AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteChapter 72Zoro already had his hand on the hilt of his sword.A massive submarine, far larger than the going merry and shaped strangely like a whale, was breaking through the surface and rising slowly. The waves it created caused the going merry to rock like a small boat in a storm.The submarine's hatch opened, and many figures quickly swarmed out onto the deck above.Leading them was a middle-aged man with a rotund build, dressed in flamboyant attire and wearing a crown. He was chewing on some unknown food while sizing up the Straw Hat with an arrogant gaze.Two guards stood by his side.One man sported an exaggerated afro.The other was the man Zoro had seen earlier at sea, wearing a blue robe with a dull, vacant expression in his eyes.This combination looked exceptionally out of place.Behind them was a group of soldiers in uniform, holding long rifles."You bastards!"Sanji was the first to shout angrily: "What do you think you're doing, popping up all of a sudden? We have a patient resting on our ship!"Zoro's hand was already pressed against his sword hilt, his gaze icy: "We don't have time to waste with you here. State your name."The fat, king-like man let out a loud burp, then jumped onto the stern railing of the going merry, his massive frame making the wooden railing creak."I am the King of the Drum Island, Wapol!"The man grinned and waved his hand, and the soldiers on the ship behind him raised their guns to aim: "You pirates, if you don't want to sink to the bottom of the sea, hand over the log pose or eternal pose for Drum Island!""Drum Island?" Luffy had just stepped onto the deck. Hearing the name, his heart stirred, and he turned to look at Robin for confirmation.Robin nodded: "It is the place we are heading to."Because she had been active in Alabasta for years, she knew quite a bit of information about its neighbor, Drum Island.As far as she knew, this had everything to do with the king before them."Drum Island was once a great medical nation known for having many excellent doctors. However, a tragedy occurred about half a year ago, known as the Medical 20 Incident, where almost all the doctors were expelled or vanished...""Wahahaha!" Wapol laughed triumphantly upon hearing this, patting his round belly: "That's right, that was my masterpiece! Doctors only need to serve me alone. If those lowly lives want to see a doctor, they just need to pay.""As the King of Drum Island, I should enjoy such power. Do you see? This ship, the King's White Iron, was built this way.""You guys don't seem to have a log pose, so as the price for my personal mobilization, hand over all the treasure and food on your ship!"As he spoke, he actually picked up a short sword from a guard's waist and chewed it down crunch-crunch like a biscuit, making Usopp's eyes almost pop out: "He even eats swords?"He had thought Luffy was invincible when it came to eating, but he hadn't expected to find an even greater expert.Wapol licked his lips and boasted: "Hmph, I am a user of the Munch-Munch Fruit; I can eat anything and make it my own..."Before he could finish his sentence, a fist coated in pitch-black Armament Haki had already arrived in front of him, instantly closing the distance and smashing fiercely into his fat face."Bang!"Wapol didn't even see who attacked; his whole body was sent flying back screaming as if hit by a cannonball, crashing into the submarine's mast with a loud bang."Zoro! Sanji! Don't make too much noise and disturb Nami's rest," Luffy said."Understood!" "I've been waiting for this!"After the Captain gave the order, Zoro and Sanji, like tigers entering a flock of sheep, instantly charged into the group of armed soldiers.Sword flashes flickered, leg shadows flew, and those soldiers didn't even have the chance to pull their triggers before they were screaming and falling to the ground.Even Robin gently raised her hands and crossed them in front of her chest."Cien Fleur: Hook Claw."Countless arms grew from the deck and the ship's sides, precisely gripping the throats or joints of the remaining soldiers, easily subduing them."I also don't want anyone disturbing the rest of that little cat burglar lady. Everyone, please quiet down." Robin quite appreciated Nami.Her flaws were obvious, but her merits were also significant.Almost in the blink of an eye, the fodder Wapol brought was completely cleared out.Only the afro guard and the man in the robe remained, staring at everything in stunned silence."Hey, what are you trying to do?!"Wapol finally managed to catch his breath and lifted his head with the help of his subordinates, only to see Luffy jump up."I'll send you on your way."Luffy looked at the huge submarine and the King's White Iron, puffing up his fist: "Rubber... Gomu Gomu no Bajrang Gun!"The massive Rubber fist slammed out like a battering ram, not only sending Wapol, who had just climbed up, flying again but also shattering the keel of the huge submarine, the King's White Iron, with this terrifying blow, causing it to begin sinking rapidly.A large part of the submarine was pieced together by Wapol's Devil Fruit ability; with him losing consciousness, the ship disintegrated quickly."Since Wapol is nearby, Drum Island should be close." Luffy didn't even look at the sinking ship and turned to return to the cabin.Right now, nothing was more important than reaching Drum Island as soon as possible.Chapter 96: Traces of the Blackbeard PiratesNot long after, the surrounding temperature began to drop.Luffy, acting as the Navigator, immediately determined with Vivi that there was a winter island nearby. According to Robin, Drum Island was a winter island, so they should be arriving soon.The wind on the sea was strong, so everyone put on thick, warm clothes.The expressions on everyone's faces were a bit gloomy; they were really in no mood to play happily.Before, Usopp would likely have already started a snowball fight with Quick. Luffy might have been doing some cold-resistance training with Zoro at this time."I can feel it." Merry pointed in a direction.Luffy reached up to the crow's nest.Looking up, the sea was still a vast expanse of white with snow falling, and soon a small black dot faintly appeared.After a while, the appearance of the island gradually became clear. It was an island covered in heavy snow, and from afar, one could see a huge mountain standing tall.The going merry soon arrived at the port of Drum Island."Everyone, we've arrived at our destination!""Hurry and find a doctor for Ms. Nami!"But as soon as the going merry docked, it was surrounded by a group of people holding hunting rifles with wary eyes. The air was filled with cold and a hint of oppressive atmosphere."Pirates, it's a pirate ship!""Get out! We don't welcome pirates here!"Usopp quickly stood out, waving his hands and shouting: "Wait, don't shoot! We have a patient on our ship, we need a doctor! We're here to find a doctor!""It seems the Medical 20 Incident left a deep trauma on this country."Robin observed the expressions of these people and said softly to Luffy: "They have deep hostility toward pirates."Pirates were not welcomed anywhere they went.There was no reason; it was simply their reputation. Could pirates ever have a good reputation? If they did, they wouldn't be pirates.In this world, communication between kingdoms and islands relied only on newspapers, and the content written on them was selectively screened by the World Government.Even Morgans, the president of the World Economic Journal, who could slightly let the world know the truth, often dared not go against the World Government.At least not until Morgans believed there was an absolutely huge scoop."I mean no harm, I just need a doctor, a doctor who can treat the Kestia fever... or just give me some herbs." Luffy looked around: "I am willing to pay."The people looked at each other; it was the first time they had seen a pirate with such a friendly attitude. But the word "doctor" seemed to sting the sensitive nerves of some. Someone in the crowd, out of nervousness, had a trembling finger, and bang, a shot went off!The bullet whistled toward Luffy.Luffy's expression turned cold. He didn't even dodge, just reached out like lightning and precisely caught the bullet in his hand.He looked at that person.An uncontrollable... heart-palpitating aura rose from Luffy as the center. Although it wasn't the release of Conqueror's Haki, the oppressive feeling condensed from countless life-and-death battles made everyone present feel their breathing hitch."Stop!"A calm male voice rang out.A tall, strong man with a determined face walked out of the crowd. His body rapidly expanded, his muscles knotted, and horns grew on his head, transforming him into a half-man, half-bull form. He was none other than the Captain of the Drum Island guard, Dalton.Just now, he felt the immense pressure coming from Luffy and activated his ability without hesitation: "Zoan, Ox-Ox Fruit, Model: Bison!""Dalton-kun!" The people looked relieved when they saw Dalton. He was the pillar of their Drum Island, and they had already decided to elect Dalton as the king of this island."Don't be impulsive."Dalton stepped forward, but the closer he got to Luffy, the more he felt a mountain-like pressure.This Straw Hat is very strong!Dalton made the judgment instantly.Before, this island had experienced being plundered by pirates, even reaching a point of near-destruction. That was the existence known as the Blackbeard Pirates.Facing that Blackbeard pirate, Dalton had no power to resist at all.The feeling this Straw Hat gave him was the same.But to his surprise, even though they fired first, Luffy did not immediately retaliate.He just repeated sincerely, looking at Dalton: "My partner is sick, I need a doctor!"Dalton looked at the unfeigned anxiety in Luffy's eyes, then looked at the orange-haired girl on his back with a flushed face and weak breathing, and his tense expression relaxed slightly.He deactivated his transformation and said in a deep voice: "Follow me."The other people didn't dare to make a sound.Catching a bullet with bare hands—even Dalton couldn't do such a thing.They could only pray that these pirates weren't bad by nature; this was the sorrow of the weak.In Dalton's simple but warm home, he served hot tea to Luffy and the others, looking with complex eyes at Nami, who was still unconscious and carefully placed on the bed by Luffy.On the way, Dalton explained the current situation of the country and King Wapol."That guy who can eat anything?" Usopp had a strong impression of that guy."You encountered him?"Dalton stood up abruptly, his expression becoming somewhat gloomy: "I have been hearing that he is operating in the nearby waters, seemingly ready to return and plunder this country at any time."Everyone's eyes turned to Luffy."Well... I was in a bad mood at the time, so I just sent them to feed the fish." Luffy laughed it off.If a Devil Fruit user falls into the sea and manages to survive, it's just a stroke of luck.Dalton couldn't help but look at Luffy a few more times; he said it so simply."In any case, there is only one doctor left in our country now."Dalton had a complex expression when he mentioned the last remaining doctor: "She lives on the highest snowy mountain over there. Dr. Kurehais her name, but the people here call her the Witch.""Witch?" Luffy thought the name was pretty cool."She should be in that castle right now. However, she has a strange quirk: the payment she demands for treatment is often the thing the patient or the person seeking medical help cherishes the most. Moreover, the road up the mountain is now completely blocked by heavy snow, which is very dangerous..."
