Buggy have met Bellemere on the 40th branch. Then since that day, Buggy & co will always trade their hunt on 40th branch. Even if they're far, they'll go there because Buggy want to meet Bellemere. Jimmy & Burton can only agree because Buggy is their leader.
Their income also increase because Buggy want to meet Bellemere more often. He need to impress her, so he hunt pirates & bandits more often now. He's even willing to fight alone and let the 2 rest when they're tired to capture more pirates.
Buggy's meeting with Bellemere also raise his motivation. He train harder and getting stronger faster than usual. He get a lot stronger to the point where there's no pirate that can match him on East Blue.
He can even defeat an entire fleet of pirates that have 600 members and priced the total of 60 million beri. It happen 7 months after he met Bellemere. He still split the money evenly between the 3 of them, even though he fight alone.
~1 year after met Bellemere~
1 year have passed since Buggy met Bellemere, and this will be his last day as bounty hunter. He have amassed a lot of money for bounty hunter on East Blue. The total bounty that his team get in these 2 years is more than 1 billion beri.
Buggy & co have high target every month too. Their target is 40 million per month, and they always reach it. Burton is good at information gathering, so they always know which pirates that they'll hunt every month. Then with Jimmy's skills, they can chase their target faster.
The rising of Great Pirate Era also make the number of pirates abundance. Altough most East Blue's pirates have lower bounties, but their number is high. Buggy's team always work hard to capture pirates, they work even harder than Marine.
The key for their abundance profit is also from the pirates' wealth that they took. They know how to sell their loots with high price in blackmarket. They also sell everything that can turn into money, so their profit is really high.
Buggy's relationship with Bellemere is also good. They haven't date, but they can be said to be close friend. Buggy didn't rush things with Bellemere, they still have a lot of time. He know she want to focus on her career, and so does he.
Beside, he want to date her after he reveal his real identity. He never show her his real identity as Buggy, and she still know him as Bob. He doesn't want to keep lying to her, so he will need to reveal everything to her before they get into more serious relationship.
"I never thought that we'll go this far just in 2 years."-Jimmy
"We've worked really hard after all, even Marine seem to work slower than us."-Burton
"Well, they have many jobs, and didn't live purely from bounties like us, so their motivation is lower."-Jimmy
"Is that your personal experience when you were a marine?"-Buggy
"Yeah, most of us just want to get paid to live. Fighting with criminals can lead to death, so we need to be careful. You can only enjoy things when you're alive."-Jimmy
"Enough about that! What will you do now, Buggy? I've built my weapon shop, and Jimmy have bought a hotel."-Burton
"It's still the same, i will be a pirate."-Buggy
"But how about that girl? She's a marine, so i thought you won't be a pirate now."-Burton
"Heh, i won't stop just for a girl, even though i love her. I'll still chase my dream, because a man's dream will never end."-Buggy
"Well, if that's what you want, then we won't stop you."-Jimmy
"Yeah, just make sure you don't get yourself killed before we see your bounty poster."-Burton
"You won't. You will see the bounty keep raising to the point where you can't believe it at all."-Buggy smirk
"Hahaha, i will wait for that moment."-Burton
The three then have a celebration for their success in these 2 years. They celebrate it with Jimmy's & Burton's families. Buggy have gotten closer to their families in these 2 years, and their kids are really attached to him.
The next morning after celebration, Buggy return to Orange Town. He will take all his things & money there. He also need to bid farewell to the town's people who have helped him many times in these 2 years.
"So this is the time, huh? Altough i don't want you to become a pirate, but it's your choice. At the very least, don't let us see your death news, brat!"-Boodle
"Don't worry, i will live longer than you."-Buggy smirk
"Damn cheeky brat."-Boodle
"Buggy nii-chan, i will be a great marine & capture you in the future."-Rio
"Heeh, i'll wait for it."-Buggy
Buggy then bid farewell to everyone and leave with his ship. When Buggy start to sail, he throw a case to the port and someone catch it.
"I want to see the town look better & bigger when i return!"-Buggy
"Huh?"-Boodle
"M-mayor, th-there are 30 million beri in the case."-Man A
""WHAT?!""-Everyone shocked
"Hmph, that brat is really..."-Boodle tear up
Buggy leave Orange Town, and go to 40th branch. He will meet with Bellemere and explain everything to her. He won't leave any debt before he start his journey.
Buggy arrive on 40th branch after 10 hours, and he immediately search Bellemere. He find her and take her to the port. Then they get on Buggy's ship and hide from any eyes.
"What is it? Why're you being so secretive?"-Bellemere
"Belle, have you ever wonder about what the world hide from us? All of it's mysteries?"-Buggy
"Huh? What are you talking about?"-Bellemere
"You know, i have a dream, to discover the world's misteries. To do that, i need to explore every corner of the world. It won't be easy, and many people won't like it. I'll create a lot of enemies, including those who try to protect those secrets."-Buggy
"Who?"-Bellemere
"World Governments."-Buggy
"What?!"-Bellemere surprised
"There are many mysteries that being hidden by them. What i want is discovering all world's mysteries, so sooner or later, they will see me as enemy. That's why, rather than waiting, i will be their enemy from the start. I will be a pirate."-Buggy
Bellemere widen her eyes in surprise when she hear Buggy. She get even more surprised when Buggy show his real appearance with red nose and left arm. She know it's devil fruit ability, so she's not that surprised.
"My real name is Buggy, not Bob. I disguise myself so i won't create trouble for my friends after i become a pirate. We might not meet for some years, that's why i want to show you my real self."-Buggy
Bellemere is still in disbelief, then she grab Buggy's collar.
"What else did you hide from me? Spill it, B!"-Bellemere
B is Bellemere's nickname for Buggy that she made because they have the same initial.
"Sigh, i was a pirate apprentice on Roger pirates. So willing or not, i will be the world's enemy after this. The world will eventually find out about this, so i want to tell you first before you find out from a news."-Buggy
Bellemere is surprised by this fact, and she's speechless.
"So you're a pirate, a pirate that disguised as a bounty hunter. Then, your feeling to me, is that also a disguise?"-Bellemere grit her teeth
"No, of course not. It's real, and that's why i tell you all of these before i start my journey."-Buggy
Bellemere have a conflict in her heart. On one side, she start to like Buggy, on another side, she is a marine, and pirate is her enemy. Still, she know that Buggy is not bad person and won't do attrocities like many pirates that she know. That's why she will believe in him and let him do what he want.
"B, i don't care what you want to do after this, but you need to promise me one thing. Never ever kill the innocents! If i hear you kill even one innocent, i will hunt and kill you myself."-Bellemere
"Alright, i promise."-Buggy
"Good. .....So, i think this is a good bye, huh? It's been very fun to know you this 1 year."-Bellemere
"It's see you, not good bye. Do you think i won't return to see you again?"-Buggy
"Heeh, then i will catch you and put you in prison."-Bellemere smirk
"You can try."-Buggy grin
Buggy then kiss Bellemere, and she accept it.
______________________________________________________________
Support me on Pa_treon if you like my story and want to read some chapters ahead. It will help me buy internet data too, so i can keep uploading.
I've posted Chapter 48 on my pa treon page today.
https://www.pa_treon.com/CaptMermain
(The website didn't use _underscore_, it's to avoid censorship)