Years ago, Bardock single-handedly stormed the royal palace, sending Wapol fleeing in disgrace before forcing the monarch to act as a glorified blacksmith. The insulting fifty-Belly compensation for his labor still haunted Wapol's nightmares to this day.
Since that humiliating ordeal, Wapol had essentially become a recluse. He rarely showed his face to outsiders unless strictly necessary and abandoned his bizarre habit of snacking on civilian houses. However, assuming this trauma turned him into a benevolent ruler would be a massive mistake.
In reality, Wapol jacked up the national tax rates to extortionate levels. He funneled the revenue into expanding his military, importing advanced weaponry, and monopolizing all the kingdom's elite physicians for his exclusive medical staff.
Forging Bardock's golden staff opened Wapol's eyes to the sheer durability of Wapometal. Now, he secretly hoarded massive reserves of the unique alloy. If another intruder dared to assault the Drum Kingdom, he planned to fuse the metal with his own flesh and become an unstoppable juggernaut.
Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Army operated strictly on the principles of righteous cause and grassroots uprising. While the citizens of the Drum Kingdom suffered bitterly under Wapol's current regime, the oppression hadn't quite reached the boiling point required to trigger a full-scale rebellion.
Grasping the political stalemate, Bardock sighed and turned to Kuma. "Isn't the Revolutionary Army interested in Wapometal? I recall you guys have a rather brilliant scientist in your ranks. No genuine researcher can resist top-tier materials."
"If we invaded a nation purely to plunder its resources, we wouldn't be the Revolutionary Army," Kuma stated, his voice ringing with quiet pride.
Bardock pondered that for a moment. He couldn't speak for the rest of the organization, but Kuma himself was undeniably genuine—almost to a saintly fault.
Across the room, Dr. Kureha, Mansherry, and Law wrapped up their consultation. They didn't bother translating their conclusions for the laymen in the room; the intricate medical terminology would have soared right over their heads anyway.
Initially, Bardock considered chiming in to explain how Dr. Vegapunk would eventually cure Bonney in the future timeline. However, seeing as the three doctors had already locked down a viable treatment plan, he held his tongue. The cold, mechanical solutions of a scientist didn't always align with the delicate touch of a physician.
Deciding to perform the surgery the very next day, Dr. Kureha immediately began prepping her equipment alongside her two new assistants.
Although Law had once harbored a twisted desire to watch the world burn, Corazon's sacrifice had restored his humanity. Aside from his lingering thirst for vengeance against Doflamingo, the boy carried little malice. Faced with the challenge of curing an elusive, terminal disease like the Sapphire Scales, the young surgeon's competitive spirit ignited.
"You guys focus on the prep work here. I'm going to pay the king a visit," Bardock announced, rising from his seat. Hanging around the clinic wouldn't accomplish anything; it was better to divide and conquer.
Wapol's castle sat atop the highest drum-shaped mountain in the kingdom. Having made the trek once before, Bardock navigated the snowy peaks with familiar ease.
Emerging before the palace gates, he noted the bolstered defenses. "Oh? They've tripled the guard detail and upgraded their rifles. Let's give them a proper greeting, then."
An invisible, suffocating pressure erupted from Bardock's form, washing over the courtyard like a tidal wave and slamming directly into the palace.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A cascade of bodies hit the snow as the royal guards collapsed in rapid succession. Against the crushing weight of Conqueror's Haki, ordinary soldiers were less than useless.
Deep inside the palace, Dalton felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. "This feeling... again!"
Without a second thought, the captain of the guard triggered his Zoan transformation, shifting into his hulking hybrid-bison form as he sprinted toward the main gates. He intended to wash away the humiliation of his past defeat with his own two hands.
Wapol and his two chief ministers also sensed the disturbance and quickly noticed Dalton charging blindly into the fray.
"That brainless bovine!" Wapol shrieked, stomping his feet in fury. "Always rushing off to throw his life away!"
Wapol had meticulously drafted a contingency plan for this exact scenario. Upon detecting an invasion, the royal vanguard was supposed to retreat into the secret vault. There, Wapol would activate his Munch-Munch Factory to fuse their bodies with the hoarded metal. Just imagine—a Bison Devil Fruit user boasting an impenetrable Wapometal hide! Their combat power would skyrocket.
If they grouped up and combined their augmented strength, they might actually stand a chance of winning.
"Sire, what are your orders?" Chess asked, his bow already in hand.
"Forget the crazy bull! Get to the secret vault, right now!" Wapol barked, whirling around and bolting down the corridor.
Chess and Kuromarimo scrambled frantically to keep up.
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