On Drum Island, in Drum Kingdom, snow and wind swirled through the air, and the temperature was bitterly cold. Yet the kingdom itself was warm as spring, and the King of Drum Kingdom was handling state affairs in the main hall.
Suddenly, the doors of the main hall were pushed open. A blast of cold air slipped through the gap as a tall official hurried inside. With an anxious expression, he bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, the medicinal supplies we gathered through the major trade associations have been seized by Pirates."
The King, who had been handling state affairs, changed expression. He threw down his pen and suppressed his anger. "Which Pirates did this?"
"Wasn't it said there would be no problems?"
"Your Majesty, according to the survivors, they were first attacked by eight pirate ships. The attackers encircled them with perfect precision, so the merchant ships' transport route must have been leaked."
"While they were fiercely battling the attacking Pirates, another pirate crew joined the battle."
"This pirate crew had only one pirate ship, but that ship was enormous—nearly ten times larger than an ordinary pirate ship."
"There were not many Pirates aboard, but every one of them was strong. In less than half an hour, they destroyed four of the pirate ships that had attacked them, terrifying the remaining Pirates into fleeing in panic."
"The merchant ships ordered a retreat in separate directions, but that pirate ship latched onto them. Though large, it was extremely fast and caught up with them."
"The medicinal supplies aboard have now completely fallen into their hands..."
"Damn Pirates!" the King of Drum Kingdom cursed. Although Drum Kingdom was a major medical power, its territory was limited, as were the island's resources. Many medicinal supplies had to be imported from outside.
"Which pirate