"Well, as for us~ I suppose you could tentatively call us a pirate crew~" Chrollo said, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Strange... I didn't ask him that? But judging by their appearance, this group is quite strong. Maybe they can help my country...
"Of course we're strong. We are, after all, a pirate crew that was just issued a combined bounty of over a billion berries by the Navy~"
?
Did I speak out loud?
But the moral standing of this group is unclear. Isn't it said that pirates are mostly heinous villains...
"Not really~ If you truly understood this sea, you would know that pirates like Whitebeard and Shanks are far better than the World Government," Chrollo answered.
???
No... did I really say that?
Am I sleepwalking? Am I speaking my thoughts out loud?
Even if you are 'good' pirates, your reason for hunting Baroque Works agents is unclear. How can I trust you...
" regarding that question~ It was those few people who discovered our identities first and attempted to capture us for the bounty. We merely killed them in self-defense."
"After all, the predecessor of Baroque Works was a bounty hunter organization~" Chrollo continued to explain, his eyes smiling.
"!!!"
"How do you know what I'm thinking?!!" Vivi finally couldn't help but ask.
"I told you, my subordinate possesses the ability to gather intelligence. I'm merely borrowing her ability right now~"
Chrollo slowly approached her, a mysterious and unfathomable smile hanging on his lips.
"Not only that, Miss Vivi, I also know that you are looking for allies to fight against Baroque Works. Aren't we the most suitable helpers?~"
"My request is simple~"
"You want Baroque Works to disappear from your kingdom, and I want to hunt the ability users within that organization~ Isn't that a win-win situation?~"
"Also~" Chrollo stopped walking and looked at Vivi with a smile.
"You can be completely at ease regarding the character and capabilities of my team~"
"Just watch..."
Chrollo turned his head to look out the window at the Drum Kingdom in the winter sun, his expression calm.
"We will start by saving this country, just to prove it to you~"
---
Bubble, bubble...
Chopper sat on a small stool, brewing medicine, but his body was trembling uncontrollably.
After some time of treatment, Nami and Shizuku's conditions had stabilized significantly.
"What a magical species. A reindeer that can talk and walk upright?" Nobunaga stroked his chin, observing with great interest from the side.
"Does deer meat taste good?" Bonney and Uvogin drooled ungracefully from the corners of their mouths.
"It resembles the Chimera Ants a bit, doesn't it?" Shalnark looked curious.
"Similarity to Dark Continent species..." Phinks analyzed seriously.
"Does it possess disaster potential?"
"Let's touch it and see~"
Immediately, the group slowly extended their demonic claws toward Chopper, whose face had turned blue with fright.
"Ahhhhh—"
Chopper transformed into his Heavy Point (human form) and delivered a ruthless iron elbow to each of them, leaving a large bump on everyone's head before running away crying.
After comforting Vivi, Chrollo came to find Kureha. The two watched this scene with knowing smiles.
"That child, Chopper... hasn't been this lively in a long time~"
"That's nice to see~" Kureha turned her head and looked at Chrollo.
"What about that 'very precious thing' you said you were going to give me earlier? You weren't just fooling an old woman, were you?"
"Of course not." Chrollo smiled mysteriously.
The two stood side by side on the castle balcony.
The heavy snow over the Drum Kingdom gradually cleared, revealing the silver-clad land. The residents of the Drum Kingdom at the foot of the snow-capped mountain walked out of their homes one by one, showing expressions of relief after surviving a disaster.
However, the damage caused by the Blackbeard Pirates' attack had profoundly affected the nation.
Countless houses had collapsed from the destruction, and the streets were full of craters.
In a pirate world where individual martial power could far exceed the power of a nation, ordinary people lived miserable lives, always dependent on the whims of others.
The injured supported each other, forming a long dragon, slowly walking up the mountain path toward the witch's residence.
Watching this scene, Pakunoda looked puzzled.
"Why are they all coming here? Are there no other doctors in this country?"
Kureha sighed and spoke slowly:
"This is the tragedy of our country."
"To amass wealth, King Wapol implemented a tyranny, driving away or killing all the doctors in the country, leaving only twenty to serve himself."
"Therefore, when people in this country get sick, they can only come to find me, hiding in the mountains..." Kureha revealed a complex expression.
"With just the energy of myself and Chopper, we can't possibly treat so many people at the same time..."
Kureha showed a faint sadness.
"Before those pirates came, Wapol had already abandoned his people and fled. How sorrowful—"
"I don't know when he will return. I advise you to leave quickly as well..."
"About that~"
The corners of Chrollo's mouth lifted. He reached into the [Fourth-Dimensional Mansion], pulled out the bruised and swollen Wapol, and threw him onto the ground.
Kureha looked at the tightly bound Wapol on the ground with surprise.
Then she turned her head and looked at Chrollo in shock. "You guys!"
"This is just part of the gift I'm giving you, Grandma~" Chrollo smiled.
"This person is my prey. He will not appear in this world again."
Chrollo looked at Kureha seriously and said slowly:
"From today on, your country is free. Your fate will be in your own hands..."
"Who exactly are you people..." Kureha's expression became more and more complex.
Just then,
Guard Captain Dalton pushed open the castle gate with the wounded and entered.
"Doctorine, we need treatment!"
Immediately after, he saw Chrollo standing next to Kureha.
"Ben... Benefactor!!"
Dalton was incredibly excited. He rushed forward and held Chrollo's hand, constantly speaking words of gratitude.
"Benefactor! Thanks to you driving away that group of vicious pirates, otherwise our country would have been doomed!"
"Yes, Benefactor! You even killed that masked big guy! That was justice! We don't know how many neighbors died at his hands!"
The people behind him also gathered around, looking spirited and very enthusiastic.
Watching this scene, Kureha's expression became increasingly puzzled.
She had also roamed the seas for a while when she was young, so even though she was old and retired, she often paid attention to news from the sea.
If she remembered correctly, the pirate crew that invaded and destroyed the town was the Blackbeard Pirates, right?
The captain was a former member of Whitebeard's crew, Marshall D. Teach, carrier of the Will of D! Bounty: 540 million Berries...
I haven't read the newspaper in a long time...
Kureha looked Chrollo up and down again.
To be able to scare off a great pirate like that...
Who exactly is this person in front of me...
Suddenly, she was looking forward to what the real gift he brought her would be...