Outside the Castle, snowflakes fell without pause, covering everything in a thick, quiet blanket.
Inside, a fire crackled in the stove, casting a warm glow across the room.
In a small iron cell, Sanji stood alone, cigarette between his lips, watching with a disinterested gaze as two prisoners blamed each other.
Wapol, bound tightly in chains, struggled on the ground, angrily kicking at Mushuru beside him.
"This is your fault! If your ability wasn't so useless, I wouldn't be in this miserable state!"
Mushuru, also chained, dodged the kick and retaliated with his own, snapping back defiantly.
"Ha? You idiot, if you hadn't run to Drum Kingdom begging for help after Blackbeard started hunting you, I wouldn't have even left my own country!"
"No wonder your father exiled you. You were never fit to inherit the throne."
"And after you took it, you were so hated by your people you had to flee to sea like a coward!"
Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, watching the two squabble on the floor. He recalled what Shirogai had told him earlier.
"Don't worry about them using their Devil Fruit powers. I've planted a thought in their minds. For now, they'll be too busy blaming each other to try anything."
---
In the next room, Shirogai Yamikuro sat at a table with Dr. Kureha, the two deep in conversation over medical matters.
Dr. Kureha remarked, impressed. "For someone so young, your grasp of medical knowledge is vast."
Before Shirogai could reply, Luffy bounded over, leaning across the table with a wide grin.
"Hey, old hag! Join our crew!"
Bang!
Dr. Kureha's foot sent Luffy flying across the room.
She elegantly flipped her hair, adjusting her sunglasses with one hand, and scoffed.
"Watch your mouth, brat. I'm still in the prime of my youth!"
Luffy landed on Usopp's bed, knocking heads with the sharpshooter.
"Ow—! Luffy, I'm a patient, you idiot!"
Unfazed, Luffy leapt to his feet, grinning.
"Old hag, you've got guts! You'd make a great crewmate! Come adventure with us!"
Usopp rubbed his head and muttered, "Seriously…"
Just then, Luffy's gaze caught Chopper peeking nervously from around the doorframe.
"Aha! Reindeer!"
With a grin, Luffy changed targets, sprinting after Chopper.
"Come with us, Reindeer! Pirates are the freest people in the world!"
"Aaaah!" Chopper squealed in a panic, tiny legs kicking wildly as he bolted.
"Don't run!"
Luffy chased him with reckless enthusiasm.
Usopp, finally sitting upright, joined in, waving his arms.
"That's right, Chopper! Let's sail together! Become a brave warrior of the sea!"
Dr. Kureha sighed, shaking her head at the commotion before turning to Shirogai.
"That's Monkey D. Luffy, huh? So, he also carries the Will of D."
Shirogai lifted his teacup, the steam curling in the air as he spoke calmly.
"The Will of D, huh? Seems you know quite a bit, Dr. Kureha."
The old doctor took a swig from her wine bottle and smirked.
"Heh, I once knew a pirate with a D in his name. An unruly one."
"Let me guess," Shirogai said, eyes narrowing with a knowing smile. "Gol D. Roger."
Kureha neither confirmed nor denied it. She simply stared at the flickering flames in the hearth, her voice soft.
"A shame. I'll never see that interesting man again."
Shirogai gave a slow nod.
"A pity, indeed. If I could have met the Pirate King in person… who knows what I might have gained from him."
Of course, what Shirogai had in mind was the system's [Legendary Loot] feature, imagining what kind of rare skills or god-level treasure that encounter could've yielded.
Unaware of his inner thoughts, Kureha assumed it was mere admiration.
She crossed her legs and sighed.
"Roger would've liked a junior like you. That man never thought of himself as some great figure."
"Oh, right." Shirogai pulled a small key from his pocket and placed it on the table. "This is the key to the armory at the top of the castle. I took it off Wapol earlier."
Dr. Kureha picked it up, a sly smile on her face.
"So, you already know about Chopper's past, then."
Shirogai nodded.
"I do. And I understand what kind of man Dr. Hiluluk was."
The old doctor raised an eyebrow, curiosity flashing in her eyes.
"A doctor like you, with skills far beyond his, would acknowledge that quack? His medical techniques were barely worth mentioning."
Shirogai's expression turned serious.
"An ordinary doctor heals the body. A great doctor heals the heart. Hiluluk might have been terrible at treating injuries, but he was unmatched at treating people's hearts."
Kureha stared at the young man, her expression softening as old memories stirred.
"If that fool Hiluluk heard someone call him a great doctor, he'd strut around and brag for days."
Shirogai chuckled.
"He deserves the praise. Even when his country was lost, when the people had given up, he still tried to save their hearts. That makes him a doctor worth remembering."
The room fell quiet for a moment, save for the crackling fire and distant sound of Luffy chasing Chopper.
At last, Kureha spoke.
"Chopper isn't cut out for the pirate life. The seas are far too cruel for him."
Shirogai didn't argue.
"I know. He's kind, soft-hearted… but kindness alone solves nothing. Whether you're saving a life, or a nation."
Kureha studied him, thoughtful.
"You understand that. Yet, I don't see resignation in your eyes."
Shirogai met her gaze without flinching.
"Chopper might be too kind, but so what? Since when do we only do what's suitable?"
He smiled, setting his cup down.
"Our Captain isn't calm, isn't clever, isn't steady. But he's our Captain, and no one doubts it."
"Our navigator is a girl obsessed with money, but her skills improve every day. Even though she risks her life constantly, we trust her to lead us."
Kureha glanced over at Nami, still unconscious on the bed.
"We have a Three-Sword Style swordsman, reliable in combat. If I hadn't joined, he would've been the Vice Captain. Even poisoned and tossed into the sea, I'm not worried about him. He's the kind who could cut his way out of hell itself."
At that, Nami, pretending to be asleep, cracked one eye open and listened quietly.
"So, he thinks of us like that…"
She quickly shut her eye again, her heart a little lighter.
---
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