With a clear destination in mind, it didn't take them long to reach the island where the town was located.
When Buggy set foot on the island and saw the broken shoreline and the buildings scattered across it, he felt a faint sense of familiarity. He wasn't sure if he had actually been here before, or if it was simply a memory from the anime he once knew.
Without hesitation, he used Soru to leap into the air, needing to confirm the suspicion in his heart.
From above, he took in the island's full shape — like a massive, jagged tooth. That single glimpse told him everything. He knew exactly which route they had ended up on.
This was Jaya Island, the land beneath the Sky Island, and the town here was none other than the infamous Mock Town.
Realizing where they were, Buggy couldn't help but sigh at fate's whims. They had never planned to pass along this route, yet chance had brought them here regardless. He looked skyward, a thought flashing in his mind — perhaps he would be adding a new crewmate before long.
Buggy had indeed been here once before and had even set foot on Sky Island itself. But at that time, he had been far too young to remember the details. Only when he saw the island's broken coast and unmistakable outline did he confirm that this was truly Jaya.
He explained the situation and their location to the crew. Everyone was stunned. They had only just escaped the mist, yet had already been thrown onto this route. The New World was truly unpredictable.
They didn't waste time. Leaving Weevil behind to guard the ship, the rest disembarked.
It had to be this way. Mock Town was a den of reckless pirates who lived to drink and squander treasure. If no strong guard remained, their ship would likely be stolen before they returned. The Glory wasn't built from ordinary timber — its wood from the Adam Tree was enough to tempt even the boldest pirate. Only with Weevil standing watch could they head into town without worry.
The moment Buggy and the others stepped off the ship, countless eyes fell upon them. Murmurs spread quickly.
"Isn't that Buggy the Clown? Didn't he vanish? What's he doing on this route? I've never heard of his exploits here… there's no way a man like him just slipped in unnoticed."
"Maybe he's keeping a low profile to dodge the Navy. With his current reputation, one wrong move could bring a fleet down on his head."
"Forget that—look at his ship. Isn't that the wood of the Treasure Tree, Adam?"
The speaker's greedy gaze lingered openly on the Glory. Others followed his line of sight, their eyes gleaming with the same hunger.
"Are you idiots suicidal? That's the man who went toe-to-toe with Sakazuki, that mad dog! You think you can just take his ship? You wouldn't even know how you died!"
The warning was like a bucket of ice water on a sweltering day. Those pirates who had been burning with greed suddenly jolted back to their senses, shivering as their desire receded.
"R-Right, right… That's a pirate with a 100 million bounty. We can't afford to provoke him."
"Yeah."
"Exactly."
"Not in a million years."
One after another, the greedy pirates quickly suppressed their wild thoughts. They knew their limits. Buggy was not someone they could afford to trifle with.
Ignoring the strange stares, Buggy led his crew into Mock Town.
Meanwhile, on the far side of Jaya, inside a two-story house painted with a castle façade, a young man who had seen Buggy in town hurriedly reported what he'd witnessed to a broad-shouldered youth with spiky chestnut hair and a diamond-shaped face.
"What did you say? Lord Buggy came to Mock Town? Hurry! Take me to him at once—I must thank him personally!"
The youth's name was Mont Blanc Cricket, a descendant of the so-called liar Noland the Explorer. Hearing that Buggy had arrived, Cricket's heart surged with excitement. He could hardly wait to meet him face to face and express his gratitude.
His fervor was no mystery. News had reached him of Buggy's deeds in Lvneel, where Buggy had cleared Noland's name, breaking the curse of 800 years and restoring dignity to his ancestor's tale.
Buggy's words might not have swayed everyone, but they had certainly shaken some. Some now believed Noland's story to be true and that he had not been the liar the world claimed.
Though many still clung to the tale of the "Liar King," Cricket didn't mind. If even a portion of the world accepted Noland's truth, that was enough. For that, his gratitude toward Buggy was immeasurable.
"Boss, Buggy's in Mock Town right now. If we hurry, we'll catch him."
His subordinate also knew the story and had read the papers about Buggy's declaration. He remembered how his captain had laughed in joy for an entire day upon seeing the news, unable to calm down until nightfall.
"Then what are we waiting for? Take me to him!"
Cricket urged his companion, and the two immediately set off at a run toward the town.
Back in Mock Town, Buggy's crew quickly found what they needed. Their main goal this time was a Log Pose. The permanent pointer they had for another route was useless here; they needed a new one to continue forward.
In a town like Mock Town, it wasn't difficult. Supplies and Log Poses were essentials for any pirate — without them, this place wouldn't even exist.
Once they had made their purchases and were preparing to return to the ship, two figures dashed toward them.
"Boss, there he is—Lord Buggy, right up ahead!"
Following his subordinate's gaze, Cricket caught sight of Buggy. That unmistakable red nose left no doubt.
Buggy and his crew heard the approaching footsteps too, turning to see who dared run at them. Was it some fool of a pirate looking for death?
But Buggy recognized the spiky-haired youth instantly. He hadn't even gone looking for him, and here the man was, running straight into his path. Fate had saved him the trouble of a search.
Panting heavily, Cricket skidded to a stop before Buggy. He bent forward in a deep, solemn bow, still struggling to catch his breath, unable to speak clearly through the gasps.Buggy studied him in silence, understanding his identity and the reason for such respect.