55. Just Keep Climbing

Buggy continues to climb the mountains with added weight. Now he climbs with 220 kg weight tied to him. The weight is heavier than yesterday, but Buggy can climb faster now.

It's because he has rested and has more energy than when he climb with 200 kg weight yesterday. First climbing is always easier than last climbing because he hasn't got tired.

But there is another problem with heavier weight. It gets harder to find a place to hold when he climbs. He needs to find strong holding that won't break with all the weights from his 60 kg body plus 220 kg added weight.

Buggy keeps climbing and finally reaches the peak in a little more than an hour. The way down is easier for him and he reaches the bottom in half an hour. The total time for the 1st mountain is almost 2 hours.

Then he goes for the next mountain with 240 kg. It's harder than before, but Buggy can finish it in two and half an hour. Then he climb the 3rd, 4th, and 5th mountain successfully with a slower time.

He finishes when the sky has become dark, around 7 PM. He even needs a flashlight to climb the last mountain so that he can see the cliff. It's harder, but he can pull it off without any accident.

After he finishes the climb, Buggy gathers with his crew to eat. Mantis has cooked a lot today for Buggy. He will need a lot of food to fill his empty energy.

"Captain, this is still the 2nd day and it's already taking this long for you to finish. Will this be alright?" asks Jude to Buggy.

"Don't worry, I deliberately make my time slower today. I try to find the best pace to climb, that's why my time is slow this time. Tomorrow, I will finish it before the sky turn dark," answers Buggy.

They continue to eat, then they return to their ship and sleep. They wake up in the morning, and Buggy eats a lot again for breakfast. Today will be the 3rd day of the challenge.

Buggy goes to the site and orders his crew to just train on their own. They don't need to worry about him because he will not fail. They just need to come at lunch and after he finishes climbing.

Buggy arrives at the first mountain that has more people surrounding it this time. He sees the Happo Navy group and another group beside them. Buggy knows this new group from the information that he gathered, Niho Navy.

Niho Navy is another Navy fleet of Kano Country. They're said to be as strong as Happo Navy, or at least around that level. Buggy even remembers that Chinjao wants to join forces with Niho Navy by arranging a marriage between Sai and Uholisia.

'What're these guys doing here?' thinks Buggy while preparing himself to climb.

"So this is the guy who will climb all the mountains with added weight?" says an old man from the Niho Navy group.

Buggy knows who this old man is. He is the current Admiral of Niho Navy, Jijilisia. He is the father of Chichilisia, and grandfather of Uholisia. He is older than Chinjao, But he still looks strong.

Jijilisia is looking at Buggy and tries to gauge his strength. Buggy ignores the old man and starts to tie the weight on his body. He tries to lift it and check its weight to make sure the Happo Navy doesn't tamper with the weight.

"Are you sure you can climb all these mountains, kid?" asks Jijilisia.

"Yeah, I will climb all your mountains even with added weight." Buggy says with confident eyes and doesn't even sound polite.

Jijilisia is taken aback by Buggy's confidence. There aren't many people who have that kind of confidence. Jijilisia knows it's not Buggy's arrogance, but pure confidence to finish this challenge.

Buggy then starts to climb at a faster pace than yesterday. The group of people below is looking at Buggy as he climbs up. Jijilisia also looks at him, then talks to Chinjao.

"Chinjao, are you sure you want to bet our Hashoken in this challenge?" asks Jijilisia.

"Why'd you ask like that?" Chinjao asks back.

"I have a feeling that he will succeed to finish this challenge. Those eyes, I've only seen a few people who have those eyes. I'm sure you've seen it too in the past," says Jijilisia.

"That's why we need to get him on our side. We need to get him while he is still just a seedling. That way, we can nurture him for our advantage," says Chinjao.

"You don't understand. Someone like him won't ever listen to us."

"But at least we can get him on our side."

Chinjao is still persistent to get Buggy on their side. Jijilisia just sighs and leaves with his group. He knows Chinjao wants to strengthen Happo Navy now.

After Chinjao lost his drill, Happo Navy's strength has decreased significantly. That's why Chinjao wants to strengthen it again by recruiting Buggy. Buggy is a promising rookie pirate, after all.

Buggy doesn't know what happen below and just focuses on climbing. He can climb easier than yesterday even though the added weight is heavier. But he has got the feeling and can climb easier now.

He climb with 320 kg for the first mountain and finish in 1,5 hours. He climbs the next 4 mountains at a similar time with the last one in 2 hours. So his total time today is around 10 hours. He starts at 7 AM and finishes at 5 PM.

Of course, it surprised everyone because he can climb faster with heavier weight. But it doesn't matter because he still needs a long time to finished. Besides, this is still the 3rd day, there are still 10 days to go.

Buggy climbs again the next day and of course, it is more difficult than before. But he still gets the pace and climbs quite fast. He finish climbing all 5 mountains in 11 hours, just 1 hour longer than yesterday.

Then at the next day, Buggy finished in around 11 hours again. Chinjao now feels a little worried about Buggy's pace. At this pace, Buggy might finish the challenge easily. So he prepare something.

Chinjao calls his men and orders them to tamper Buggy's added weight. They just need to add a little weight on the weight. They'll add 1 kg first, then 2 kg, then 3 or 4 kg for each mountain.

"Increase the weight slowly so he won't realize it. There are 8 days to go, so the accumulated weight will be heavy enough on the last day. We will make sure that he failed," orders Chinjao.

"Yes."

Chinjao's men leave to do their tasks. Chinjao feels a little regret now. He doesn't regret the tampering, but he regrets that he doesn't tamper with the weight sooner.

If he knows Buggy will make it to the 5th day, he will tamper it from the first day. Chinjao thought that Buggy won't even pass the 3rd day and at most 4th day. But this is already the 5th day, and Buggy's pace is very good.

"I will make sure that my Happo Navy gets stronger. Curse you, Garp, for taking my drill from me. I will hold this grudge even to your descendants," says Chinjao while clenching his fist in anger.

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