"What's wrong with that kid? Dinner is ready, yet she's still hiding upstairs. Is she not feeling well?" Kureha placed the last dish on the table, a bit puzzled. She was fine just a moment ago.
"Hmm, girls always have those few days when they need a bit of understanding." Nero tapped her plate with a knife and fork. It had been a long time since she had Kureha's medicinal cuisine.
"Is that so? What a shame, this table wasn't cheap." Kureha shrugged, not pressing for more details.
"It's fine. It's good for children to experience a little hardship. If they don't suffer now, then how are we adults supposed to enjoy ourselves?"
"...Saying too much like that will bring down divine retribution. Be careful!"
"Hmm, Dorry, since when did you start believing in such superstitious nonsense?"
"The profession of a doctor is a very heavy one. Sometimes, having a deity help share the burden isn't a bad option."
"Even if there really were a deity, it wouldn't favor a drunkard."
"Hahaha, that's why I don't believe in the existence of gods." Kureha chuckled, taking a swig of sake. "How could a true doctor place hope in something as ethereal as a god?"
"That's not what you just said, Dorry!" Nero stared with half-moon eyes, looking at Kureha speechlessly.
"Ahem, we've strayed too far. It's time to eat!" Kureha cleared her throat, changing the subject.
"So muddled in her speech..."
"Hahahaha, do you want to know the secret to my eternal youth?"
"Tch—" Nero scoffed, ignoring Kureha and beginning her meal.
"Five ants!"
..."I'm full! I'm full! Hmm, I'll take Chopper out for a stroll." Nero stood up, patting her round little belly. "You can still turn into a reindeer, right?"
"Eh?" Chopper pointed to himself, bewildered.
"Don't just stand there. Do you seriously think Kuina rode you for nothing? It's only fair if there's a give and take."
Chopper looked to Kureha for help. Nero's logic always felt off to him, but he couldn't quite pinpoint why.
At this stage, he hadn't had much contact with humans and only half-understood many concepts.
Kureha silently averted her gaze, raising her bottle of sake, refusing Chopper's plea for help.
'It's only for a few days, Chopper. Just keep that idiotic Majesty company.'
With his plea for help unanswered, Chopper could only blankly transform into a reindeer and carry Nero out.
Holding the brewed tea and some snacks, Hathaway consciously followed behind.
"Don't play too late. Remember to come back for dinner." Kureha stood up, intending to take a nap, and casually instructed Nero and her companions.
"Hmm, I'll be back before dinner."
Using the two antlers in her hands as a steering wheel, Nero found this quite interesting.
As a mount, Chopper's form was still too small. If Nero completely relaxed her legs, her feet could touch the white snow on the ground.
However, she uncharacteristically didn't make any unreasonable demands. She just hummed an off-key song, letting Chopper carry her forward.
Nero didn't state a destination, and Chopper didn't ask, walking with his head down, deep in thought.
After walking for about ten minutes, Nero gently pulled Chopper's antlers, forcing him to stop.
"This is far enough. Chopper, tell me, what has been happening around Doctor Hiriluks Wife lately?"
Chopper's pupils trembled. He looked up and asked the same question as before: "Nero, you're also an Emperor. Who's stronger, you or Wapol?"
"Don't answer a question with a question!" Seeing Chopper's mood become even more dejected, Nero didn't answer his question. Instead, she grabbed his antlers and performed an invincible whirlwind move, making Chopper dizzy.
"My head, my head is so dizzy~~" Chopper stumbled, ultimately losing his balance and falling face-first into the snow.
Nero had already jumped off just as he was about to fall.
"Hmm, there's no comparison. Even if you put a hundred Wapols together, I could crush him with one finger."
Looking at this youngling who had only recently entered human society, Nero used a simpler analogy: "Like how you step on a small bug."
Chopper's eyes lit up: "Then you can help Hiriluk..."
He couldn't finish his sentence halfway through. Hiriluk's hope was to save this country. There was no incurable disease in this world, he had said. If he used Nero's power to kill Wapol, then... if it were Hiriluk, what would he choose?
"No, never mind..." In the end, Chopper didn't say it. If Wapol was to be killed, it should at least be by his own hand.
'Sorry, Hiriluk. Although you told me not to resent humans, Wapol is the one I absolutely cannot let go.'
Chopper secretly made up his mind. He would become the best doctor in the world.
He would become a panacea to fulfill Hiriluk's dream, and he would also kill Wapol to avenge Hiriluk.
"Hmm, is that so?" Nero lowered her eyes. "Then forget it. Hathaway! Tell me the information you've found."
"Nani?" Chopper's eyes widened.
"Yes!" Hathaway nodded. "Yesterday, Doctor Hiriluks Wife's friend Hiriluk passed away. The cause of death was self-detonation. Drum Kingdom's King Wapol used a ploy to deceive..."
Hathaway, expressionless like a robot, accurately recited the recent intelligence from this area.
There was a lot of information that even Chopper didn't know, including Hiriluk's last words:
"When do you think a person dies? Is it when their heart is pierced by a pistol? No."
"Is it when they contract an incurable disease? Also no. Is it after drinking a poisonous mushroom soup? Still no. It's when they are forgotten!"
"My life has been truly wonderful!"
"Hiriluk, Woo...Woo woo..." Hearing these words, Chopper instantly burst into tears.
Birth, old age, sickness, and death? How helpless. They didn't even let him finish his last moments.
Nero placed her hand on his pink top hat and asked Hathaway an unrelated question: "Hathaway, how long have we been here?"
"Yes, about three hours."
"Hmm, then disrespecting the Emperor... disrespecting the Celestial Dragons, Drum Kingdom's King Wapol is sentenced to death! He will be hanged tomorrow, and all the people of Drum Kingdom must come to witness the ceremony."
Nero had no intention of acting herself. With a casual sentence, she decided Wapol's fate.
"Oh, and for the personnel, use all World Government people. Drum Kingdom is not allowed to enter or exit from now on."
"Understood!" Hathaway bowed respectfully, took out a den den mushi, and dialed the World Government's den den mushi.
Chopper had calmed down a bit, and with a heavy sniffle, he choked out: "You...you...what are you going to do?"
"This isn't a big problem, Chopper! You don't need to worry about these things. Just wait and see how things unfold."
"..."
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