Doctor Hiluluk stood frozen where he was.
Kureha let out a sigh and walked over, patting him on the shoulder.
"Idiot. Don't you get it yet? The only reason this country still exists is because that little girl isn't bad. Or more precisely, because Lati exists, this country was spared from disaster."
She tapped her own chest.
"They have to be willing to change themselves."
In the corner, Chopper lowered his head as large tears splashed onto the floor.
Perona panicked.
"Chopper? What's wrong?"
Chopper forced back his sobs.
"I… I do want to become a doctor… but now…"
He looked up, his vision blurred by tears.
"I really think Uncle Reid is right… Have I… become a bad person? Can I still be a doctor?"
Laboon gently wrapped a fin around him.
"Woo… (No, you haven't…)"
Suddenly, Reid's voice came from the throne.
"Chopper."
Chopper trembled all over.
"Y yes!"
Reid rested his chin on his hand as blood mist floated a cup of hot milk in front of Chopper.
"If you want to be a doctor, then be a doctor. If you want to save people, then go save them."
"But remember this."
His gaze sharpened like a blade.
"Kindness needs an edge. Doctors who claim they must treat anyone they see, or feed anyone who is hungry, often only bring trouble upon themselves. Sometimes, you must watch evil people die, because by doing so, you are saving the victims of tomorrow. As long as that person dies, countless families will not be torn apart in the streets."
Chopper took the milk blankly and nodded, as if he understood, though in truth he did not.
Late at night, Doctor Hiluluk stood alone on the castle balcony, gazing toward Drum Kingdom, buried in wind and snow.
"Have you decided?" Kureha's voice came from behind him.
Hiluluk smiled and put on his ridiculous hat again. His cross shaped hairstyle was finally intact.
"Yes. I'm leaving first thing tomorrow morning."
He turned and bowed deeply to Kureha.
"Thank you for taking care of me all this time."
Kureha snorted and tossed him a package.
"Emergency medicine. Don't die."
Hiluluk laughed heartily.
"Don't worry! I'm the man who will make cherry blossoms bloom across the entire country!"
At the same time, in the castle corridor,
Chopper crept into the pharmacy, quietly stuffing herbs into his small backpack.
Perona floated to the doorway and asked softly,
"You're really leaving?"
Chopper nodded, his eyes firm.
"I… I want to go with Doctor Hiluluk…"
Laboon stepped out of the shadows, a small bundle in his mouth.
"Woo! (This is for you too. Some tasty snacks.)"
Perona's eyes reddened.
"You guys…"
Chopper suddenly rushed over and hugged her tightly.
"We'll come back! We'll definitely heal this country!"
Laboon patted Perona's head with his fin.
"Woo! (I believe in you, brother!)"
Perona wiped her tears, then suddenly stuffed a mini ghost doll into Chopper's bag.
"Take this! If you run into danger, I'll have Lord Moria come save you!"
(Somewhere far away, Moria sneezed.
"Achoo! Who's talking about me now?")
The next morning, when Doctor Hiluluk pushed open the castle gates, he found Reid leaning against the door, blood mist swirling around his fingertips.
"Lord Reid…" Hiluluk said uneasily.
Reid glanced at him and tossed him a Den Den Mushi.
"Take it. If you ever get sick and are about to die, call this snail. It's mine. I've already had Enel notify the others. Drum Kingdom is not allowed to fly the Crimson Dawn Pirates' flag."
Hiluluk was stunned.
"You…"
Reid turned and walked away, leaving only a single sentence behind.
"Don't misunderstand. I just don't want Chopper dying somewhere outside. This is simple help between friends. But if you use that snail to talk to me about Drum Kingdom again, we are no longer friends."
Hiluluk stared at his retreating back, then suddenly laughed and shouted,
"Thank you!"
In the wind and snow, the figures of a man and a reindeer gradually disappeared.
(At the top of the castle, Kureha watched them leave and muttered softly,
"…Idiots.")
A mad doctor and a blue nosed reindeer set off on a journey to become something like Pokémon, all in order to save a country. Would they succeed?
Five days after Lati opened her eyes upon arriving in this world, Tesoro was completely captivated.
The former Golden Emperor of the New World was now slumped pathetically beside the crib, hair perfectly groomed, eyes unblinking as he stared at little Lati, muttering nonstop.
"Lati, daddy's here."
"Look at me, look at me! I'm your dad!"
"Smile! Smile for daddy!"
(Lati responded calmly by blowing a bubble.)
Reid leaned against the doorframe, his face full of disdain.
"Boss Tesoro, you look like a creep right now. Also, you'll need to call Lati 'dad' for about a year before she might call you 'dad.' If you want to be a father, you should start by being a good son. Wahahaha."
Tesoro did not even turn his head.
"Captain, even though you're right, why does your tone sound so weird? Damn it… you don't understand! She just looked at me! She recognized me!"
Reid replied flatly.
"She was looking at the golden chandelier behind you."
Tesoro shouted,
"Impossible! My daughter loves me the most!"
(Lati suddenly turned her head and looked at Reid.)
Tesoro froze completely.
Reid smirked proudly.
"Looks like she prefers her uncle."
Tesoro immediately lunged toward the crib, his voice trembling.
"Lati! Look at daddy again! Just one more look!"
Perona floated over and teased Lati playfully.
"Little Lati, look here."
She conjured a small round ghost and floated it in front of the baby.
Lati's eyes lit up. Her tiny hands waved as she giggled.
Tesoro clutched his chest in silence.
Chopper's voice came from a recorder he had left behind.
"Lati! Grow up healthy!"
(The recording played as Lati kicked her tiny feet happily.)
Tesoro collapsed to his knees.
Laboon poked his head in from outside.
"Woo? (Can I come in?)"
At the sound of his voice, Lati suddenly let out a small cry and reached toward the door.
Tesoro lost all color.
"What do you think, Sister Stella?"
Lati's eyes sparkled.
"Ah!"
"She's so cute, Lina."
"Ah!"
Reid patted Tesoro on the shoulder.
"Accept your fate. You're already ranked seventh in the household."
Tesoro shouted,
"Seventh?! Who's ahead of me?!"
Reid counted on his fingers.
"Stella, Lina, me, Perona, Chopper's recording, Laboon…"
Tesoro fell silent.
Tears streamed down his face as he shattered into countless pieces.