A night passed without incident.
The chaos in the palace did not affect York and the others, who had returned to the Mirror World to rest.
Early the next morning.
Doctors began appearing one after another in the plaza in front of the palace gates.
To prevent them from freezing, York had them all invited into the palace's reception hall first.
Looking at the mess inside the palace, and the many disheveled pirates who were still wreaking havoc in various places, the doctors couldn't help but frown.
But with the King's order and the pirates' swords, having already arrived, they clearly had no chance to leave.
Time passed, one day, then two.
The Marines from the nearby branch had long arrived in the waters near Drum Kingdom.
But looking at the pirate flag on that giant pirate ship, the Rear Admiral sent for support had absolutely no intention of landing on the island.
"Rear Admiral! Are we really just... going to ignore this?"
Some Marine soldiers expressed their unwillingness. How could they just watch and let pirates plunder freely?!
The Marine Rear Admiral said nothing, only silently slapping York's wanted poster onto the Marine's face.
"If you think we can capture a pirate of this level, I will order the whole ship to dock and land right now."
After seeing the numbers on the wanted poster clearly, the unwilling Marine soldier shut his mouth silently.
Other soldiers who already knew, seeing this, also breathed a sigh of relief.
A top-tier pirate with a bounty of 4.5 billion Berries—anyone with a clear head knew this was absolutely not something they could handle.
It was better to report the intelligence to headquarters and let them send an Admiral for support.
Marineford.
Marine Headquarters.
After a period of treatment, Sengoku had regained consciousness, but the burns on his back were too severe. Even now, he could only lie prone on the bed wrapped in bandages all day, unable to even lie on his side.
Intelligence about the Red Flag Pirates appearing in Drum Kingdom had been sent over early on. His adjutant, who had attended the meeting, was now reporting to him.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru suggests we wait and see. We shouldn't act rashly for now. The combat power of the Red Flag Pirates isn't something a single Admiral can defeat."
"Fleet Admiral Kong approved Vice Admiral Tsuru's suggestion at the meeting."
(In the manga, Kong was still an Admiral during God Valley. Here, it is set that Kong was promoted to Fleet Admiral after God Valley.)
Hearing the adjutant's report, Sengoku, lying on the hospital bed, sighed softly.
"I regret it. If back then I..."
He recalled the time when he turned a blind eye and let York go.
If he had strictly executed the higher-ups' orders back then, blockading the island with an iron fist and sparing no one, how could the York of today possibly exist!!
But saying such regretful words now was useless, so after lamenting, Sengoku could only sigh softly again.
"Tsuru's suggestion is correct. Right now, we can't clash head-on with the Red Flag Pirates. York's ability is too terrifying; numbers are just a figure before him."
"To subdue the current York, we must find another way."
As he spoke, a gleam flashed in Sengoku's eyes.
Although he hadn't actually participated in the Battle of God Valley, he knew clearly what had happened on that island.
The great pirate Rocks, who had always left Fleet Admiral Kong helpless, reportedly fought to the death only to protect his wife and child who had accidentally appeared on the island.
York... they had already found three women close to him.
In the future, given his lecherous nature, there would only be more women around him.
And in the foreseeable future, his children would eventually be born from these women...
Sengoku originally disdained using such underhanded methods, but the battle of Water 7 made him clearly understand just how severe the consequences of not pulling up weeds by the roots could be.
Therefore, to truly realize the Justice that reigns over the world, he could no longer give any enemy any chance!!
...
Back to York's side.
After several days of waiting.
Except for a few stubborn individuals and rebels with no respect for the King of Drum Kingdom, almost all the doctors in Drum Kingdom had gathered at the palace.
York sat on the throne that originally belonged to Wapol's grandfather, looking down at the large group of doctors in the hall.
Scanning roughly, the total number reached several hundred. After careful calculation, the exact number was 411.
"My name is Adolf D. York, Captain of the Red Flag Pirates!"
"I won't introduce my specific deeds too much. I believe all the doctors present are quite clear about them if you've heard of me."
"I came to Drum Kingdom this time for only one thing!"
"To recruit some ship doctors from among you!"
Pausing briefly, York observed the reactions of the doctors below.
Most reactions were flat, and many showed fear, evidently worried about being killed if they disobeyed.
"Rest assured, I am not a brutal person."
York continued, "Recruiting you is a formal employment!"
"I will pay you a salary and won't force you to board the ship."
Pausing again, York said solemnly, "Any doctor willing to board the ship will receive a guaranteed monthly salary of 1 million Berries!!"
"If your medical skills are superb, there will be additional salary increases!"
"The specific increase will be decided based on your medical skills!"
"Of course, if anyone is willing to participate in combat and achieves merits, you will also be given corresponding rewards!!"
"Those willing to accept this employment, please stay where you are!"
"Those unwilling to join my command can leave now!"
"Don't worry, I am a man of my word. If I say I'll let you go, I'll let you go. I won't intercept and kill you halfway!"
"After all, I am human too. I might get sick in the future. Slaughtering doctors brings no benefit to a sick me in the future!"
"I've finished speaking. Please make your choice!!"
As his voice fell, the doors of the palace hall were opened by pirates with a rumbling sound.
No one blocked the doorway; if the doctors wanted to leave, they could leave at any time.
However, although the doors were open, not a single doctor present left.
Seeing this, York knew they definitely still didn't trust him, so he added another sentence.
"This door will remain open until dark today."
"After dark, the door will close."
"At that time, even if you are unwilling to board the ship, I will forcibly tie you up and bring you on board!"
"So, cherish this time for consideration!!"
After speaking, York turned and walked away directly. Most of the pirates present followed him and left as well.
Once the pirates dispersed, the doctors who had been silent for most of the day finally began chattering and discussing.
"Guaranteed monthly salary of 1 million Berries! The treatment feels pretty good."
"But we'd be pirates! Wanted by the World Government from now on, living every day in fear."
"No matter what, I definitely won't treat pirates!"
...
York ignored the doctors' arguments. After leaving the hall, he called Kaido and Dragon and headed straight for a small town called Cocoa Weed, which he had heard about during these days.
"Is there anything special about this town?"
Kaido asked curiously. York replied, "There is a doctor who is very likely the number one doctor in the world right now!"
Hearing this, both Kaido and Dragon perked up.
"World's number one famous doctor?!"
"For real?!"
While chatting, York casually grabbed a passerby.
An inconspicuous tentacle of white light touched the person's skin, and their eyes immediately became glazed.
York took the opportunity to ask, "Where is Dr. Kureha's home?"
Immersed in pleasure, the passerby pointed casually in a direction.
"Dr. Kureha lives at the junction of the lake and the forest outside the town. If you follow this direction, you should be able to find her."
"Thanks."
York thanked him softly. While dismissing the holy light tentacle, he also withdrew the ability applied to this passerby.
The passerby shuddered instantly, then bent over abruptly. He wanted to cover a certain place with his hands but was embarrassed to make such a gesture in public.
So he could only bend over, lower his head, pull his winter hat down as hard as he could, and hurry back home.
Following the passerby's directions, York and the others successfully found the person York was looking for at the entrance of a standalone building outside the town.
"Hello, Dr. Kureha. Wonder if we could have a chat."
Dr. Kureha was 104 years old this year. Her face was very aged, but her figure was still maintained very well—perky where it should be perky, slim where it should be slim.
Moreover, her attire was different from ordinary elderly people. Dressed in young, trendy clothes, if one only looked at her back, they would never guess she was a 104-year-old senior.
Dr. Kureha had just seen off a patient. Seeing the appearance of York's trio, having experienced much in the world, she immediately caught a whiff of something different.
"Pirates?!"
Dr. Kureha spoke with a smile.
"If you want me to treat you, no problem, but my fees aren't cheap!"
Hearing this, York smiled faintly.
"We aren't here for treatment; we want to invite you to join our pirate crew!"
"Hahahaha!"
Dr. Kureha laughed towards the sky.
"Invite me?"
"Little doll, do you know how old I am this year?"
"104 years old!!"
"Inviting an old hag like me, is your brain broken?"
Hearing the number 104, Kaido and Dragon, who had been indifferent, were startled.
They began to size up Dr. Kureha from top to bottom.
This old lady in front of them, who looked no more than 60-something, was actually 104 years old?!
Especially Dragon, whose gaze lingered a bit longer on Dr. Kureha's chest, waist, and hips.
104 years old and she still has a figure like this?!
He had to admit, he was starting to believe York's claim about the "world's number one famous doctor."
"Oh my~ Oh my~"
Dragon's observational gaze naturally didn't escape Dr. Kureha. She immediately teased with a smile: "Young lad, do you want to know my secret to eternal youth?"
"Or do you want to spend an unforgettable night with this 104-year-old lady?"
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