Chapter 119: A Tough Fight with Wapol, and a Logia Fruit
"Dressrosa," Kureha said calmly. "There's a magical race there, the Tontatta dwarves. And the princess of the Tontatta Kingdom, Mansherry, is the user of the Heal-Heal Fruit."
"The Heal-Heal Fruit?" Kuma's eyes began to light up.
"Yes. It's a very magical ability. It can not only heal injuries quickly, but it can also cure diseases," Kureha said, taking another swig of her liquor. "I traveled the world dozens of years ago and passed through there. Mansherry was just a little thing then. She should be all grown up by now, and her control over her fruit's ability should have improved a lot. That magical power might just be enough to cure the Sapphire Scale disease."
"But," she said, glancing at Kuma, "the Dressrosa Kingdom is Doflamingo's territory now. And that guy is no good person. The dwarves have always had a grudge against the Donquixote family, and I hear they're now his subordinates. If you want to see Princess Mansherry, you'll have to get through him first."
"Doflamingo…" Kuma frowned. As a former high-ranking member of the Revolutionary Army, he was well aware of how dangerous this Warlord of the Sea was.
"That guy is a proud one," Kuma said thoughtfully. "But I've also heard that he's a businessman who values his reputation. If I pay a price and request a meeting with Mansherry, it shouldn't be a problem."
"A businessman… you're not wrong about that," Kureha said with a click of her tongue. She tore off a piece of paper and scribbled a few lines on it. "In that case, here, take this letter of introduction. Mansherry's temper isn't the best, but for my sake, she'll agree to see you."
"Thank you," Kuma said, quickly standing up and taking the letter with both hands. He glanced at it and then carefully put it away.
"If you're really going, you should still be careful," Shane said from the side. "Doflamingo's character is, in the end, not to be trusted."
"Don't worry, Lord Shane," Kuma said, looking at Shane seriously. "I will be on my guard and act with caution. With my strength, even if Doflamingo tries to pull any tricks, he may not succeed."
That was true.
Shane nodded. Seeing that Kuma had taken his words to heart, he didn't say any more.
After all, although there was a big gap in their fame at the moment, Kuma was in no way inferior to Doflamingo in terms of strength. They were both powerhouses on the same level.
And besides, with Kuma's mastery of his Paw-Paw Fruit's flight ability, even if he did find himself in a dangerous situation, it would be very easy for him to escape.
"Bonney is still suffering. Please forgive me for not being able to stay long," Kuma said, bowing to Kureha. "Thank you for your guidance, Dr. Kureha. I will never forget this kindness."
He then looked at Shane. "Thank you for the introduction, Lord Shane. I hope we will have the chance to meet again one day."
"We will," Shane said with a smile.
Outside, the wind and snow still howled, but the atmosphere inside the treehouse was warm and peaceful.
After a brief conversation, Kuma put on his bear-eared hat and stood up to leave.
Before he left, he nodded to each of them in turn, then stepped out into the blizzard.
Under their watchful gazes, the tall figure gradually disappeared into the snowy night.
"What a gentle father…" Chopper said,趴在窗边, in a small voice.
"He is," Shane said, stretching and turning to Robin. "Alright, we should plan our own journey now."
"Huh?" Chopper whipped his head around, his eyes wide. "Big brother Shane, are you leaving so soon?"
"The treatment is done, so of course we're leaving. What, are you going to miss us?" Shane said, ruffling his fluffy head with a smile. "How about you come with us and be our ship's doctor?"
"Really?! But, I… I…" Chopper's eyes lit up with excitement, but then he seemed to remember something and flushed, stammering.
"Chopper is not qualified to be a doctor right now," Kureha's calm voice came. "He only started seriously studying medicine with me at the beginning of this year. He's still just a beginner. All his previous medical knowledge came from that quack, Hiriluk. If you're not afraid of him killing everyone on your ship, then you can take him with you."
Err…
Remembering Hiriluk's "exquisite" medical skills, Shane thought it would be better to let Chopper study for a while longer.
"Then we'll wait until you've finished your studies," Shane said, crouching down with a grin. "No rush, Chopper. In my eyes, you're already our comrade. If you ever decide to set sail, you're always welcome to join us…"
He suddenly remembered the two brats at the Shimotsuki Dojo and added, "Oh, right, in a couple of years, there might be two guys, one with green hair and one with blond hair, who will set sail following in my footsteps. When that time comes, you can join their ship and come find me with them."
"Green hair and blond hair?" Chopper was taken aback. "Who are they?"
"Two very annoying brats," Shane said, a nostalgic look in his eyes. "One of them is always shouting about becoming the world's greatest swordsman, and the other… well, his dream is to find the legendary All Blue. In any case, those two idiots are always fighting and cursing at each other. You'll definitely recognize them when you see them."
"I understand, big brother Shane!" Chopper nodded vigorously. "But… but I'm still a long way off. From now on, I have to study hard with Doctorine!"
Mr. Hiriluk, did you hear that? In heaven, you must have heard that!
From now on, I really have friends!
The small reindeer's eyes turned red, and he fought back the tears.
"Mmm, I'm sure you'll finish your studies in no time," Shane said, laughing as he stood up. He looked at the pink cherry blossom hat in his hand and, after a moment's hesitation, placed it back on Chopper's head.
He and Robin had just walked out the door when Kureha suddenly grabbed his arm and glared at him. "Hey, brat! Have you forgotten something important?"
"What?" Shane asked, looking bewildered.
"The fee! The fee!" Kureha snorted, her arms crossed. "99,999,950 Berries! Not a single Berry less!"
"Are you serious, you old hag?! I'm broke! I don't have that kind of money!"
"Don't give me that! A great pirate with a bounty of 540 million Berries can't even afford a fifth of his own worth? I don't believe it!"
"How about I pay you with this?" Shane said, pointing to the unconscious Wapol in the snow. "I'll take care of this scumbag for you and turn this island back into the great medical kingdom it once was. How about that?"
"..." Kureha frowned and lit a cigarette. "What nonsense are you talking about? This guy is the king of an affiliated nation, with the right to attend the Reverie…"
She then seemed to realize something and narrowed her eyes. "But then again, for a pirate of your level, that's probably nothing."
The black-haired young man before her had been so friendly and approachable the entire time that she had almost forgotten that he was a dangerous man who had dared to kill a Marine Vice Admiral and a Warlord.
"But what good does it do me to have this country back on track?" Kureha said, looking at the distant lights of the towns and exhaling a puff of smoke. "It just means more doctors to compete with me for business."
"Stop being so tsundere at your age! It's disgusting, you old hag!" Shane facepalmed and, without another word, dragged Wapol up and slammed a fist into his bloated stomach.
"Blech—"
The unconscious Wapol's mouth flew open, and a torrent of gold coins and jewels poured out, quickly forming a small mountain in the snow.
But that wasn't all. Shane followed up with another kick.
This time, his stomach was completely emptied. Precious murals, a gold-plated dining table, a diamond throne, and even a dozen or so cannons all came spilling out.
"That should be enough, right? Take your pick. You can do whatever you want with the rest," Shane said, clapping his hands and shooting a sidelong glance at the stunned Kureha.
Kureha's tough-as-nails act was just that, an act. This old woman, who had lived for over a hundred and thirty years, loved her homeland more than anyone.
He was sure that this plundered wealth, given to her as a "medical fee," would be put to good use.
He couldn't be bothered with what would happen to the Drum Kingdom after this.
Anyway, Kuma had already taken care of the two ministers and the few leading soldiers.
All that was left was to deal with Wapol, and the tyrannical regime of the Drum Kingdom would be completely wiped out, paving the way for a brighter future.
As for whether this island would, as in the original timeline, be renamed the Sakura Kingdom and ruled by Dalton, that was for the people of the island to decide. It was none of his business.
"Ugh, ugh…"
A groan suddenly came from the ground.
Wapol, after being tossed around like that, had finally come to.
He was still groggy and disoriented.
But the moment he saw the glittering jewels and gold coins on the ground, his eyes widened in a rage. "Who?! Who! Who dares to steal my things?!" he roared.
"You're awake," a cheerful voice came from the side. "Unfortunately, you'll be closing your eyes again very soon."
Huh?!
Wapol whipped his head around, and his eyes met Shane's smiling face, which was just inches from his own.
It's that great pirate!
"Chess! Kuromarimo! Where are you?! Protect me! Protect me!"
He was so scared he nearly fainted. He scrambled backward, but after a few feet, Shane grabbed him by the collar and lifted him from the ground.
"W-What do you want?!" Wapol cried, his face a mess of snot and tears. "Spare me, please! If you spare me, you can have my entire treasury! You can have all my treasure, all my doctors! This entire country can be yours…"
"Is that so?" Shane raised an eyebrow.
"Big brother Shane, be careful! He's trying to trick you!" Chopper shouted anxiously. "He's very cunning! Don't be fooled by his act!"
Dammit!
That meddling tanuki!
Wapol cursed inwardly. The tanuki was right, of course. He was not the type to give up without a fight.
But this bastard, Shane, was so arrogant! He didn't even take him seriously!
You think that just because you've emptied my stomach, I'm no threat? How dare you get so close—
Then you will pay the price for your arrogance!
He suddenly broke into a savage grin, and a mechanical "clacking" sound came from deep within his throat.
"Die, you fool!"
Wapol's tin-plate chin flew open. His previously bloated abdomen suddenly contracted, and a thick metal cannon barrel shot out, aimed directly at Shane's face!
"Munch-Munch Factory: Metal Storm!"
BOOM!
A torrential storm of sharp metal fragments, gears, and steel balls shot out. At such close range, it was almost impossible to dodge!
However, Shane just stood there, a smile on his face, not even blinking.
Clang, clang, clang, clang—
The metal fragments slammed into his face, but they bounced off as if they had hit an indestructible wall, sending sparks flying and making a sharp clanging sound, not even leaving a scratch.
Wapol's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
T-This… how is this possible?!
His Metal Storm was a killing move that could destroy even the sturdiest of castles in an instant! And now, it couldn't even scratch his opponent's skin?
What is this guy's body made of?!
"N-No! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Wapol broke out in a cold sweat, his fear turning to rage. He gritted his teeth.
No time to hesitate!
Since a killing move like that didn't work on this monster, then I'll just have to try and swallow him!
Wapol's mouth opened to its absolute limit, and he tried to swallow Shane whole, but—
"Your breath stinks. Sorry, but I have no desire to go exploring in there,"
Shane's calm voice said. His right hand shot out, his five fingers clamping down on Wapol's lower jaw like an iron vice, forcing his mouth open even wider.
"Gah—"
Wapol's pupils constricted. His metal chin was forcibly torn, a deafening screech of twisting metal filling the air.
He struggled wildly, but Shane's strength was as immovable as a mountain. He couldn't budge an inch. In the stalemate, he could even hear the sickening crunch of his bones and metal joints breaking under the immense force.
In the next second, Shane's left hand also clamped down on his upper jaw. His arm muscles bulged, and he pulled to the sides—
Kureha and Robin, quick as a flash, each reached out a hand and covered Chopper's eyes.
CRACK!!!
With a deafening screech of breaking metal joints, Wapol's jaw was completely shattered, and his entire head was torn in two.
A mixture of blood and mechanical parts sprayed out. Wapol's screams were cut short, and only his metal chin remained in Shane's hand.
The upper half of his face, along with his obese body, collapsed to the ground, his bulging eyes staring blankly at the sky, dead.
"Doctorine…"
Chopper's vision was still blocked, but from the sound, he could guess what had happened. He shivered. "Was his head torn off? That's so gruesome…"
"It is gruesome, but it's what that bastard deserved," Kureha said with a grin, exhaling a puff of smoke, her gaze distant.
Hiriluk, and all the innocent doctors and citizens who died at his hands… if they're watching from heaven, they must be very pleased…
And Shane was now crouching down, examining the corpse.
Mmm, definitely dead. No risk of him coming back to life.
The Munch-Munch Fruit was a bit strange. He didn't want to let this guy escape because of a moment of carelessness.
Now, it was time to collect his spoils. The tin-plate chin couldn't be sacrificed, so…
His gaze roamed up and down, finally landing on Wapol's crown.
This guy was so obsessed with his royal status, this should be worth something. Shane casually picked it up, and something rolled out.
"Hmm?"
Shane looked down and saw a white fruit, covered in spiral patterns, glittering in the snow.
So the fruit that the Devil Fruit Radar detected was here!
Shane guessed that it had originally been stored in the national treasury along with the other treasures, and Wapol had only taken it out when he was escaping.
And because of the rumor that eating two Devil Fruits was extremely dangerous, he hadn't swallowed it like the other things, but had hidden it in his crown.
Tsk, what a coincidence.
Is this what they mean when they say that a Devil Fruit chooses its own master?
Or is this a reward from fate for punishing evil?
Shane picked it up.
Robin, curious, came over. With a walking encyclopedia by his side, he didn't even have to think. He immediately handed it to her. "So, Robin? Can you tell what kind of fruit this is?"
"Let me see."
Robin took the fruit and frowned, examining it for a moment before speaking. "From the patterns, I can say with almost certainty that this is the Logia-type, Snow-Snow Fruit."
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