Hiluluk stood where he was.
Kureha sighed and walked over to pat him on the shoulder. "Idiot. Don't you understand yet? The only reason this country is still standing is because of that brat. Or rather, because Rati exists, this country escaped a disaster."
She pointed at her own chest. "The people have to want to change themselves."
In the corner, Chopper had his head down. Big tears fell to the floor.
Perona panicked. "Ch-Chopper? What's wrong?"
Chopper sobbed. "I-I want to be a doctor... but now I..."
He looked up, his vision blurred with tears. "I actually agreed with Uncle Rhett... Does that mean I've become a bad person? Does that mean I can't be a doctor anymore?"
Laboon gently hugged him with its fin. "Woo... (No, it doesn't...)"
Rhett's voice came from the throne. "Chopper."
Chopper jumped. "Y-Yes!"
Rhett propped his chin on his hand. The blood mist floated a cup of warm milk to Chopper. "If you want to be a doctor, be a doctor. If you want to save people, save them."
"But remember this," his gaze was sharp as a blade. "Kindness needs teeth. The kind of doctor who has to treat every patient they see. The kind of person who has to feed everyone they see who is hungry. Don't do things that only cause trouble for yourself. Let bad people die. Because by letting them die, you are treating the people who would have been hurt in the future. When they die, there will be fewer families destroyed and fewer orphans starving in the streets. That is also a form of healing."
Chopper took the milk, stunned. He nodded, not fully understanding but agreeing.
---
Late at night, Hiluluk stood alone on the castle terrace. He looked out at Drum Kingdom, shrouded in snow.
"Have you decided?" Kureha's voice came from behind.
Hiluluk smiled and put on his funny hat. His cross-shaped hair was finally complete.
"Yes. I'm leaving first thing tomorrow."
He turned and bowed deeply to Kureha. "Thank you for everything."
Kureha snorted and threw him a package. "Emergency medicine. Don't die."
Hiluluk laughed. "Don't worry! I'm the man who's going to cover this entire country in cherry blossoms!"
Meanwhile, in the castle hallway.
Chopper snuck into the pharmacy. He stuffed as many herbs as he could into his small backpack.
Perona floated by the door. "Are you really leaving?"
Chopper nodded, his gaze determined. "I-I want to go with Dr. Hiluluk..."
Laboon emerged from the shadows, a small bundle in its mouth. "Woo! (Take this too. It's some food.)"
Perona's eyes reddened. "You..."
Chopper suddenly ran over and hugged her tightly. "We'll come back! We're going to heal this country!"
Laboon also patted Perona's head with its fin. "Woo! (I believe in you, little brother!)"
Perona wiped her tears and suddenly pulled a tiny ghost plushie out of her bag. She stuffed it into Chopper's pack. "Take this! If you're in danger, I'll have Lord Moria come save you!"
(Moria, thousands of miles away: "Achoo! Who's talking about me?")
---
The next morning, when Hiluluk pushed open the castle gate, he found Rhett leaning against the doorframe. Blood mist swirled around his fingertips.
"Lord Rhett..." Hiluluk looked a little nervous.
Rhett glanced at him and tossed him a Den Den Mushi. "Take it. If you get sick and are about to die, call this number. It's mine. I've already had Enel spread the word. The Drum Kingdom cannot fly the Blood Dawn Pirates' flag."
Hiluluk froze. "You..."
Rhett turned away, leaving only one sentence. "Don't misunderstand. I just don't want Chopper to die out there. Consider this a friendly gesture. But if you use this Den Den Mushi to ask me for anything related to Drum Kingdom, we're no longer friends."
Hiluluk watched his back and suddenly smiled. He shouted loudly, "Thank you!!"
In the wind and snow, a man and a reindeer walked into the distance.
At the top of the castle, Kureha watched their retreating figures. She whispered to herself, "...Idiot."
A crazy doctor and a blue-nosed reindeer had set out on a journey to become... to save a country. Would they succeed?
---
Ever since Rati came into this world, Tesoro had been completely devoted to her. She opened her eyes on the fifth day.
The "Golden Emperor," who could make the New World tremble, was now lying inelegantly by the baby's crib. His hair was perfectly groomed. His eyes were fixed on little Rati. He wouldn't stop talking.
"Rati Daddy is right here"
"Look at me! I'm your daddy!"
"Smile! Smile for daddy!"
Rati calmly blew a bubble.
Rhett leaned against the doorframe, looking disgusted. "Boss Tesoro, you look like a pervert right now. Besides, you're going to have to call her 'daddy' for at least the first year before she might call you daddy. If you want to be a father, first learn to be a son. Wahahaha."
Tesoro didn't even turn around. "Captain, that's technically true, but why do you have to say it so strangely!! You don't understand! She looked at me just now! She recognizes me!"
Rhett: "She was looking at the gold chandelier behind you."
Tesoro: "Impossible! My daughter loves me the most!"
Rati suddenly turned her head and looked at Rhett.
Tesoro: "..." (Turned to stone.)
Rhett smiled smugly. "Looks like she prefers her uncle."
Tesoro immediately threw himself at the crib, his voice trembling. "Rati! Look at Daddy again! Just once!"
Perona floated over and teased Rati. "Little Rati look over here"
She made a little round ghost and waved it in front of Rati.
Rati's eyes lit up. She waved her little hand and giggled.
Tesoro: "..." (Clutched his chest.)
Chopper had left with Hiluluk, but he had left behind a recording Den Den Mushi. "Rati! Grow up healthy and strong!"
When the recording played, Rati's little feet kicked happily.
Tesoro: "..." (Fell to his knees.)
Laboon poked its head in. "Woo? (Can I come in?)"
Rati heard the sound. Suddenly she made a noise and reached her little hand toward the door.
Tesoro: "..." (Completely lost his color.)
"Sister Stella, what do you think of this one?"
Rati's eyes lit up. "Ah!"
"It's very cute, Lena."
"Ah!"
Rhett patted Tesoro on the shoulder. "Accept it. You're already ranked seventh in this household."
Tesoro: "Seventh?! Who's ahead of me?!"
Rhett counted on his fingers. "Stella, Lena, me, Perona, Chopper's recording, Laboon..."
Tesoro: "..." (Tears streaming down his face. He shattered into pieces.)