The Strawhats finally met with Dr. Kureha and Chopper. After expressing their intentions and presented Luke, Dr. Kureha agreed to diagnose the latter's condition. They then built a temporary cabin for a shelter.
The kingdom soldiers recognized Dalton and they started to ease up. They then explained the recent events and King Wapol's disappearance.
Dalton was surprised that Nami dealt more than a hundred soldiers and King Wapol alone. She even killed the two kingdom officers with ease.
This tyranny that made the people of the kingdom suffer over the years, yet it ended on a whim by a young lady.
Vivi accessed the permission of Nami to release the rest of the soldiers to search the king.
Nami already scanned the nearby land a couple of times and there's no traces of any human around, so the soldiers are of no use to her. But still, she's plotting big for the treasure of the Kingdom's castle.
Meanwhile, Luffy found the existence of Chopper very interesting as he chased the poor blue-nosed raindeer all over the place.
...
Inside the cabin...
Everyone are out except Luke the patient and Kureha as his doctor.
Luke examined the remaining things that has been salvage in a corner. His gaze focused on a wrapped item for a long time.
"You recognized that thing?" Dr. Kureha asked while unceremoniously examind every part of Luke's body from temperature up to complexion. Her expression morphed into a severe one from her discovery.
"I've no knowledge on medicines." Luke shrugged. He asked with interest, "What did you find?"
"You idiot! Are you trying to kill yourself by burning most of your lifespan?! I'm not gonna be surprised if you end up dead just by tumbling on the ground." Dr. Kureha facepalmed as she felt headache coming on.
Outside, Zoro was leaning on the cabin wall while frowning hard. Luke's condition was way worse than he initially thought.
Other Strawhats heard Kureha's angry outburst too. They glanced at one another as their emotions turned heavy.
"Tone down your voice. I know my condition well. I'm also helpless about the situation. Basically, we met a strong enemy group and I got to face the strongest. Still, I never regret my decision for protecting my nakama." Luke waved his hand as if the event was just an everyday situation.
Dr. Kureha nodded. As long as her patient understood his condition, she won't get entangled by it. This man is a dying person with a very problematic condition that cannot be cured by just rare or normal medicine. This man need a miracle to survive this calamity.
Her eyes squinted at Luke and asked, "Do you have anything to say? Perhaps a dying will? You should know I can't cure your condition."
"Nothing really. We came to this kingdom mainly to recruit a crew, our ship doctor to be exact. Do you have anyone to recommend? I prefer those who are willing though and would love to seek adventure to broaden his or her knowledge when it comes to medicine." Luke slowly replied. He wanted to at least receive a sympathy from this doctor to lower her guard on letting Chopper go from her tutelage.
Dr. Kureha went silent. Deep inside, she wanted to recommend Chopper. However, the poor raindeer was once hurt by humans and recognized as a monster by many. Even his own kin, the fellow raindeers, doesn't want his company.
Chopper received her guidance over the years. His talent in medicine is top notch that many doctors can't compare.
The only Kureha's concern is that, people might look at Chopper as monster and be hurt once again if he seek adventure.
"Anyway, my condition is not incurable. I have my own ways to restore my lifespan with very slow pace, see?" Luke pointed at his face. Suddenly, his complexion changed into healthy which surprised Kureha.
Dr. Kureha checked the condition of Luke once again and she discovered that he indeed restored bits of his lifespan.
"Amazing.. Are you a Devil Fruit Holder? A wizard? Perhaps a Gifted?" She asked with interest.
'Wizard? Gifted? The heck is she talking about?' Luke frowned when he heard this foreign word.
"No. I was called a monster for being too abnormal and powerful." He smirked. He will surely ask these strange terms later on.
"A monster huh.. You are, actually." Kureha nodded in agreement. From what she heard, no one in this world have this kind of ability to heal ones' lifespan. This is like creating his own miracle, a monster to be precise. She already categorized Luke as Gifted though.
"I'm happy for your compliment. Anyway, let's set my condition and recruitment aside. I have a question." Luke felt that he eased Kureha's emotion. So long as she viewed him as a monster, she will surely let Chopper go with the help of Luffy.
"What is it?"
"What do you mean about Wizards and Gifted?" Luke asked.
"Those are categories under each races. If I say Wizard, it means one can manipulate elements and various things using magic. Gifted is a counterpart of Devil Fruit holders. Gifted individuals are born with innate abilities like the ability to levitate but they don't get weak when in touch with sea water. Some also gain more than one ability but it's a rare case." Kureha explained with patience.
Luke found it logical that Kureha knows about these terms. The world already changed and he won't be surprised if a rock will suddenly transform into a monkey king.
This world is already weird in the first place. Adding more species don't make a difference.
Their treatment session turned into discussion as Luke wanted to know more about the world and what he missed.
...
An hour later...
The Strawhats anxiously waited when the door of the cabin suddenly opened.
"Luke! Wha- You look fine now..!" Usopp was first to break the silence when they saw Luke appeared healthy.
"Of course I am. Here, keep it later." Luke tossed a pouch to Usopp and he whispered something to the long-nosed guy. He then nodded at the rest.
Vivi, Zoro, Nami and others also heaved a sigh of relief. However, they were totally puzzled. Did the doctor gave Luke a miraculous pill that restored his lifespan?
Usopp examined the pouch before keeping it in his bag as per Luke's request.
"Where's Luffy?" Luke asked as he glanced around.
"He's there." Nami pointed at the distance where Luffy actually got into a brawl with Chopper.
"Luffy wanted to invite the talking raindeer to be our nakama." Zoro said while crossing his arms.
Luke only nodded without saying anything else. There's still time until morning. Luffy will surely be able to recruit Chopper on time.
"Urgent news." Dalton came running to the Strawhats.
He continued, "King Wapol escaped the kingdom and he joined a pirate group. Vice Admiral Bang seemed furious right now. I think he recognized someone in that pirate group but I'm not clear who that was."
Luke frowned by the news. Not because of King Wapol's escape, but Bang's reaction towards a certain person of that pirate group.
That pirate group should be Blackbeard's.
There's only one person that Bang would react this much. It must be because of that person he once called his disciple.
Garou.
Luke will surely dig on this matter later on when he meet his personal messenger, Laffitte.
"King Wapol leaving this place is a good thing too. No one shall be oppressed from today onwards." Usopp felt that this is a good outcome for the kingdom.
The Strawhats also agreed. Without a tyrant king, this kingdom will definitely prosper once again.
"You can even reign this kingdom and be crowned as the new king." Usopp added.
"I wouldn't dare. I've sinned so much for the people." Dalton shook his head. Being a king doesn't crossed in his mind. He was happy just to help the people of this kingdom.
"You brat..! I know what you did these past few months. You secretly distributed various medicines to the people of the kingdom. Those 20 doctors of King Wapol should be helping you out in secret."
"King Wapol relentlessly chasing me down these past few days because you pointed me as your scapegoat. People in this kingdom started to get better and I got no business left because of your doing."
"So be the king of this kingdom and offer me your best compensation or I will dismember you here and use all of your body organs to be my testing subjects."
Dr. Kureha said with a menacing voice that made the Strawhats shivered in fear.
"That.. I apologize for my reckless action. I never thought that King Wapol actually found your hideout." Dalton scratched his head in embarrassment. He did caused the doctor harm and he will have to compensate her in return.
"I want that castle as my home. Everything in there is my property too and that's final. If you want a castle, go build your own." Kureha pointed to the highest peak where King Wapol's castle located. She was grinning from ear to ear after she placed all her demands.
The Strawhats stared at Kureha as if she's a black hearted witch.
"..."
"That settles everything then. I got cured, the kingdom is saved and Dr. Kureha got a new home." Luke broke the awkward silence.
"Right.. However, I forbid you to do extra movements like combat fighting for at least a month. Or you know the consequences of your action." Dr. Kureha squinted her eyes at Luke.
"Don't worry. I'm not that reckless. I'm the most lax in our group." Luke grinned.
Nami, Zoro, Usopp and Yosaku found it hard to believe that this guy wasn't reckless.
Fighting bunch of massive sea kings alone wasn't called reckless? They might as well as slay a God to be called one.
Luke was right about being chill though.
...
Night...
Dalton commanded the soldiers to move Dr. Kureha's belongings through the ropeway towards the castle. Although unwilling, it wasn't big of a deal as long as the doctor is around to help the people in need.
Luffy, Yosaku, Usopp, Vivi, Karoo the duck and Igaram also went to the castle.
Meanwhile, Luke was escorted back by Nami and Zoro to the going Merry. However, in the midst of their journey, Nami found some lame excuse to leave their side as she traveled through the cloud.
"What's she up to now?" Minutes later, Zoro grunted as he was left pulling the sleigh for Luke.
"What do you think will happen to an unattended castle with treasures?" Luke asked back with a smile. He knew Nami's schemes pretty well.
"I figured as much." Zoro chuckled.
"Wait. I need to do my business too. I got loads to release." In the midst of their journey, Luke stopped Zoro.
"Why don't you wait until we reach the ship?" Zoro stopped nonetheless.
"No. Also, you're running in circles a couple of times already because of your bad sense of direction. Give me 30 minutes." Luke then walked towards a certain location.
Zoro scratched his head in shame. He thought he'll be able to go back to Going Merry if he follow used tracks. It turned out, he's following his own trail.
...
Luke met with Laffitte and the latter gave him another batch of Devil Fruits.
"I'm going now, master." Laffitte bowed as he spread his wings, preparing to fly.
"Wait. Give it to Teach. He already know it's function." Luke passed a pitch dark marble. He continued,
"I want to know the members of your crew. I forgot to ask Teach about it."
Laffitte received the pitch dark marble. He then revealed the names of the Blackbeard Pirates crew members.
After some few instructions of Luke, Laffitte left the area.
Minutes later...
Luke returned back and guided Zoro the right track.
He was surprised of Blackbeard's luck on recruiting members though.
'This guy sure is a destined villain.'
*****
A/N : Here's the sneak peak of Blackbeard's crew members. This spoiler is approved by Luke, but he only allowed their titles.
Blackbeard Pirates
Scarlet Despair, Demon Sheriff, Champion, Rogue King, Absolute Unit, Fallen Angel, The Final, Marine Hunter, Worthless Emperor.