Impetuous Hajrudin

The sudden voice was frantic, accompanied by thunderous footsteps as though they would crush the floor.

With a whoosh, the library doors were shoved open, and a wild gust sent pages fluttering everywhere.

A massive shadow fell over them as Hajrudin poked his head inside, frantically searching the library for something.

"Teacher Saul, Mom—Mom, she...!"

Catching sight of the two tiny figures on the ground, Hajrudin froze for a moment. He restrained himself slightly, but he still looked as though his hair were on fire.

"You..."

"I'm Mobius, and this is Shyarly. We're Gaban's friends, which makes us friends of your Uncle Asan. We came here to read. Nice to meet you."

"Hello, I'm Hajrudin. Just now..."

Hajrudin spoke sharply and was about to say something when he noticed Saul approaching and immediately rushed over to him.

"Teacher Saul, I—I..."

"Hajrudin, calm down! Don't be so impatient!" Saul pressed a hand on Hajrudin's shoulder, trying to steady the young giant's heart.

After taking several breaths, Hajrudin finally twisted free from Saul's grip, only to grab Saul's shoulder instead.

"I can't calm down! Mom is lying in bed right now—she can't even sit up! How am I supposed to stay calm?!"

Hajrudin roared, his eyes nearly spitting fire. He had never been a particularly composed person, and now the person most important to him was bedridden. He was frantic with worry.

"If you're like this, I won't even know how to help you."

Saul spoke seriously, pried Hajrudin's hand off his shoulder, and walked over to Shyarly.

"The books you wanted."

Saul handed them over with a smile. There were actually two books: one suited for giants, while the other was sized for ordinary people.

Shyarly accepted them and looked at the large and small books with slight surprise.

"These are...?"

"Since we need to let outside visitors read them, we copied them into suitable sizes."

"We?"

"Ah, Biblo did most of the work. It can read and write. I hear it's been here for centuries—it's the true master of this library."

"Since newspapers brought by News Coo aren't suitable for Elbaf, Biblo used to read newspapers bought by fishermen, then write them down for us to read. It's very clever."

"Huh?"

Holding the books, Shyarly looked up at the old owl. Biblo gave her a gentle smile, its expression carrying the warmth of an elder.

Only then did the group turn back to Hajrudin. After being left aside for a while, he had finally managed to restrain himself.

"Teacher Saul, there are no doctors left in Elbaf who can treat my mother's illness. I need to go overseas to find one!"

"Please tell me every island where doctors who might cure my mother can be found!"

Hajrudin bowed deeply, bending the waist of a warrior.

"Ida..."

"I understand."

Saul murmured the name, his face filled with dejection.

What had happened? How had Ida suddenly fallen ill? He had gone to that tavern not long ago and shared a few drinks with her...

Saul turned and went to look for books documenting famed medical sanctuaries, as well as relevant maps.

As Hajrudin watched Saul disappear, his body began trembling uncontrollably.

From the branches above, Biblo looked down helplessly. It wanted to comfort Hajrudin, but having lived through several centuries, it had seen too many partings of life and death.

Shyarly did not know what to do either, and instinctively looked to Mobius for help.

Mobius was thinking. He remembered that Harald's lover Ida's illness seemed to be...

"Your name is Hajrudin, right? Did you tell Gaban about your mother being sick?"

"Gaban? Uncle Asan?"

Hajrudin lowered his gaze to Mobius, still as impatient as before.

"What would be the point of telling Uncle Asan? He traveled overseas in the past too, but he's been retired for many years. I can't disturb him."

"You don't know who Gaban is?" Mobius shrugged and asked.

"What identity?"

"He used to be one of Roger's crewmen. Roger's ship doctor was once known as the greatest doctor in the world. They should still know each other."

"What did you say? The greatest doctor in the world?!"

Hajrudin abruptly lowered his head, his eyes practically bulging out.

"Really?"

"I swear on my name."

"Where is Uncle Asan now?!"

"The tavern."

Bang!

Another deafening crash rang out as Hajrudin stormed out of the library in a frenzy, completely ignoring the books he had just asked Saul to find.

Hearing the door slam, Saul hurried back out. Seeing that Hajrudin was gone, he was utterly baffled.

"Where did Hajrudin go?"

"I recommended a doctor for him."

Mobius waved, drawing Saul's attention.

"Who?"

"A friend of Gaban's, supposedly the former greatest doctor in the world."

"Asan has friends?" Saul's mouth fell open in disbelief. "He has friends?"

"You didn't know?" Mobius was somewhat confused now. Hadn't this giant once been a Marine?

Saul shook his head hard, completely unaware.

"Alright, let's go. Hajrudin should have found the right person by now. Let's take a look."

Mobius rubbed Shyarly's head, bringing the girl back to her senses, then looked at Saul.

"By the way, Saul, there's something..."

"Uncle Asan!"

By the time Hajrudin dashed to the tavern, Gaban and Rayleigh were already drunk senseless.

Gaban had learned about Kozuki Oden. Though he had never liked Oden much in the past, that had been an internal matter.

Now that Oden was dead, and it concerned their former captain borrowing someone, they had to help their captain at least once as his crewmen.

One matter was one matter, and after that came the time to drink in remembrance. When Hajrudin arrived and explained everything, Gaban abruptly sobered up.

"Boss Ida is sick? Why didn't you tell me earlier, kid?!"

Gaban cursed under his breath. He had been wondering why he had not seen the tavern owner for the past few days.

Since she was Harald's lover, Gaban had not felt it proper to ask too many questions. That was why he only learned of it now.

"Darling!" Ripley cried out heavily, worry filling her eyes. She and Ida were friends.

"Don't worry, leave it to me!"

Gaban slapped his chest, pulled out a Transponder Snail, and quickly dialed a familiar number.

The Transponder Snail went pururururu a few times before connecting with a click. The receiver was picked up, and a voice came through.

"Gaban? You bastard, what made you decide to contact me today?"

The Transponder Snail's appearance changed, taking on the image of an old man with petal-like ornaments behind him and a balding hairstyle.

"Enough. Of course I'm calling because I need something! I've got a patient here."

"Oh?"

When Mobius and the others returned, Gaban and the rest were clutching a Transponder Snail and hurrying outside.

The two groups looked at each other and quickly joined up.

Before long, at Ida's doorstep, they were about to go inside and ask about the situation when an arrogant voice rang out first.

"Hey, Big Mom from outside, I heard you're sick now. Are you even going to survive?"