Chapter Sixty-Four: An Encounter Ahead of Time

Out of trust for Buffon, Reiju followed the two men into the forest without asking any questions. Five minutes later, the three of them stopped in front of a small white house made of wax. Buffon glanced at Baggio, and Baggio nodded to him in return. Then Buffon spoke, "Go on in. The person you want to see is inside!"

Though Reiju’s heart swelled with curiosity, her cleverness kept her from probing further. She wished to preserve the sense of mystery until the very moment the truth was revealed. She nodded at Buffon, then approached the house cautiously. The instant she pushed open the door, two voices cried out in perfect unison, "Why is it you!"

Inside, Sanji had been leisurely sipping his Earl Grey tea just a second before, never imagining his own elder sister would suddenly appear before him. Reiju, too, was taken aback—one moment she was pondering Buffon’s intentions, and the next, she was face-to-face with the little brother she hadn’t seen in over a decade.

Though the years had changed them, the distinctive curled eyebrow on their foreheads left no room for doubt. Sanji’s teacup slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor, the dark red tea seeping into the flowered tablecloth, leaving a wide stain.

Both siblings’ thoughts drifted back to that small town in the East Blue, all those years ago. After helping Sanji escape, Reiju had parted with him by the sea, her eyes brimming with tears as she said, "There won’t be a second chance. This time, you must not falter. Sanji, a man cannot always shed tears. Listen to me—never return to this place. The sea is vast, and one day you’ll meet someone who is truly kind!"

After a moment’s daze, Sanji spoke coldly, "What, did that man send you to destroy me, his failed experiment?"

Reiju held back tears, managing a gentle smile. "You’re not a failure. You’re the child Mother gave her life to protect—the one who was born with feelings. That’s who you are, Sanji!"

Sanji was taken aback, momentarily at a loss for words. Reiju sat down across from him, still smiling. "I’ve met all your companions—they’re very reliable people. I’m happy for you."

"How are they?" Sanji’s voice trembled with emotion at the mention of his friends.

"They were hurt a little before, but they’re all right now. Don’t worry," Reiju replied, pausing before continuing, "I’m here on Father’s orders, carrying out a mission that has nothing to do with you. Our meeting today is pure coincidence. Now that you’ve found your comrades, Sanji, you must hurry and become stronger—my little brother, Sanji!"

"Reiju, you—" Sanji started, but before he could finish, Reiju stood and left the house, with Sanji chasing after her.

Buffon saw the young man with the curly eyebrow and couldn’t help but mutter, "Handsome face, but such a pervert!"

Just as they were about to leave, the phone snail inside the wax house began to ring.

"Is that Crocodile?" Buffon wondered as he returned inside to answer the call.

"Why did your report take so long?" The instant Buffon heard the voice, he knew his guess was correct. He didn’t hang up, knowing that Crocodile would eventually have someone deliver a Log Pose, so the Juventus could head straight for Alabasta.

At that moment, Alabasta was about to enter the final phase of its civil war, so there would be no small gain in arriving just then.

Buffon replied to Crocodile with the same words Sanji had used in the original story. When the call was finished and Buffon stepped outside, he saw a vulture carrying an otter swoop down toward him. Buffon reached into his pocket and flicked a hundred-berie coin with his thumb, making it vanish in an instant. Moments later, a streak of blood spattered across the chests of the vulture and the otter, and they plummeted at Buffon’s feet.

Buffon bent down and rummaged through the vulture’s belongings for a moment, then swiftly tucked a Log Pose into his pocket.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the line, Crocodile stubbed out his cigar and, turning to Miss All-Sunday—who was stroking a crocodile—ordered, "Miss All-Sunday! You and Mr. 2 take separate routes. Take out Mr. 3 on the road from Little Garden to Alabasta!"

"You really are ruthless, Mr. 0," she said.

Crocodile replied sternly, "I’m not lacking for manpower. Do you have a problem with that?"

Miss All-Sunday rose and headed for the door, saying as she walked, "I’ll follow your orders and make the arrangements now."

...

The group returned to their resting spot. When the Straw Hat Pirates saw Sanji and Reiju together, they were stunned. Earlier, with Sanji absent, no one had noticed Reiju’s distinctive eyebrow, but now that the siblings stood side by side, even the most oblivious—Luffy himself—realized something was up.

"Reiju, so you’re Sanji’s sister! I haven’t even thanked you for helping me with the poison. You’re a doctor too, right? Would you like to join us? We just happen to be short of a ship’s doctor."

At Luffy’s invitation, Reiju flashed a charming smile. "I’m not a ship’s doctor. Besides, I belong to the Juventus now."

"You mean Captain Buffon’s ship? What a strange name!" Luffy wasn’t upset by her refusal; he simply grinned and raised his cup to her.

Having dealt with the four senior agents from Baroque Works, everyone’s spirits relaxed, and the barbecue party continued. From the two giants, they learned that it would take a whole year for the island’s Log Pose to reset, and the Straw Hats were instantly dumbfounded.

Vivi, in particular, was anxious to return and quell the rebellion, but there was nothing she could do. The Alabasta Log Pose Igaram had given her was destroyed when they left Whisky Peak, so...

But just then, Buffon pulled a Log Pose from his pocket and tossed it to Luffy.

Seeing the letters "ALBASTA" written on it, Luffy cheered, "Is this the Log Pose to Alabasta?"

Vivi took it, her brow furrowing for an instant, but she quickly broke into a delighted smile. "Yes, that’s the Log Pose to Alabasta."

"Great! Tomorrow we set sail straight for Alabasta!" Luffy declared, raising his cup to continue the festivities.

"Captain Buffon, now that you’ve given them the Log Pose, do you plan for us to travel together?" Reiju asked, puzzled.

Buffon shook his head. "I have another way. We’re leaving tonight."

The reason for Buffon’s decision was to seek out the Island-Eater Fish and test the power of the Elbaf Spear: Sovereignty. As for the Log Pose he gave Sanji, it wasn’t to Alabasta at all—it was the one Chopper had given him when they left Drum Island, with a little sleight of hand on Buffon’s part.

Reiju nodded and asked, "What about Lili? What will she do?"

Buffon answered calmly, "That’s up to her."

Reiju smiled and went off to find Lili.

Once the Straw Hats and the two giants were all dead drunk, Buffon led the Juventus crew, hauling along six agents, and slipped away in the night.

Whatever Reiju had said to Lili, it worked; the giantess who had eaten the Mini Mini Fruit agreed to keep traveling with Buffon’s crew. Buffon said nothing more—having the heir to volcanic cuisine aboard meant he would never need to cook again.

As the ship prepared to leave the shore, two shadowy figures stealthily crept aboard the Juventus. Baggio was about to intercept them, but Buffon stopped him with a shake of the head. Reiju saw and informed the rest of the crew to ignore the intruders and pretend they hadn’t noticed.

Buffon stood at the prow, waiting quietly for his quarry to appear.

The Island-Eater Fish did not disappoint; just minutes after the Juventus set sail, the monstrous creature appeared as expected. Its gaping maw, many times larger than the ship itself, sucked in the sea as it prepared to swallow them whole, ship and all.

At that crucial instant, Buffon drew back his right fist at his waist, gathering power. Just as the Island-Eater was about to close its jaws, Buffon unleashed a punch.

A surge of force, black as night, shot from his fist and blasted straight through the Island-Eater, punching a tunnel wide enough for the Juventus to pass through.

The captain’s crew seemed unfazed—by now, they’d grown accustomed to such feats. Even if an admiral himself appeared, Buffon would likely put up a good fight.

But hiding somewhere on deck, Vivi was not so calm. Clamping a hand over Karoo’s beak to keep the duck from squealing, her heart was in turmoil: "Is this man a monster? Why does he make even the most impossible things seem as simple as eating and drinking?"