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"Wait, this dialogue feels strangely familiar…"
Dr. Kureha didn't respond to the perverted Brook's hope of revealing her panties color. Instead, a look of reminiscence flashed in her murky eyes.
The tall, thin skeleton standing before her in a suit gradually overlapped with a figure from her distant memories.
Then, more and more blurry figures appeared, those who had once brought laughter and joy to people.
"It really does bring back wonderful memories. When I was still a young and beautiful girl, there was a pervert who asked me the same question."
Kureha's tone was filled with emotion.
That was more than a hundred years ago, when Drum Island was still a flourishing place, and doctors dutifully treated the island's residents and even passing pirates without expecting anything in return.
The nickname "Kingdom of Doctors" was earned during that time.
"Oh? I didn't expect there to be another person in this world with such a lofty ideal of pursuing perfect art like me?" Brook seemed somewhat surprised.
"That's just pure perversion…"
While they were talking, Chopper had already pulled the snow-buried Hiriluk out like a radish.
Due to inertia, both the man and the reindeer fell into each other's arms, creating a comical scene.
"Hey! Kureha, you're too rough! At least show some care for a patient who just recovered!"
Hiriluk, sitting on Chopper, rubbed his head, severely reprimanding Kureha's previous violent actions.
"Kureha?"
Brook was taken aback, "Are you the Dr. Kureha who loves plum wine, has excellent medical skills but charges exorbitant fees?"
"You know me?" Kureha raised an eyebrow.
"It's me! Can't you tell? I'm Brook of the Rumbar Pirates!"
Brook excitedly raised his skeletal hand, pointing to his skull.
Here's the story.
Back when the Rumbar Pirates left Laboon at Twin Capes, they couldn't adapt to the strange and changing weather of the Grand Line and all fell ill.
It was Dr. Kureha, then working as a doctor in Drum Kingdom, who treated them.
Brook of the Rumbar Pirates? Kureha carefully observed Brook, and after a detailed comparison, she finally recognized the distinctive afro.
"It's really you! I didn't expect you to still be alive after all these years!"
Looking at Brook's all-white bones, she quickly corrected herself, "No, how are you still 'undead'?"
"Ahem, it's a long story. By the way, the color of your panties back then was…"
Thunk thunk!
Before he could finish, two big red bumps appeared on Brook's skull.
"Don't talk about such things in front of so many people. Even I would feel ashamed."
Kureha expressionlessly withdrew her fist.
At some point, Zyhark and the others had already crossed the snow and stood behind Brook.
"Humans, so many humans!"
Chopper, struggling to escape from Hiriluk's grasp, looked at the sudden crowd and quickly hid behind Hiriluk's leg.
That hiding method, with his whole furry body exposed, was extremely conspicuous.
"Wait, a talking skeleton? A monster! Dr. Hiriluk, there's a monster!!"
After a few seconds of thought, the slow-reacting Chopper finally realized Brook's presence and ran frantically in the snow.
"A talking blue-nosed reindeer? What a cute little thing~"
Aqua, who had no resistance to cute things, immediately noticed Chopper.
"Stare…"
Kanna, who also had no resistance to cute things, watched Chopper with her clear and pure vertical pupils, following his movement.
Her predatory instincts made her itch to move.
"Blue nose, you idiot! And I'm a reindeer, not a raccoon dog!!"
Hearing the most unacceptable description of himself, Chopper, who had been fleeing in terror, suddenly stopped and bared his teeth at Aqua from a distance.
At this moment, Kanna moved!
Then, her cute little legs in white socks hovered in mid-air.
"Although he is an emergency food reserve, he is different from the man-eating rabbits at the foot of the mountain. He cannot be eaten, Kanna."
Zyhark held Kanna in his hand, patiently teaching her the basics of identifying food.
"Oh."
Kanna nodded lightly, regretfully dispelling her abyss dragon mouth, returning to her cute and innocent appearance.
"So scary, these people are really scary…"
Witnessing this scene, Chopper shivered under a crooked tree in the distance.
"There's no way Hiriluk could have such abilities, so it must be you guys who saved him, right?"
Kureha's eyes gleamed as she ignored Chopper's antics and stepped aside, "Come inside and sit down, you people who can cure even terminal illnesses."
"Thank you for your hospitality."
Zyhark didn't stand on ceremony and walked into the warm house with his companions.
The warm light inside the house provided a cozy warmth to those who had just braved the icy winds and snow.
After a brief introduction by Hiriluk, Kureha quickly learned the identities of these sudden visitors from the outside world.
"No wonder you looked familiar. I didn't expect you to be the crew of the sea restaurant that has been making headlines recently, even killing a Celestial Dragon and still becoming a Warlord of the Sea!"
Kureha crossed her legs on a chair, gripping the wine bottle tighter.
Even she, who was accustomed to dealing with vicious pirates, couldn't help but feel nervous.
After all, this was one of the three major forces on the current sea, able to contend with the Navy Headquarters and the Emperors of the Sea. They were undoubtedly big shots!
"Just a stroke of luck, a desperate measure under the circumstances."
Zyhark drank the hot tea offered by Kureha, smiling humbly.
He had successfully played the role of the lucky guy.
"In that case, Hiriluk, you are in a rather precarious position. Daring to default on the debt of a Warlord of the Sea, the consequences could be very severe."
Kureha took a sip of plum wine, looking maliciously at Hiriluk.
"Don't make it sound like I always do such things! I've lived a righteous life; when have I ever defaulted on a debt!"
Hiriluk blushed and defended himself.
Pfft.
Chopper, hiding in a corner, couldn't help but laugh sarcastically.
This instantly caught Hiriluk's attention: "Well, Zyhark-san, to be honest, I really can't come up with ten thousand Beri right now."
"How about this, I'll use this talking blue-nosed reindeer as collateral for the meal?"
Hearing this, Chopper's teeth instantly turned into sawtooths.
"You bastard Hiriluk, I'm not a commodity to be traded!!"
Just when Chopper thought Hiriluk's "selling his son" behavior was excessive, Zyhark's response made both men break down.
"Sorry, we already have an emergency food reserve on our ship, so we don't need another one."
Although Chopper was an interesting guy, they already had a goddess with maxed-out healing skills on their ship, so they didn't need another doctor.
Not to mention, Chopper's medical skills at this point were still at the stage of treating poisonous mushrooms as panaceas.
"I'm not an emergency food reserve!"
"Damn it, Zyhark, who are you calling an emergency food reserve, meow!!"
Chopper and Meowth yelled simultaneously.
The two creatures, who had never met before, united in their stance.
Seeing Chopper and Meowth with the same expression, Zyhark laughed, "Just kidding, just kidding, don't take it so seriously."
"Evil Zyhark."
Aqua, sipping Kureha's plum wine, muttered under her breath.
Indeed, the alcoholic goddess wouldn't miss any chance to drink.
"Wait? A talking cat? Are you a monster too?!"
Chopper suddenly realized this issue and looked curiously at the cat with a coin embedded in its forehead.
Due to eating the Human-Human Fruit, he was abandoned by the deer herd and treated as a monster by humans.
Seeing another "kindred spirit" who could talk and walk on two legs, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of kinship.
"Who are you calling a monster, you raccoon dog? I'm Meowth, the adorable and charming villainous Pokémon, meow!"
Meowth glared at Chopper, his claws extending sharply.
"I'm not a raccoon dog; I'm a brave and strong reindeer!!"
Feeling doubly hurt, Chopper couldn't hide his wild nature anymore, charging at Meowth with a tree branch.
At this time, he hadn't yet developed his Rumble Ball, so he didn't have strange moves like Arm Boost or Weak Point Spot.
Just like that, the two emergency food reserves who had united earlier started fighting in Kureha's house.
"Meowth, you're also a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user?"
While asking Zyhark, Kureha glanced at King, who sat silently at the back.
She remained highly cautious of this golden-haired man who hadn't spoken a word but exuded a fierce and dominant aura. She couldn't have imagined that King was contemplating whether he could beat a reindeer that could transform into a muscle man…
"You could say that. Despite his appearance, he's a very important member of our crew."
Zyhark watched the fierce battle between the reindeer and the Pokémon with interest.
Although Meowth didn't have the ability to switch between three forms like Chopper, his rich experience and high intelligence allowed him to firmly suppress Chopper, holding a clear advantage.
"Hey! Chopper, use a left hook to attack his exposed right side. Don't confront him head-on, show the spirit you had against the guards!"
Hiriluk, squatting on the ground, smiled as he gave Chopper advice.
This was the first time he had seen Chopper interact so "happily" with outsiders, and he couldn't help but be excited.
"Meowth! Use Fury Swipes to attack the raccoon dog's legs!"
The foolish goddess wouldn't miss such a lively scene, eagerly commanding Meowth after setting down her empty plum wine bottle.
"Chopper! Use the decoy tactic I taught you to dodge his attacks!"
Playing along, Hiriluk gave instructions without falling behind.
Aqua raised an eyebrow, immediately countering, "Meowth, ignore all that and use Feint Attack to KO him!"
Both Meowth and Chopper found something increasingly wrong, and through eye contact, they understood each other's thoughts.
"Damn it! Who's going to listen to your nonsensical commands?!!!" x2
Thus, the foolish trainer Aqua and the quack trainer Hiriluk both received a knock on the head, squatting in front of the rampaging Meowth and Chopper, repeatedly mumbling apologies.
The comical scene made everyone burst into laughter, filling the small house with joyful sounds.
No matter what, after this uproar, everyone became thoroughly acquainted, and Chopper no longer feared Zyhark and his companions from the outside sea.
Of course, King, who looked stern and terrifying, was an exception.
"So, Aqua, you guys stay here. Meowth and I will go have a chat with this country's king."
Seeing that it was getting late, Zyhark stood up, ready to get down to business.
"Have a chat? Zyhark-san, you know Wapol?" Kureha was quite shocked by this unexpected revelation.
Wapol's actions were despicable. If he had any connection with the Warlord of the Sea before her, she had to be on guard.
"In a way, that guy has something I want."
Zyhark nodded lightly, his tone not sounding friendly.
"I see." Kureha let out a breath imperceptibly.
"Well, Zyhark-san, as previously agreed, let me lead the way." Hiriluk stepped forward.
"No need, you've just recovered."
Zyhark turned to look at the snowy outside, casually saying, "Just point me in the direction."
"The king's castle is southwest from here. It takes a treacherous snow path to get there. Let me lead you…"
Zzzz!
Before he could finish, Zyhark, holding Meowth, had already turned into lightning and disappeared.
"… there."
Hiriluk stood there, eyes wide, shocked by the extraordinary sight.
"After all, it's the Warlord of the Sea. No matter what incomprehensible means they possess, it's not surprising." Kureha sighed softly.
Looking at where Zyhark had disappeared, a faint smile appeared on her wrinkled face.
Wapol, who had been acting arrogantly in Drum Kingdom, was finally going to face retribution…
...
In the warm and comfortable hall of the snowy king's castle.
"Hahaha! Finally, I've gotten rid of that troublesome quack. Now, my goal of monopolizing the entire national healthcare system is accomplished!"
Wapol, with a metal jaw, sat on the throne, thinking of the endless money flowing into his pocket, laughing excitedly.
As for Dr. Kureha, he didn't care much.
That old woman's fees were even higher than his. Only a fool would seek her treatment over the Doctors 20! Behind Wapol, the 20 doctors stood expressionless, while Captain Dalton lowered his head, feeling downcast.
Hiriluk's last words had completely shaken their beliefs.
Serving such a scum king, could this country ever be saved? Boom!
A loud explosion interrupted Dalton's complicated thoughts. He looked up sharply to see the heavy iron gate shattered, surrounded by guards groaning in pain.
In the smoke from the explosion, a man in a black coat walked slowly, accompanied by a cat walking on two legs.
"Who's there? How dare you intrude into my castle!"
Wapol, immersed in the joy of great wealth, was startled and nervously stood up, hiding behind the Doctors 20.
"Your gate had been out of use for too long, so I helped fix it a bit, Wapol."
Zyhark walked to the center of the hall, looking up at Wapol on the throne.
This timid fool before him was a symbolic figure in the pirate world—having an almost unbeatable Devil Fruit ability but being pathetically weak.
"That's your reason for intruding? Fool, do you know whose territory this is?!"
Accustomed to flaunting power, Wapol took out a firearm from his body and aimed at the intruder without a second thought.
"Wait, King Wapol, that man, no doubt…"
Dalton's forehead was covered in cold sweat. His gaze towards Zyhark was filled with intense fear, "It's the new Warlord of the Sea, the Dreaded Thunder, Zyhark!"
As the captain of the national guard, he paid more attention to the news of the sea than other residents.
"What? Warlord of the Sea?!!"
Hearing this title, Wapol panicked, his legs giving way, collapsing on the throne.
His crafty eyes darted around before quickly regaining his composure.
"So what? Whoever dares to mess with my country must be executed, no matter who they are!!"
Ignoring Dalton's advice, Wapol fired at Zyhark.
However, instead of black bullets, a smoke grenade secretly swapped by someone else shot out from the cold barrel.
Boom! The smoke grenade exploded in front of Zyhark, covering the entire spacious hall with thick white smoke, blocking everyone's view.
"Dalton, as the king, I order you to stop him at all costs!"
Leaving this death order after transforming into a handsome man, Wapol ran without a second thought, completely losing his previous arrogance.
Despite his bluster, when it mattered, he was very self-aware.
Realizing that the intruder was hostile and capable of killing him, he didn't hesitate to flee!
This was the reason why the Blackbeard Pirates would later find the Drum Kingdom empty.
Zzzz!
Lightning flashed, scattering the dense smoke.
"Indeed, a slippery coward."
Zyhark stood calmly in the circle of guards who had rushed in, not hurrying to chase Wapol.
With the speed of lightning and the range of Observation Haki, what's the harm in letting Wapol run a few meters first?
"I don't know why someone like you appears in Drum Kingdom, but I can't let you pass."
The sturdy figure blocked Zyhark and Meowth's path.
Captain Dalton, in his strongest Zoan form—Minotaur, stood with a stern expression.
He had a good presence but appeared too briefly.
Lightning flickered, and within a second, Dalton, struck by lightning, lay twitching on the ground.
Zyhark stepped past the unconscious Dalton, facing the guards with their guns raised.
"Courage is commendable, but foolish loyalty will make this country sicker."
This was directed at both Dalton and the "dutiful" guards.
Unfortunately, the guards didn't seem to listen, pulling their triggers hard.
Zzzz!
Before the gunshots, roaring thunder engulfed the entire hall.
Meanwhile, in the castle's armory.
A panicked Wapol pulled out his prized super weapon—Royal Tin Plate Crown Seven-Barrel Shotgun Cannon.
Swallowing the cannon whole, his appearance transformed again, now bearing a giant cannon.
No matter what, if I destroy the entire castle, let's see how you survive! With this crazy thought, a cruel smile appeared on Wapol's lips.
"Dalton must be following my orders, stopping that bastard, right?"
"What if he couldn't even hold for a second?" A dull voice came from behind.
"Impossible, no matter how useless, Dalton is still my captain!"
Wapol immediately dismissed this absurd claim, then realized something was wrong and froze, "Huh?"
Blinking his wide eyes, he anxiously turned his stiff neck to look behind him.
A man with a bright smile came into view.
"Ahhhhh!!!!"
(End of Chapter)