Drum Kingdom, an island eternally covered in snow, despite its low population, was world-famous for its advanced medical technology.
Doflamingo had been there for a month. A week after their arrival, the royal guard, who had been monitoring them, dispelled their suspicions and left, realizing that Doflamingo and his crew were, in fact, patients seeking treatment, with no ulterior motives or suspicious movements. They were just recovering and taking care of their bodies.
With the distrust gone, the royal guard finally relaxed. Their only concern was that Doflamingo and his crew would leave soon after treatment, so that the island wouldn't lose its usual peace and tranquility due to their presence.
Although Doflamingo saw this peace and tranquility as something extremely fragile in such a chaotic and turbulent era, maintaining peace and tranquility was a noble ideal. But how could one truly expect to be a mere observer, oblivious to everything?
Not to mention the drastic impact the coming Great Pirate Era would bring, the future tyrannical king Wapol alone would break this brief calm, revealing the cruelty and ugliness of the new era.
Doflamingo, who was calmly receiving treatment, didn't think much about it. After all, no one was a saint, and he had neither the right nor the desire to meddle in the life or death of these ordinary citizens. However, he was eyeing the island's medical talents. Since Wapol wouldn't value them, Doflamingo would make the "sacrifice" of accepting them, which would be almost like doing a good deed.
Days of peace always passed quickly, and time slipped away without being able to stop it.
During this month, besides treating injuries, Kureha also helped Doflamingo take care of his body and the internal injuries left by previous training and battles. Although for a top doctor like Kureha, these injuries were not a great challenge – and even other doctors could treat them – Doflamingo always wanted the best. After all, second place was far below first; people only remembered the first, and the second was always a mere supporting character.
A month of treatment didn't allow for intense physical training, but Doflamingo didn't stop exercising. If he couldn't train his body, he trained his Haki. A month of practice made his Armament Haki, once crude, much stronger and easier to use. Haki training was crucial, a standard for the strongest in the seas.
The ability to intensely sense the surrounding aura, detect unseen enemies, and even predict their future movements was Observation Haki, also known as a low-quality "mind-reading."
Observation Haki had advanced applications, such as Katakuri's future sight and Red, the Red Count's ability to read minds. These two abilities represented the extremes in different directions of Observation Haki.
Any of these abilities made Doflamingo drool with desire. Predicting the future made it easier to face enemies, and those with inferior Observation Haki would be easily manipulated. The ability to read minds was also cheating; knowing the opponent's thoughts was truly terrifying, as there were no secrets before this Observation Haki.
Armament Haki increased personal defense, acting as an invisible armor; it could also transform into attack power, allowing one to face Devil Fruit users and even touch the physical body of Logia users.
However, Armament Haki could only touch the Devil Fruit user's body; it couldn't prevent them from using their abilities like Seastone, nor control them. Besides being used on one's own body, Armament Haki could also be applied to objects. Due to its fluid nature, Armament Haki had different usage techniques, such as "Hardening," "Coating," "Emission," and "Internal Destruction."
Wano Country's Ryuo was also just an advanced application of Armament Haki. Although it didn't have "fantastic" special abilities like Observation Haki, Armament Haki was essential as a standard in the New World.
Conqueror's Haki was an extraordinary ability, possessed by only one in a million people. To eliminate weak enemies, Conqueror's Haki was the best. Advanced techniques such as pressure (represented by Shanks, who cracked the ship) and infused Conqueror's Haki were extremely powerful, but Conqueror's Haki couldn't be trained to become stronger.
It cannot be said that all the strongest mastered all three types of Haki, but none of them had weak Haki. Devil Fruits gave a higher starting point and a broader path, and Blackbeard's ability to use two, or even three, Devil Fruits was unparalleled, but this was not absolute.
The power of Haki was also of paramount importance, but the most fundamental basis was physical strength. Aokiji and Akainu fought for ten days and ten nights; they were true monsters of stamina, weren't they? Luffy, the "little immortal," and Zoro, who "shines" even with low life.
In short, Doflamingo still had a long way to go.
"Dr. Kureha, we will leave tomorrow. Thank you very much for your care during this time," Doflamingo said sincerely.
"Haha, it was about time you left. Your presence made our guards lose sleep, but the medical bill cannot be missing," Kureha laughed. "Don't worry, it won't be too expensive. After all, we spent some time together, so I'll give you a special price, just 100 million Berries."
"100 million Berries, then..." Doflamingo pondered for a moment before replying, "It's truly a friend's price."
"Haha, kid, I like you!" Kureha was surprised for an instant, then laughed openly.
Money, for Doflamingo, was dispensable. What a joke, a pirate would never run out of money, with the exception of a few.
Doflamingo suddenly took out a private Den Den Mushi from his pocket and handed it to Kureha, saying: "Don't rush to refuse, Dr. Kureha. It's a small token of appreciation. If you have any problem you can't solve, feel free to contact me."
"Haha, kid, in all these years, what haven't I been able to solve?" Kureha laughed loudly. "Don't underestimate me, huh? Or perhaps you want to know the secret to my eternal youth?"
Doflamingo wasn't swayed by Kureha's frank laughter and remained serious: "In my opinion, Dr. Kureha's treatment is worth much more than just a few pennies. This is just my gratitude."
Seeing Doflamingo's seriousness, Kureha finally accepted the Den Den Mushi.
Doflamingo, seeing this, felt relieved, as he knew that, one day, Kureha would need to use it. Moreover, Drum Kingdom's future was still uncertain.
Bidding farewell to Kureha, Doflamingo also had to bid farewell to another person.
"Dr. Hiluluk, I'm leaving tomorrow. What do you think? Don't you want to come and see the immensity of the ocean?" Doflamingo asked, with feigned cordiality, knowing that Hiluluk wouldn't leave.
"Well, although I'd love to see the beauty of the sea, I have more important things to do. This place can't be without me."
Hiluluk didn't surprise Doflamingo. He loved this country more than anyone, and he still had to continue his research on the universal cure.
"Dr. Hiluluk, if there's a chance, until next time."
What a shame, there would be no next time.
Without many words, Doflamingo departed.
For Hiluluk, that was the most sincere farewell between friends, even if they were pirates.
The blizzard increased, as if bidding farewell to those who were leaving. After all, goodbyes are for better reunions, aren't they?