The wind picked up — at first a gentle breeze shifted into a cold gust, and we felt the climate beginning to change. The chill from the sea cut to the bone, even through our clothes and armored jackets. I stood on the deck, staring at the horizon where clouds were gathering, and the warmth of the daytime sun was retreating.
— Captain! — Sabo shouted from the crow's nest above the deck, his voice almost drowned out by the whistling wind. — We're entering the winter island zone!
I stepped onto the open deck, pulled my jacket collar tight, and nodded.
— Yeah, — I said, — I see it.
— Are we heading for it? — Gin asked, jumping from railing to railing, trying to keep warm.
— Yes, — I replied calmly, though I could feel my teeth chattering from the cold. — This is Drum Island. One of the Mugiwara was here, and it's a place with the best doctors!
The island ahead rose from the sea — white peaks covered with snow, mountain curves like columns…
The sky was gray, the sun hidden behind a dense veil of clouds, and the air carried the scent of pine, snow, and ice.
— This is… — Auger muttered, coughing lightly. — A real winter island, I've never seen anything like this.
Karina looked at the smoke and hustle on the deck, then at me:
— Are you sure we're ready? —
I nodded, though I wasn't a hundred percent certain myself.
— We have to be. —
The ship cut through the cold sea. The waves grew taller, and ice glistened slightly on the crests. As we neared the shore, we noticed gaps on the mountainsides where soft snow was flowing like the tears of old earth. Birds with white wings flew low, and from the forest below came a cry — perhaps some animal.
— Did you see that? — Gin whispered, gripping the helm tightly.
— I did, — I replied quietly.
And then — we reached the bay by the island's shores. The water near the coast was almost transparent, and an icy mist hovered above the sea. On the shore, pine forests were visible, their branches bent under the weight of snow. Between the trees — smoking chimneys, little houses with frost-covered roofs.
— We'll stop here to restock supplies. Gin, I think you'll like this place, — I said, looking at him. — We'll stay here for a while.
Karina stepped out first, wrapping herself in a thick cloak against the icy wind, which tore snow whirls off the mountains. Auger and Gin followed, trying not to lose balance on the slippery surface. Sabo stayed on the ship, watching our movements from the height of the crow's nest, ready to raise the alarm if anything went wrong.
— What do you mean by 'like it'? — Gin asked, approaching me, his eyes following every move.
— You'll find out, — I replied, keeping pace, already heading toward the mountain slope where Wapol Castle towered.
" And suddenly a mischievous excitement surged through me as I looked at the castle — I remembered there was a treasury somewhere here, which probably meant Devil Fruits or rare weapons were hidden."
— I want to check something! — I shouted, already moving upward.
— Gin, Auger, help Karina load the provisions! — I added, running ahead toward the mountain ascent.
The mountain before me was imposing, its icy slopes rising almost vertically, studded with sharp rocks and icy ledges. The ledges seemed narrow and unstable, but they could support hands and feet. I carefully examined the route — too steep to jump straight to the top, too dangerous for big leaps.
— Guess I'll just have to climb, — I muttered to myself, clenching my fists.
I placed my foot on the first ledge, my hands grasping the rock, ice creaking under my fingers. The wind slammed my face, tearing snow whirls, and my breath turned into clouds of vapor.
— Hey, what are you doing? — a voice came from the side.
I turned and saw a man in winter clothes, standing on a viewing platform near the lift.
— Aren't you local? There's a lift right there! — he continued, looking at me like I was crazy, clearly not understanding why someone would climb the mountain by hand.
I paused for a moment, listening to his words. Indeed, to the right, metal structures glimmered, and a lift was visible — ready to take people and cargo straight to the castle.
— Alright, — I muttered to myself, studying the slope. — Maybe that is actually more sensible…
I carefully stepped back onto the nearest stable ledge and inspected the lift. It looked solid — thick metal cables, sturdy platforms shielded from wind and snow. Below, a group of workers adjusted the cabin.
— Seems like we'll have to be smart, — I said aloud, realizing that conserving energy and safety mattered more than a flashy climb.
I jumped onto the ledge closer to the lift and quickly secured a safety rope I had with me — just in case. The wind still slammed my face, but now the ascent was faster and safer.
The platform slowly rose, sliding along the icy slope.
— Here we go… almost at the top, — I muttered when the platform reached the first intermediate stop. I had to step slightly over the railing to secure the rope and continue moving.
Thinking about it, it was like robbing a bank on public transport — funny if you think about it. But there was little choice. I carefully stepped along the icy ledge, approaching the summit where a massive castle loomed.
Finally, I reached the incline leading straight to the main entrance. Ahead stood a massive portal with dark metal gates, adorned with the emblem of Drum Island. The castle looked almost unreal — as if carved directly from the ice rock.
— And how many episodes were there with Luffy climbing the mountain… Why didn't he just take it like this? The effort would've been less, — I thought, rubbing my hands and studying the scale of the structure before me.
— Hey! What are you doing here? — a sharp voice sounded from behind.
I turned and saw a soldier in a gray uniform, holding a rifle aimed directly at me.
— Visiting the mountain! — I muttered, looking at him.
— The lift is only for King Wapol, — the soldier said, approaching. — You must pay!
He pointed a bayonet, gleaming threateningly in the sunlight.
— Ah… now I think I understand why… — I muttered under my breath, looking at the massive gates and high walls, pressing their gray silhouette against the sky.
— I have nothing with me, — I said in response to the silent jab of the soldier. My words were quiet, but enough to make him smirk.
He didn't make a big show of authority. With a short gesture, he leveled his weapon and ordered:
— Go. —
I was led forward. Ahead, two walked on the frozen stone path, followed by three more with torches, casting yellow patches on the snow. The wind howled between the towers, lifting fine snow.
— We have an intruder, — the soldier's voice sounded under the guardhouse door, and someone peered at us suspiciously through a window.
— Lead him there, — another voice replied, and a small door at the base of the wall opened — a narrow passage, suspiciously warm and smelling of resin.
The passage was tight, slippery with frost, and after a few steps we found ourselves in the darker, inner part of the castle. Metal and stone retained their chill — even the torches seemed weaker, casting short shadows. Windows had grates behind which silhouettes of people in warm uniforms flickered. There were muffled murmurs and the creak of chains.
— Here, — the soldier jabbed his bayonet at a door, and it opened into a small courtyard. In the center was a hatch leading down stone steps.
— They like the cool in the winter prison, — he muttered with a crooked grin.
A few minutes of walking — and I stood before a massive door with iron rivets. It opened with a heavy creak, and the cold hit my face as if an icy knife had plunged into my chest.
The prison was short, but the high vault and thick walls made footsteps echo. Rows of cells with barred doors lined the sides — in some, I glimpsed silhouettes of people wrapped in tattered furs. Their gazes, like the back of a mirror — empty, tired. One had a raspy laugh, another a whisper.
— Sit down, there'll be enough room for you, — another guard said, shoving me into one of the cells. The door slammed behind me with a creak, and the lock clicked dully, cutting me off from the light.