"Then prepare for landing."
After handing Nami her prepared food, Sanji stepped outside, now wearing a warm scarf.
"Luffy, let's be clear this time," Sanji said firmly. "Our main goal is to find a doctor. Once we find one, we'll leave immediately."
Although Miss Vivi had already gone ahead to Alabasta, Sanji hadn't forgotten her. The way Vivi looked when she saw that newspaper—though she didn't say anything—was full of worry.
"Who's going to find the doctor then?" Zoro asked, arms crossed.
"Oh! Me, me!" Luffy shouted, immediately raising his hand with childlike excitement.
"I'm going too!!" Sanji declared, stepping behind Luffy and clenching his fists, not wanting to be left out.
"Let me handle it. I'm more familiar with this place," Leo said, standing up decisively. After all, he was the one who suggested coming to Magnetic Drum Island in the first place. So naturally, this task fell on him.
Originally, both Luffy and Sanji wanted to fight for the role, but in the scuffle, they both slipped, landing awkwardly and groaning in pain. Seeing this as a sign, they gave up and instead chose to visit the village Leo had mentioned.
As everyone was busy talking and planning, the Going Merry sailed along a narrow river and eventually reached a point where they could disembark.
Suddenly, voices rang out from both sides.
"Don't move!"
"That's far enough, Pirates!!"
Dense crowds emerged from behind the snow-covered trees on either side, weapons drawn and eyes wary. They were clearly well-prepared to defend their territory.
Leo glanced at them calmly, then turned and went back into the ship's cabin. A moment later, he returned, now dressed in thick winter clothing. He gently helped Nami into her coat and then carried her on his back. Before leaving, he also dragged out a frozen figure—Wapol, encased in solid ice.
Outside, Luffy was already trying to reason with a man who looked like the leader of the group. "We're just here to find a doctor!" he said with his usual cheerful tone.
But judging by the villagers' expressions, they didn't believe it one bit. After all, they had been attacked by Blackbeard's crew recently. Their hatred for pirates had only grown stronger—they now saw all pirates as heartless and despicable.
Whoosh!
Bang!
In a flash, Leo landed in front of the villagers with Nami on his back. Wapol's frozen body dropped beside the leader with a solid thud.
The villagers jumped back, startled, some readying their weapons in alarm.
"Wait! Don't shoot!!" shouted the man in charge.
He stepped forward, taking a closer look at the man frozen in ice, and then asked, "Who are you people? What are you doing here?"
"We're the Straw Hat Pirates. We came to find a doctor," Leo replied, his voice calm. Then he looked directly at the villagers and said, "You should recognize this man. All his followers are already sleeping beneath the sea."
"This is our sign of goodwill. Once we find a doctor, we'll leave right away."
Wilton, the village leader, looked at the weak Nami clinging to Leo's back. Then he turned to see the rest of the Straw Hats waiting quietly on the ship. After a few moments of thought, he finally gave a nod.
"Follow me," Wilton said, motioning for the others to lower their weapons. "I'll take you to the village."
Luffy and the others sighed in relief and quickly followed.
Only Zoro stayed behind on the Merry, offering to keep an eye on things. A trembling crew member also stayed, clearly spooked by the confrontation.
As they walked, Wilton glanced sideways at Leo and said, "There's only one doctor in this entire country. If you want to find her, you'll need to go past that snowy mountain."
"She's 140 years old, but her medical skills are top-notch. That said, she's a bit… unusual."
Leo nodded without asking further. He already knew where she lived—the palace atop the snowy peak. His spiritual senses had been locked onto the old woman from the moment they arrived.
"Go to the palace," Wilton continued. "That's where the witch lives."
"Got it. Thanks."
Leo hoisted Nami higher on his back. She seemed heavier than before—maybe it was just his imagination. Or maybe she was eating too well lately.
Meanwhile, Vivi and Luffy were full of curiosity and crowded around Wilton, bombarding him with questions.
"Why do you call her a witch?" Luffy asked, eyes wide with excitement.
"There's a legend," Wilton said in a hushed tone. "When the moon is full, she descends from the sky on a sleigh. Many have seen it with their own eyes."
"And some claim she lives with a strange beast—no one knows what it really is. That's why people started calling her a witch."
Usopp shivered and gasped. "It's true! Look around—this is a snowy mountain! There must be monsters here!"
Everyone ignored him, especially Luffy, who looked like he'd won the lottery.
"Wow! A witch!!"
"And monsters too!"
He turned to Leo with sparkling eyes. "Hey, Leo, do witches know magic like you?"
"I heard witches are all magic users!"
Leo thought for a moment, then replied calmly, "Probably not. I don't think there's anyone else like me in this world."
"Oh... that's kind of disappointing," Luffy mumbled, sulking off to the side.
Vivi raised a more serious concern. "So what do people here do when they get sick or injured?"
Wilton scratched his chin. "Sometimes she comes down from the mountain herself and treats the sick."
"But in return, she takes whatever the patient loves most from their home."
"What a nasty old hag," Usopp muttered as he trailed behind.
"Sounds like a pirate to me," Luffy added, chuckling.
As they chatted, time passed, and soon a village covered in snow appeared on the horizon.
People bustled in and out, along with strange-looking animals wandering the streets.
"Whoa! Look at those animals!" Luffy exclaimed.
"It really is the Snow Country!" Usopp added, jaw hanging open.
The scene was completely new to them.
"I'll head to the mountain now," Leo said, turning to face the towering snowy peak. "She hasn't come down yet."
He already knew this because his spiritual energy had been tracking her movements. And the one he truly needed to find—Chopper—was still up there as well.
"Please, Leo. You have to find a doctor," Vivi said softly, her eyes full of worry.
Luffy and the others stepped forward, placing their hands on Leo's shoulder in silent support.
"Nami, are you ready?" Leo asked gently, shaking her a bit.
"Mm..." she mumbled, her voice barely audible. Resting her head on Leo's shoulder, she gave a slight nod.
"Alright. Time to go."
"Air: Move!"
A complex magic circle appeared beneath Leo's feet, glowing with a transparent light that shimmered in the snow.
Usopp peeked at it out of curiosity but immediately regretted it. A wave of dizziness crashed over him, and he turned away in a panic.
Even Luffy and the others had to look away as the air around them cracked like glass.
And then— in the blink of an eye—Leo and Nami vanished.
Only the howling wind and drifting snow remained behind.
Ãdvåñçé 60 çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)