Chopper had been bursting with excitement ever since Leno told him their next stop was Drum Kingdom.
He hummed while doing everything, his mood brighter than ever.
Vivi, who had always gotten along well with Nami, couldn't help asking about it.
"Nami, don't you think Chopper's been unusually cheerful since we left Little Garden?"
"Oh, Chopper? That's because we're about to reach his hometown. Of course he'd be excited!"
Nami, who was checking the temperature and the Log Pose, took a moment to answer her.
Everyone had noticed Chopper's change, but no one said anything. It was good to let him enjoy his happiness quietly.
"I see… then his hometown is?"
"Drum Kingdom. It's known as a major medical nation, though I heard something happened there."
Nami thought for a moment. She remembered Leno telling her something about Drum Kingdom, though the details were fuzzy.
"Hometown, huh…"
Vivi gazed out at the distant sea, her thoughts drifting. Alabasta was still suffering; she wanted to return as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, in Drum Kingdom—
Inside the royal castle atop Drum Mountain, King Wapol glared angrily at the captain of his royal guard.
"Dalton, wasn't the lesson from being locked up last time enough? Why are you disobeying my orders again?"
"You'd risk your life for those lowborn peasants? Do you really think I won't kill you?"
His patience with the man before him was wearing thin. If not for his father's dying plea that Dalton was a valuable asset, he'd have torn him apart long ago.
The man disobeyed him repeatedly, protecting commoners as if Wapol's orders were nothing but hot air. It was insufferable.
He had thrown Dalton in prison hoping the man would reflect, but he came out unchanged.
"Your Majesty, they are your subjects. How could you treat them so cruelly? Aren't you worried they'll grow resentful of you?"
Pain flickered across Dalton's resolute face. His tone was earnest as he tried to persuade Wapol to rescind his decree.
His heart ached—but mostly, he was disappointed.
The late king had begged him to guide the spoiled Wapol.
He had tried—tried sincerely—but the result was utter despair.
Wapol was rotten to the core, squeezing and tormenting the people for amusement, plunging a once-prosperous nation into misery within a few short years.
But all Dalton could do was help as many people as possible in whatever limited ways he could.
He knew staying would put his life in danger… but this was his country, his people. He couldn't abandon them.
"Enough, Dalton! There is nothing wrong with His Majesty's policies. They are for the protection of the people—do you understand?"
"The captain of the royal guard should know his place!"
Seeing Wapol's expression worsening, the chief strategist Chess, carrying his quiver, immediately snapped at Dalton.
Then he hurriedly turned back, fawning over the king:
"Your Majesty, about the Devil Fruits we collected recently—aside from the one you ate, there are two left. Should we sell them? They'd fetch a high price."
"Hmm… you make a good point, Chess. I've been considering that too."
Wapol rubbed his chin, suddenly troubled.
"What a shame each person can only eat one. If that's the case, selling them might be best."
Chess and Kuromarimo exchanged a silent eye-roll.
We're standing right here—two perfectly good living candidates—and you want to sell them?
Not that they dared say it out loud. Devil Fruits were priceless, and Wapol's temper was nothing to test.
"Oh, right~ How goes the doctor hunt?"
"Uh—Y-Your Majesty, so far… there is still one registered doctor unaccounted for…"
"What? What are you useless fools doing? Why is there still a doctor wandering free?"
Wapol shot a murderous glare at Dalton.
"Dalton, I believe I assigned this task to you? Do you have nothing to say for yourself?"
"Hmm? Are you planning to rebel?"
After berating Dalton, Wapol turned to Chess again.
"Who is it? Who is the doctor still at large? Tell me!"
"It's the 'witch'—Dr. Kureha!"
"Idiots! You can't even capture an old hag? What use are you to me?"
Wapol knew the 'Immortal witch' well enough to be furious—familiarity only made his anger worse.
Was his army full of incompetent fools? They couldn't catch a single elderly woman!
"Your Majesty, please calm down…"
Seeing the king rage, his officials quickly stepped forward, assuring him they would capture the old woman soon.
While Wapol fumed over the escaped doctor, at Drum Kingdom's bay, an iron ship slowly came to shore.
"Wow, what good luck! No snow today—this makes things much easier!"
Chopper looked around at the familiar scenery, excitement bubbling as he introduced the place.
"It's winter year-round here, so snow is normal. Everyone, stay warm."
"Let's go straight to Doctor Kureha's place! I've missed her so much!"
"No problem, Chopper. Lead the way—let's go."
Watching Chopper's impatience made Nami chuckle.
"We're curious too. The person you miss so much—what kind of person is she?"
"Sure! I'll introduce you all later!"
Under Chopper's direction, the ship quickly flew to the giant treehouse where Dr. Kureha used to live.
But what greeted them was a charred ruin.
"Chopper… you didn't remember wrong, did you? Are you sure this is the place?"
Nami looked at him uncertainly.
But Chopper couldn't even hear her anymore.
Staring at the burned remains below, his lips trembled uncontrollably.
"Doctor Kureha…"
Thinking of the kingdom's persecution of doctors, he whipped around toward Leno, voice breaking:
"Leno—do you think she was captured? Let's go save her, please!"
"Calm down, Chopper. She wasn't taken."
Leno knew Dr. Kureha's abilities well. That old woman was far too capable to be caught.
He expanded his Observation Haki, covering the entire kingdom instantly.
A moment later, meeting Chopper's tear-filled eyes, he spoke:
"Found her."