Chapter Thirty-Two: The Encounter of Supreme Forces (Please vote and support)

During the subsequent voyage, Buffon spent most of his time holed up in the laboratory, stitching together corpses. Although these cadavers didn’t bring him much profit individually, the sheer number—over three hundred—was more than enough for Buffon to level up significantly. When they were less than halfway to the Devil’s Triangle, aided by the long period of accumulation, Buffon finally managed to raise his main skills to level four.

Suddenly, an unprecedented hunger overwhelmed him. Only now did he truly understand why, when Zombie Oz was infused with Luffy’s shadow, he had uttered such an earth-shattering line. Suppressing the urge to shout, Buffon dashed up to the deck. Under Saul’s curious gaze, he dove straight into the sea.

Moments later, Buffon emerged, hauling the battered body of a sea king, blood still staining its jaws.
“Catch, Saul!” Buffon shouted, flinging the enormous beast up to the ship, where Saul caught it with wide-eyed astonishment. Without hesitation, Buffon flipped and dove back into the depths. Within minutes, he surfaced again with another. Saul, watching all this, could only stare in bewilderment.

There were just the two of them alive on the ship. Was Buffon planning to dry all this fish? True, the ship was large, but even so, managing these two sea kings would be no small feat.

When Buffon finally climbed aboard, Saul asked, “Captain Buffon, these two sea kings should be enough to feed us all the way home, shouldn’t they?”

Buffon shook his head. “Find an island nearby so we can deal with these two beasts before we set out again.”

Saul nodded. As a giant who had missed nearly two decades of the world’s changes, the current seas felt like a beginner’s village to him—he simply did whatever Buffon said, never questioning a thing.

Fighting off his ravenous hunger, they eventually found a small island, and Buffon’s culinary skills reached their peak. He devoured an entire sea king with the speed and ferocity of a whirlwind, and only then did that inexplicable hunger abate, if only slightly.

As he prepared to tackle the second, Saul called out, “Captain Buffon, there’s a ship approaching!”

Prompted by the warning, Buffon turned to see a sailing ship drawing near across the waves. When he caught sight of the pirate flag flying from its mast, even Buffon’s normally unflappable heart stirred with emotion.

On a black field, the emblem of a playing card’s red heart stood out, atop which sat a skull wearing a flame-shaped cowboy hat adorned with two round faces—one smiling, one crying. Who else could it be but the Spade Pirates, Ace’s crew?

Realizing this, Buffon continued preparing the sea king, certain that a party was imminent.

As expected, the Spade Pirates disembarked and strode directly toward the pair. At their head was Ace himself.

“Hey, old chap, there’s no way you can finish such a huge sea king by yourself. Mind sharing some with us?” Ace asked, then gestured back at his ship. “We’ve got some excellent wine onboard!”

Portgas D. Ace—the sworn brother of Sabo and Luffy, wielder of the Flame-Flame Fruit, and the posthumous son of the Pirate King, Roger.

Buffon didn’t refuse, but instead joked, “Just as well. I could use someone to start the fire!”

Ace immediately caught the implication—his identity had been exposed. He laughed heartily. “Hahaha, don’t worry, I won’t be paying for it!”

Buffon smiled, inviting the others to join in. At this time, Ace still wore his signature yellow short-sleeved shirt, and the Whitebeard tattoo had yet to be inked on his back.

Buffon tried to restrain his appetite, but before he knew it, an entire sea king had been reduced to bones. With Ace being a Devil Fruit user, there was no hope of getting him to fetch more from the ocean, so Buffon had no choice but to dive in himself for another.

But when he dragged the corpse ashore again, he found he was not alone.

Or rather, he was accompanied by a fishman.

“You there, are you a member of the Spade Pirates?” the newcomer asked.

Buffon turned to see a “blue giant” clad in a dark green embroidered yukata and wooden sandals. His eyebrows and sideburns curled like storm clouds; his hair was tied in a samurai knot, and a bristly black beard covered his chin. A lightning-shaped scar cut across his left eye, and two massive fangs jutted from his jaw. The sun’s flame insignia was visible through the crossed lapels of his robe.

It was none other than Jinbei, the Knight of the Sea.

Buffon’s first instinct was surprise, but recalling the plot, he quickly relaxed. If he had encountered Ace at this point in time, then Jinbei’s appearance was only natural.

“Looks like we’re in for a five-day, five-night battle,” Buffon mused, shaking his head. “I’m just a passing ship’s doctor.”

Jinbei continued, “All the better. If anyone gets hurt during my fight with Ace, I’ll be counting on you to patch them up.”

Buffon nodded, outwardly calm but inwardly a little excited.

“The Flame-Flame Fruit versus Fishman Karate. How could I possibly refuse?”

With that thought, Buffon dragged the sea king over to Ace and his crew, Jinbei following close behind.

Ace and his companions noticed Jinbei’s arrival, and someone was so startled that they dropped their food.

Ace, as always, showed no fear. He stood, facing Jinbei, and declared, “Big guy, if you’re here to stop me from seeking out Whitebeard, then I’m afraid you’ll have to step aside.”

“I can’t let a bloodthirsty brat like you go see Pops!” Jinbei retorted, not giving an inch.

Sensing the tension, one of Ace’s crew whispered anxiously, “Captain, that’s Jinbei, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!”

“Oh, a Warlord, huh? Looks like we’re in luck!” Ace replied.

Buffon shook his head softly at this remark. The D clan truly had nerves of steel—or perhaps no nerves at all. Whether Ace was genuinely ignorant or just provoking Jinbei was anyone’s guess.

Jinbei continued, “I’m not part of Whitebeard’s crew, but for his kindness to us fishmen, I’ll be your opponent instead!”

Hearing this, Ace flashed a wild grin, then turned to Buffon. “By the way, friend, I don’t believe I caught your name?”

“Castie Buffon,” Buffon replied, giving his full name for once.

“Buffon, thanks for the sea king!” Ace said, then turned, conjuring flames in his hands, and launched himself at Jinbei.

Saul, watching, asked in surprise, “A Devil Fruit user, huh? Looks like a Logia type.”

Buffon, busily carving up the freshly caught sea king, answered nonchalantly, “Come, Saul—this fight is going to last a while. Let’s eat and enjoy the show.”

Saul was puzzled by Buffon’s certainty. “Captain, is there something you’re not telling me?”

“That fire-wielding guy is Portgas D. Ace. Like you, he bears the initial D in his name, and he’s the Pirate King Roger’s own son. His fruit—just as you guessed—is indeed the Flame-Flame Logia.”

Buffon spoke lightly, but Saul felt a tidal wave crash inside his heart.

“Roger’s son?” Saul murmured. He might not know many others, but he’d never forget the name of Roger.

“That fishman is Jinbei, the Knight of the Sea—one of the Seven Warlords I told you about,” Buffon added, almost casually.

Before Saul could react, Buffon went on, “Once this fight is over, I reckon Whitebeard—Edward Newgate—will show up as well.”

Saul was so shocked, he turned to stone.