The Roger Pirates set sail the next day, after Crocus finished gathering all the ingredients he needed. The Drum Kingdom had an impressive supply of medicinal herbs scattered across its lands.
This natural abundance was one of the reasons why the country had gained a reputation for producing many talented doctors.
Crocus also knew that Kureha kept her own private farm, where she grew a wide range of rare medicinal plants without difficulty. Because of that, collecting everything he needed did not take too long.
When the Oro Jackson finally left the snowy shores of Drum Island, Kureha did not say any goodbyes, as she mentioned that she had another patient waiting for her own service.
Roger, who had been hoping for even a short farewell, scanned the docks and the trees as if expecting Kureha to appear at the last moment.
"Do not take it to heart, Roger. Kureha treats everybody that way. I honestly thought Shamrock would catch her attention enough for her to give some advice, but I guess I was wrong," Crocus said. Shamrock, who had been standing beside him, shook his head.
"Dr. Kureha did give me something. She let me read all of her medical journals, or at least the ones I could finish in time. They were filled with the mistakes she made during surgeries in the past, as well as notes explaining why each mistake happened and how to prevent them from happening again. That is why I disappeared last night," Shamrock explained.
"So the old coot could not resist after all. She really is a pain in the ass," Crocus muttered without thinking.
Before he could take another step, an arrow came flying straight toward his face. Shamrock reacted instantly and caught it in the air before it could strike Crocus in the eye. Attached to the arrow was a small folded note.
Crocus took it and read it silently. His expression changed from surprise to a slow grin. He then handed the note to Shamrock, who read it as well.
"I am giving you permission to teach everything I have taught you to that child. Make sure you tell him that I will be expecting ten billion berries in payment," the note said.
Shamrock assumed it was a joke, especially the part about the ten billion berries. Crocus, however, understood the deeper meaning behind it.
Nearly everything he had learned under Kureha included knowledge about rare medicines, including one that could extend a person's lifespan. It was not something to be passed around lightly.
Crocus had no intention of teaching that particular subject to Shamrock any time soon. Even with Shamrock's impressive ability to learn quickly, he was still a child.
There was far too much basic and advanced knowledge to cover first, and Crocus planned to use every moment of the two years he would remain on the ship to train Shamrock properly.
Only after building a strong foundation would he consider teaching him the more dangerous and complicated techniques that came from Kureha's own research.
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The Oro Jackson continued its journey across the sea, with the crew eager to visit as many islands as possible. Every new horizon seemed to lift their spirits, and Crocus appeared to enjoy the constant movement more than he expected.
Shamrock spent most of his time reading the materials Crocus assigned to him, since each book helped expand his basic knowledge and prepare him for the more complex lessons ahead.
He read quietly in the corner of the deck, choosing a spot where the light was good and the noise of the crew did not disturb him too much.
Shanks lounged nearby, stretched out on the warm deck with his arms behind his head, completely relaxed as he enjoyed the sunlight.
He looked as though nothing in the world mattered at that moment, but his eyes opened after a while and drifted toward Shamrock.
Shamrock's hair reached down his back, untouched since his infancy. It was one of the main ways people immediately told the two brothers apart, and even though several crew members offered to cut it for him, Shamrock always refused. Shanks watched him for a moment, then spoke out of curiosity.
"Shamrock, why do you refuse to cut your hair? Are you attached to it or something?" Shanks asked.
"Not really. I just like it long. Does it need to have any specific reason?" Shamrock replied without looking up from the book.
Shanks let out a small sigh, clearly disappointed. "That is so lame. I thought it was something important."
Shamrock finally turned his head toward Shanks, thinking for a moment. Something he had read recently came to mind, and he decided to use it as an answer.
"Then how about this. I will keep my hair long for as long as I do not suffer defeat. If I am ever defeated, I will cut it to match your hair length. Does that satisfy you?" Shamrock said calmly.
Shanks sat up immediately, his expression changing from boredom to excitement. "That is a great idea. How about I do the same?"
"That is my vow. You need to think of your own. If you copy mine, it will just look like you are following me," Shamrock answered, returning to his book.
Shanks frowned as he tried to think. "I cannot think of anything right now. I will tell you when I come up with one."
Shamrock nodded and went back to reading, letting the sound of the waves fill the quiet space between them. The Oro Jackson continued its steady trek across the sea, carrying the crew toward their next destination.
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The Oro Jackson was docked at a random island in the first half of the Grand Line, a place that most people simply called the Paradise. The crew was busy restocking the ship with whatever supplies they could buy or trade for.
Crates of food, ropes, barrels of water, and different tools were being hauled toward the ship in a steady line.
Because the Roger Pirates were well known, their presence attracted the attention of the island's residents. Many of them gathered nearby, whispering among themselves and watching with cautious curiosity.
While the crew worked, Roger, Shamrock, and Shanks sat off to the side, casually eating and resting under the shade of a stall roof. They were not helping at all, simply observing the lively movement of the crew and the crowd.
Their attention was drawn to a sudden commotion when a small blue haired child appeared, holding three knives in his hands and trying to look brave as he stepped forward.
Shamrock noticed him immediately, not because of the knives, but because of the bright red nose that was impossible to mistake.
The child pointed the knives at the air with shaky hands. "My name is Buggy, and I want to join your crew," he announced boldly. His voice was loud, but the tremble underneath it was obvious to Shamrock and Shanks, though Buggy tried hard to hide it.
Roger stared at the boy with an amused expression, tilting his head slightly as he studied him. The civilians recognized Buggy as well and began whispering harshly.
"There is the troublemaker again," someone muttered.
"I hope he does not anger the pirates. What if they attack the whole town," another said.
Several more whispered about how Buggy always caused trouble but would freeze in fear once caught. They spoke without holding back, which Shamrock could hear clearly. Even Roger caught some of the remarks, though he did not react openly.
Buggy stood stiffly in front of Roger, doing everything he could to stop his shaking. His jaw was clenched so tightly that he could hardly hear anything as his nerves overwhelmed him.
"Seems like nobody here wants you," Roger commented casually, watching Buggy's reaction.
Buggy did not respond, not because of courage, but simply because he was too nervous to process Roger's words.
The civilians assumed he was showing incredible bravery and began murmuring again, surprised that he dared stay silent before a pirate of Roger's reputation.
Rayleigh and Gyaban approached to see the situation, already hearing the crowd's whispers. One glance from Roger was enough for both of them to understand what he intended. They nodded without speaking.
Roger grinned. "Hahahahahaha, welcome to my crew, Buggy."
Buggy's relief was so strong that his knees nearly buckled. Before he could fall, Shamrock was already beside him, supporting him by the arm.
"Welcome aboard, Buggy. My name is Shamrock. I am sure you will enjoy being on the ship with us," Shamrock said. He could see Buggy's heart rate calming down little by little.
Shanks walked over and introduced himself as well, and Buggy seemed overwhelmed but grateful.
Eager to prove that he was not a burden and that Roger had not made a mistake, he immediately started helping the crew lift crates. His enthusiasm made the crewmembers laugh, and they began welcoming him warmly.
Rayleigh turned toward Shanks, who was still standing idly. "Look at the new guy. He already started helping. Meanwhile, you have gotten so spoiled that you do not lift a finger around here."
Shanks pointed at Shamrock. "What about him? He does not help either."
Rayleigh burst out laughing. "If you study medicine with Shamrock, you can relax all you want." The moment he said that, Shanks froze.
He had seen the terrifying stack of books Shamrock studied every single day, along with the constant lessons, experiments, and the complicated mixes he practiced with Crocus. The idea of doing all that made Shanks' head hurt on the spot.
Without another word, Shanks ran over to help Buggy and the rest of the crew, leaving Rayleigh grinning.
After a few more hours of loading supplies and preparing the ship, the Oro Jackson lifted its anchor and left the island behind.
They now sailed with one extra member on board. Buggy stood near the railing with Shamrock and Shanks, all three around the same age, and Buggy's excitement was obvious as he looked out at the wide sea stretching in every direction.