"Whoooosh—"
Snowflakes swirled as a massive thundercloud passed overhead.
Dr. Kureha, though a seasoned traveler, was momentarily stunned by the sight of the enormous cloud Homie, resembling an island. "So… this is your 'ship'?"
"Hehe, yes! I used my Soul-Soul Fruit to infuse this giant cloud with life, creating the enormous island Homie!" Gerd replied with a proud smile. "We call it Atlantis, the airborne fortress of the Fallen Angel Pirates!"
"Ma-ma-ma-ma, see that fully armed, white-armored army up there?" Linlin added, pointing toward the Homie army. "All of them were crafted by Gerd from hardened wax and then given life as Homie soldiers!"
"Don't underestimate them," she continued. "They're as strong as any Navy elite squad, maybe even stronger!"
"To be able to do all this… the Soul-Soul Fruit truly is an astonishing power…"
Dr. Kureha marveled as she took in the massive island cloud, Atlantis, and the impressive Homie army with human-like faces and expressions. This cloud fortress alone would make it difficult for the World Government to confront them directly.
And to think, the Soul-Soul Fruit could create such an army on such a scale. This crew might indeed prove to be one of the World Government's most formidable foes.
"El-sama…"
"Gerd-sama…"
Two figures, a giant pterodactyl knight and a giant griffin knight, led hundreds of aerial soldiers in formation as they descended and saluted the group. The leader of these soldiers seemed to possess intelligence as sharp as a human's—no surprise, since it contained the soul of a Navy rear admiral. With its steel body and flight advantage, it had considerable combat capabilities.
"Dr. Kureha, what do you think?" El asked, gesturing at the colorful bubbles and enchanting sights of the dreamlike landscape.
"Heh, it's like I've stepped into a fairytale kingdom…" Dr. Kureha remarked, taking in the Homies of various shapes and the vibrant bubbles floating in the air. "I never imagined you'd even manage to cultivate Yarukiman Mangrove trees like those on the Sabaody Archipelago!"
"That's thanks to El Oniichan!" Linlin beamed, her eyes crescent-shaped with pride. "He can control plant growth and shape, making it easy to grow Yarukiman Mangroves and other plants in no time!"
"I see…" Dr. Kureha observed El thoughtfully, a spark of understanding dawning in her eyes. "So, that's why the Hell Trading Company has an endless supply of food and medicinal herbs?"
"Just a minor trick," El replied with a dismissive wave.
Now that he had the Logia-type Woods-Woods Fruit, he could simply train someone with potential to handle this task, leaving him free from the responsibility.
"Hehe, with your 2 Billion Berry bounty, you're practically a walking gold mine…" Dr. Kureha chuckled, looking him over with feigned regret. "I should've asked for more!"
Gerd laughed. "Heh, Dr. Kureha, you've boarded the pirate ship now. It's too late to back out!"
"Ku-chak-chak-chak~ well, I guess I'm stuck…" Dr. Kureha chuckled, her words teasing but her tone warm.
She knew El had shown true sincerity. Given her experience and skill in medicine, she was no doubt valuable, but not irreplaceable. Many pirates might have resorted to threats if turned down, but El had instead offered her a generous contract, proving his genuine desire to recruit talent.
She didn't consider herself the world's best doctor, yet here she was being offered a million Berries a year for non-combat duties alone. And as El had mentioned, if she developed new medicines to sell on a large scale, she'd even receive a share of the profits.
Of course, money was only a secondary concern.
What Dr. Kureha truly wanted to see was just how far El and his ambitions would go. That was what she genuinely looked forward to. If he managed to fulfill his vision, she wouldn't mind serving as the Minister of Health or Medical Affairs in the new Totto Land Kingdom.
In life, everyone chases either fame or fortune. For a doctor, whether motivated by wealth or a genuine desire to help people, there's always a part of them that dreams of making an indelible mark in the field of medicine, to be remembered for their contributions.
What people often call "letting go" is, more than anything, a compromise with harsh reality, a way of resigning themselves to whatever path they can follow.
When Dr. Kureha was younger, she, too, had boldly believed she could someday change Drum Kingdom. But as time passed, she realized that while she could save many individual patients, she couldn't change the nation itself, much less cure its deeper societal ills.
"El—Captain!"
Moss and Little Oars approached. They had opted to stay back, uninterested in the cold climate of the winter island. Tsuru, Nef, Utan, Lillian, and the others, however, had eagerly gone ashore, likely to return with various local products from Drum Kingdom.
"This is Dr. Kureha," El introduced with a smile. "She's a highly skilled doctor with years of experience… and our newest crew member!" He turned to Dr. Kureha, gesturing, "This is Moss, and this is Oars."
"Hello, Dr. Kureha!"
"Nice to meet you…"
Kureha nodded, eyeing Moss and Little Oars with curiosity. Pointing to the green-skinned, horned, devilish-looking Little Oars, she asked, "I've seen the Mink Tribe before, but what species is he?"
"Little Oars is from the Ancient Giant Race, descended from the legendary 'Devil' Oars of the North Blue," Gerd explained. "He's also a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user, so he can adjust his size freely."
"Tsk…"
Dr. Kureha was amazed. She knew from the bounty posters that El's crew included various races—Fish-men, Longlegs, Snakenecks, and more. From earlier conversations, she'd also learned that Gerd, who looked almost human, was actually a Giant and used Devil Fruit powers to reduce her size. But she hadn't expected to find the rare Ancient Giant Race among them.
And then, of course, there was El himself—a member of the legendary Lunarian Race. It was clear he genuinely intended to create a kingdom that united every race.
"By the way, Dr. Kureha, would you be interested in becoming a Devil Fruit user?"
El took a Paramecia-type Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit from his pocket, holding it out to her. "This is a recent find from Drum Kingdom's royal palace. I think it would suit a doctor like you perfectly."
"Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit?"
Dr. Kureha raised an eyebrow, intrigued, as she took the fruit.
"The Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit grants the ability to release various spores…" El explained. "With your medical expertise, you could develop it to create new medical treatments."
"For instance, perhaps you could use harmless spores to enter the body and eliminate harmful bacteria. Or, spores carrying medicine could deliver it directly inside the body, allowing for full absorption and enhanced healing effects."
"Or, you might even develop entirely new types of medicines using the spores."
"Like anything, it depends on how it's used—the potential can be good or bad."
To be honest, if Nef hadn't been so eager and already consumed the Pet-Pet Fruit, El would have kept this one for her. His suggestions were just examples of how the fruit's power could be used in medicine. For a skilled and imaginative doctor, the Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit could also be terrifyingly effective in combat.
"Ku-cha-cha-cha~ the way you put it does make it sound tempting!"
Dr. Kureha's eyes lit up at El's suggestions. Without further hesitation, she took the Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit and bit into it. "Alright, I'll give it a try!"