Chapter 197: Is This Thing Really Okay for Treating My Illness?

Ikalem fell silent at once.

In his eyes.

The only link between last night's monster—who possessed not the slightest killing intent yet could, by sheer presence alone, press everyone until they could not straighten their backs—and the knight was that outrageously handsome face.

"Vivi, even without the pirates' help, we can rely on the World Government."

A self-mocking glint surfaced in Vivi's eyes:

"Rely on the World Government to drive out a Warlord of the Sea they themselves authorized?!"

"Don't be naive."

"Even if we wanted the Marines to act, we'd need evidence. But right now, apart from the two of us, where have all the other people who saw Crocodile abusing the Dance Powder gone?"

"Didn't you see it with your own eyes…"

"The sight of those witnesses being buried in the desert by his own hands."

As she spoke, Vivi's body kept trembling.

Ikarame beside her could not speak either. He instinctively raised his head and saw Vivi's increasingly resolute gaze:

"Persuading Knight Gao Wen to act is our best—and our only—chance!"

"Otherwise, once Crocodile strikes first, even if the Marines arrive and drive him out, the damage and the civilians who die cannot be undone."

"This is a responsibility I must bear!"

Ikarame opened his mouth.

For the first time, he saw in Vivi the awakening befitting a crown princess.

"But as prisoners, what can we possibly do?"

Vivi drew a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and began sorting through the clues already in her mind:

"Perhaps out of absolute confidence in his own strength, Knight Gao Wen has not restricted our movements on this ship. That is our chance."

"To persuade him, we must first understand him."

"Since we can't communicate with him directly, we'll learn about him through the mouths of his crew."

"At least until we return to Alubarna, we still have a chance."

Hearing this, Ikarame's eyes lit up as well.

He thought for several minutes.

The more he considered it, the more feasible Vivi's plan seemed.

After all, Vivi was right—every extra day meant more people in Alabasta suffering because of Crocodile's presence.

And now the chance was right before their eyes; how could they bear not to try?

Besides, Vivi had always been the type to act the moment she decided.

Back then, once she uncovered Crocodile's use of Dance Powder, she immediately sprang into action—even going so far as to flee the Alabasta royal palace and make the bold decision to infiltrate Baroque Works.

"Understood."

"Vivi, no matter what, I support your decision."

Ikarame placed his hand over his chest, his eyes full of fervor:

"I will fulfill my duty as captain of the guard, until the moment I die."

Vivi nodded heavily:

"First heal your wounds, then look for a suitable target. Also, on Mr. Jabra's side, we need to help them out of their predicament."

"After all, they were dragged into this incident because of us."

Ikarame nodded, though a slight crease formed between his brows:

"Come to think of it, that man in the Gao Wen Pirates who dresses like a shipwright with a pigeon on his shoulder seems to be an old acquaintance of Mr. Jabra's team."

"Perhaps we can also use this lead to try to understand what kind of person Knight Gao Wen is."

"Mm."

……

The two had provisionally laid out their plan of action, intending to wait until Ikarame's wounds healed before making a move.

They hadn't expected the chance to come sooner than anticipated.

Night fell.

Outside the window, stars filled the sky; a gentle sea breeze drifted in through the porthole, bringing a thread of coolness.

Vivi closed the porthole, turned around, and saw a familiar figure.

"You're… the raccoon cat—no, the reindeer, Mr.?!"

Chopper, tiny as he was, with a large medicine box slung at his waist, stood at the door, peering nervously into the room.

Clearly, because of yesterday's events, he still harbored a trace of wariness toward Vivi and the others.

"I came to change the patient's dressing."

Vivi looked at Chopper in this doctor getup and was taken aback:

"The reindeer is the ship's doctor?"

"Of course!"

Chopper lifted his chin slightly, patted his chest confidently, looking every bit the part.

Ever since boarding the ship, he had taken over the ship's medical duties on Gao Wen's vessel, and with the two assistants' flattery, he had gradually grown more confident in his medical skills.

"I am the chief medical officer of this ship!"

Chopper's bearing, paired with his stuffed-animal-like appearance, instinctively endeared him to Vivi, and a doting smile crossed her face.

Recalling her actions the previous night, she could not help but say:

"I'm sorry, Doctor Reindeer~"

Chopper froze, raised a small hoof to pat his head, and squinted his eyes in a smile:

"Of course I can't say it's fine, you bastard!"

The hypocritical behavior left Vivi stunned on the spot:

"Can I take this as... it has forgiven me?!"

"Probably."

A bead of sweat trickled down Ikaram's forehead.

He found it extremely difficult to connect this adorable little creature before him with the monster from last night, over four meters tall and covered in explosive muscles.

"No..."

"Why does a doctor like you have such a burly build?!"

"Such immense strength."

Hearing this, Chopper extended a small hoof, waved it at Ikaram, his gaze sharp, and said:

"No!"

"Precisely because I am a doctor, I must have a burly build and immense strength!"

Ikaram asked, puzzled:

"Why?"

Chopper stepped forward quickly and placed the medicine chest beside Ikaram.

In the next instant.

Chopper's figure swelled, transforming into a muscular man over four meters tall, covered in thick fur.

For a moment, the ward was filled with an air of philosophy.

"What is a doctor's duty?"

Ikaram instinctively clutched the blanket on the hospital bed to his chest and said:

"T-treating the sick and saving lives?!"

"Exactly!"

Chopper nodded:

"But haven't you noticed something is wrong?"

"Uh..."

Before Ikaram could finish, Chopper explained:

"Why do doctors always try to make amends after the fact?!"

"You must know."

"Even if a companion's illness and wounds are healed, the pain they endured can never be undone!"

"So we must solve the problem at its root!"

These words almost perfectly aligned with Vivi's previous views on Alabasta and the Marines.

By the time everything happens, it is already too late; making amends afterwards is never as good as directly crushing evil in its cradle!

At this moment.

Vivi's breathing steadied and deepened; the look in her eyes toward Chopper now held a hint of kinship:

"Exactly, so we should crush evil before it occurs!"

Yet a trace of confusion also lingered in Vivi's eyes:

"But as a doctor, how exactly can one achieve this?"

"Very simple."

Chopper, in his human form, was extremely strong; even the expression on his face became incredibly confident.

Not only did his physique swell, but so did his heart, for immense strength brings the feeling of controlling everything.

"As long as we crush all enemies before our companions are injured, no one will get hurt!"

"This is the so-called panacea, the treasure left to me by Dr. Hiriluk."

In the midst of his words.

Chopper closed his eyes, placed his fan-like large hand upon his chest, and wore a devout expression, like a believer at prayer.

Yet this scene, seen through Ikaram's eyes, only made him feel a chill run down his spine.

Something is wrong!

Although I can't say where the problem lies, this theory is definitely flawed; after all, whose doctor's duty is fighting?

No...

Is it really okay for this thing to treat me?

Ikaram looked at Vivi as if seeking help, but saw only Vivi touching her chin with one hand, feigning deep thought.

You are actually thinking about this obviously flawed argument?

The cook is undoubtedly a pervert, the ship's doctor is a reindeer with nothing but muscles on his mind, the captain is a smiling tiger, plus so many existences as strong as monsters...

Can this group really pull Alabasta out of the abyss, rather than push it into another one?

Ikaram suddenly felt that the words he had spoken to Vivi were somewhat impulsive.

"My lord Vivi, perhaps we should just slip away?"

"Slip away?"

Vivi shook her head:

"Ikaram, Dr. Chopper shares the same ideals as I do."

"Placing his words on the level of Alabasta, isn't that expelling Crocodile before the harm occurs?"

"Now this is a true healer!"

Chopper opened his eyes and looked at Vivi, his gaze burning like torchlight:

"So your ideal is to heal an entire country? In that, you are very much like Doctor Hiriluk~"

"If he were still here, you two would surely have become friends."

Vivi shook her head, looked at Chopper, and stated firmly:

"No!"

"We will be great friends!"

She extended her hand into a fist, pressing it against Chopper's large paw.

Their eyes met, as if sparks were flashing between them.

It's over, Her Highness the Princess has also been possessed by evil spirits!

Seeing this, Igaram gripped the blanket in his hands even tighter; this giant of a man, standing over two meters tall, now looked as helpless as a child.

Something is wrong!

The Gao Wen Pirate Crew is wrong; there is something wrong with this group's brains!

I cannot let Her Highness the Princess stay here any longer; I must do something...

"This patient, please cooperate with me."

Chopper turned his head and walked toward Igaram; with every step he took, Igaram felt the floor tremble, and the sound reaching his ears was like the low whisper of a devil:

"Your injuries are severe."

"Luqi's strength ranks among the top within our group, and having once been an agent under the World Government, his strikes are far more lethal than those of others."

"Not only do you have multiple fractures, but your internal organs are also damaged; acting recklessly could lead to severe internal bleeding..."

"This patient?..."

"Igaram!..."

Igaram could no longer hear the words that followed from the two of them; the intense mental shock caused him to roll his eyes back and lose consciousness on the spot.

In a hazy state, he had many dreams.

Within the dream.

A reindeer person of massive build was chasing him, insisting on treating his illness, while Princess Vivi, who had originally helped him escape, had halfway transformed into another reindeer person.

"Don't come over here!"

Igaram jolted awake with a start, only to realize that everything just now had been a false alarm.

The bandages on his body had somehow been changed to new ones, the pain from his wounds had alleviated considerably, and even his strength had returned somewhat.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness."

"That reindeer with the broken brain—!"

Before he could finish speaking.

Igaram's expression instantly froze, for a massive shadow had somehow fallen over him from behind.

He turned his head little by little, and there he saw the very reindeer that had been chasing him in his dream.

"So my dream hasn't ended yet?"

The corners of Igaram's mouth stretched into a dry smile, and he immediately fell back into unconsciousness.

"Mr. Igaram?"

Chopper looked at Igaram in confusion, then looked at himself, puzzling aloud:

"His physical injuries are not light, but there should be nothing wrong with his brain."

He performed another detailed examination on Igaram, and after confirming there were no major issues, he turned to look at Vivi, his eyes already revealing a sense of kindred spirit.

"Vivi, you are the existence that understands me best."

Vivi smiled faintly:

"And are you not also the existence that understands me best?"

"Originally, I planned to get close to the people on this ship to learn about Knight Gao Wen, but judging by current appearances."

"That he can have such an outstanding crew member means Mr. Sanji's words were likely true; Knight Gao Wen truly deserves the two characters 'benevolence and righteousness'; he is a true knight."

Chopper nodded, unable to help recalling the experiences in the Drum Kingdom, a trace of longing inevitably appearing in his eyes:

"Our captain, by his own power, pulled the Drum Kingdom out of a desperate situation, even causing cherry blossoms to bloom in that country where snow falls year-round."

"If my medical arts are for healing people, then he possesses the ability to heal an entire country."

"Heal an entire country, huh..."

Vivi murmured softly, recalling a piece of history she had accidentally heard Cobra mention.

"It is said that several hundred years ago, Alabasta was also once an oasis, until a certain tyrannical king appeared, after which the entire country gradually turned into a desert."

"Turn an entire country into a desert?"

Chopper was stunned, suddenly remembering the patch of desert that appeared in the center of Dongdao after that battle ended.

No.

The scale between the two differs far too much.

The territory of the Alabasta Kingdom is countless times larger than Drum Island; to turn such a vast region into a desert, even with the captain's power, it cannot be done.

"Perhaps it is just a rumor."

"Mm."

"I am going to see the other patients."

Chopper smiled faintly, and with a bang, transformed back into his original small form, packed away his medical kit, turned, and left.

Vivi looked at Igaram lying on the sickbed, momentarily lost in thought.

"A man who, having witnessed suffering, would not simply stand by and do nothing?"

……

……

On the other side.

Jabra and the other two did not receive the same favorable treatment as Vivi.

After all, the latter was a princess of a World Government member nation and the captain of her guard; not only was her status sensitive, but if anything happened to her on Gao Wen's ship, it would be extremely difficult to explain matters afterward.

But the three of them were agents of the CP organization; even with Roubo Luqi's influence, Gao Wen could not possibly allow them to move about freely.

Once their wounds were bandaged, the three were locked away in a cell below deck.

Two meals a day—just enough to keep them from starving.

At this moment.

Jabra leaned against the wall; the Seastone handcuffs on his wrists left him utterly weak, unable to muster even a shred of strength.

Beside him, Kumadori and Fukurou likewise sat listlessly.

"Things have become troublesome this time."

"Before we could even infiltrate Baroque Works, we encountered another Warlord of the Sea."

"And even that fellow Roubo Luqi has undergone some kind of change..."

(End of Chapter)