Bring Them Before You

"Jade Scale Disease? I never thought I'd see this illness again."

"Can you treat it?"

"What do you think?" The old man, whose hairstyle resembled a blooming flower—bald on top, with his remaining white hair spread around him—glanced at the patient before him, Bonnie.

Then he raised his head and looked at Xia Che. As though something had occurred to him, a strange glint flashed through his eyes before he let out a long sigh. "If I could treat it, Roger wouldn't have died from an incurable disease back then."

At the mention of that name, Kuma, who clearly knew who it was, immediately widened his eyes.

As if he had understood something, he stared at the man before him in disbelief.

That was right. This man was Crocus, the ship's doctor of Pirate King Roger's crew.

Back when Roger had contracted an incurable disease, the Roger Pirates had invited him aboard in order to complete their journey through the Grand Line. And because he wanted to find the Rumbar Pirates, who had entrusted Laboon to his care years ago, Crocus had ultimately accepted Roger's invitation and completed the voyage alongside the Roger Pirates.

But after the adventure ended, Crocus returned to Twin Capes, where he cared for Laboon while serving as the lighthouse keeper.

Since Xia Che had secretly traveled between the Grand Line and East Blue several times, of course he knew the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Grand Line~

"Roger?" Xia Che's expression also turned strange at the mention of Roger's name. Looking at Crocus, he asked, "Roger had Jade Scale Disease too?"

He knew Laboon as well, so after running into Laboon earlier, he had decided to come find this doctor~

"Of course not~" Crocus's face darkened. "It was just another equally troublesome disease!"

As he spoke, he looked once again at this fellow who kept spouting nonsense.

Yet even he had to admit... this guy was simply not a normal Marine!

Especially...

Crocus looked over the people behind Xia Che, his gaze passing over Devil Child Robin, Tyrant Kuma, and Moke, the new overlord of East Blue. A clicking sound escaped his lips without him realizing it~.

Then his gaze returned to Xia Che. "You've really gathered a vicious bunch around you. Compared to being a Marine, you ought to become a pirate instead. You'd definitely give the World Government a headache!"

However.

"Now isn't the time to talk about such trivial matters!" Xia Che waved a hand and looked at the small figure lying on the hospital bed.

They were inside Laboon's body, so there was no need to worry about exposure to sunlight, as long as they were a little careful.

Frowning, he asked again, "There really isn't any way?"

"I truly don't have a way to completely cure this child right now."

As Crocus's words fell once more.

Kuma, who had been full of hope that such a legendary doctor might have a cure, immediately lowered his eyes in disappointment again. Bowing his head, he muttered, "There really isn't any way?"

"Daddy, Bonnie will be fine!" Hearing the disappointment in her father's voice, Bonnie gave him an adorable smile. She raised her head and said resolutely, "Bonnie still wants to travel with Daddy!"

"Mm! Bonnie will definitely be fine!"

However.

Though Kuma said this with an equally resolute expression, he knew... he truly had no options left.

But as her father, he absolutely could not show even a trace of despair in front of his daughter.

Just as the father and daughter encouraged each other.

Then.

"While I can't cure this child right now, I can still ease her condition somewhat." Crocus directly interrupted them with a sigh. "It's just that..."

He frowned. "If you want this child to grow up healthy, you'll still need to find a way to cure her."

Without paying any attention to Kuma, whose eyes had filled with tears as he looked at him gratefully, Crocus glanced at Xia Che. "You came to find me because you wanted me to do that, didn't you? Looks like you've already found another solution?"

The moment he said that.

Immediately.

"Boss..." Kuma looked at Xia Che again in excitement, opening his mouth as if he wanted to say something.

He had originally thought the boss's plan had simply been to find Crocus, but it now seemed there was another way?

Before he could say anything.

"There is another way, but it can't be done for now." Xia Che nodded and said directly, "I'm still a little short!"

"A little short? Fine~" Crocus waved his hand and did not dwell on it. "If you really do manage to cure this child someday, remember to bring her here for me to see. I'm quite curious about what method you have!"

As he said that, he let out another long sigh. "I just don't know where a fallen colonel stationed in East Blue got this kind of information. What a pity. If only you also knew where the Rumbar Pirates were!"

However.

The moment those words fell.

Just as Crocus wore a regretful expression.

"I know!"

"???" Hearing Xia Che suddenly say that, Crocus looked up at him in confusion. "You know?"

"That's right, I know!" Xia Che nodded, looking at Crocus in surprise. "Didn't I tell you?"

You said jack shit!

Crocus gritted his teeth and glared at Xia Che. "When the hell did you ever tell me that?"

"Oh, oh, oh, maybe I forgot. Besides, you never asked!"

"So, the Rumbar Pirates..."

"They're all dead. They died in the Florian Triangle!"

"?!"

Hearing that, Crocus froze, then let out a sigh. "So they really are all gone? I'd already guessed as much deep down, but I never thought it would truly be..."

Before he could finish—

"Although they all died, there's still one crew member... who should be dead." Seeing Crocus's dark expression, Xia Che rubbed his chin and hurriedly explained, "Well, he's not completely dead either. You know Brook, the Rumbar Pirates' musician, right? He's now..."

As Xia Che explained, Crocus gradually seemed to understand what had happened. His mouth twitched, as though he had never expected things to develop in such an... absurd direction.

A dead man had returned to life?

"If you hadn't been the one telling me, I might've thought someone was trying to fool me. There's a Devil Fruit like that? Where the hell did you get this information?" Crocus shot Xia Che a strange look, then spoke sternly. "What are you doing on the Grand Line again? Are you really planning to go to sea as a pirate? If it's something you can't tell me, then don't. I'm retired now. If it's troublesome, don't drag me into it!"

"There's no way I'm becoming a pirate. I'm doing perfectly well as a colonel in the East Blue—why would I go to sea and become a pirate?" Xia Che waved a hand dismissively. "I just took on a big job recently and came over to negotiate it in person."

The moment he finished speaking—

Just as Crocus was wondering what kind of business could possibly make this guy violate Marine law again and come to the Grand Line—

"Pururururu, pururururu~"

A familiar Den Den Mushi ringtone rang out.

Xia Che expertly picked up the Den Den Mushi.

When he saw the familiar horizontal scar appear across its forehead, Xia Che immediately knew who was calling. A warm smile spread across his face. "Big Brother Crocodile, I've found the Devil Child—Robin!"

Before the stunned Crocodile Den Den Mushi could ask anything, Xia Che sighed under everyone's strange gazes. Shaking his head with faint regret, he said, "It's just that the Devil Child was far too cunning. She actually got away. But don't worry—I guarantee I'll catch her. Just transfer another three hundred million now, and I'll bring her right before you!"

As Xia Che's words fell—

Crack!

The sound of a wooden board splitting came from Crocodile's Den Den Mushi!

"Are you screwing with me?"

A cold voice followed from the Den Den Mushi's mouth.