Chapter 28: Goddamn Cold Place
The Clowns continue their exploration on North Pole. They haven't find anything except ice, snow, and wolves. They've captured some wolves and make the wolves pull their sled, so now they can move faster.
"Hmm, nothing founded. Is there really no human here?"-Buggy
"Maybe there are people come every once in a while, but i doubt that anyone would want to live here permanently."-Mantis
"Don't underestimate human's adaptation ability! We can almost live everywhere and adapted to the environment fast."-Buggy
The Clowns suddenly come accross a big valley. They check it and surprised to see so many Super Penguins there.
'Super Penguins, so Aokiji get his Penguin companion here? Or maybe there are some on South Pole too?'-Buggy
"Aww, so cute."-Mantis
"Grrrr!"-Alpha wolf
"Hmm, what's wrong wolf?"-Buggy
"Grrr! Warf!"-Alpha wolf
"You want to hunt them?"-Buggy
The alpha wolf nod, but Mantis immediately forbid it. She can't let the cute penguins get killed & eaten in front of her, even if that's the normal food chain here. She got into an argument with the wolves even though they speak different language.
"Hmm? Hey, look! There's a big white seal."-Cricket
They all look at where Cricket pointed at, and see a very big white seal. Super Penguins are big already, but this seal is even bigger. The seal is alone, but it attack the Super Penguins without fear. The wolves seem wary of the big white seal now.
"Hee, even though i'm curious of Penguin meat's taste, but seeing that Super Snow Seal really make me hungry."-Buggy
"CAPTAIN!? YOU CAN'T EAT THE PENGUINS!"-Mantis protest
"Well, aren't you curious too as a cheff?"-Buggy
"I-i am, nonono, i'm not, i can't cook such cute things."-Mantis defeat her cheff side
"Then forget about the penguins, how about we try a seal's meat?"-Buggy
"Alright, let's go save the penguins."-Mantis
"I just want to try it's meat though, but whatever. How about you wolves?"-Buggy
"Grrr...."-Alpha wolf seem hesitant
"I know it's stronger than you guys, but don't forget that we're here too. Don't you want to taste that guy's meat? Don't you want to take revenge on them who took your food many times?"-Buggy
"Warf Warf?"-Alpha
"Of course you'll get the meat, we won't eat them all."-Buggy
"Warf warf warf."-Alpha wolf nod
"Good, let's go then!"-Buggy
"How can you guys understand each other?"-Cricket sweatdrop
""Feeling/Warf.""-Buggy & Alpha
The group then approach the seal fast and when they get close, the wolves are realeased from the rope used to pull the sled. The wolves start to attack the seal, but they're just distracting it.
The seal now try to attack the wolves, but it's movement is very slow because of it's big body. Cricket then find a time to shoot at the seal's head, but the bullet didn't pierce through.
"Damn, the skin is too thick."-Cricket
"Don't worry about it, just keep shooting and distract it!"-Buggy
Buggy get closer to the seal while the others distract it. Then he draw his shortswords and use armament haki on them. Then he split his body on his ankle and fly above the seal.
The seal didn't realize because it's distracted by the others. Then Buggy dive down and stab the seal's head. His shortswords pierce through the skull and cut the brain. The seal fall without any noise and die instantly.
"Lunch secured."-Buggy
The group have killed the seal, now they just need to cook it. They look around and see the penguins have gone. It seem their battle have scared the penguins, so they ran away. Well, it doesn't matter because now they have a big food ingredient.
They immediately process the carcass there because it's too big to be carried on their sled. They dismantle the skin in one piece and use it as mantle to warm them later. The unused guts are eaten by the wolves, these wolves never leave anything from their prey except bones. They even clean the bones after Mantis take all the meat.
They go somewhere else to cook because this place is penguin's. After finding a good place, they start to cook their lunch. They are hungry and need to warm themselves up because they're cold.
Mantis cook the meat for the 3 of them, while the wolves get some raw meat. They save the rest for dinner, and it might be enough for tomorrow breakfast too. Just like usual, Mantis' cooking is really good, and the seasoning warm their body from inside.
While eating, Buggy see the wolf leave some portion if their meat. They just eat half of their meat, even the Alpha. The wolves also gather around and seem to discuss something. Buggy whisper something to Cricket, and he nod.
*BUK BUK BUK*
Cricket throw some pieces of meat to the wolves.
"Warf?"-Alpha
"Bring these pieces to your pack, and just eat your portion! Did you think i won't pay you for your job?"-Buggy
The Alpha stare at Buggy for a moment before it eat it's portion. After they eat, the wolves take the meats that Cricket gave them and leave. They're taking the meats to their nest for their pack to eat.
"Captain-"-Mantis
"Just wait! They'll return."-Buggy
The Clowns continue to eat their food and warm themselves with the fire. Then after they finish their meal and wait for the wolves to return, Buggy decide to tell his crew an important thing.
"Did you guys want to get stronger?"-Buggy
"Of course."-Cricket
"Did you really need to ask that?"-Mantis
"Well, i'm asking because i can help you to get stronger if you want."-Buggy
"Of course we want it."-Cricket
"Alright, i'll demonstrate it to you first."-Buggy
Buggy then ask Cricket to shoot him multiple times in close range. Cricket is sceptical, but still do it, it's Captain's order. Buggy then use observation haki to dodge all the bullets that Cricket shot while closing his eyes. Of course this make Cricket & Mantis widen their eyes in surprise.
"H-how-"-Mantis
"I'm not done yet, shoot again!"-Buggy
Cricket nod and start shooting his pistols. Now Buggy didn't dodge, but he let the bullets hit him. His skin turn metallic black on the location where the bullets hit, and it protect his body. The 2 are even more susprised now, because they know it is not Buggy's devil fruit ability.
"This power is called haki, a power used by many strong individuals. And by strong, i mean very strong individuals. Haki is very rare even on the first half of Grandline, and almost not used on Blues. The place where haki is used the most is on the 2nd half of Grandline, the last sea, New World."-Buggy
"Then-"-Cricket
"If we train it now, we will have a very good start."-Buggy
Buggy then explain to them about the types of haki and their usage. Cricket & Mantis are very excited now, because this haki is really good. But they can't train it now, because they're in an exploration. They will train it after leaving this place. Buggy also just want to introduce haki to them, and he'll train them later.
'Hmm, i need to use haki more often now to train it. I can't let my crew members surpass me because i rarely use it.'-Buggy
Soon after their discussion, the wolves really return. These wolves know it will be better to tag along with the Clowns. They can get bigger prey with less effort, and none of them get injured or die.
They continue their exploration and didn't find anything noteworthy. The temperature also keep getting colder the further they go. It have reached -90 degree Celsius now, and they've felt their bones cracking. They're not used to this kind of extreme cold.
"C-C-C-Ca-Captain, i-i d-don't think w-we can go...a-any further."-Cricket say with clattering teeth
"H-he-'s r-right. E-even the w-wolves c-can't stand it."-Mantis also clattering
Even the wolves that born and live here their whole life are shivering in cold now. It will be dangerous if they go any further, so Buggy decide to pull back now. Their body have almost covered in ice, so it's not wise to continue further.
"D-damn, j-just w-www-wait for my re-return y-you g-goddamn cold place."-Buggy
The wolves immediately pull them to leave the cold area. Buggy haven't found the coldest temperature here, but it's not worth risking their life. At least he have tried, and he will try again in the future. And with that, their attempt to measure the coldest temperature on North Pole, have failed.
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I've upload Chapter 48 there today. /CaptMermain
(the web didn't use _underscore_, it's to avoid censorship)