"You... you are subordinates of the Celestial Dragon?"
The Drum Castle you're looking for is located on Drum Rockies, which is 5,000 meters high...
I... cough cough, I'll take you there!
I only hope that you adults will truly grant my daughter health..."
Hearing what Yi Xiao and the others said, the mother nodded heavily.
Everything happened so fast that she didn't quite understand the cause and effect.
But having always been concerned about her daughter's health, she already knew what she needed to do!
The adult took her daughter away, intending to find Dr. Kureha to heal her.
His subordinates wanted him to lead the way to find her king, Wapol!
In an instant, the woman knelt clearly before Yi Xiao.
She kowtowed heavily and shouted at Yixiao.
"I'll lead the way right now, please don't deceive me!!!"
Of course not!
Faced with the mother's tearful plea, Yi Xiao nodded heavily.
Immediately afterwards, the snow beneath the mother lifted her into the air.
Let's go!
Yixiao nodded to Kuma and Shiryu.
Upon hearing this, Shiryu grinned fiercely, then waved towards Spandam in the distance.
"Spandam, get your cleanup crew ready, hehehehe!!!"
Amidst the laughter, Shiryu stepped onto the foothold formed by the condensation of a smile, and the three of them, along with the parents, flew towards the distant mountains.
Meanwhile, Gawain above, watching Gawain transform into lightning beside him...
Dalton was already speechless with astonishment.
Even the little girl in Gawain's arms, who was extremely weak, showed a slight increase in spirit at this moment.
She hesitated for a moment, then grabbed Gawain's collar, which was half lightning bolt and half fabric, and asked softly.
"Am I... am I already dead?"
Is this the world of death?
I'm flying, um, so are you the angel taking me to heaven?
But I didn't see your wings?
"Wings?"
Hearing the girl's weak voice in his arms, Gawain nodded gently.
"If you like, you can have it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a pair of enormous wings made of lightning, resembling those of Thunderbird, suddenly appeared behind Gawain!
Looking at the wings on Gawain's back, the girl closed her eyes in relief.
"So beautiful... such beautiful wings."
In that case, even if I die, I can die with a clear conscience..."
What are you thinking about?
Gawain gently tapped the girl's head, then looked at Dalton, whose face was filled with astonishment.
"Dalton, pointing the way, Rumble-Rumble Fruit; it's nothing more important than the patient's life!"
"Yes!!!"
Upon hearing this, Dalton quickly recovered from his surprise and then pointed to the southwest.
"The witch's cottage is right next to the lake in the southwest!"
"A lake?"
Gawain murmured to himself, quietly activating his Observation Haki. The snow was falling incessantly in the sky here, and he couldn't find his way with just his eyes!
So, relying on his Observation Haki Gawain, Gawain swiftly slashed southwest!
The next instant, Gawain, who was moving at high speed, suddenly sensed the aura of a powerful being!!!
"That's...?!?"
Meanwhile, in the witch's hut, Chopper was preparing a potion under the witch's guidance.
"While instructing Chopper," the witch said softly.
"For the next few days, you're not allowed to go out. A large group of troublesome guys have arrived at the docks, it's Celestial Dragon's ship..."
I've seen them before, but I've never seen one this huge; it's truly extravagant.
I haven't paid attention to those things for a long time, and I can't even tell which Celestial Dragon's flag that is, let alone guess who those terrifying auras on the ship belong to.
"Whoever he is, anyone who can mingle with the Celestial Dragon is just a lackey like Kong, huh..."
As she spoke, Kureha picked up the bottle and took a big gulp.
She put down the bottle and tilted her head at Chopper, who was looking at her.
"Why are you looking at me? Do you have something to say, Chopper?"
"Why?!!"
Chopper was immediately frightened by Dr. Kureha's imposing gaze and quickly turned his head away.
Seeing this, Kureha smiled with satisfaction.
"That's right. I'll be keeping a close eye on you these next few days."
Tsk tsk, Sky People, those are all legacies of an era, a huge mess... um?"
At this point, Kureha's brows furrowed sharply, and she abruptly looked northeast.
At the same time, her left hand gently grasped the throwing knife behind her waist.
"You brat, stay in your room by yourself. I'm going out for a bit."
A really troublesome guy is on his way... Wait!!!
Why was he so fast?!
The moment Kureha cried out in surprise, Thunder suddenly appeared in her room.
Sizzle sizzle!!!
The loud crackling of electricity startled Chopper, who looked over in surprise.
At the same time, Kureha swiftly drew her throwing knife.
"Rumble-Rumble Fruit!"
With a swift shout, Kureha's throwing knife turned black and she hurled it towards Thunder!
At the same time, they faced more than twenty throwing knives flying towards them, each carrying a heavy layer of Armament Haki.
Gawain narrowed his eyes in surprise.
"Such skillful Armament Haki!"
As he spoke, his body rapidly split open into several cavities, allowing the throwing knives to pass directly through them!
Beside them, the lightning bolts formed the shape of a person.
Chopper let out a roar, his mouth opening so wide it looked like it could fit a pineapple inside!
Immediately afterward, Chopper's short legs moved with lightning speed, and he rushed in front of Kureha, letting out a loud shout.
"Dr. Kureha!!!"
Lightning has come to life!!!
Get out of the way!!!
As he spoke, Chopper immediately tried to transform, knowing that he would be struck by lightning even if he did, but all he wanted was to protect his doctor.
While Chopper looked on nervously, Gawain picked up the little girl and squatted down in front of Chopper.
Taking advantage of Chopper's momentary lapse in attention, Gawain ruffled Chopper's fluffy head.
"Hey, you're Chopper? You're so cute."
"Why?!!"
Upon hearing Gawain's praise, Chopper was completely stunned!
He was gesturing wildly in surprise, while simultaneously cursing loudly.
"Don't touch me, you... monster..."
Saying someone is cute or something~~~, baka~~~."
Well, Chopper initially seemed a bit angry, but then, before he could even finish Chopper, the reindeer shyly twisted into the shape of a noodle.
And Gawain...
Hearing Chopper's words, he rolled his eyes in exasperation...
"Uh, okay, as expected of the legendary Hatchan bastard..."
Bang!
Gawain gently tapped Chopper on the head, Gawain turned to look at Kureha. At the same time, Dalton, who had landed with him, finally realized what was happening.
He rushed to Kureha and stopped Kureha attack.
"Dr. Kureha, this is Saint Gawain, Celestial Dragon. He brought this child here for treatment!!!"
The child is sick, but his family doesn't have the money to see a doctor!
You haven't left the lake recently, and there was an avalanche a couple of days ago, so this child has been delayed until now!
"Thanks to Saint Gawain for bringing us here, otherwise, this child probably wouldn't have made it!"
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Kureha pursed her dry lips, then frowned.
"Celestial Dragon?"
As she spoke, Kureha placed her hands on her slender waist and carefully examined Gawain's eyes.
Kureha looked at him for a good three or four seconds before nodding.
"Leave it to me. This child has a classic lung infection. She must have accidentally wandered off to play near Wapol's factory these past few days."
Chopper, stop being so coy! We're doctors!
As they spoke, Kureha took a big gulp of strong liquor, while Chopper, beaming with joy, rushed to Kureha's side.
Seeing that the two doctors were well-prepared, Gawain handed the girl over to them.
Kureha and Chopper then took the girl to the ward, leaving Gawain's sight.
Watching Kureha and Chopper walk away, Gawain narrowed his eyes slightly. These two really had typical doctor personalities, completely uninhibited.
Chopper is one thing.
But Kureha...
She was the person Gawain had met on this ocean who cared least about being Celestial Dragon.
When Kureha looked at Gawain, the indifference she showed was even more pronounced than that of Garp!
Noticing Gawain's gaze, Dalton took a deep breath.
"Saint Gawain!"
He spoke respectfully to Gawain.
"Dr. Kureha has always been like this; she's capricious, doesn't care about anyone's status, and only cares about patients and money..."
So... her attack just now... this..."
Thump!
Dalton knelt heavily before Gawain.
"That attack was definitely unintentional, although I have no right to say anything to you."
But I beg you not to take your anger out on the Drum Kingdom and Dr. Kureha because of this.
I am willing to take the blame for them, and I will find a place to commit suicide afterward.
"What layoffs?"
Listening to Dalton's words, Gawain shook his head in boredom, then found a stool and sat down.
Sitting there with an air of authority, Gawain reached behind him with his left hand, pulled out the Red-Haired Shanks's wine gourd, and took a satisfying sip.
He then gently raised his right hand.
Instantly, the bioelectricity within Dalton's body directly controlled his nerves, causing him to stand up from the ground.
"Ha... In this freezing cold, it really feels great to have a sip of strong liquor."
As for you, Dalton...
Imagine I just rescued a little girl; that would make me happy.
So, don't bring up unhappy things at this time.
You really don't know how to be shrewd. If it were Spandam, one of my men, he'd be praising me to the skies, haha!
Amidst laughter, Gawain reached out and tossed the half-empty gourd of wine into Dalton's hand.
Meeting Dalton's utterly astonished gaze, Gawain nodded.
"Find a place to sit down, have a couple of drinks with me, and chat for a bit...!"
"Want a drink? Count me in, Celestial Dragon!"
Suddenly, Kureha's voice rang out from the side; she had pushed open the door again and come in.
Seeing the way Gawain was looking at her, Kureha shrugged her old shoulders.
"Why are you looking at me? The girl's symptoms are severe, but it's just a simple illness. That guy is more than enough to handle!"
Or are you saying that even someone like you, who ate the legendary Rumble-Rumble Fruit and looks like Celestial Dragon who has weathered many storms, is a narrow-minded person who doesn't believe that reindeer can save people?
As soon as she finished speaking, Kureha casually walked to the chair opposite Gawain, Erlang her legs, put her left hand on the back of the chair, and waved her right hand at Gawain.
"Would you mind letting me try some of the Celestial Dragon's sake?"
"This isn't Celestial Dragon's wine. All wines in the world are brewed by the hard work of ordinary people!"
Gawain responded with a laugh, then tossed the gourd of wine toward Kureha.
After catching Gawain's gourd, Kureha was surprised and weighed it in her hand.
"A very high-quality wine gourd, but it shouldn't be yours, right?"
This gourd has been used by someone close to their body for at least twenty years!
"Indeed, Dr. Kureha has excellent judgment!"
Gawain nodded appreciatively at Kureha's assessment.
"This is Red-Haired Shanks' gourd. I made a trade with him, and now he's keeping my gilded gourd as a pet, hahaha!"
Amidst the laughter, Gawain took out another gourd, one for each of the three of them.
Then he raised the gourd to Dalton and Kureha.
"A tribute to the snow and frost that have endured for a thousand years!"
Upon hearing this, Kureha smiled deeply and raised the gourd in her hand.
"A toast to the gourd of wine belonging to one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, held by the Celestial Dragon!"
After saying that, Kureha grinned at Dalton, her hawk-like eyes making Dalton nervously raise the gourd.
"Respect... respect Saint Gawain!!!"
Dalton shouted, trembling, then tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.
Seeing this, Gawain and Kureha exchanged a smile, and then each took a sip of their drink.
Kureha put down the gourd and pointed at Dalton.
"That guy, oh, he's always been so bad at talking."
Or rather, rigid, upright, inflexible, but kind enough—that's his personality.
So, if he does anything that displeases you, Celestial Dragon, don't blame this stubborn ox.
"Take all your anger out on this old woman like me..."
"Ha ha."
Hearing Kureha's words, Gawain smiled and raised his gourd to her.
"Dr. Kureha, you can just call me Gawain."
As for Dalton, or whatever it is...
Gawain pondered for a moment, then looked towards the distant Drum Mountain, which resembled a giant chimney.
"I am indeed angry, but that has nothing to do with you."
Whether it's Dalton's folly or the knife you threw at me.
None of them are as good as your king, which makes me even more dissatisfied!
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain turned around and looked at Kureha again.
He pondered for a moment and then asked Kureha.
"By the way, Dr. Kureha, what do you think would happen if Dalton were to become the king of this Drum Kingdom?"
This kind of kind-hearted stubborn bull, especially after eating the Ox-Ox Fruit... a brave bull?
"If he were to temporarily assume the throne, he probably wouldn't end up like Wapol, a complete idiot, would he?"
As he spoke, Gawain picked up his wine gourd and took a satisfying sip.
At the same time, Dalton quickly knelt down again in front of Gawain.
"Saint Gawain, what has King Wapol done to offend you!"
I... I can explain for him, he...!"
"What do you mean, 'him'!"
Bang!
Kureha smashed the gourd in her hand directly onto Dalton's head!
Kureha looked at Dalton with a face full of disgust.
"Didn't you see this is an opportunity given to you by the Celestial Dragon?!"
What an opportunity! Damn it, isn't this the chance you've been dreaming of—the chance to save this country?!
Faced with such an opportunity, you actually went and pleaded for that Wapol!
You idiot!!!
"Wait, my gourd!!!"
No sooner had Kureha finished speaking than Gawain transformed into lightning, catching the gourd Kureha had thrown.
I carefully examined the gourd in my hand. Thank goodness, it's alright.
This gourd has probably been played with by Red-Haired Shanks until it's half black, because even when Kureha threw it, it didn't suffer any damage.
Meanwhile, Kureha was stunned for a moment as she looked at Gawain, who seemed distressed.
Then she waved her hand sheepishly.
"Hey, it was my fault for not paying attention. Do you need me to apologize?"
When I was traveling before, my mother heard from the people of Wano Country that an apology was only considered formal enough if one bowed so deeply that one's breasts were exposed.
So, do you need it?
"No, please don't!!!"
Looking at Kureha's teasing face and the series of wrinkles on her face that made her look like an old witch.
Gawain quickly waved his hand.
Although Kureha has a really great figure, even on Drum Island, a Winter Island, she always wears a crop top, showing off her smooth skin.
But her face...
Cough cough.
Kureha, this witch, has the body of a twenty-year-old but the face of an eighty-year-old...
Therefore, Gawain's eyes were filled with rejection!
Seeing Gawain's cold Gawain, Kureha smiled and waved her hand again.
"Haha, you're such a tease, but after a little teasing, I know what's going on."
You're not your average Celestial Dragon.
By "ordinary," I don't mean the fattened idiots in Mary Geoise, but rather those like the Five Elders —excellent, yet always aloof and arrogant.
You, haha, you're one of the few Celestial Dragon I can actually find pleasing to the eye!
"Why?!!"
As soon as Kureha finished speaking, Dalton, who was standing to the side, was so frightened that he changed his position and knelt down before Kureha!
He then spoke to Kureha in a state of collapse.
"Dr. Kureha, please... please stop talking!"
Those are Celestial Dragon! How dare you speak to Celestial Dragon like that?!
If you anger him, the Drum Kingdom will cease to exist!!!
"Hehe!"
Hearing Dalton's voice, which was full of sobs and tension, Kureha shook her head dismissively.
"You really are a coward, Dalton. Didn't you see that Saint Gawain himself doesn't mind?"
You really don't understand social etiquette at all. We should just give Saint Gawain whatever he likes!
Do you really think you know better than a 129-year-old woman like me how to entertain important guests?
At this point, Kureha pulled out a bottle of Black Jack from behind her and raised it in Gawain from afar.
"Right, Saint Gawain? Comparing you to the Five Elders will certainly make a self-important strongman like you more satisfied, won't it?"
Haha, although saying that terrified Dalton, in your eyes, or rather, compared to what you think...
Those ordinary Celestial Dragon of Mary Geoise, aren't they just a bunch of idiots?
"Even if someone is a fool, they're not a fool you can insult to my face..."
In response to Kureha's words, Gawain casually raised his gourd as he spoke.
"This is a one-time exception; there will be no next time. They are, after all, my own people."
After all, at least 80% of everything I have is due to my status as Celestial Dragon.
So, if you're going to insult the Celestial Dragon, at least do it behind my back!
After saying that, Gawain took a leisurely sip of his drink, while Kureha, not far away, nodded knowingly.
"In that case, I understand. I'll just not mention them in front of you."
However, since we're drinking now, we should at least find something to talk about, right?
If I can't praise you by belittling your own kind, then what can we say?
Is it medical expertise, or my wretched reindeer son, or perhaps a conversation about the king of this island and country, Wapol?
As she spoke, Kureha's sharp gaze turned to Gawain, and she grinned, revealing her deeply wrinkled lips, and asked.
"Saint Gawain, even if you are Celestial Dragon, isn't directly punishing the king of an Affiliated Nation a bit too much trouble?"
Aren't you afraid that the other Affiliated Nation will be affected if they perish?
"Sanctions?"
When asked about Kureha's question, Gawain smiled and shook his head.
"How could I be the one being sanctioned? It was Wapol who disrespected me first, wasn't it?"
At this point, Gawain took out a cigarette case from his pocket, lit one for himself, and tossed one to Kureha.
"Taking a drag of his cigarette, "Gawain chuckled.
"The Drum Kingdom was originally the most outstanding medical kingdom in the entire Grand Line, and even the entire ocean!"
At least twenty years ago, this was the first choice for every patient, including Celestial Dragon like myself, when they were seriously ill!
But after Wapol came to power, he actually dismissed all the doctors in the Drum Kingdom, leaving only the last twenty doctors to treat him.
This behavior is very disadvantageous, isn't it? Especially when Celestial Dragon like me needs a doctor!
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain shrugged at Kureha from a distance.
"In short, Kureha, and Dalton."
Wapol never understood that the true protector of the Drum Kingdom was not the king and his Munch-Munch Fruit.
It's not the excellent medical tradition here, but the fact that I'm qualified to be the kind of excellent doctor most people aspire to be!
But Wapol himself destroyed the Drum Kingdom's talisman, and from the moment he completely banished the Doctor, the Drum Kingdom was no longer worthy of being seen by Mary Geoise.
If he hadn't been lucky enough to synthesize a considerable amount of Wapometal using the Munch-Munch Fruit, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the Drum Kingdom...
Even if Drum Kingdom isn't kicked out of the Affiliated Nation, Wapol is very likely to lose his eligibility to participate in the Reverie!
At this point, Gawain exhaled a puff of smoke, then continued with a smile.
Was Wapol a tyrant?
Yes, he was indeed a tyrant.
But he was not a foolish king.
The decision to expel the doctors may not have been a sudden whim; I'm more inclined to believe that he actually used it to enhance his own competitiveness.
When the Drum Kingdom became famous for its doctors, his position as king was largely irrelevant, and he had very little competitive advantage.
But if the Drum Kingdom loses its doctors and relies solely on Wapometal, a special product suitable for advanced technology, to maintain its position among the Affiliated Nation and in the top fifty of the Reverie...
"That Wapol is one of the necessities of the Drum Kingdom and Mary Geoise."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain looked at Dalton, who was smiling as he spoke.
"In this respect, Wapol even has a little talent. He is not a good king, but he knows how to consolidate his position in his country."
However, in my plan, the fewer such superiors there are, the better!
Because the more a monarch is willing to use extreme methods to consolidate his throne, the greater the harm he inflicts on the common people!
To him, he was the king, and his people were to obey him!
But to me, he and his people are just my people!
So, Kureha, you want to talk to me about Wapol.
All I can say is that I dislike people like him, sitting on the throne of a king, supposedly above the common people!
As they were talking, a huge explosion suddenly occurred on the snow-capped mountain that could be seen from the window in the distance!
At the same time, a loud noise came from the distant Drum Mountain.
Hearing that sound, Gawain smiled.
He pointed to the window and laughed.
"Look, my companions have already made their move."
Dalton, some things are beyond your control. Prepare to become the new king.
But you must remember... everything you have is a gift from me.
So don't let me down.
It's the beginning of the month, so here's a long chapter of 6,000 words.
Tickets, please!