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The Strongest Frost Loli (163)
🕑 Added 2024-12-03 16:01:53 +0000 UTCChapter 163 - The Search for a Doctor
“Captured?! So there are no doctors here?!”
“That’s right,” Shachi nodded at Luffy’s surprised outburst.
Even Pedro widened his eyes. A troubled expression replaced his calm façade.
Several days had passed since Nami was poisoned. While her constitution was strong, without intervention, her life hung precariously in the balance. They didn’t have time to search for a doctor on another island.
“Can’t we do something?!”
“Like what…? I mean, there are bound to be other doctors who weren’t captured, but…”
Even if exiled, they wouldn't simply be thrown into the sea immediately. If they acted quickly, they could still rescue them. It was the logical course of action, the only way to save Nami. Pedro, however, disagreed.
“If we could rescue them discreetly, it would be one thing, but a direct assault will only make things worse.”
“But we don’t have any other options, do we?”
Saving Nami was paramount. Luffy’s mind was made up, he started to run, but Pedro grabbed his shoulder, stopping him. He couldn't do anything carrying Nami.
“Do you even know where they’re being held?”
“No! But if we do nothing, Nami will die!”
The fear of losing a nakama clouded Luffy’s judgment, making him reckless.
Pedro insisted they wait for Usopp and Sanji’s return and formulate a plan. Luffy, glancing at Nami’s pale face, reluctantly agreed. As captain, he was responsible for his crew’s safety. If there was a better way, a less reckless approach, he would take it.
Bepo, who had been observing the exchange, spoke up.
“Why not have our captain take a look?”
“Bepo!” Shachi hissed, but Bepo continued, undeterred.
“It’s worth a shot. I’m sure our captain and vice-captain won’t refuse, especially since it involves my brother’s crew.”
“Well, maybe, but…”
“You have a doctor?!”
Seizing on this new information, Luffy turned to the Heart Pirates. Shachi tried to calm him down, but Luffy, desperate for any chance to save Nami, pressed the issue.
“Please! My nakama has been poisoned!”
“A-alright! Alright! Just calm down!” Shachi, taken aback by Luffy’s intensity, agreed to ask.
Trusting another pirate crew was risky, but they had no other leads. Giving up wasn't an option. They had to try everything.
“Our captain is still in the village. I’ll go get him.”
As Bepo headed back towards the village, Luffy and the others waited anxiously.
***
Around the time Bepo returned with his captain and vice-captain, Usopp and Sanji also arrived. They had also heard about the captured doctors, but the news of another potential doctor brought a glimmer of hope.
The two doctors, having been briefed by Penguin and Shachi, listened intently. Bepo, it seemed, had been rather vague in his explanation.
The captain, Trafalgar Law, carried a nodachi, a large, two-handed sword, almost as tall as himself. His vice-captain, Trafalgar Lami, wore a katana at her hip.
They approached Luffy, assessing Nami's condition.
“She looks to be on her last legs,” Law observed.
“Are you the captain?”
“Yeah. Please, help Nami!”
“You’re pirates. I have no obligation to help you.”
Law flatly refused Luffy’s plea. He had no particular qualms about pirates, but as outlaws, their well-being held no benefit for him. While operating under the guise of pirates, the Heart Pirates were allies of the Revolutionary Army. He saw no need to treat those who might ultimately harm civilians.
Luffy, however, wasn’t about to give up so easily.
“You’re a doctor! Please, I’m begging you!”
“You’re persistent. Why should I treat her?”
“Captain, please! They’re my brother’s nakama!” Bepo pleaded.
“Bepo, I came because you said there was a patient, but if it involves pirates, I wouldn’t have bothered!”
“I’m sorry…”
Bepo’s shoulders slumped as Law scolded him. Lami, with a sigh, stepped forward, gently placating Law.
“They’re Bepo’s brother’s nakama, and they don’t seem like bad people, but… I’m sorry.”
Lami shared Law’s sentiments. Appearances could be deceiving. Even seemingly harmless individuals could become dangerous. While she would readily help comrades, she had no such connection with Luffy and his crew. If they were affiliated with the Revolutionary Army, they would have contacted them directly. There was no reason to go out of her way to help potential enemies.
“You’re a doctor! You should help people!”
“I didn’t become a doctor to treat just anyone. Who knows what kind of trouble these pirates will cause after I heal them.”
The tension in the air thickened, the atmosphere becoming charged. Just as it seemed a confrontation was imminent, Vivi stepped forward. Penguin and Shachi, seeing her approach Law, instinctively reached for their weapons, but Vivi bowed deeply.
“Please. Help her.”
“…Are you… the princess of Alabasta?”
“You know me?”
“You haven’t been in the news yourself, but your country has been making headlines recently.”
Law and Lami, recognizing her, stared in surprise. She was the princess of a country frequently mentioned in the news lately. As avid readers, they naturally knew her face. But why was she with pirates? While they knew she was missing, they didn't know the details. She wasn't being held captive, and they couldn't understand why she would bow her head for pirates.
“Why are you here?”
“There are reasons… but for now, I’m indebted to Luffy and his crew. So please, I beg you. Save Nami.”
Alabasta was in turmoil, the rebel army clashing with the royal forces. They were potential enemies, though that depended on whether King Nefertari Cobra was truly an enemy worth opposing. While the Revolutionary Army had considered intervening, Dragon, for some reason, had advised against it. They were waiting for the right moment, though Law hadn't received any updates on the situation.
“…Do you intend to return to your country?”
“I’m travelling with them to return to my country. I have to go back.”
“….”
While many questions remained, it was clear that the current king, having lost the people's trust, couldn't resolve the conflict between the rebels and the royal army. While it was uncertain whether the princess could, the possibility wasn’t zero. The Revolutionary Army sided with the oppressed, but they didn't necessarily advocate for violent revolution.
“Brother.”
“…Very well.”
Law decided to trust Vivi’s judgment. He could escort her back himself, but she wouldn't want that.
“But not here. We’re returning to the ship.”
“Thank you!”
Luffy’s earlier frustration was forgotten, he offered his gratitude. Law and Lami, exchanging glances, shrugged as if to say, "He's unpredictable," and led everyone back to their submarine.
***
Back on the ship, after transferring Nami to the Heart Pirates' submarine, the Straw Hats relaxed on the Merry Go, waiting for the treatment to finish. They explained the situation to Zoro, who had been on watch duty. They didn’t know how long the treatment would take, but a lengthy delay would be problematic. They couldn't leave without Nami, which meant their arrival in Alabasta would be postponed.
Then,
“Today’s newspaper.”
“This…!”
The headline announced that 300,000 royal soldiers had defected to the rebel army. The balance of power in Alabasta, previously 600,000 royal soldiers against 400,000 rebels, had shifted dramatically. This wasn’t simply a matter of civilians joining the rebels. Half of the trained, experienced royal army had defected.
“We can’t just get there… We have to hurry and stop them! Otherwise, a million people will die…!”
“A million people…?”
“That’s quite a burden, Vivi.”
Luffy and Sanji were stunned by the scale of the conflict. But they had no Eternal Pose for Alabasta, and they couldn't leave without meeting up with Vivi's bodyguard, Igaram.
“Once Nami’s treatment is finished and we’ve met up with Igaram, we have to leave for Alabasta immediately. I’m sorry to rush you, but please.”
Vivi reiterated her plea. Luffy readily agreed, instructing everyone to prepare for immediate departure.
“We need to stock up on food. Our crew just got bigger, and we have to ration accordingly.”
Sanji began calculating their provisions, taking Usopp with him to the market for supplies. He needed help carrying the large quantities of food they required.
Luffy and Zoro, having nothing else to do, relaxed. Luffy listened to the radio, while Zoro napped in the corner of the galley.
As Pedro and Vivi discussed their navigation plans for Alabasta, a commotion erupted outside.
“Straw Hat! Are you there?!”
“Bepo? What’s wrong? Is the treatment over?”
“About that… we have a problem… We need your help, Brother!”
“?”
The Straw Hats exchanged glances and followed Bepo to the Heart Pirates’ ship. It wasn't a typical sailing ship, but a submarine. Luffy, fascinated by its unusual design, gawked at its features as they followed Bepo inside. The entire crew, including Law and Lami, was assembled there.
“You came.”
“Tiger Man, what’s going on? Is the treatment finished?”
“Who’s Tiger Man? The treatment hasn't even started.”
He had heard about the poisoning, but the nature of the poison was problematic. Analyzing Nami’s blood had revealed a troubling fact.
“It’s an unknown poison. There’s no cure.”
“No cure?!”
“What do you mean? How is it different from a normal poison?”
“Firstly, there’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ poison… but that’s beside the point. This poison… it doesn’t match any known toxins. The closest match is scorpion venom, but there are thousands of scorpion species.”
While Law didn’t know every poison, identifying the type usually narrowed down the treatment options. Yet, he declared this poison incurable.
“Judging by her symptoms - fever, fatigue, impaired consciousness, and motor dysfunction – it’s not lethal. She’s not going to die.”
“So, at least she’s not going to die from the poison. That’s good, right?”
“Better than dying, I suppose. But impaired consciousness and motor function are a serious problem.”
While Luffy and his crew could handle combat, a navigator with impaired consciousness was a major liability. It was uncertain whether she could even function normally. Pedro, looking at Law and Lami, asked if there was anything they could do.
“As I said, it’s an unknown poison. It’s made from components I’ve never seen before. I suspect it’s artificially created…”
Law started to explain further, but seeing Luffy’s blank stare, he stopped, realizing it was a wasted effort.
“It’s a poison I don’t recognize. Developing an antidote is difficult.”
“So, what’s going to happen to Nami?!”
“We wait for the poison to run its course, or we consult the doctors on this island.”
Despite the Doctor Hunt, Drum’s medical expertise was undeniable. The captured doctors might possess some knowledge that could help.
The problem, however, was their captivity.
“The best doctor I know could probably find a solution, but he’s in the New World.”
“…!”
There was currently no known cure for Nami’s poison. Luffy’s face hardened, his brow furrowed in thought.
Pedro, seeing this, offered a suggestion.
“Do you know where the captured doctor lives? Perhaps their research notes contain a clue to a cure.”
“Perhaps. If they’re the meticulous type who keeps detailed records of every poison.”
“Even if not, we need medicine. If they’re going to be exiled anyway, they probably wouldn't mind us taking some.”
“…You’re a bad influence.”
“We’re pirates.”
Law and Pedro exchanged grins, while Lami shrugged, resigned.
Zepo cracked his knuckles and asked, “Have we decided on a course of action?”
“Luffy, is this alright with you?”
“Yeah. If there’s a chance it can save Nami.”
They had no qualms about resorting to less-than-legal methods. Once the decision was made, they acted swiftly. Luffy, Pedro, and Zepo returned to the village to find the captured doctor’s house. Someone who had been evading the authorities for so long was unlikely to have a well-known address, but asking around revealed that the older villagers knew. It wasn’t a large country. Hiding for an extended period was difficult.
***
They found the doctor’s house, a large tree on the outskirts of town, converted into a dwelling. But Pedro noticed something odd.
“Strange. There’s a light on.”
With the doctor captured, the house should be empty. Perhaps, he thought, someone else had the same idea, attempting to steal the doctor’s supplies. Confronting burglars would likely result in a fight, but a brawl inside could damage valuable medicines and research materials. Just as he was considering waiting for them to emerge, he noticed Luffy had already knocked and opened the door.
“Hello! Anyone home?”
“Wait—!”
It was too late. The door creaked open, revealing a small, strange creature preparing some kind of concoction. It stared at Luffy, its eyes widening in surprise before it tumbled off its stool and scurried behind the table.
“W-who are you?! This is Dr. Kureha’s house!”
“What is that thing…? Is it another mink?”
“No, it’s not… I think.”
“A… raccoon? But it has antlers like a deer…”
Even Pedro, having seen his fair share of unusual creatures, was stumped. It spoke, suggesting it was a mink, or something similar, but… Zepo was equally confused. It was a small, red-nosed creature, with antlers like a deer and a raccoon-like body, barely the size of a human child. Its attempts to hide were rather clumsy.
Upon closer inspection, they noticed bandages wrapped around its body. It was injured.
“We heard the doctor who lived here was captured. Who are you?”
“I-I’m Dr. Kureha’s assistant!”
“Assistant?”
Pedro, skeptical that such a creature could be an assistant, observed its surroundings. It had been preparing some kind of medicine, judging by the various herbs and liquids on the table. It understood human speech. Perhaps, he conceded, it wasn't impossible for it to be a doctor’s assistant.
“I’m Luffy. A pirate.”
“A pirate?! What are you doing here?!”
“We’re looking for a doctor.”
“Or rather, a doctor’s research,” Pedro corrected.
They explained Nami’s condition and how other doctors had given up. The creature listened silently from behind the table. When asked if it knew anything, it shook its head.
“Dr. Kureha knows a lot about poisons, but she needs to examine the patient.”
“Doesn’t she have any research notes or something?”
“I don’t know.”
“I see…”
Luffy slumped his shoulders. But, the creature continued, emerging from behind the table.
“If you take her to Dr. Kureha, she might be able to help.”
“…I suppose that’s our only option.”
While Nami's life wasn't in immediate danger, they couldn't simply ignore her condition. This course of action, however, meant confronting an entire nation. Pedro, turning to Luffy, asked if he was prepared for that.
“Of course!”
Ready to challenge an entire kingdom to save his nakama, Luffy declared his resolve. The creature spoke up.
“A-are you going to rescue Dr. Kureha?”
“Dr. Kureha… is that the doctor’s name? Then yes.”
“Take me with you!”
It raised its voice.
“It’s my fault she was captured! I have to help!”
Blood seeped through its bandages. It had fought the royal guards. Though it had failed to protect Dr. Kureha, its spirit remained unbroken. Seeing its resolve, Luffy approached and extended his hand.
“What’s your name?”
“Chopper. Tony Tony Chopper!”
“Alright, Chopper! Let’s go save the doctor!”
They grabbed each other's hands and joined forces to achieve the same goal.
