"Boom!"
A sudden wave of blood mist descended from the sky, tearing a deep trench into the snow and scattering the pursuing soldiers.
Doctor Hiruluk slammed on the brakes, nearly losing his balance again.
"Whoa! What on earth is happening "
"Morning, Doctor." Ritter's lazy voice floated down. "Up and about so early? Is this your morning workout?"
A leisurely voice came from above. Doctor Hiruluk looked up and saw a black-haired man sitting on a throne formed from swirling blood mist, gazing down at him.
"Who are you?" Hiruluk scratched his head. "Are you one of Kureha's new patients?"
Ritter froze for a moment. Were they really that unaware of him?
The castle doors slammed open. Kureha stepped out, a cigarette dangling from her lips.
"Idiot. This is the 'Mist Lord' Ritter."
"Mist Lord?" Doctor Hiruluk's eyes lit up. "The great pirate, the king of the seas?" He suddenly leaned toward Ritter. "Brother! You don't look so good! Want some of my All-Cure Medicine?"
Ritter glared at the suspicious green liquid offered to him. His mouth twitched.
"…No, thank you."
In the distance, soldiers had already dropped to their knees.
"Mist… Mist Lord! We are just following orders "
"Get lost." Ritter cast them a single glance.
He waved his hand casually.
"Interesting… come in."
Ritter had always liked this man. He was one of Eiichiro Oda's most successful characters. Ritter had been a child then, and every time he saw him, he would burst into tears. Damn Doctor Hiruluk, always making him cry.
"One truly dies not when the heart is pierced by a bullet, nor when stricken by a fatal disease, but when the world forgets you." Doctor Hiruluk
Ritter sighed dramatically.
Inside the castle hall, Doctor Hiruluk looked around like an excited child. His suit carried a commanding presence, and the cherry blossom skull emblem on his chest gleamed in the firelight.
"Everyone! Allow me to introduce myself!" He gestured wildly in front of the fireplace. "I am Doctor Hiruluk, and my dream is to heal this country with my medical skills!"
Kureha rolled her eyes but silently handed him a roll of bandages.
"See this emblem?" Hiruluk pointed to the cherry blossom skull on his chest, eyes sparkling. "This is the mark of the 'Miracle Cherry Blossom!' One day, I will cover the entire Drum Kingdom in cherry blossoms!"
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Perona.Lab and Laboon both thought that anyone who could be friends with a doctor as brilliant as Kureha and was a doctor themselves must be extraordinary.
Perona floated in the air, her large eyes fixed on Hiruluk.
"Wow! He's Kureha's friend! He must be an incredible doctor too, right?"
Laboon was even more direct. He nudged Hiruluk's foot with his nose, his little fin tugging at the doctor's trousers.
"Whooo~ whooo~"
(Doctor, you are amazing!)
Hiruluk, slightly embarrassed by their enthusiasm, scratched his head.
"Hahaha! I'm far from that level! But " He crouched down and pulled out two small bottles from his tattered white coat. "Want some special immune-boosting medicine? I made it myself!"
The bottles contained pink liquid, bubbles suspiciously rising in the firelight.
Perona.Lab exchanged a glance and extended their little hands and fins.
"Yes!!"
"Wait!" Kureha snatched the bottles, her forehead veined with frustration.
"Doctor Hiruluk! Are you trying to give mysterious medicine to children again?!"
"It's not a laxative!" Hiruluk protested indignantly, pride shining in his voice as if the sun itself were behind him.
"This time I added strawberry flavor! I drank it myself. It tastes like strawberries. No effect at all, ahahaha!"
Little Perona and Laboon covered their eyes with their hands and fins. In that moment, Hiruluk seemed so radiant, so confident.
Enel muttered,
"What is he doing? Took medicine? No effect? Why is he so proud?"
The previously glowing Hiruluk suddenly collapsed to the ground.
"I'm trying! I am doing my best, you bastard."
Lina looked at the unreliable doctor and walked forward, smiling gently.
Hiruluk, with tears in his eyes, said,
"Thank you for your encouragement. I will work hard. I believe that when cherry blossoms cover the land, people's illnesses will heal, and this country will recover, reborn anew."
Lina smiled politely, a bit embarrassed, then swiftly moved to gather floating Perona and brought her behind Ritter. She then picked up the dizzy Laboon and returned to Ritter's side, shooting a courteous smile at Hiruluk as she passed.
Hiruluk's face was pale, fragile like a droplet, but it quickly regained color.
"Ehh~!!! Is that a little whale?!"
Ritter bared his shark-like grin, and the blood mist behind him exploded into massive waves.
"Hey, hey! Didn't your reflex arc take a detour around the Grand Line?! Haven't you noticed Laboon has been hopping around here for ages?"
Doctor Hiruluk was not scared at all. His eyes brightened, and he lunged at Laboon.
"A whale that can come ashore?! Medical miracle!"
Laboon smacked him with his tail, sticking his face to the wall in a big X.
"Whooo! Pervert, go away!" He puffed his cheeks and hid behind Lina's skirt.
"Ha! Serves you right! Who let you touch Laboon without permission?" Ritter laughed, slapping his knee.
Kureha, cigarette dangling, strode over and grabbed Hiruluk by the collar.
"Idiot! That is a whale who ate a Devil Fruit!" She shook him off, disgusted. "Now explain yourself "
Suddenly, a pile of suspicious mushrooms tumbled from Hiruluk's pocket.
"What are these poisonous mushrooms?!"
Hiruluk broke into a cold sweat.
"Ahahaha… these are newly developed… um…"
"Bang!"
Kureha smashed a bottle against his head.
"You went to the back hill to pick poisonous mushrooms again?! Last time it took me three days to save you!"
Ritter eyed Hiruluk's medical kit, decorated with skulls and cherry blossoms.
"But…" He suddenly enveloped the kit in blood mist. "I am very interested in your 'All-Cure Medicine.'"
The box opened, spilling colorful pills with a strange aroma.
Laboon curiously sniffed, then sneezed.
"Achoo! This is… this is "
Everyone: "!!!"
Laboon: "…Smells awful!"
Hiruluk jumped in surprise.
"Success! My medicine can make whales talk!"
Laboon: "…I've always been able to talk, you know?"