A Genius?

After they arrived in the village, the group didn't stay long. They split up to buy supplies, since it would take several more days to reach Alabasta.

Sanji said he'd buy ingredients, while Nami and Vivi went shopping to check out the winter island's specialty mink coats.

The remaining four—Lina, Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp—planned to head up the mountain. They'd bought plenty of other supplies in Loguetown, and there wasn't much else they needed, so they'd asked Sanji to pick it up while he was at the market.

"Here's the list. Sorry for the trouble, Sanji."

"No trouble."

Sanji took the notebook and handed Lina a cigarette. "Then let's meet back on the ship when you're done."

"Sure. And buy some Vite Wine too. Here's the shopping money. You can keep whatever's left."

"Wait, Lina! We want some too!" Nami had dragged Vivi halfway away, but at that she immediately turned around and came back.

"No way!"

Lina said in exasperation, "I just gave you treasure worth several million berries yesterday. Don't get so greedy."

"Cheapstake." Nami left in a huff.

Lina: "..."

And I'm the stingy one? If I let you manage the money, I'd be living on scraps by now.

"Then let's go." Lina turned and walked toward Luffy and the others.

Luffy could barely contain himself. "Let's go, let's go!"

"Wait, wait! One more question. This mountain's so high—how are we supposed to get up there?" Usopp suddenly asked in a panic.

Luffy: "Huh? We climb it."

Zoro: "How else?"

Lina: "I guess that's the only way."

Usopp: "..."

The worst was when the air suddenly fell silent...

"Are you crazy?! If we fall from that height, we'll die!" Usopp shouted, baring his teeth.

Luffy: "Huh? Would we?"

Zoro: "Isn't there snow to cushion the fall?"

Lina: "We probably won't die."

Usopp: "..."

The air: "Here we go again..."

"Sanji! Wait for me, I'll help you!" Usopp chased after Sanji and left.

Lina chuckled. "Looks like it's just the three of us."

"Let's race to see who can climb that mountain first, hehe."

"Oh? Sounds pretty interesting."

"Can we use our Devil Fruit powers?" Lina couldn't help asking.

"Sure, I guess?"

"Wait, Luffy. He's planning to have the Blue Oni and Red Oni throw him up there."

"What?! That's cheating, Lina!" Luffy pointed at him indignantly.

The three of them soon set off up the mountain. They left Big Horn Village and entered the forest. As far as the eye could see, everything was blanketed in white. Without the several cylindrical peaks, it would've been easy to lose their bearings and get lost.

As for the one who got lost no matter which way he went, Lina had tied a rope around his waist and was holding the other end.

Before long, the blizzard stopped. A few rays of sunlight finally broke through the gloomy sky, glittering on the snow and making it hard to look at.

Taking advantage of the rare sunshine, the animals in the forest came out. They hadn't walked far when the three of them spotted an enormous bear.

The strange thing was that the bear stood straight up! It wasn't just capable of standing on two legs; it strode along like a person, holding an ice axe like a walking stick.

"This must be the hiking bear Dalton mentioned, right?"

Lina watched it with a puzzled look, recalling Dalton's suggestion before they parted. "He's here. Let's try bowing."

When the hiking bear came up beside them, the three bent over and nodded in greeting.

To their surprise, the hiking bear did the same, bowing in return.

This world really was full of wonders. There were all kinds of oddities. Lina couldn't help smiling. She'd been right to go out to sea. Who could stay home reading the paper all day in times like these?

"Wahahaha! This bear is so funny!"

Luffy was brimming with excitement. He turned and started after the hiking bear. "I've decided! He's joining our crew!"

Lina was speechless. She immediately grabbed Luffy's arm as he charged forward.

Jiu~~

Clatter!

After pulling Luffy back, the group walked for a while and finally reached the foot of Drum Mountain.

"All right! Let's start!" Luffy cracked his knuckles and looked excitedly up at the nearly vertical cliff.

Zoro took off his shirt and twisted it into a rope to tie his three swords to his back.

"It's a little cold, but I'll warm up once I get moving." Lina also took off her heavy coat, tied it around her waist, and knotted it.

"Let's go!"

"I'm ready!"

"Then let's start!"

Luffy and Lina charged off first.

Zoro, however, took his time. He scoffed, "Those two hotheads. Climbing a mountain takes stamina."

But Zoro would soon realize just how foolish he was.

"Are they trying to conserve their energy by keeping a steady pace?" Lina glanced down at Zoro and understood. She chuckled.

"I wonder what he's thinking. How could he possibly believe two Zoan users would run out of stamina?"

But Lina would soon realize just how foolish she was, too.

An hour and a half later.

"Wahahaha! I won!"

Luffy reached the summit and raised both fists, shouting at the sky. Then he turned and sprawled at the edge of the cliff, watching the race below.

"Damn it! How do you still have energy?"

"It's so high! I'm about to die!"

"Then hurry up and die, four-eyes!"

"Keep climbing, Green Algae Head!"

Both men climbed desperately, eyes bulging, using their hands and feet. The veins on their foreheads and arms stood out. Zoro was several steps behind, but Lina was clearly slower than him.

Both of them were nearly out of strength.

Lina stared at the finish line, so close she could almost touch it, with Zoro hot on her heels. She didn't even have time to think up a dirty trick.

She gritted her teeth, wrung every last bit of strength from herself, and climbed with all her might.

"Uwaah~~! Ora ora ora!"

"Wahahaha! Looks like Lina got there first."

In the end, Lina reached the finish line first. It was a victory for ora.

If the mountain had been just a dozen meters taller, Zoro would've caught up. What a shame his poor decision at the start had cost him the win.

The two of them lay spread-eagled beside the cliff, staring at the sky and panting heavily.

Everything had been witnessed by a figure "hiding" beneath the nearby castle wall.

"What strange humans."

A petite figure hiding in the opposite direction watched Lina and the others curiously. Below his round eyes was a blue nose, and he wore a red hat with an X on it.

Chopper carefully studied the strange humans who had suddenly appeared and murmured softly, "One has blond hair, one has green hair, and one... Huh? Where's the other one?"

He didn't notice that the one who'd disappeared had appeared behind him, eyes bloodshot and drool dripping from his mouth.

"Kehehehe~~ Don't run, my meat!"

"Waaah!!! Help!"

Hearing the scream, Lina braced herself on the ground and struggled to sit up. She looked toward the sound and saw Chopper's legs spinning like windmills.

Luffy, who had been hot on his heels, suddenly froze. The next moment, his eyes bulged and his jaw dropped as he shouted:

"The meat is talking!!!"

Lina immediately summoned several undead to block Chopper's path. Luffy leaped at him from behind, and it looked as if he was about to catch him.

But in the next instant, Chopper transformed into a tall, humanoid form. He clasped his hands together, turned around, and slammed them down on Luffy in midair, driving him straight into the snow.

Boom!!!

But an ordinary blow couldn't hurt Luffy. He yanked his head out of the snow and stared at Chopper, eyes shining with excitement.

"He changed, changed, he transformed!!!"

"Wahahaha! I've decided! I want him to join our crew!"

Lina: "..."

She suddenly remembered how Luffy had eagerly shouted that he wanted the hiking bear to join the crew back at the foot of the mountain.

Could he be a genius?

"What's all this racket?!"

A loud voice rang out from the castle entrance. Doctor Kureha held a bottle of liquor and stared at the three with a look of disdain. "Where did you three brats come from?"

"Waaah~~ Help me, Doctor Kureha!" Chopper's short legs churned frantically as he scurried behind Doctor Kureha, looking pitiful.