Buggy swept his gaze over the crew. After a moment of thought, he made his decision and shared his reasoning with them. None raised any objections.
He then handed the Devil Fruit to the still-dazed Jessica. Looking at her seriously, he said:
"Jessica, this Sacrifice Fruit is incredibly powerful. You must learn to wield it well. One day, I want you to become one of the great fighters of this crew."
Jessica's voice trembled as she backed away slightly:
"Captain, this… this isn't right. Give it to someone else. I-I can't…"
Her eyes were filled with emotion, but also hesitation. She doubted her own worth, fearing she could never master such a fruit. To her, accepting it would be wasting something that could otherwise forge a true powerhouse.
Seeing her doubt, Buggy placed his other hand gently on her head and spoke firmly:
"Believe in yourself. We believe in you, too."
The others nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with encouragement. Jessica looked around at her crewmates, saw their trust, and something lit within her. With trembling hands, she accepted the fruit from Buggy.
With the matter of the fruit settled, the crew reported their activities outside and the promises they had made to the villagers.
When Buggy learned that it was Kuro who had come up with the plan to interfere with the village chief through the sacrifices, he turned to him with visible approval.
"Well done. That idea was brilliant."
It was thanks to Kuro's method that Buggy had prevailed. Without that interference, he might have been forced to flee—or worse, killed outright. This performance confirmed Kuro's potential to live up to the name of "Hundred Plans Kuro."
As for the villagers, Buggy didn't deliberate long. His men had given their word, and on the seas, a promise is as heavy as gold.
Still, while they would be spared from death, their crimes demanded punishment. Death was too easy; living with responsibility was harder.
Yet Buggy found himself at a loss. He couldn't very well haul them onto his ship and deliver them to Impel Down. Nor could he simply abandon them without ensuring penance. He decided to postpone judgment for the time being—his wounds needed rest.
He ordered two-thirds of the villagers to remain confined within the cavern, while the other third were allowed to return home. He and his crew then made their way back to their lodgings.
At the door, a nervous young figure awaited them—Reino. The oversized clothes he wore were Buggy's, lent to him after his own were soaked and ruined.
When Reino spotted them, his face lit with joy. He rushed forward, calling out:
"Benefactors! You've finally returned!"
Panting as he reached them, he asked breathlessly:
"Where did you go? Were you in danger? What was all that fighting just now?"
Buggy patiently recounted everything—from the battle with the village chief, to the missing children, to the final judgment of the villagers.
Reino listened in anguish, grief twisting his face at times, anger burning at others. Tears flowed freely for his lost friends. But when the tale was done, his gaze toward Buggy was filled with gratitude and awe. He bowed deeply to Buggy and the crew, thanking them sincerely.
Inside, Buggy posed a question:
"Reino… how do you think those villagers should be dealt with?"
As one of the island's victims, Reino's judgment carried weight.
The boy froze, torn apart inside. Part of him wanted every last one of them dead, to suffer cruel punishments for the children they had murdered. But another part remembered the villagers' kindness from his childhood—without them, he might not have survived.
His face twisted with conflict. Buggy, seeing this, didn't press further.
Instead, Buggy devised his own solution.
They had promised not to kill the villagers, but that didn't mean they could escape justice. From now on, those villagers would form a Suicide Squad, tasked with protecting the island with their lives.
The island lay on the Grand Line—one of the six routes leading into the New World. Pirate attacks were inevitable. In the past, the village chief and his guards had easily handled threats, sometimes even profiting from them. But with them gone, the island was vulnerable. If ruthless pirates came again, the villagers might all perish.
The Suicide Squad would be the first line of defense, sacrificing themselves if necessary. To prevent abuse of power, Buggy also established a counterbalance—Reino.
He would remain on the island for half a month, perhaps longer, training Reino and arming him with the means to protect himself. He would also raise Reino as the squad's captain, someone the villagers would respect and fear, ensuring they could never turn their power against the innocent.
Buggy explained his plan, his concerns for the island, and the dangers of the sea to Reino.
Though a flicker of disappointment crossed Reino's face, he considered the words carefully and then nodded his agreement.
A month later, Reino stood at the harbor, waving with reluctance as the Glory set sail. His eyes shone with gratitude and reluctance as Buggy and his crew departed.