[Ding! You've engaged Wapol, also known as "White Iron," in battle and gained the favor of Captain Dalton. Sign-in progress +20%. Current total progress: 70%. Reward: Iron Body level +1. Current Iron Body level: Lv3.]
As Takumi reached the edge of the cliff where the cable car was stationed, the system notification echoed in his mind. By now, he was more than accustomed to these sudden task completions. He didn't give it much thought and boarded the cable car without hesitation.
The innkeeper followed closely behind, but Law didn't get on right away. Instead, he found himself blocked by Dalton, whose eyes were filled with sorrow.
"I know... this country is beyond saving. No matter how much I despise Wapol's tyranny, as long as I'm the captain of the Royal Guard, I have to fulfill my duties," Dalton said with a heavy heart. "I know you don't owe us anything. We were enemies just moments ago, and there's no reason for you to restore my men. But they had no choice but to follow orders. We are citizens of Drum Kingdom. If we don't obey the current king, Wapol... Well, I don't care if I die, but my men's fate... I'm sure you can guess."
Without waiting for a response, Dalton suddenly dropped to his knees in the snow. "Please, I'm begging you. Restore my men. You can kill me afterward if you want, I won't resist."
"Captain, you're kneeling to our enemy... You're too kind to us..."
"Captain, please get up..."
"Captain..."
Tears welled up in the eyes of the soldiers around them, and their sobs filled the air. Despite being grown men, they cried like children.
Law's eyebrow twitched. He had no intention of helping at first, but their incessant sobbing was beginning to grate on his nerves.
Meanwhile, the innkeeper, already on the cable car, chimed in on Dalton's behalf. "Dalton is nothing like Wapol. He's been good to us. Law, if you can help those men return to normal, you should. It's freezing on this cable car. Hurry up, would you? I'm fine, but I wouldn't want Takumi to catch a cold."
Takumi: "..."
Honestly, with his resilience, it was nearly impossible for him to catch a cold from this breeze.
Law remained silent for a moment before reluctantly helping Dalton to his feet. Though visibly annoyed, he still extended his hand and reactivated his ROOM ability. With a swift motion, he used his powers to restore the dismembered soldiers to their original state.
"Thank you… truly," Dalton said with deep gratitude.
Law waved him off, not in the mood for small talk, and made his way to the cable car. Once he was on board, Dalton ordered his men to start the cable car, sending them down the mountain.
As Takumi, Law, and the innkeeper descended, the innkeeper repeatedly expressed his thanks. Law occasionally responded, but Takumi remained silent, feeling there was nothing worth saying.
As they passed by a treehouse, its door suddenly swung open. Out stepped an old woman, dressed in a white crop top, purple coat, and matching wide-legged pants. Her long hair was loose, her face lined with wrinkles, and her tall, slender frame exuded a certain vitality. She held a bottle of plum wine in one hand.
Seeing the trio descending from the direction of Drum Peak, the woman took a swig from her bottle and flashed a toothy grin. "Hehehe, are you kids happy?"
"Who's that?" Law asked, puzzled by the unfamiliar figure.
"It's the witch!" the innkeeper stammered, beads of sweat forming on his brow.
The old woman grinned wider. "Want to know the secret to my eternal youth?"
The innkeeper quickly shook his head. "N-No, I didn't ask…"
Takumi merely gazed at the so-called witch with a calm expression. He knew exactly who she was.
This was Doctor Kureha, commonly known as the Witch. At 129 years old, she was an exceptionally skilled doctor, though her fees were exorbitantly high.
Kureha and the quack doctor Hiriluk were the only two who refused to leave Drum Island after Wapol issued his decree to hunt down and exile all doctors. Because of this, the two of them would be hunted by Wapol's men for years to come.
Most importantly, after Hiriluk's death, Kureha would become Chopper's mentor, passing on all her medical knowledge to him.
Kureha's eyes flicked between Takumi and Law, eventually settling on the flask hanging from Takumi's waist. She chuckled and stroked her chin. "You must be the kid everyone's talking about—the one using some kind of strange sorcery to heal people?"
Takumi nodded slightly.
"Hehehe," Kureha chuckled again, taking another swig of wine and wiping her mouth. "Interesting. How about this, kid? I'll share with you the secret to my eternal youth if you tell me the secret behind that strange healing sorcery of yours. How's that sound?"
Takumi: "..."
Not interested...
Law looked at the innkeeper with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "Who exactly is this old woman?"
Kureha's ears twitched. Without warning, she pulled out a small scalpel and hurled it at Law.
Law reflexively caught the tiny blade, surprised at its lightness. "A scalpel?"
"I'm only 129," Kureha replied with a sly smile.
The innkeeper leaned in close to Law and whispered, "She's Doctor Kureha. She's technically still a doctor here in Drum Kingdom. Her medical skills are top-notch, but her temper is... let's just say unpredictable. She only treats patients when she's in the mood, and her fees are sky-high. That's why everyone calls her the Witch."
"Is she really that good?" Law asked, raising an eyebrow.
The innkeeper nodded vigorously. "She's the oldest doctor in our kingdom. They say her medical skills are practically divine."
"I'm only in my 120s," Kureha interjected, tossing another scalpel, this time at the innkeeper.
The innkeeper jumped, his nerves getting the better of him. The scalpel should've just grazed his face, but as he stumbled to avoid it, the blade came dangerously close to his forehead.
"Ah!" the innkeeper yelped.
Law moved quickly, snatching the scalpel out of the air just before it could cut the innkeeper.
"Hehehe, you're one lucky fellow," Kureha chuckled, taking another swig.
At that moment, a rough voice called out, "Kureha, I've just developed a new miracle drug!"
A man appeared, walking briskly through the snow. He was clad in a green sweater and black coat, with a tall black top hat perched on his head. He carried a black briefcase adorned with a skull and crossbones.
The man stopped in his tracks upon seeing the three newcomers at Kureha's treehouse.
His gaze quickly zeroed in on the innkeeper. With an eager expression, he fished out a small vial of bubbling green liquid from his briefcase and dashed over. "Isn't that Mr. Bock? I heard you get colds a lot! I just developed this miracle cure. Why don't you drink it now and see how it makes you feel?"
"N-No, no, no! Stay away from me!" Bock protested, his face paling as he backed away frantically. "I don't want to die, just stay away…"
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