. They prioritize money and small items. Then they find a rather big safe in the Leader's room.

Buggy use the key they found and it match the safe. They open the safe and find a lot of money in it. They put all the money in their bag, there must be around 200 million inside.

"Only 200 million? I thought they would have more as a big organization."-Cricket

"People like them are very careful with their wealth. They will keep their money in some places. This is enough for us, authority might come soon, so we better leave now. A war of this scale will alert the local authorities. They might even call the Marine, and that will be troublesome."-Buggy

Buggy & co leave after taking all valuables there. They return to Mantis' restaurant, and almost bumped into a group of Marine that have arrived on the island. They go directly to their ship, because they're worried that the Marine will do something. They are right, the Marine have seen their ship and some soldiers are guarding it.

"That's your ship? Why's the black flag didn't have any picture on it?"-Mantis

"Ah, that's right."-Cricket

"Now that i think about it, we haven't named our crew, we don't even have jolly roger yet."-Buggy

"Are you guys really serious on being a pirate crew?"-Mantis have dark expression

"Well, we'll name it later, for now we need to leave before the Marine return."-Buggy

Buggy give a signal to Cricket, and Cricket nod. Cricket grab Mantis and put her on his shoulder, then they run to their ship.

"KYAA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? PUT ME DOWN!"-Mantis

"If you don't want to leave on your own, then we will kidnapp you, hahahaha."-Buggy

"ARE YOU GUYS CRAZY? THIS IS A CRIME, RELEASE ME!"-Mantis

"Hey, we're pirates, criminals. Kidnapping people is a pirate's job too, hahaha."-Cricket

Mantis keep shouting & cursing them while they run to their ship. The marines who guard the port get alerted and tell them to release Mantis.

"Hahahaha, if you don't want anything happen to her, then move from our way!"-Buggy

"I AM YOUR HOSTAGE NOW?"-Mantis

"Ugh, despicable."-Marine 1

The marines back off and let them go to their ship. Buggy immediately pull the anchor and unfurl the sail. Then they leave the island with a kidnapped girl. After they leave rather far away, Cricket release Mantis.

"BASTARD, HOW DARE YOU KIDNAPP ME?"-Mantis

"If we don't do it, you'll keep being stubborn on staying there."-Buggy

"But still.... Sigh, it seem i can only be your cheff now."-Mantis

"EH? REALLY?"-Buggy is surprised by her sudden response

"Yeah, it seem i was just too stubborn on staying there. When you took me with you, i felt very happy actually. And when i get on this ship, i feel like i don't want to return until i succeed."-Mantis

"..... I plan to return if you doesn't agree even after all of that, but it seem to be unnecessary now."-Buggy

"You are?"-Mantis raise an eyebrow

"Of course, we are pirates with morality, so we won't force people, we're just giving them a push, hahahaha."-Buggy

"Pirate with morality? What a nonsense."-Mantis grumble

"Hahaha, Captain, let's celebrate it!"-Cricket

"Yeah, take the drinks out!"-Mantis

Mantis can only sigh at them, and then she go to the rear deck and look at the island.

"Mom, Dad, i'll return after i learn cooking from all over the world."-Mantis

Mantis smile and then she return to the main deck where Buggy & Cricket are drinking.

"Come on, Mantis! Join the celebration! Drink!"-Buggy

"Sigh, whatever."-Mantis take a drink

"Hahaha, Captain, maybe we should just kidnapp all our members in the future."-Cricket

"Ooh, that's a good idea, hahahaha."-Buggy

*BONK BONK*

Mantis knock their heads with her hands, make them fall to the floor and get a big bump each.

"DON'T KIDNAPP ANYONE AGAIN!"-Mantis

'I-is this the legendary Comedic Haki?'-Buggy twitch on the floor

Jokes aside, they finally have a new member now, a cheff.

______________________________________________________________

Support me on Pa_treon if you like my story and want to read some chapters ahead. It will help me to buy internet data too.

I've upload Chapter 45 there today.

https://www.pa_treon.com/CaptMermain

(the web didn't use _underscore_, it's to avoid censorship)