Aokiji Doesn't Take Patients

You're late.

Luo stared at Aokiji on the screen.

Aokiji stood at the entrance to the ship's medical room. The ten marines behind him did not enter, but instead guarded the passageways on both sides.

"How late?"

Sixteen years.

That did take quite a long time.

"You're going to pick up Lami?"

I need to take her to a safe place.

Where is safety?

Aokiji looked at observation bed number seventeen in the ship's medical room.

"This ship is not safe."

"The navy isn't safe either."

Sengoku said, "Kuzan, explain the source of your orders."

"I signed it myself."

"You cannot sign the naval transfer documents yourself."

Therefore, it is not a transfer document.

Aokiji held up the paper.

"This is a temporary medical transfer application; I am the recipient."

Luo said, "You're not a doctor."

"I used to serve on a naval hospital ship."

Chopper asked, "How long?"

"Six months."

Do you know how to treat Amber Lead?

"Won't."

Can you handle hypothermia recovery?

"Won't."

"Will you be able to handle any organ failure she might experience after she wakes up?"

"Won't."

Chopper slammed a treatment prescription on the table.

"Then what will you answer?"

Aokiji did not answer immediately.

"Take her away from here."

"To whom should it be given?"

"I will find a doctor."

"When?"

"On the way."

She doesn't have time to help you look.

"You also don't have enough equipment."

"The equipment can be removed."

"The Transfer Station is locked."

"The lock can be opened."

"The navy outside won't give you time."

Luo looked towards the door.

"You're here to stall."

Aokiji said, "I'll stall for time."

Sengoku looked at him.

Who wants to come in?

"I have no idea."

"You didn't know and you still came?"

People who know too much usually don't live long.

As soon as he finished speaking, footsteps sounded outside the ship's medical room.

Ten sailors turned around simultaneously.

A group of people in white protective suits appeared at the end of the passage.

They were not carrying naval weapons, but rather several metal boxes bearing the markings of the Medical Department.

The leading man glanced at Aokiji.

"Lieutenant Vice Admiral Kuzan, thank you for completing the reception."

Aokiji turned to the side.

"I didn't receive it."

The application has been processed.

The application stated that I was responsible for escorting them.

"Escorting also falls under the category of receiving."

"I don't acknowledge it."

The man gestured to his subordinates to open the box.

Inside were a restraint strap, anesthesia needles, and several vials of blue medication.

Chopper glanced at it.

"This is the medicine to put her back into hypothermia."

The patient needs to be transferred.

"She just woke up."

"Waking up increases the risk of pain and loss of control."

She is not a sample.

We know.

Why are there tranquilizer darts in your box?

The man handed the document to Aokiji.

"Medical treatment."

Aokiji glanced at it.

"There are no patient names here."

"Observation bed number seventeen."

I was asking about people.

"The person in the bed will move with the bed."

Aokiji folded the document.

She doesn't move with the bed.

The man said, "Lieutenant Vice Admiral Kuzan, please don't obstruct official business."

Who said I'm in the way?

You're standing in the doorway.

I'm standing here so you can't get in.

Sengoku asked, "Kuzan, what exactly do you want to do?"

Aokiji looked at the communication screen.

I received an old file.

Who sent it to you?

"A person who is already dead."

"Who?"

"Rosinante."

Luo's hand touched the Kikoku.

"He sent you his file?"

"It wasn't sent out now."

Aokiji took a small Den Den Mushi from his pocket.

"Thirteen years ago, he left a message on the Minion Island. Neither the navy nor the Revolutionary Army received it. Later, a child handed it to me."

What did you say?

Aokiji pressed the Den Den Mushi.

Rosinante's voice drifted out, broken and intermittent, through the wind and snow.

"If I don't go back, don't hand Lami over to either side."

Luo's breathing paused for a moment.

Recording continues.

She will choose for herself.

Who is that child?

Aokiji did not answer.

Lami looked at the Den Den Mushi.

"Uncle Corazon."

"Yes."

"Have you seen him?"

I've met him once.

Why did he give it to you?

"He was injured at the time and couldn't return to Marine Headquarters."

Did you help him?

"It helped."

How did you help?

"Get him onto the ship."

Which ship?

Aokiji shifted his gaze to Miiru.

"White Swallow".

Miiru's expression changed.

"You've been on a ship?"

That night.

Why didn't you take Lami with you?

She refused.

You're leaving already?

"Rosinante also said that you can't force her to come along."

Luo asked, "Did you know she was here?"

"Know."

"You knew she was being used as a case study?"

"Know."

"Did you know she might not live more than a few years?"

"Know."

"So what did you do?"

Aokiji stood at the door, offering no defense for himself.

I delivered the message to Xiong.

Where's the message?

Lami refused to leave.

"So you only submitted the application?"

I delivered two copies.

"Who gets the other copy?"

"For your parents."

Luo looked at him.

Aokiji took an old piece of paper from next to the Den Den Mushi.

"I told them that the Revolutionary Army had a safe place where they could receive Lami."

Why didn't they leave?

They need to send the other children away first.

"Then he died at the mine entrance."

"Right."

Luo looked away.

Chopper asked, "Then why did you come today?"

"Because the Medical Department wants to dispose of White Swallow and Lami together."

How long did it take you to receive the message?

Two hours.

What did you do in those two hours?

"Bring the navy that can be mobilized."

"Only ten people?"

"The rest of the men will seal off this mine tunnel."

Drake asked, "And then what happens after we seal it off?"

Nobody can get out.

"Including you?"

"Including me."

The man from the Medical Department outside the door said, "Vice Admiral Kuzan, it's time."

The Aokiji turned its head.

"What are your plans to do?"

"Move the observation beds, retrieve old equipment, and remove unauthorized personnel."

"What about the old doctor?"

"Unregistered personnel will be treated as sources of pollution."

The old doctor sat in a wheelchair, holding a medical record folder in his hand.

"I heard you."

The man glanced at him.

"That's good."

Aokiji placed his hand on the door frame.

"You can't go in."

"On what grounds?"

"Because I got here before you."

You're just a temporary escort.

"Then I refuse to escort you."

The man reached for the Den Den Mushi.

Aokiji raised his hand, and a layer of ice spread across the ground, freezing the soles of his shoes.

The naval soldiers did not draw their swords.

They already knew they were no match for Aokiji.

The man handed the Den Den Mushi to the person behind him.

"Reporting to headquarters, Vice Admiral Kuzan has refused to execute the takeover order."

Sengoku's expression changed.

"Kuzan, you know what this means."

"Know."

You will be stripped of your military rank.

"Military rank can be discussed further."

"You will become a traitor who obstructs government affairs."

I've heard that title many times.

Luo asked, "How long are you going to hold them off for us?"

"Until you send Lami away."

Where to send it?

"The bear's safe spot."

Where is he?

"I have no idea."

"You didn't know and you still told me to go?"

All I know is that you have the key.

Aokiji took out an old metal plaque from his pocket.

The sign has a bear paw print engraved on it.

"Rosinante gave me this plaque before he died."

Luo accepted the metal plaque.

There is a line of small characters engraved on the back.

[Given the patient's consent, hand it over to Xiong]

Luo looked at the hospital bed.

Lami was awake and listening to them talk.

"Lami."

"Um."

"Someone wants to take you to a safe place, would you like to?"

"Is my brother going?"

I'll walk you to the door.

"You can't get in?"

"I have no idea."

"Then I won't go."

Aokiji said, "You can bring him along."

Can you guarantee that?

"Cannot."

"Then I won't go."

Luo gripped the metal plate tightly.

The ice outside the door began to crack.

The Medical Department took out a new key and inserted it into the lock of the ship's medical room.

"Luo."

Lami grabbed his sleeve.

"I don't want to sleep anymore."

Nobody told you to sleep.

They will let it.

Chopper stood in front of the hospital bed.

"Then let's block them out first."

Aokiji raised his hand, and an ice wall blocked half of the passageway in the ship's medical room.

The sound of artillery fire could be heard outside.

The naval soldiers began to retreat.

The Sengoku asked, "Where did the cannons come from?"

Aokiji looked into the depths of the passage.

"They're not one of ours."

The mine map on the screen expands automatically.

A black submarine appeared below the White Swallow.

The boat had no flag, only an open bear paw.

Vegapunk magnification mark.

"This is an older model used by the Revolutionary Army."

Luo looked at Aokiji.

You said you didn't know where the bear was.

"I really don't know."

A communication access Transfer Station for submarines.

A deep male voice came from inside.

"Lami, can you hear me?"

Lami looked up.

"Who are you?"

There was a long silence on the other end of the communication.

"I am a bear."

Luo stood by the hospital bedside.

"You're taking her away?"

"If she's willing, I'll take her with me."

"She doesn't want to."

"Then I'll wait for her decision."

"The people outside won't wait."

I'll make them wait.

A loud bang came from outside the submarine.

The walls of the Transfer Station shook, and the Medical Department fell to the ground.

The bear's roar came again.

"Rosinante said that the brother would find his sister."

He said you would pick her up.

"I received it once."

She refused.

So I waited for the second time.

Lami looked at Luo.

"Elder brother."

"I am here."

Where will Uncle Bear take me?

"Safe spot."

Will you come along?

Luo remained silent for a moment.

"I will follow."

Lami turns to the communicator.

"Then I'll go."

A new prompt immediately appeared on the Throne screen.

[The patient consented to the transfer]

[Please specify the recipient]

Lami raised his hand and pointed to the communicator.

Bartholomew Bear.

[Recipient identity verification in progress]

[Identity conflict exists]

[Revolutionary Army Cadres]

[World Government's Most Wanted Criminal]

[Former King of the Kingdom]

[Please confirm the risk of receiving this]

Lami said, "He's Uncle Bear."

The page did not respond immediately.

Luo looked at the page where Lin Qi was located.

Write this down.

Lin Qi raised his hand to submit.

[Patient's designated recipient, Bartholomew Xiong]

[Medical transfer application established]

[Risk borne by the recipient]

The man from the Medical Department outside the door got up.

"You cannot hand the patient over to the Revolutionary Army."

Aokiji said, "She chose it herself."

The government will not recognize it.

She doesn't need government recognition.

The man pressed the button on the Den Den Mushi).

"Execute mandatory recall."

The floor of the ship's medical room on the White Swallow ship has cracked.

An iron chain extended from below and became entangled in observation bed number seventeen.

Luo reached out and opened the ROOM, about to cut the chain, but Lami grabbed his hand.

"Brother, leave the bed here."

"What?"

They want a bed.

What do you need to bring?

"I."

Lami looked at Chopper.

Can I get out of bed?

Chopper stared at her for a few seconds.

"Yes, but you can't stand."

"Then hug me."

Luo bent down and picked her up.

The girl was so light she was practically weightless, with a respirator and tubing wrapped around her body. Chopper followed along, unplugging each connector one by one.

The observation bed number seventeen was dragged towards the crack in the floor by iron chains.

Luo carried Lami across the chasm.

She leaned against his shoulder, still clutching the white Button in her hand.

Aokiji raised his hand and froze the iron chain.

Miiru rushed into the ship's medical room and stamped the captain's seal.

"The White Swallow does not accept patients."

The Throne Page also lights up.

[Observation bed number 17 has been retrieved]

[Patient transfer completed]

[New Recipient, Bartholomew Xiong]

[Original observation project, terminated]

The sound of machinery stopping could be heard coming from below the crack.

Immediately afterwards, all the lights in the ship's medical room went out.

In the darkness, Lami leaned against Luo's shoulder and whispered:

"Brother, when we get home, could you make me some bread?"

Luo hugged her tightly.

"Able."

Can you do it?

"Study."

"Then you learn it first."

The ice wall outside the door cracked.

Aokiji glanced back; the Navy and Medical Department personnel were closing in again.

"Luo, let's go!"

"And you?"

"I stayed."

"They will arrest you."

"Send her away first."

Luo carried Lami towards the submarine entrance.

As soon as I stepped out of the ship's medical room, Xiong's voice came through the communicator.

"Luo, your parents left behind a boat."

Luo stopped in his tracks.

"Where?"

"Right below the White Swallow."

What's on the ship?

The bear did not answer.

The submarine's searchlight shone deep into the mine.

An Old Ship, encased in rock, slowly began to emerge.

The sails were long since rotted, but the Trafalgar family clinic sign still hung on the bow.

A line of text was written on the cabin door.

[Last patient, please do not board the ship alone]