Inside the fireplace, newly added dry firewood crackled, and the leaping flames dispelled the chill that seeped in through the door cracks and window gaps.
Dalton finished adding the firewood, straightened up, and his gaze fell on Nami's flushed face. He reached out to feel Nami's forehead, and his expression grew even more serious.
"Her body temperature…" Dalton's voice carried an unbelievably heavy tone, "I'm afraid it's above forty degrees Celsius."
"To be precise, it's close to forty-two degrees Celsius," Vivi held Nami's hand tightly. "It's been fluctuating like this ever since Small Garden three days ago…"
"This absolutely cannot continue!"
Dalton stated firmly from the side, "A human body cannot withstand such high fever for an extended period. If we delay any longer, her life will be in danger!"
Vivi also looked a bit helpless as she spoke to Dalton beside her:
"But… we don't know what illness she has, and we don't know how to treat it… We don't have a doctor on our ship…"
"What about that witch!" Sanji suddenly turned around, grabbing Dalton's arm and saying anxiously, "The witch doctor you just mentioned! Hurry and find her to save Miss Nami! We'll pay any amount!"
Dalton was silent for a moment, then pulled his hand free from Sanji's grip, walked to the window, and pointed to the barrel-shaped peaks covered in ice and snow outside.
"Witch… Do you see those mountains? Those are Drum Mountains."
His finger moved to the tallest and most central one, "Do you see the castle at the top of the mountain?"
Just then, the wooden door was pushed open, and Luffy and Usopp, carrying the chill of the outside, ran in, laughing, "Hey! Building snowmen outside is super fun!"
Luffy, holding a small snowman, shouted excitedly, but seeing the solemn atmosphere inside, his smile somewhat faded.
Dalton ignored their interruption, still leaning against the wall, his gaze fixed on the distant castle outside the window, his voice low: "That used to be the King's castle, but now it's empty. And the doctor I just mentioned, Dr. Kureha, who is called the Witch, lives in that castle."
"Lives in a place like that?!" Sanji nearly jumped up, pointing at the distant peak, "Are you kidding me! How are we supposed to get her here?! Miss Nami is in such danger right now!"
Dalton shook his head helplessly and sighed:
"I want to hurry too, but… there's no way to contact her directly. Her medical skills are indeed superb; she's said to have lived for nearly one hundred and forty years, but her personality… is very eccentric."
Tomioka, who had been listening in silence, now spoke up and asked, "If someone in this country gets sick, what do they do?"
"She sometimes comes down the mountain for house calls."
Dalton explained, "But the timing is completely uncertain. And… she has a habit of taking away anything she fancies."
Luffy and Usopp had now gathered by the fireplace to warm themselves, drinking hot tea. Upon hearing this, Luffy puffed out his cheeks and said, "Wow! Isn't that just like a bandit! What a nasty old lady!"
Usopp beside him chimed in, "Exactly! And she lives in a castle that looks like a monster's nest!"
Dalton didn't retort, but simply continued speaking to himself, "There are even more bizarre rumors about her. Some say that on a full moon night, she descends from the sky on a sleigh. Many people claim to have seen it with their own eyes… This is also one of the origins of her name as the Witch."
He paused, his voice lowering slightly, with a hint of mystery: "And some say… she lives with a very strange animal that no one has ever seen."
"Strange… strange animal?!" Usopp's teacup clattered to the floor, and he began to roll around in terror, "Ah ah ah ah! It must be a yeti! It must be a giant white yeti! We're doomed ah ah ah ah!!"
Seeing Usopp's overreaction, Dalton sighed heavily and brought the conversation back to reality: "You just said there was a doctor on the island… But the truth is, the only doctor is probably the Witch in that castle."
"Damn it! That woman from Baroque Works!"
Usopp scrambled up from the floor, pounding it in frustration, "They really were lying to us! They pointed us to a doctor we can't even reach!"
Just then, perhaps startled by the noise in the room, or perhaps restless from her high fever, Nami let out a weak moan and slowly opened her eyes.
"Nami!" Vivi leaned over in surprise.
Seeing this, Luffy immediately rushed to the bedside, waving his hand back and forth in front of Nami's eyes: "Nami! Nami! You're awake!"
Her eyes were a bit unfocused, and it took a while for them to clear and see Luffy in front of her. She said weakly, "Luffy… what's wrong…"
"Let me tell you!" Luffy's loud voice was particularly clear in the small wooden cabin.
"That doctor lives on that very tall mountain! We have to climb up to find her! I'll carry you up! That's the fastest way!"
Sanji immediately objected: "Idiot! How do you expect Miss Nami to get up there? It's so cold outside, and the mountain path is so steep!"
"I'll just carry her up!" Luffy gestured, demonstrating how he would carry Nami on his back, "It's better than just waiting here!"
Vivi also looked full of worry, gazing at the high snowy mountain outside the window: "It's too dangerous! Nami still has a high fever; what if she falls during the bumpy journey, or her condition worsens? Such a high mountain…"
Nami's gaze slowly shifted, looking at Vivi. She remembered the heavy burden on Vivi's shoulders, and the people of Alabasta waiting to be saved.
A surge of strength supported her, allowing her weak hand to lift slightly. Breathing heavily, she spoke to Luffy in a broken but clear voice:
"Please… Luffy…"
Luffy was stunned for a moment, then a wide smile bloomed on his face. He clapped Nami's palm firmly: "No problem! Leave it to me!"
"Then I'm coming too!" Sanji stood beside Luffy without hesitation.
Usopp rushed forward, gesturing nervously: "Luffy! Listen to me carefully! You absolutely, absolutely must not let Nami fall! Even one jolt, in her current condition, she absolutely cannot endure it! Understand?!"
Luffy was startled by Usopp's seriousness, a drop of sweat ran down his cheek, and he nodded seriously for once: "Huh? Is… is that how it is? I understand!"
The group no longer hesitated and immediately got to work.
They found strong ropes and firmly secured Nami to Luffy's broad back, ensuring she wouldn't slip. Nami was wrapped up tightly, only her pale little face showing.
"Did you hear that, Nami!" Luffy turned his head and shouted to his companion on his back, "You need to hold on tight!"
Nami lay on his back, responding weakly but firmly: "Mmm…"
Seeing the three about to depart, Dalton reminded them from the side: "There are two paths up the mountain. One is relatively safe, but it's a longer route for now. The other starts from here, but it passes through an area inhabited by carnivorous rabbits called Lapans, which are very fierce. You must be careful and try to avoid them."
Luffy and Sanji exchanged glances.
"Rabbits?" Luffy tilted his head, then a fearless smile appeared on his face, "We're in a hurry, who cares about them. Right, Sanji?"
Sanji, with a cigarette in his mouth, said sharply, "Yes, anyone who dares to block our way will just get kicked away."
Without further goodbyes, the two rushed out of the warm wooden cabin, plunging resolutely into the swirling snowstorm outside and the snowy mountain.
Their figures were quickly swallowed by the falling snowflakes.
Vivi chased to the doorway, looking worriedly in the direction they had disappeared.
"Tomioka," she turned her head, looking at Tomioka who had been standing silently by the door, "Aren't you going to go with them to check?"
Tomioka's gaze also returned from the window, falling on Vivi and Usopp beside her. "No," he shook his head, his voice calm, "I feel my body is fine."
His gaze swept over Vivi and Usopp, finally settling on the man named Dalton, who claimed to protect the island.
Luffy and Sanji have both left… If the friendliness of these people in front of me is just a disguise, like at Whiskey Peak… Then, I must stay. At least, I need to ensure Vivi and Usopp's safety.
[Interpersonal Communication Manual (Trial Version)]
[Subject: Dalton]
[Status: Calm]
[Interests: Resisting external enemies, communication]
[Suggestion: You're overthinking it]