The azure sea stretched endlessly as the Oro Jackson sailed away from another effortless battle.
Loot from an unfortunate pirate crew lay scattered across the deck—gold, jewels, rare wines, and a single, grotesquely patterned Devil Fruit with spiraling ridges.
Rhett squinted, a sly grin curling his lips. "Oh ho? Isn't this the legendary *Bara Bara no Mi*?"
Buggy would probably try to hide and sell it later.
Gaban sidled over, eyeing the fruit with disdain. "The hell is this? Sounds kinda weak."
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses. "Allows body separation. Theoretically immune to slashing attacks, but..."
His gaze flicked to Rhett. Knowing the man, this wasn't just a casual Devil Fruit introduction. Rhett had ignored every other fruit they'd looted—this one had to be special.
"What're you scheming now?"
Rhett flashed an angelic smile and called out, "Oi, Buggy! Get over here! Got something good for ya!"
Buggy scampered over eagerly. "Rhett! You sharing treasure again?"
Those two kids, always sticking to Rhett like glue. He'd practically raised them, come to think of it. The rest of the crew? A bunch of brutes, good for a fight, but not much else. They wouldn't know the first thing about looking after a couple of kids.
Rhett solemnly raised the fruit. "Better than treasure! Eat this, and you'll gain the power of a Devil Fruit!"
Buggy's eyes sparkled. "For real?!"
Shanks edged closer, suspicious. "Rhett… you're not tricking Buggy again, are you?"
Rhett gasped, hand over heart. "Me? Lie? When have I ever deceived anyone?"
The entire crew turned to stare at him in unison, skepticism radiating off them.
Rhett bared his shark-like teeth. "Bastards! What's with those looks?!"
Clapping Buggy's shoulder, Rhett launched into his sales pitch: "Buggy, think about it—"
"Slash immunity! Blades can't touch you!" He mimed sword strikes, voice dripping with drama. "Rayleigh's training sessions? Just stand there and let him hack away!"
Buggy vibrated with excitement. "Seriously?!"
Rayleigh arched a brow but stayed silent.
Rhett's gestures grew wilder. "Split and escape! Marines chasing you? Just scatter and run!"
Buggy rubbed his hands together. "No one could catch me?!"
Gaban deadpanned, "Except your feet might ditch your head mid-sprint."
Leaning in, Rhett whispered conspiratorially, "Loot anything! Reach into treasure chests—no lockpicking needed!"
Buggy leapt in the air. "I'M GONNA BE RICH!"
Shanks facepalmed. "Dumbass, you forgetting Haki exists? Everyone here's got Armament and Observation. Don't get cocky—"
Rhett demonstrated with a taunting wiggle: "Troll your enemies! They slash you, you split apart, then mock them—'Missed me~!'"
Buggy was practically drooling. "HAHA! PERFECT!"
Roger, watching the show, boomed with laughter. "Kyaha! Rhett, even I wanna bite that fruit now!"
Buggy gulped, eyeing the fruit warily. "But… Devil Fruits taste like garbage…"
Rhett patted his back. "Veteran tip: First bite's sweet. Trust me."
Buggy scratched his head. "What if the power sucks?"
Rhett thumped his chest. "I swear on the Roger Pirates' name! If I'm lying—" He paused, smirked. "—I'll make Shanks wear a dress!"
Shanks exploded. "HEY! WHY AM I THE COLLATERAL?!"
After tormenting Buggy sufficiently, Rhett sobered.
"Listen. It does make you immune to cuts. But Armament Haki and blunt force still wreck you. The splitting ability, paired with your daggers, makes your fighting style unpredictable." He met Buggy's eyes. "But you'll lose the ability to swim. Your choice. Make it count."
Buggy and Shanks, those two... I wouldn't make them do anything they didn't want to. They were like family, in a way.
Buggy clutched the fruit. "Rhett… if I eat this, can I keep up with you guys?"
Rhett shook his head. "Devil Fruits are willpower. I don't know your future. But I know you've got the drive to grow stronger—with or without it."
"SCREW IT! I'M EATING IT!" He chomped down—then gagged violently. "BLEGH—! WHAT IS THIS SATANIC SHIT?!"
Rhett, barely containing laughter, shoved a bottle at him. "Chase it! Quick! Powers kick in fast!"
Buggy guzzled the liquor—then yelped as his hand floated free. "MY HAND'S FLYING?!"
Shanks gaped. "WHOAH! BUGGY, YOU'RE A DISMANTLED PUPPET NOW!"
Buggy flailed as his fingers spiraled out of control. "WAIT! I CAN'T REEL THEM BACK—!"
Rhett wheezed. "Adjustment period~"
This wasn't Shanks' doing. Buggy picked this fight. I wonder if they'll still be at each other's throats down the line… It'd be a dull world without their squabbles.
Dinner turned chaotic when Buggy's rogue hand launched a fork into Shanks' face.
"BUGGY! YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE!"
"IT WASN'T ME! MY HAND'S REBELLIOUS!"
At night, Buggy's head drifted to the mast while his body snored below. Roger, spotting it during morning drills, chuckled. "Buggy, why's your noggin' up there?"
"CAPTAIN! HELP ME DOWN!"
Combat training, however, revealed Buggy's terrifying potential. The *Bara Bara no Mi turned his limbs into homing daggers—unpredictable angles, extended range. Rhett thought: Add Armament to those blades, and he'll be a nightmare.*
Shanks and Buggy, Roger's apprentices. Legacy fighters, with the best teachers. If Buggy stayed a joke? I'd have to fix that myself.
With the sea so calm, Rhett decided: Time to train these brats in Haki.
Because of what I went through, I'll make them hurt even more.
Sorry, kiddos. Big bro's about to get ruthless. The grin twisting Rhett's lips couldn't mask the sorrow in his eyes—already pitying the hell he'd unleash on them.