In the distance, on Drum Mountain.
From the ruins of the royal city, the screams of Wapol's men echoed continuously.
On the snow nearby, the Kuma, holding Wapol's head in one hand, asked Yixiao without any politeness.
"It's just a small country with no powerful figures; this should be enough."
As long as the adults choose a suitable person to replace Wapol as the temporary king of the Drum Kingdom.
Then the country can transition very easily.
"That's right."
He nodded with a smile and said.
"Just as the adults say, on our future path, our enemy will not be a weak country, nor a powerful country."
We only have two enemies!
One is... all the countries united!
The other one is ourselves, who aren't resolute enough!
As soon as he finished speaking, he smiled and took a deep breath.
"The adults have spent a huge amount of money to support us soldiers."
He also devoted considerable effort to shaping the future of the ocean and improving and expanding the standing forces of the Dark Bird Ship.
Under these conditions, if we are still not resolute enough...
Wouldn't we be letting down the adults' time, energy, and money?
We must never let our superiors down. As for whether our superiors will let us down...
At this point, Yi Xiao listened intently to the distant fragrance, his Observation Haki expanding until he followed the trail of lightning that he had previously marked and focused on.
Gawain's location has been found.
As usual, he silently watched over Gawain's safety, then smiled and continued.
"How could our lord disappoint us? He has always been so resolute and courageous."
For example, he is currently working to find an excellent doctor for us.
That doctor was over 130 years old! Haha, a doctor like that must have unique methods for maintaining health.
Presumably, veterans like Rayleigh and Zephyr could all be rejuvenated... Wait, what?!
At this point, Yi Xiao suddenly clenched his teeth and shouted quickly to Kuma.
"Bear, take me southwest, quick!"
"Something's happened to the adult!!!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a smile instantly neutralized all gravity around him.
At the same time, the terrified bear slapped Yixiao away.
Immediately afterwards, he swiftly pulled out Den Den Mushi and dialed Rayleigh directly.
A moment later, Rayleigh, who was leisurely sitting on the Little Dark Bird guarding the ship, stood up and glared fiercely at the distant sky!
Right there in the sky, a meteorite was falling straight down.
As Rayleigh watched the meteorite gradually trailing a fiery tail, he suddenly raised his arm!
"Attention everyone, rest time is over!"
"Everyone, assemble immediately with the meteorite as the target!"
Accompanied by Rayleigh's roar, which seemed to shake the universe and was mixed with Conqueror's Haki.
Hancock, Gion, and the others who were strolling on the dock also looked up with unusual speed!
Watching the meteorite fall from the sky, Hancock didn't say a word, simply raising her foot and using Geppo to fly away!!!
And Gion...
She quickly gathered the three girls together and spoke to them swiftly.
"You three go find what... right now!"
"No, all three of you, return to the Dark Bird Ship immediately!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Gion exhaled heavily and suddenly drew her Konpira.
Meanwhile, Rayleigh, who was Geppo towards the location of the meteorite's descent, issued further orders from the sky!
"The Black Ice Terrace and the Iron Eagle Group will gradually take control of the villages and towns along the docks and the Drum Kingdom. Anyone who obstructs them will be killed without mercy!!!"
Kaku, Ace!
All ropeways on Drum Mountain are closed!!!
All officers of the Dark Bird Group, except for the children, are coming with me to rescue Captain Gawain!
Zephyr, remain at the Dark Bird Ship and the dock to observe the situation and take over on-site command of the Black Ice Terrace and the Dark Bird Group!!!
You personally take control of the situation, and if necessary, for example, if the conspiracy involving Captain Gawain is related to the civilians of the Drum Kingdom!
If necessary, utterly destroy the Drum Kingdom!!!
With his final, eye-opening command, Rayleigh vanished in an instant, heading straight for the location of the meteorite.
At the same time, Gion, Hancock, and the Jinbe Dark Bird Group members all rushed toward the location where the meteorite had fallen!
Watching the people's departing figures, Zephyr lost all interest in sitting on the sofa.
He put on an extremely cold face and fiercely raised his right hand!
"Gentlemen, I am Black Arm Zephyr, all of you heed my command!"
The entire regular force of the Dark Bird Ship was deployed, advancing along the docks into various towns, blocking all major transportation routes, and seizing all strategic high points!!!
Ace, break through all the checkpoints and defenses along each path!
Isuka, Kaku, Ain, Binz!
Control everyone you see, confiscate all weapons with blades and firepower, and kill every rebel who raises an arm!!!
Captain Gawain was actually attacked, and the attack even caught Yi Xiao's attention!
This island is more dangerous than we thought; not everyone is worthy of harming a user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit Devil Fruit User!
Everyone, get moving as fast as you can! Hurry!
In an instant, the Black Ice Terrace soldiers swept across the entire dock like a whirlwind, and then spread to every house in the village.
Faced with this sudden change, the people of the Drum Kingdom were almost dumbfounded. They had no ability to resist, after all, they had been oppressed by Wapol for more than a decade.
So, one by one, they were driven into the open space by the Black Ice Terrace soldiers!
At this moment, the Black Ice Terrace soldiers were already prepared to kill, because they had all heard that Saint Gawain had been attacked!
Therefore, the actions of the Black Ice Terrace members undoubtedly became more brutal.
Upon seeing this, Ace was about to explode!
One second he was wondering if the giant snow rabbits, a specialty of the Drum Kingdom, would taste good roasted.
The next second, how did the order suddenly sound like it was about to massacre the entire kingdom?
Was it because Gawain was attacked?
Beside him, Isuka was far more clear-headed than Ace!
She let out an incredulous shout.
"Gawain has been attacked!!!"
Damn it, is it a trap?!
If the attack is true, then the Drum Kingdom will face Buster Call!!!
Ace, what are you waiting for? Quickly take control of the major thoroughfares!
If there is no civilian resistance, and if Saint Gawain is safe and sound, then these civilians may be pardoned!!!
"Move quickly! We can't afford to be merciful! This country is just one step away from utter destruction!!!"
On the other hand, in Kureha's hut.
Hearing Kureha's words, Chopper shook his head in confusion.
"Has the body of someone in their twenties been depleted to look like that of someone in their fifties?"
It's like being on the verge of death countless times every day!
What kind of life is this? And what kind of person is that guy who praised me?!
He must be living a very tiring life.
"Snort!"
Kureha pouted in annoyance.
"Of course, this guy must have had a very tiring life."
I really don't know what it is that's worth him sacrificing so much for!
What a fool who doesn't know how to cherish his own body...
At this point, Kureha's eyes widened suddenly!
Immediately afterwards, she grabbed Chopper and rushed toward the door.
"This pressure!!!"
As she spoke, Kureha kicked open the door and stared at the sky in disbelief.
Before her incredulous eyes, an enormous meteorite was hurtling towards her house!
"Damn it!!!"
Looking at the giant meteorite, Kureha immediately started cursing!
"I haven't even sent a message to his men, how did they know what I did?!"
Could it be that someone has been observing this place with Observation Haki far exceeding my own?
What terrifying Observation Haki!
As she spoke, Kureha placed Chopper on her back.
"Grab your mother's head, you brat! Your mother's about to unleash her true power!!!"
Whether Gawain's subordinates are good or bad is still unknown!
But among his subordinates, there are definitely monster-level figures—those capable of fighting at least against the Emperors of the Sea and Marine Admiral!!!
They can actually Observation Haki!!!
What kind of terrifying monster is this?!
As soon as she finished speaking, Kureha reached behind her waist with unusual speed and pulled out an old gun with an incredibly thick patina, whose style was at least one generation behind the popular firearms of today.
Kureha raised her gun, aiming at the meteorite in the sky, and grinned at her withered lips.
"Meteor!!!"
Bang!
Whoosh!
Accompanied by her voice, bullets imbued with boundless Haki swiftly rushed towards the meteorite.
The moment the bullet exploded on the meteorite.
Boom!!!!!
What exploded was not a bullet, but a nuclear bomb with an extremely large yield!
In an instant, the meteorite summoned by Yixiao shattered into countless fragments!
However, since the meteorite was meant to be a marker for everyone, Yixiao didn't care about its brokenness.
At the same moment the meteorite shattered, Yixiao used the bear's impact to rush to Kureha's vicinity.
He raised his sword and slashed down hard, shouting as he did so.
"Doctor!
My Observation Haki has been observing you all along. I've heard every word you said and I understand your purpose!
But I must tell you, some people's safety is not something to be joked about!!!
With a roar, Yixiao's blade slashed fiercely towards Kureha!
Meanwhile, Chopper's entire reindeer was flattened under the weight, while Kureha coldly felt the pressure from all around her.
"Whether it's meteorites from the sky or the drastically changing gravity around me that's blocking my movement and ability to dodge!"
"Are you a user of the Press-Press Fruit, monster?!"
As she spoke, Kureha raised her gun with her left hand and pulled a throwing knife from behind her waist with her right.
"Pistol in the left, knife in the right, "Kureha shouted excitedly.
"Go forth, Stars!!!"
Whoosh whoosh!!!
In an instant, countless projectiles and numerous throwing knives coated with heavy Armament Haki pierced through the air and rushed towards Yixiao's location.
Faced with the incoming attack, Yixiao lifted his foot and leaped high into the air.
Immediately afterwards, his sword, imbued with immeasurable gravity, slashed fiercely at Kureha!
"I have emphasized before that the safety of some people should not be used as a test!!!"
Do you want the Drum Kingdom to be completely destroyed, Doctor?!
With a roar, Yixiao's blade slashed fiercely at Kureha.
"Gravity Blade, Mountain Break!!!"
Whoosh!
Boom!!!
In a split second, Kureha was sent flying by Yixiao's attack, crashing through her own house and continuing her flight towards the forest by the lake, amidst the terrified gaze of the little girl patient.
As she flew backward, Kureha painfully vomited blood.
"Damn it, I miscalculated. It's not a matter of whether that guy's crew is capable or not."
It seems... like it's a question of whether I'm worthy of being his crew member!
Speaking of which...
Thump!!!
Kureha crashed violently through the last tree and continued flying towards the solid mountain wall.
Meanwhile, in front of Kureha's hut, Ichisho completely ignored Kureha was flying backward.
He rushed into the hut with incredible speed and immediately helped Gawain, who had collapsed to the ground, to his feet.
"My lord, my lord!!!"
She gently patted Gawain's face, but Gawain didn't react at all.
Seeing this, he smiled and let out a heavy sigh.
"A unilateral treatment decision, and pointless probing—what a willful old man!"
Oh no, this is a huge problem!!!
Amidst the laughter, the sound of footsteps echoed from afar.
And then there was Hancock's incredibly tense shout.
"Gawain!!!!!"
Roaring, Hancock rushed into Kureha's hut, following the sound of the impact.
When she saw Gawain unconscious in Ichisho's Gawain, Hancock's veins bulged and her pupils turned into rings!
"How dare you harm my daughter, Gawain!!!"
Hancock let out a chilling roar, then charged straight into the distant woods.
Gawain now has a smile that provides close protection, which is even more effective than his own close protection!
As for her!
If she doesn't kill someone, how can she unleash her uncontrollable rage?!
At the same time, Gion, moving even faster than Hancock, rushed forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Hancock, sword in hand!
She didn't want to say a word; the motive of killing had already dictated her final thoughts!
The next moment, Kureha, who had barely stopped from her slashing attack, was suddenly confronted by a high heel shrouded in Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki.
And a sword, so sharp it seemed capable of slicing through the entire world, imbued with the swordsman's boundless rage!
Seeing the attack, Kureha took a deep breath.
"Oh no, we've stumbled upon a monster's lair!!!"
As she spoke, Kureha quickly raised her hands high!
"Wait, I surrender! You young people, don't bully a 139-year-old man like me!!!"
I'm almost 140, and next year I'll be 150. I'm already a much weaker old woman than someone in their eighties!!!
As for Gawain, he's fine; I'm treating him!
"A coma is part of the treatment process. Damn it, how can I treat his body if I don't put him in a coma?!"
At this point, Kureha quickly looked towards the leg and the knife that were carrying immense power in front of her.
To everyone's surprise, even after she surrendered, Gion and Hancock showed no sign of stopping!
Seeing this, Kureha helplessly picked up Chopper and threw him far away.
At the same time, she raised her arms, covered in Armament Haki, to her chest while continuing to yell at the two women who were almost losing their minds.
"Gawain is dying. Without my treatment, given how much he's depleting his cellular potential, he won't even live past forty!!!"
Don't think I'm exaggerating!
"At least for now, only I can restore Gawain's cellular potential!!!"
"What!!!"
"You...?!!"
Gion and Hancock finally reacted after Kureha shouted those words.
In the next instant, Gion's blade slashed diagonally past Kureha, the whistling blade energy spreading outwards and directly cleaving the small mountain behind Kureha in two!
At the same time, Hancock's high heels and her incredibly beautiful long legs were firmly nailed to Kureha's ear.
Boom!!!
The powerful leg strike sprinted forward, kicking the small hill that had just been cleaved in two by Gion into a shattered mess!
Hearing the noise behind her, Kureha gritted her teeth in frustration.
"Damn it, how long has it been since I last read a newspaper!"
When will there be someone on the high seas who can control you lot?!
Although I don't recognize that blind man from earlier.
But you two, one is a candidate Admiral in the Navy, and the other is the Pirate Empress, one of the Shichibukai!
How could you all be on the same side, working for the Celestial Dragon?!
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Hearing Kureha's words, Hancock reached out without hesitation and grabbed Kureha's collar.
"Is Gawain's coma really just a treatment?"
Also, is Gawain's illness really that serious?
"Are you the doctor he's looking for?!"
"Of course I..."
Kureha was about to respond to Hancock's words.
In the distant sky, a voice filled with Conqueror's Haki power rang directly into Kureha's ears!
"Smile, why is Gawain in such a coma that he can't be woken up!"
Who is it?!
With a shout, Rayleigh, his white hair bristling, charged towards Kureha like a rocket!
His mere sprint stirred up incredibly violent air currents, which uprooted the trees nearby!
Watching Rayleigh's retreating figure, Kureha raised her hands in frustration once again.
What is this?!
Ah?!!
I must have stumbled upon a monster's lair!!!
Where did all these monster-level powerhouses come from?!
Why would people like you gather in such a small Drum Kingdom?
Using a cannonball to kill a mosquito!
Ah?!!"
Because I was focused on certain news yesterday, I was too distracted to write, and the chapter was delayed for quite some time before I finally finished it.
As for what I'm focusing on, you probably already know.
Yes, I was indeed only following the recent news about Russia's decision to launch a blitzkrieg against Poland.
Russia is awesome, the Emperor is great, haha...
In short, I've served in the military and been involved in flood relief efforts.
If war breaks out, I will return when summoned.