Chapter 39

Suddenly, numerous glowing projectiles shot into the sky, exploding into pink fireworks, and the falling snowflakes turned pink, drifting like cherry blossoms, clustering around Shanfeng and transforming it into a giant cherry tree.

"How beautiful!"

"Is it a cherry tree?"

"Is this a farewell ceremony for Chopper?"

While everyone was discussing,

Chopper was already weeping uncontrollably, sobbing loudly toward the giant cherry tree.

——Because these cherry blossoms were precisely Shiruluk's "medicine that would save the Drum Kingdom once it bloomed!"

"Doctor Dollie!!"

"Aoooooaaaaa——"

In Chopper's ears, faintly echoing, were Shiruluk's words.

"My name is Shiruluk, I'm a doctor, and I would never shoot you!"

"Chopper, that's a good name—I'll call you that from now on."

"You will surely become an outstanding doctor—I promise you!"

"Even if I'm gone, my dream will still come true!"

"I've lived a wonderful life!"

"Thank you, Chopper!"

"Alright, go now..."

"Foolish son!"

38. Brand-new development: Empty Hands Catch Bai Ren! Fish says it's insane!

After leaving the Drum Kingdom, Chopper's spirits sank deeply.

All he needed was to shift his focus.

Sima Di briefly told everyone Chopper's story, and Kuroshio was the first to speak up.

"Just like Laboon..."

"No way!" Laboon retorted: "I have the Luffy Pirates! I have you, Kuroshio! Chopper only had Shiruluk and Dr. Kureha... Now neither is by his side—he must be suffering terribly! He must be!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Kuroshio stood up and walked to the ship's rail.

"Chopper, I heard you're trying to create a universal medicine that cures all diseases?" Kuroshio laughed loudly: "That's a dream I never even dared to imagine—want to work on it together? I've got a few ideas."

Hearing this, Chopper, still grieving, immediately shifted his focus.

"Wow! You're the pirate king's ship doctor? That must be amazing!" Chopper exclaimed hopefully.

"So, want to join me?"

"Really? Can I really?"

"Of course. I've always wanted to take on an apprentice."

"Really? Really?"

"Absolutely!"

"Then... please take care of me from now on, Master Kuroshio!"

And so,

Chopper was easily won over by Kuroshio, who tossed him a pile of books taller than himself, telling him to study them thoroughly first.

"Wow! It's the only surviving copy of Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Illnesses!"

"Is this the expanded edition compiled by Baicao? I never expected Master Kuroshio to own it!"

Knowledge made Chopper forget his sorrow, drowning him in the sea of books.

Robin also guided Chopper on how to read more efficiently.

But even with all his busyness,

Chopper still appeared punctually at every mealtime.

"Sima was right after all!"

"Sanji is truly the most, most, most, most amazing chef in the world!"

"So delicious!"

Chopper's endless praise made everyone laugh.

Sanji's cooking had conquered the stomachs of everyone present.

Chopper had now fully joined the Straw Hat Pirates.

After sailing for another half-month, the Straw Hat Pirates once again faced a food shortage.

And the root cause was...

"Damn it!" Sanji glared at Luffy and demanded: "To reach Alabasta smoothly, I divided the food into twelve portions—now tell me why all of them disappeared last night?"

"Huh? I don't know." Luffy feigned ignorance.

This was precisely what enraged Sanji.

If you just told him you were hungry, he wouldn't refuse to feed you, would he?

Why must you steal the food?

At this moment,

Sima Di, watching the scene, suddenly said: "Luffy, aren't there bits of meat stuck to your lips?"

Luffy immediately clapped his hand over his mouth—his guilty, obvious posture was instant self-incrimination.

"Damn it!"

Sanji kicked Luffy hard, sending him crashing into the hull's outer wall.

He immediately complained to Nami: "Nami-san, you saw it too—the big mouse trap isn't enough anymore. Can I request a locked refrigerator?"

Because we just robbed all of Varpo's wealth, and we truly have this need.

Nami merely nodded: "Understood. I'll keep an eye out."

"Such a generous Nami-san is absolutely beautiful~" Sanji's eyes instantly turned heart-shaped.

Sima Di shook his head in disbelief—Sanji had been completely dominated by Nami for life.

He walked to the ship's edge and glanced at Usopp and Franky, who were fishing but had their mouths stuffed with food.

It seems Sanji has more than a few people to watch out for.

"Oh! Sanji, are you going to use that move again?" Usopp asked eagerly.

Sanji appeared out of nowhere, holding a net.

Sima Di nodded, then drew his Tang Dao and held it level before him.

After a dozen seconds,

a fat, plump fish suddenly leapt from the sea, its fins straining to clap together against the blade.

Perfectly catching Bai Ren with bare hands!

Since this technique only affects creatures directly in front of it, as long as Sima Di avoids people on the ship, any fish passing within its range will inevitably jump up uncontrollably to catch the blade.

If that fish could speak, it would surely curse loudly, wouldn't it?

Sanji swiftly snatched up the net and scooped up the large fish—now everyone's breakfast was secured.

"What a convenient ability!" Sanji remarked.

Sima Di: "......"

I'll take that as a compliment.

Soon after,

Sanji prepared the poor fish into "one fish, sixteen ways," and everyone feasted heartily.

"Since everyone's here," Robin said, "we're about to reach Alabasta. Shouldn't we discuss our battle plan?"

Regarding Alabasta's "Paradise Operation Plan," Robin had already laid everything out.

Therefore,

Usopp blurted out: "Let's go straight to the capital, Alubarna. If we protect Vivi's father, Alabasta won't fall into chaos, right?"