Several more days had passed since Chinjao's arrival, and Kureha was still working on a safe way to heal the old pirate's help without Law's help. Law made it more than obvious he didn't enjoy showcasing his devil fruit more than necessary, and Kureha decided to oblige for some reason.
Chinjao was surprisingly cooperative and well behaved during this time without antagonizing Crocus, even swallowing his pride and obliging as Kureha downright roughed up the old pirate during every examination.
Doc was also getting better with each passing day, so much so that he's now able to move around on his own without relying on his horse Stronger, and he could even do it without vomiting blood every couple of minutes.
And speaking of the oversized horse, Doc, of course, didn't abandon it, and he's currently working on a cure for it. I imagine it will only be a matter of time before it's just as healthy as its master, considering the latter's specialization, which was in chemicals.
That said, however, I'm still waiting for Doc to declare officially joining the crew since he still hasn't done it yet, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time as well, but you know..., I digress.
Today is finally the day Wapol gets what he deserves, and so I'm cheerfully humming as I make my way to the improvised execution stand with a smile on my face.
The execution will take place in the middle of Bighorn's streets, and many people take notice of me as I make my way there, greeting me with smiles.
I politely smile and wave back in greeting while feeling awkward at the warmness these people are showing me. It wasn't long ago when my crew and I first arrived here, only to be the people here to meet us with glares and hushed whispers.
I guess humans are just fickle that way..., but I can't really blame them.
"People of Drum kingdom!" I heard Dalton's loud voice as he stood at the execution platform, forcing me out of my thoughts as I turned to look at him.
"We have suffered too long under the rule of a tyrant!" Dalton exclaimed, and everyone's eyes turned to look at him with wrapt attention. "No more!" He added as several soldiers escorted a chained Wapol into the execution stand.
One of the soldiers kicked Wapol's knee, forcing the latter into his knees at the edge of the execution stand.
"We are free from the grasp of this cruel, incompetent king," Dalton loudly remarked in a calm voice, causing some of the spectators to start booing at Wapol.
"And not only is this man cruel and selfish, but he is also unrepentant!" Dalton stated, gesturing for the spectators to stop booing. "He escaped prison after his defeat and enlisted the help of pirates to attack our saviors, displaying his lack of remorse for what he's done!" he added, and the spectators began erratically booing again.
Some even threw rocks and rotten food at the former king, who merely glared at them, his expression a mixture of despise, hate, and fear.
"And now he stands before you, ready to receive your judgment," Dalton added, decisively gesturing with his hand to the side. "So tell me, people of Drum Island, what shall become of this tyrant?" Dalton concluded with a question, pausing and waiting for the spectators to pass judgment.
"Kill him!"
"Execution!"
"Put down this greedy bastard!"
The spectators all began screaming bloody murder as soon Dalton paused, causing Wapol's face to go pale as he looked at his former subjects with abject horror.
"The people have spoken Wapol!" Dalton said, retrieving his axe as he stood next to Wapol. "What say you in your defense?" he asked, raising his axe, preparing to chop Wapol's head after hearing his last words.
"I'm... I'm sorry p-please don't kill me!" Wapol nervously begged as tears began streaming down his face. "Just let me g-go... I'll disappear, and you'll never see me again, please!" he besiegingly added, banging his head on the floor.
"You've already had the chance to do that..." Dalton said as he closed his eyes. "And you've wasted it," he concluded, bringing down his axe upon Wapol's neck, making the latter's head fly, a sniveling, horrified expression still etched on his face.
"Now that I have fulfilled my duty..." Dalton said as he opened his eyes with a resolute expression, throwing away his axe. "It is time for me to receive judgment as well," he added, kneeling on the ground next to Wapol's corpse.
"People of Drum island..." Dalton said, his eyes scanning the spectators. "I have dishonored myself and failed you in my cowardice because I did not dare oppose Wapol when I should have..." he added, closing his eyes.
"I'm no better than Wapol, and so I await for the same punishment," he concluded, going still on his knees with a serene expression.
The spectators heard what Dalton said, and they went quiet, despite disagreeing with him as they didn't know what to say. However, someone soon spoke, breaking the silence.
"Don't think you can just take the easy way out like that, brat..." Kureha said, trailing at the end of her sentence as she made her way towards the execution stand.
"Your crimes may be as severe as Wapol's, but that doesn't mean you should receive the same punishment..." Kureha said, walking behind Dalton, causing him to open his eyes in confusion as he looked at her.
"You were once an honorable man, unlike Wapol, who was a waste of air the moment he was born," she added, causing the spectators to start nodding.
"And so it's only fair your punishment should be way harsher than the one Wapol suffered," Kureha concluded, much to the dismay and confusion of the spectators.
"You are right, Dr. Kureha," Dalton said with a nod, immediately agreeing with the witch doctor. "I'm willing to receive any punishment no matter how harsh for my crimes," he concluded in a calm tone.
"Now that you've said it, you can't take it back, brat," Kureha said with a grin as she took a sip from her plum sake bottle, earning another resolute nod from Dalton.
"Then the only punishment suitable for the severity of your crimes is to spend the rest of your lives ruling over these imbeciles and making sure they're well-taken care of," Kureha concluded with a grin, gesturing towards the gathered crowd, much to Dalton's exasperation.
"That's right, you need to make up for what you did by suffering for the rest of your life!" exclaimed one of the spectators.
"That's right, you need to suffer by taking care of us imbeciles!" said another.
"Wait, that doesn't sound right... why are we getting excited over that old witch calling us imbeciles?" Asked another spectator with a confused look.
"Who cares? Do you want Dalton to die?" asked another, making the previous spectator shake his head. "Then go along with it!" added another one.
"Yeah, that's right, you better spend the rest of your life taking care of us!"
"I... I don't know what to say..." Dalton said with a complicated expression as he looked at the gathered crowd. "Would you have me, despite being so cowardly and incompetent...?" Dalton asked in genuine confusion.
"Just sat that you agree, brat," Kureha said with a grin, shrugging her shoulder. "The people have spoken, after all...," she added, gently patting Dalton's shoulder.
"Very well," Dalton said with a sigh as he got up and looked at the people with a resolute expression. "Then I will spend the rest of my life making up for my crimes by making the lives of everyone on this island as comfortable as possible!" Dalton concluded, and the crowd immediately began a wave of thundering cheers and applause.