During that month, the first thing Buggy did was announce his judgment on two-thirds of the villagers.
When those people heard his decision, not a single one voiced opposition. On the contrary, their tense faces relaxed, and some even revealed faint smiles of relief.
Of course, Buggy didn't just let them off—he issued a stern warning, and at the same time, appointed Reyno as the captain of the Suicide Squad.
The warning was clear: they were to obey Reyno's orders absolutely, never harm the other villagers, and whenever the island faced danger, they must be the first to stand and fight—even if it meant throwing their lives away. Should they ever disobey, or dare to unite against Reyno, Buggy swore that no matter where they fled—even to the ends of the earth—he and his crew would hunt them down without rest until the last one perished.
Most of the remaining time was spent on Reyno's special training. The focus was on stamina and body conditioning—similar to the way Kuro and the others had been trained earlier: relentless drills in endurance, movement, and basic combat.
In this area, Reyno's progress was remarkable. Perhaps it was because he had suffered so much hardship, or because he longed for strength, or maybe simply because his mind was far more mature than that of other children his age.
Whatever the reason, Reyno trained with incredible drive. No matter how harsh the regimen, he never uttered a single complaint. Instead, he threw himself into it with total focus and determination, each day pushing himself until he collapsed, unable to move, ending the day only when he literally could not stand.
This tenacity even touched Buggy. Seeing such spirit, he couldn't help but feel pity for wasting such talent. He poured his heart into teaching the boy. If Buggy hadn't already decided Reyno's path, he might have been tempted to take him along on the ship. But Buggy knew—the island needed him more. In the end, he left Reyno there, trusting fate that one day, their paths might cross again.
Beyond physical training, Buggy also passed down the basics of combat: simple martial arts and basic sword techniques. Reyno's body was still too weak to handle advanced skills like the Navy's Six Styles, or higher forms of Haki.
However, Buggy left behind something more valuable: detailed training methods for the Six Styles, insights into Haki, and his own reflections on swordsmanship. In other words, he left Reyno with a path. A road that, if walked with enough will, could lead him to true strength in the future.
By the end of the month, Reyno had advanced greatly. Though far from superhuman, he had grown strong enough to take on groups of villagers single-handedly. Buggy was confident he could keep the so-called Suicide Squad in check.
Time flew, and the month came to an end. Buggy could delay no longer.
On their final night, Reyno confided in Buggy his hidden doubts and struggles. The two spoke at length and came to a quiet understanding between them.
And so, the next morning, Buggy and his crew boarded the Splendor once more. They bid farewell to Reyno and to the island scarred by both cruelty and hope.
The voyage resumed.
The first two days at sea were uneventful. Just like before, aside from the ever-changing weather, life was monotonous: endless waters, deserted islets, no trace of people.
But on the third day—things changed.
Ahead of them, a vast wall of thick mist blocked their course.
The Splendor sailed cautiously forward, and soon they found themselves engulfed in it. Visibility dropped instantly—so thick that they couldn't see their own hands in front of their faces. The air was damp, heavy, and eerily silent. Even their eternal log pose stopped responding, its needle frozen, as if the sea itself had swallowed all direction.
The crew exchanged grim looks. They all realized it at once: they had stumbled into a special sea zone. Perhaps something akin to the Devil's Triangle—the infamous fog that once trapped even the Rumbar Pirates, sealing their fate.
"Captain, we can't keep going! Let's turn back while we still can and find another route!"
Kuro was the first to speak up. His reasoning was sound: they had only just entered the fog. If they turned back now, they might still escape unscathed. But if they pressed deeper, they risked never emerging again.
Buggy, however, couldn't accept retreat so easily. The Grand Line's routes were fixed—there was no true "turning back." To retreat would mean returning all the way to Reverse Mountain, then finding another route altogether.
More than the inconvenience, Buggy understood the cost to morale. If they fled now, the thought would take root in his crew's hearts: When danger comes, it's better to run. Such an idea would rot their resolve from the inside.
That was something Buggy could never allow. Retreat here would be the same as abandoning the Grand Line altogether—an admission of defeat.
After considering it all, Buggy raised his head. His crew was watching him, waiting for his decision.
He spoke firmly:
"We've already set sail. There's no such thing as turning back. No matter what lies ahead, we face it head-on. And as long as I still stand, I will protect you with my life."
Buggy would not retreat. Even if it cost him everything, he would face forward.
The crew, hearing the conviction in his voice, felt the fire of determination burn within them too. One by one, they nodded, eyes shining with resolve.
And so, the Splendor pressed forward into the mist.
The first day—nothing but endless white, swallowing the sea.
The second day—still the same, no horizon, no end.
On the third day, just as night was about to fall, the fog began to thin.
Ahead, in the distance, they spotted a faint black silhouette.
The crew's weary eyes sharpened with hope.
A single possibility filled their minds: either they had finally reached the edge of the fog… or an island lay hidden within it.
With no hesitation, they set their course. The Splendor surged ahead, cutting through the mist, toward the mysterious island that awaited them.