"Alright, playtime's over."
Kai announced with a light laugh, expression relaxed as if merely ending an insignificant game.
Now that he'd witnessed the Munch-Munch Fruit's abilities, there was no need to continue playing with Wapol.
This dismissive attitude made Wapol's entire body tremble with rage. Just as he was about to curse loudly, he suddenly felt his body lighten, his vision spinning wildly.
An irresistible force struck—his massive steel body was lifted like a toy. After a dizzying aerial spin, Wapol crashed heavily into the ground, joining Dalton in the snow and sending powder flying everywhere.
"Wahhh!"
The violent impact and dizziness instantly left Wapol dazed, unable to maintain his combined form. His mouth involuntarily opened as he spat out the pile of weapons and ammunition he'd just swallowed. His massive war machine body rapidly deflated, reverting to his obese, bloated original form.
"Mm, strength controlled just right—dazed but not brain-damaged."
Kai withdrew his palm with satisfaction, then stepped forward at a leisurely pace toward Wapol.
Wapol barely regained his senses, shaking his oversized head. Opening his eyes, he saw that demon-like man once again approaching.
"Don't come any closer!"
Extreme terror made Wapol scream, one hand propping himself backward while the other frantically waved before his face, like a child who thinks covering his eyes will make the monster disappear.
The ultimate self-deception.
However, reality doesn't bend to a coward's wishes. That figure finally stopped before him, casting a shadow that completely enveloped him.
"Wapol, come with me."
Kai spoke, tone flat yet brooking no argument.
Wapol froze, momentarily unable to tell whether he should be shocked or pleased. His life seemed spared? But this thought barely arose before he violently shivered. This monster before him was extremely vicious—following him, what good outcome could there be? Who knows when he might accidentally anger him and end up dead in some foreign land.
No, he absolutely couldn't go with him.
"This country still needs its king! Without my leadership, their lives will definitely worsen!"
Wapol frantically waved his hands, struggling to squeeze out a sympathetic expression. The more he spoke, the more reasonable he felt, unconsciously straightening his back.
Kai's mouth twitched. Getting too into character now?
Smack—
A crisp, resounding slap suddenly rang out. Wapol clutched his instantly swollen cheek, a clear red handprint appearing on it.
"You—you hit me?" His eyes widened in disbelief at Kai, tears actually flowing. "Even my father never hit me."
Kai was unmoved, coldly stating, "That's why he failed to prevent you from becoming the pathetic excuse for a king you are today."
With that, he bent down again, his shadow looming over Wapol like a physical weight. "Remember, what I just said was an order, not a request."
"As for the king—"
Kai straightened, thoughtfully stroking his chin. "A country without a king is indeed difficult to operate."
Hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in Wapol's eyes, as if grasping a lifeline.
"Then let that guy do it."
Kai casually pointed toward the still-unconscious Dalton in the distance.
Just a king—what's so hard about it? Especially for Drum Kingdom with such solid foundations—it was formerly a famous medical powerhouse. In that business, it was hard not to make money.
Remember, Drum Kingdom was a World Government allied nation, and allied nations' most important obligation was timely payment of Heavenly Tribute. That was a considerable sum, enough to drag down a small country. This showed how prosperous Drum Kingdom's finances were.
Even if Dalton did nothing moving forward, just slept in the castle daily, Drum Kingdom's citizens could develop themselves.
As for the World Government's reaction? One sentence summarized it: I only want Heavenly Tribute—whose name it comes under doesn't matter.
"No! No! You can't do this—" Wapol completely panicked, making futile struggles.
"Wrong. I can."
Kai's gaze was ice-cold as he decisively interrupted. Without another word, he directly reached out, grabbing Wapol's collar like picking up a baby chicken. Ignoring his pig-like squealing and flailing, he effortlessly lifted him off the ground.
Kai carried Wapol to the unconscious Dalton's side, signaling Hiriluk to wake him.
Thus, Dalton groggily awoke. The first words he heard in his daze were—
"I've decided. Starting today, you'll be this country's king."
"Huh?"
Dalton vigorously rubbed his eyes, blankly surveying his surroundings, momentarily suspecting he was still dreaming.
Kai didn't elaborate, turning his gaze toward the ashen-faced Wapol in his hand, commanding, "Now go to the castle's broadcast room and announce your voluntary decision to abdicate the throne to Dalton nationwide."
Just like that, on Kai's first day reaching Drum Island, he casually helped this nation replace its king.
As for beneath the mountain—the citizens' shock, doubt, and ultimate cheering upon hearing Wapol's broadcast—that's temporarily unmentioned.
Dalton didn't betray this trust. His first order after taking office was immediately abolishing that damn "Doctor Hunting Order" and promptly dispatching people everywhere to find those doctors persecuted by Wapol and scattered abroad, earnestly requesting their return to revive Drum Kingdom's medical powerhouse glory.
Inside the castle.
"See? Isn't this country already improving?"
Kai shrugged.
Hiriluk opened his mouth but ultimately had nothing to say. It wasn't that he didn't want to overthrow Wapol—he simply lacked that capability.
"Hiriluk!"
Just then, Chopper in reindeer form finally carried Kureha, panting heavily, as they rushed into the castle hall.
"Chopper!"
Seeing that familiar small figure again and hearing its tear-choked call, Hiriluk's heart felt violently struck.
In this moment, Hiriluk suddenly felt—being alive is wonderful.
"Wuwuwu—"
Chopper set down Kureha, his four hooves powering him as he leaped into Hiriluk's open embrace. "I thought—I thought I'd never see you again! Dr. Hiriluk!"
"I'm sorry, Chopper. I'm sorry—"
Hiriluk used all his strength to tightly hold the trembling small body in his arms, tears sliding down his face and dripping onto Chopper's soft fur. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have forced you away like that."
"You must have suffered so much these days—"
He tenderly stroked the still-unhealed wounds on Chopper's body.
"This idiot."
Kureha secretly sighed with relief. She quietly stood aside, watching this tightly embracing pair, not interrupting, her usually stern eyes rarely showing a trace of warmth.
"Here, drink this."
Kai insensitively interrupted the reunion scene, pulling a small glass vial from his chest and casually tossing it to Hiriluk.
The latter fumbled to catch it, looking at the liquid in the bottle, puzzled. "This is?"
Kai stated flatly, "Something that might save your life."
Nearby, Kureha frowned at this. She knew Hiriluk's condition too well—it was a terminal illness even she felt helpless against. Could this pirate have a solution?
But Chopper's spirits lifted. "Dr. Hiriluk, try it quickly!"
Facing Chopper's eager eyes, Hiriluk didn't hesitate or question the liquid's origin, decisively pulling out the stopper and draining the bottle's contents in one gulp.
His wish was fulfilled—even if it contained poison, he'd accept it. At least it helped Chopper recognize a group of bad people.
"This taste—feels somewhat like tears?"
Hiriluk smacked his lips. Before offering more commentary, a gentle yet powerful warm current flowed down his throat, rapidly spreading throughout his limbs.
"Huh?"
Hiriluk involuntarily straightened, looking down at himself with uncertainty. He felt an unprecedented lightness, as if unloading a thousand-pound burden—even breathing became smoother.
He hadn't experienced this wonderful feeling in so long.
"I—I think I'm better?"
Hearing this, Chopper almost jumped with joy!
Kureha, maintaining her stern expression, showed undisguised shock for the first time. Impossible!
Kureha rushed to Hiriluk in two strides, disregarding decorum and directly grabbing his wrist for a rapid examination.
"Strange. Your symptoms really did ease."
Kureha's eyes widened, murmuring, "This isn't scientific."
Kai chuckled. "Of course it's not scientific—this is Devil Fruit power."
Devil Fruits make impossibilities possible.
"No wonder." Kureha realized with sudden understanding. If it was that reality-defying power, it could be explained.
However, out of medical rigor, she directly commandeered the castle's ready medical equipment, giving Hiriluk a detailed full-body examination.
But the results made Chopper's just-brightened face droop again.
Good news: Hiriluk's condition was indeed miraculously suppressed.
Bad news: This suppression wasn't a cure—his lifespan merely changed from ten days to five months.
"It's alright, Chopper."
Hiriluk instead smiled openly, gently stroking Chopper's small head. "Living five more months, accompanying you longer—for me, that's already heaven's greatest blessing."
Chopper forcibly held back tears about to burst through, burying his head deeper into Hiriluk's embrace, tightly encircling him with small hooves as if this could retain the flowing life.
"Things might not be without hope."
Kai's words again, like casting light into darkness, reignited the nearly extinguished hope in their eyes.
"The medicine I gave you was a weakened version. If the ability user personally intervenes, a complete cure might be possible. However, that requires you coming with me."
Kai genuinely admired this idealist Hiriluk—saving his life was merely a simple gesture.
Moreover, Hiriluk wasn't entirely useless. Though his medical skills were third-rate, he had some substance in biological research. In the original timeline, he once extracted frog essence, successfully making a patient only able to frog-hop.
Though things went wrong, the result wasn't necessarily bad. Chopper's later-invented Rumble Balls might have referenced part of Hiriluk's research achievements.
Hiriluk naturally had no objections to this proposal. After fulfilling his wish to "heal the nation," another stronger desire ignited in his heart—watching Chopper grow until he could truly stand independently.
Hiriluk decided to follow Kai and leave. Chopper naturally chose without hesitation to follow closely.
Meanwhile, Kureha somehow produced a bottle of the royal family's treasured premium plum wine, sipping while quietly observing Kai's group.
Strange.
This was her definition for Kai's crew. Living so long, she'd never seen a pirate crew with such bizarre conduct—especially with everyone bearing high bounties.
They'd rescue an injured little reindeer, seriously trade with it, and keep promises, even "kindly" arrange the country's future after abducting the king—were these still vicious pirates?
Regardless, the outcome was good.
Kureha's gaze fell on Chopper, tightly nestled beside Hiriluk with renewed radiance on his face. Her mouth unconsciously curved slightly upward as she tilted her head back, pouring a large gulp of her beloved plum wine.
Unexpectedly, Kai didn't intend to let her go. He invited, "Dr. Kureha, interested in working for me?"
In his eyes, Kureha was Drum Kingdom's "second treasure" with the highest value besides Wapol. Her medical mastery was evident from maintaining vitality and stamina comparable to someone in their twenties or thirties despite being over 130 years old.
"Hiring this old lady? My fees aren't cheap."
Kureha raised an eyebrow, shaking her wine bottle, her tone playful yet not outright refusing.
Kai's eyes brightened, immediately raising one finger.
"Ten million berries? That can't satisfy my—"
Before Kureha finished, Kai directly interrupted. "One hundred million! One hundred million berries annually! That's just base salary, not counting allowances. Room and board provided, plus personal security."
"Oh?" Kureha was somewhat tempted.
That wasn't all. Kai sweetened the deal. "Beyond that, premium plum wine and your favorite pickled plums—unlimited supply, as much as you want."
"Deal!"
With almost no hesitation, Kureha firmly grasped Kai's hands, as if fearing he'd back out.
After staying in Drum Kingdom for so many years, she was indeed getting restless. Changing to a completely new environment and experiencing a different life seemed like a good idea.
Moreover, his conditions were so generous—simply irresistible.
Both Kai and Kureha wore satisfied smiles—he felt he'd found treasure, while she believed she'd found a generous employer.