Chapter 38: Buffon's Suspicions (Please Recommend, Please Vote for Monthly Tickets)

Buffon set sail from the Devil’s Triangle, and a week later, he encountered Whitebeard’s Moby Dick on the open sea.

Once aboard, Marco led him straight to the ice room, where Thatch’s body lay quietly, guarded by several division commanders. Buffon nodded to the others, then approached the corpse, beginning to clean the wounds and suture them. There was no denying Blackbeard’s cruelty; the fatal injury was a gunshot, the bullet piercing Thatch’s heart from behind.

Within fifteen minutes, Buffon had finished stitching Thatch’s body. Despite their heavy hearts, those present could not help but admire Buffon's skill in treating the corpse.

“Buffon, thank you! With your craftsmanship restoring Thatch’s body, it’s the greatest respect we can pay him,” said Whitebeard as he entered with Ace.

Ace gazed at the man who had been the first to speak to him as a brother when he boarded the ship, now reduced to a cold corpse, and tears welled in his eyes once more.

“Buffon, thank you!” Ace expressed his gratitude, then turned to Whitebeard. “Father, I’m going to track down Teach and avenge Thatch!”

The murder of a crewmate was the most heinous crime among the Whitebeard Pirates, and the only iron rule aboard Whitebeard’s ship. Whitebeard intended to stop him, but after a moment’s thought, he nodded his assent.

At this point, Buffon, the wise man, spoke up, “I suspect Teach will head to a certain place.”

His words stunned everyone in the cabin. Buffon had only been a guest aboard before, and likely hadn’t even met Blackbeard—how could he guess his next move?

Buffon anticipated their doubts and patiently explained, “I believe Teach will go to Drum Kingdom. First, for fame; second, to escape once he’s renowned.”

These simple words sent everyone into contemplation.

“True, Teach knows we’ll pursue him, so he must build his reputation to attract followers and ensure his own safety. But why Drum Kingdom?” Marco acknowledged Buffon’s reasoning but voiced his question.

Buffon continued, “Drum Island is a World Government affiliate.”

Whitebeard nodded. “Defeating or destroying a famous, powerful pirate crew, or attacking a World Government member nation under Navy protection, is indeed the quickest way to make a name for oneself.”

As Whitebeard finished, Buffon added, “Drum Kingdom lies at the edge of the Grand Line, very close to Reverse Mountain.”

With this, everyone suddenly understood.

As Buffon had predicted, Drum Island’s location was at the border of the Grand Line. From Drum Island, sailing toward Reverse Mountain would only take a few days. Passing through Reverse Mountain meant leaving the Grand Line and entering the Four Seas. After causing a stir, whether facing the Navy or the Whitebeard Pirates’ pursuit, Blackbeard would have ample time to react. Once in the vast Four Seas, he could easily conceal his whereabouts and quietly grow his strength.

Though Buffon’s idea was just a guess, there was nothing illogical about it.

Ace pleaded again, “Father, then I’ll go to Drum Kingdom to hunt down Teach!”

Whitebeard glanced at Marco. “Marco, go with Ace.”

Before Marco could reply, Ace protested, “But Father, your health—without Marco’s care…”

He hadn’t finished when Whitebeard burst into laughter. “Gurararara! I’ve survived since before the era of great pirates. My life can only be taken by someone stronger than me!”

With these words, Whitebeard fully embodied the imposing aura of a Yonko.

Marco thought for a moment, then turned to Buffon. “Buffon, brother, would you be willing to join Ace on this journey? I really can’t rest easy about Father’s health. As for Teach, I believe Ace has a good chance; I’d just be there to support him in case he’s injured.”

This fit perfectly with Buffon’s own intentions. He’d been wondering how to propose accompanying Ace, and Marco had just provided the excuse.

Buffon had another, more important reason for wanting to go to Drum Kingdom: the Swallow-Swallow Fruit.

In the original story, the fruit’s user, Wapol, accidentally created a rare metal called Wapol Alloy while making toys from garbage. Wapol Alloy had tremendous value for research, excellent properties, and extreme rarity. Its price was exorbitant, making it the ideal material for Buffon’s suture needles.

Over the years, suture needles had been an indispensable medium for his Stitch-Stitch Fruit, and Buffon had consumed countless of them. Especially when stitching Oars, sometimes he’d need to change needles before even finishing a single wound; when sewing bone, the needles often snapped. He’d tried reinforcing them with Armament Haki, but the base material was too ordinary and still didn’t last long.

Moreover, suture needles were also a combat tool. If he continued using ordinary ones, once he reached the New World, where Armament Haki was everywhere, his technique would become meaningless.

Thus, Buffon set his sights on the Swallow-Swallow Fruit.

Whitebeard listened, then turned to Buffon. “Buffon, would you be willing to accompany Ace? This favor…”

Before Whitebeard could finish, Buffon nodded. “Of course! Let’s depart as soon as possible!”

As for favors, Buffon had his own considerations. He had his own objectives, and traveling with Ace was simply convenient.

With Buffon’s agreement, Ace’s face finally showed a smile after days of sorrow.

That day, after Thatch’s body was laid to rest, Whitebeard handed the two a permanent pointer to Drum Kingdom, and Buffon and Ace set out.

Ace feared they would arrive too late and Blackbeard would be gone—or that he might never go there at all—so with Buffon’s help, he could quickly plan his next move. Buffon worried, as in the original story, that Wapol would flee without a fight; if they arrived too late and he escaped to sea, they’d have to wait until Luffy’s group came.

With this in mind, Buffon silently calculated the timing: “Luffy should be about ready to set sail now.”

After departing, Buffon used a transponder snail to contact Moria, asking him to bring people to help. It wasn’t that Buffon feared Blackbeard; rather, he was worried Wapol might escape, and extra hands could help surround and intercept him.

Ace brought only a small, surfboard-like boat, so for this voyage, he stayed aboard Buffon’s ship, enjoying the food and drink.

Since Buffon had stitched Thatch’s body, his culinary skill had risen to level 4. Thanks to this, he went fishing daily, hauling up sea kings to prepare gourmet meals.

Though there were only three living beings aboard the Juventus, two food lovers and a giant meant a sea king a day was barely enough to fill their bellies!

Whenever Buffon dived into the sea, Ace would look on with envy. “Buffon, I wish I could swim like you!”

Buffon replied in earnest jest, “I envy you too—never having to worry about lighting fires!”

Ace appeared carefree, but after a few days together, he realized something: Buffon was likely not nearly as weak as he seemed.

Not only did he fish sea kings every day; he often used Saul, the giant, as a dumbbell to train his arm strength. From this, Ace suspected Buffon’s abilities might not be inferior to his own.