Chapter 82: Kuma Calls at the Door [6K]

The snow at the harbor was falling even harder.

"Mwahahaha!"

Wapol casually tossed a cannonball into his mouth and chewed it with a loud crunch. "Chess, did I hear that right? What did this guy just say? He wants to ask my doctors some questions?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Chess bowed low. "This outsider clearly doesn't know the rules of the Drum Kingdom. I shall have him..."

"Eh, no need!"

Wapol smacked his lips, still savoring the taste, and looked up at the burly man. "To be able to fly in the sky, and so fast at that—you, too, are a Devil Fruit user, right? And a strong one!"

Was he considered strong?

Kuma hesitated for a moment, thinking of the bounty he had just received not long ago...

In the first half of the Grand Line, that should count as being a powerhouse, right?

And so, he nodded.

"Mwahahaha!" Wapol suddenly slapped his belly and laughed. "I knew it! This is going to be interesting!"

His metal jaw stretched open in an exaggerated grin. "Hey, big guy! You want to find doctors to ask questions? Fine! I can agree to that!"

Kuma’s eyes brightened, and he was about to bow in thanks.

"Don't be in such a hurry to thank me!"

Wapol shook his head and held up a finger. "There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. I have a condition, too!"

His fat finger pointed sharply toward the distant towns where lights were faintly flickering:

"See those towns? They are all my land! And right now, two outside pirates are causing trouble everywhere! If you can help me get rid of those two—"

Wapol spread his arms, revealing an enthusiastic smile:

"I will lend you all twenty of my most elite doctors! These are the best doctors in the entire Drum Kingdom, and you can ask them whatever you want! How about that?!"

"Two pirates?"

Kuma frowned slightly, his gaze following the direction Wapol was pointing.

Amidst the wind and snow, the distant towns were all shrouded in dim light, with wisps of smoke rising faintly.

Kuma’s Observation Haki quietly expanded, and he soon captured several rather peculiar auras.

Two of them were particularly powerful.

One was as sharp as a sword, its edge fully exposed, while the other was calm and quiet, as if hiding in the darkness.

If one didn't sense carefully, it would be easy to overlook.

"Yes! Two vicious and dangerous guys!"

Wapol gritted his teeth. "A black-haired brat and a woman wearing a hat!"

"Your Majesty."

Chess whispered in Wapol’s ear, "Why didn't you just tell him the black-haired brat's real name..."

"Shut up!"

Wapol slapped Chess away and lowered his voice with a sinister grin. "Do you think I'm stupid? That kind of notorious monster... if I said it directly, what if this big guy got scared and ran away?"

He turned back to Kuma, his face once again piling up with a kindly smile. "How about it, big guy? This is a pretty good deal, right?"

Kuma was silent for a moment, feeling a bit conflicted.

He could tell that the king before him, much like King Bekori whom he had just repelled, was by no means a good person.

If the people he was asked to deal with were anyone else, he would certainly refuse.

But...

Two pirates who wantonly invaded other countries seemed to be even worse existences, and they truly deserved to be expelled and dealt with.

"I understand."

Kuma finally spoke, his voice still gentle. "But I need to confirm one thing first."

"What?"

"If I deal with those two pirates..." Kuma looked straight into Wapol’s eyes. "Will you really keep your promise?"

"Of course!" Wapol patted his chest in assurance. "I always keep my word!"

Kuma stared at him deeply for a moment, nodded, and turned to look toward the towns.

"Then, please wait here. I shall return shortly."

*Pop!* His figure vanished instantly from the spot, leaving behind only a ripple of displaced air.

"He... he disappeared?!"

Kuromarimo’s eyes widened in shock. "He just left like that? Your Majesty, why didn't the big guy even ask us where exactly those two are?"

"You ignorant idiot! Don't assume everyone is as stupid as you!"

Wapol said disdainfully. "I am a king who has attended the Reverie! Guys like that usually possess that kind of power... what was it called? Observation Haki! He’ll be able to lock onto the target soon enough, no need for you to worry!"

"All soldiers, wait here for me!"

He dropped this order and excitedly took his two ministers, heading straight for the nearest hilltop.

Then, he snatched a monocular telescope from each of their hands and tossed them into his mouth.

*Crunch, crunch*—the two telescopes were down his throat in no time.

Wapol’s eyeballs suddenly protruded like telescope lenses, his field of vision instantly zooming in dozens of times, firmly locking onto the black shadow streaking through the sky.

"Mwahahaha! I see him, I see him!"

He shouted excitedly, his eyeballs rolling around constantly. "That guy is flying so fast. As long as I follow him, I can find out exactly where that great pirate Xia Nuo is now. There’s a good show to watch!"

"Your Majesty?"

Chess leaned in nervously. "This big guy is strong, but he doesn't look like he’s a match for that Xia Nuo. Maybe we should still..."

"Shut up! I never get a chance to see a show like this. Don't ruin my fun!"

Wapol grinned. "We don't know the outcome yet. If the big guy wins, I can go back to the castle and be king in peace. If he loses..."

"Anyway, all the supplies and personnel are packed up, and we're so close to the harbor, we can just take to the water and leave in time. What's the rush!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"As expected of Lord Wapol!"

The two ministers immediately flattered him in unison.

Amidst the snow-filled sky, the night grew deeper.

Kuma held his Bible, his figure constantly flickering in the high altitude; with every teleportation, he could cross a distance of over a hundred meters.

As he moved forward, he observed the lights below and couldn't help but fall into thought—

In this country, he didn't seem to see any scenes of damaged towns or displaced people.

Were those two pirates really, as the king said, here to plunder this country?

Inside the treehouse.

Under the warm orange light, Xia Nuo was lying on the bed wearing only shorts.

"Easy there, old hag! I wasn't beaten down by the enemy, but I'm about to be sent off by you, a doctor!"

His whole face was buried in the pillow, his voice muffled. Kureha was riding on his back, looking at the bent needle in her hand, veins bulging on her forehead.

"Shut up, brat!"

She was furious and slapped Xia Nuo on the back. "I've been practicing medicine for over a hundred years, and I've never seen a guy as outrageous as you! If it weren't for the fact that you successfully guided Chopper, I wouldn't have taken on such a difficult job!"

What on earth was this brat's body made of?

From the skin surface to the muscles and blood vessels, every inch defied medical common sense, and the strength of the muscle fibers broke her cognitive limits.

She had already failed several times before; this time, she had finally managed to force the needle into his skin.

As a result, those muscle fibers contracted and squirmed like living things, using astonishing elasticity to force the needle out.

After working for half a day, she couldn't even pierce a blood vessel? For a doctor, it was simply a great humiliation!

And this was even with Xia Nuo trying his best to cooperate and relax his body.

Four broken needles were already piled at the foot of the bed, and Chopper was rummaging through the medical kit in a panic: "Doctor! All the reinforced syringes are used up, there are none left!"

"Forget it if it doesn't work."

Xia Nuo sighed and grabbed his pants, preparing to get up. He hadn't considered this toxin treatment a necessity anyway.

Anyway, this half-human, half-ghost appearance would last at most for half a month.

At worst, after returning to the ship, he would just spend the next half month between the training room and his bedroom, not seeing any outsiders.

"Get back down there!"

Kureha punched down and said viciously, "I don't believe it today. At worst, I'll go all out!"

"Chopper!"

She turned her head sharply. "Go! Go to the basement and get that super-alloy syringe used for injecting Sea Kings! I have to give this brat this injection!"

"Yes, Doctor!"

The little reindeer scrambled toward the underground warehouse.

Before long, it came back panting, carrying a metal syringe thicker than its own head, the needle tip gleaming with a cold, chilling light under the lamp.

"Is, is this really okay?"

Chopper handed over the syringe tremblingly. "Doctor, Big Brother Xia Nuo is a good person, please don't..."

"Don't worry~!" Kureha took a big gulp of wine and grinned, working her wrists. "This kid is much tougher than a Sea King!"

Half a minute later.

"Ha! Finally done!"

Kureha pulled out the super-thick syringe, and with a *hum*, the dark black luster covering the needle tip quickly faded.

"You old hag..." Xia Nuo propped himself up, grimacing. "Why do I feel like you're taking the opportunity to get revenge?"

It was just an injection, and she even used Armament Haki.

Also, it seemed more worth noting that she was a doctor who could use Haki—this old hag was truly not simple!

"Less nonsense!"

Kureha shook the empty syringe triumphantly. "The toxin has been neutralized. You just need to rest well tonight, and the blue-purple color on your face will fade completely by tomorrow morning. Now, pay the medical fee!"

"How much?" Xia Nuo was a bit depressed. "I saved Chopper's life, can't you make it free once?"

"Then I'll give you a discount, 50 Berries off."

Kureha lit a cigarette and smoked it leisurely. "The original price is 100 million Berries, now I'll only charge you 99,999,950. How about it, very fair, right?"

"That's too heartless, you stinky old hag!"

Xia Nuo was furious. "It's just some toxins left on the skin, it's not like you're saving my life. 100 million Berries? You might as well go rob someone!"

"Wuu wuu, Doctor." Chopper grabbed the corner of Kureha's clothes, feeling aggrieved. "Am I only worth 50 Berries?"

"That's definitely not it."

Kureha glanced at Chopper and said with a giggle, "You're not worth 50; Hiluluk gave you to me for free."

Eh?

Chopper’s eyes widened. Just at this moment, a loud "boom" came from outside the house.

The entire treehouse shook violently, and the medicine jars hanging on the wall rattled, nearly falling to the ground.

"Waaah!"

Chopper was so scared it shivered, and it wanted to rush into Kureha's arms, but after hesitating, it quietly retreated behind Xia Nuo.

"Finally here?"

Xia Nuo grinned and patted Chopper’s head, as if he had expected this scene long ago.

He got up, put on his clothes, and pushed the door open to walk out. Robin also chuckled and followed him immediately.

Outside the treehouse, the wind and snow were raging.

A figure as burly as a mountain stood quietly in the snow.

A thick layer of snow had accumulated on his bear-ear hat, and those gentle eyes watched the treehouse with its warm lights through the swirling snowflakes.

And in his hand, he was carrying a fat figure that was struggling constantly.

"Let me go, let me go..."

"Wapol?!" Kureha had just followed them out and saw this scene, her eyes widening. "How did that bastard king..."

"Nice to meet you."

Kuma’s gentle voice came through the wind and snow. He bowed slightly with great courtesy. "Pardon the intrusion, Lord Xia Nuo, Ms. Kureha."

He casually tossed Wapol into the snow like trash, and the latter immediately let out a pig-like scream:

"It hurts! You bastard, how dare you betray me! Didn't we agree that you would help me deal with..."

*Pop!* Kuma gave a light hand-chop, and Wapol’s eyes rolled back as he fainted instantly.

"Apologies."

Kuma bowed slightly to Xia Nuo in apology. "I was deceived by this king. He claimed that two vicious pirates were plundering his country, but along the way, I found that the towns were intact, so I immediately turned back to question him and pried the information out of his two ministers..."

"Only then did I realize that the one who came to the island was actually you, Lord Xia Nuo."

Kuma sighed softly. "And this king is the one who is unbelievably despicable. He was so scared by a little rumor that he took all the doctors and treasures in the country and prepared to abandon the nation, not even willing to leave a single doctor for his people."

Wapol, well, he was like that.

Xia Nuo glanced at the fat guy unconscious on the ground and raised an eyebrow.

No matter how you looked at it, this guy was a complete piece of trash, but in the original timeline, because of his fruit ability, he ended up doing quite well for himself.

Tsk, all things considered, he had acted as the role Blackbeard played in the original timeline this time.

Ever since he deliberately let that group of soldiers go, he would use Observation Haki to keep an eye on the movements of the castle at the peak of the mountain every once in a while.

Naturally, he also knew that the other party had already fled toward the sea.

Originally, he had planned to go to the harbor to intercept them before getting his treatment.

But a variable had arisen; an extremely powerful aura had suddenly appeared on the island, and Wapol and the others had stopped their escape.

He had thought it was some strong reinforcement Wapol had invited, but he hadn't expected it to be Kuma.

—Bartholomew Kuma.

Xia Nuo looked up. The Kuma before him had a warm and sunny smile, and he hadn't yet become the silent wooden person in his memory; clearly, he hadn't undergone modification yet.

He quickly sorted out the timeline in his mind.

If he remembered correctly.

At this time, Kuma should have just been wanted for sinking a Marine warship, and fearing that he would implicate his hometown and Bonney, he went to sea as a "pirate."

While avoiding pursuit, he was searching everywhere for a cure for the Sapphire Scale disease.

As for cooperating with the World Government to be modified, that would happen next year, after Kuma met Dragon and was directed to Vegapunk's location.

In this way, it was only natural that Kuma would appear on Drum Island, this famous "medical kingdom" of the past.

"Judging by your tone, it seems you've known me for a long time?" he asked.

"Yes."

Kuma nodded. "I used to belong to a mysterious organization... forgive me, but it is not convenient for me to disclose the name of the organization for now."

"In any case, years ago, when you were still in the East Blue, your fame had already reached us. My superior even intended to invite you to join our organization once you came of age."

A superior in the Revolutionary Army... what, had Dragon also broken into a cold sweat for him?

Xia Nuo was dumbfounded. "And it turned out that the guy who cleared out the great pirates of the East Blue became a pirate himself as soon as he came of age?"

"It's an adventure group, not pirates."

Kuma shook his head and immediately corrected him. "The truth cannot be covered up forever. You are still the same as you were back then; your original intention has never changed, has it?"

He smiled and said, "I just went to Loguetown in the East Blue a while ago and heard the people there talking about you. Someone who dared to go to war with the Marines to protect the people of Loguetown—how could you possibly be the vicious, plundering pirate that this king described?"

"Ohhh!!!"

Chopper’s eyes turned into stars as it poked its head out from behind the doorframe. "I knew it... Big Brother Xia Nuo, you really are a super good person. So you had such an experience!"

"I wouldn't call myself a super good person."

Xia Nuo smiled and patted its head, then turned back to Kuma:

"I'm a bit embarrassed by your praise. Come inside and talk; it's too windy and snowy outside, and it's warm inside. Since you already know Doctor Kureha's name, it seems the doctors you met at the harbor told you a lot about this country."

"I haven't agreed yet, don't act like you're the host, brat!" Kureha threw an empty wine bottle over in dissatisfaction.

*Pop*, Xia Nuo caught it casually. "Don't mind her. Although this old hag has a bit of a temper, her medical skills are truly brilliant. You mainly came to find her, right? Just talk to her about whatever you want to say."

"Thank you, sir."

Kuma nodded to Xia Nuo, then bowed seriously to Kureha and Chopper.

Only then did he brush the snow off his body, carefully lower his head and bend his waist, and step into the house.

Kureha had originally wanted to keep this big guy outside, but faced with this attitude, she finally shrugged and stood guard outside the door. She only closed the door after everyone had entered.

By this time, Chopper had already trotted over to serve Kuma a cup of hot tea.

*Hehe*, this was the first time someone had bowed to it. What was going on today? It had actually met so many good people in a row.

Big Brother Xia Nuo was a good person, Big Sister Robin was a good person, and this strange uncle with the bear-ear hat was one too!

Inside the warm treehouse, the tea fragrance was wafting.

Kuma held the hot tea, and after a moment of silence, he finally spoke:

"Doctor Kureha, actually, I have a request for coming to Drum Island this time. The doctors I met at the harbor told me that you are the most capable doctor on this island, and that if there is something they cannot solve, only you would have a way."

"Oh?"

Kureha took a big gulp of wine and raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Those guys who willingly degenerated into slaves for Wapol actually had that kind of realization... What is it?"

"My daughter, Bonney."

Kuma’s voice was low and gentle, and a trace of pain flashed in his eyes. "She has a rare disease, the Sapphire Scale disease."

"Sapphire Scale?"

Kureha frowned and put down the wine bottle. "This disease is not common. Tell me the symptoms in detail."

Kuma nodded, carefully took out a photo from his bosom, and handed it to Kureha.

In the photo was a little girl with pink hair, smiling brightly, leaning closely against Kuma—clearly, the father and daughter were very close. And on the little girl’s exposed skin, one could faintly see blue scales like jade.

"At first, it was just blue spots on the skin, then it gradually spread, forming these jade-like scales. When it flares up, she suffers from severe pain all over her body, high fever that won't subside, and she cannot see the light all year round..."

Kuma’s voice trembled slightly. "I have looked for many doctors, but they were all helpless, and one doctor even asserted..."

"That your daughter wouldn't live past ten?"

Kureha said lightly.

"Yes!"

Kuma sat up straight suddenly, his spirits lifting. He had only just mentioned it, and the other party had accurately judged Bonney’s life expectancy; clearly, she had some understanding of this condition.

It seemed he had come to the right place. This most qualified doctor of the Drum Kingdom was indeed worthy of her reputation!

Kureha took the photo, examined it carefully for a while, then got up and pulled several thick medical books from the bookshelf, flipping through them quickly.

The room fell silent, with only the rustling sound of pages turning.

Chopper stood nervously to the side, its little hooves rubbing together uneasily. Xia Nuo and Robin looked at each other and tacitly chose not to disturb her.

Xia Nuo thought quietly.

In his memory, Chopper didn't know Kuma, which meant that without his butterfly effect, Kuma likely hadn't come to find Kureha when he came to Drum Island for medical treatment.

It was just... could Kureha really have a way?

Kuma had traveled the whole world for Bonney. Perhaps in this sea, only that peerless genius Vegapunk, who possessed technology that surpassed five hundred years, could truly have a solution using technological means.

Sure enough, just as he expected.

After a long time, Kureha closed the last medical book and finally sighed.

"Sorry." She looked straight into Kuma’s eyes and said straightforwardly. "I can't cure this disease."

Kuma’s body stiffened slightly, and the light in his eyes dimmed.

"Even you have no way..." he murmured, his broad shoulders seeming to slump all at once.

"The cause of Sapphire Scale disease is still unknown; it seems to have been born into this world because of some bloodline experiment. Existing treatments only alleviate the symptoms."

Kureha shook her head. "Although I have lived for over a hundred years, this disease is indeed beyond my capabilities."

She paused, looked at Kuma’s disappointed appearance, and added: "However, I do know of a place that might be able to help you."

Kuma looked up suddenly, hope reigniting in his eyes: "What place?"