"Sherlock."
"Hey, Sherlock, wake up."
"Geez, how can you sleep so soundly?"
In a state of deep sleep, Sherlock groggily opened his eyes. Filling his vision was a beautiful face, her skin as smooth as cream and her cheeks like peach blossoms. A pair of large, bright eyes were staring intently right at him, causing Sherlock's sleepiness to vanish instantly.
"Ah, Sherlock, you're finally awake." Perhaps realizing she had been leaning in a bit too close, Nami awkwardly pulled her head back, her fair cheeks tinged with an alluring blush.
After all, this was the first time the navigator had seen the Occultist fast asleep—and without his glasses, no less. Driven by curiosity, the orange-haired girl couldn't help but observe him carefully.
(I didn't expect Sherlock to look kinda cute when he sleeps. He looks as peaceful as a baby. It's quite different from his usual look. Is it because he took his glasses off?)
(He has a beauty mark under his left eye? I never noticed that before.)
(And this guy's skincare is way too good... it's good enough to make me jealous...)
"Nami?" Sherlock glanced at the orange-haired girl, who seemed lost in her thoughts. He sat up in bed, put on his glasses, and looked out the window.
It was already night. A full moon hung high in the sky like a jade plate, casting gentle moonlight over this snow-dominated world, as if dyeing the heavens and the earth in a dreamlike layer of silver-white.
"The moon is truly beautiful tonight. It's silver-white," Sherlock muttered, pushing up his glasses.
"Yeah, it's so beautiful~" Nami nodded in agreement. Then, suddenly realizing this was no time for moon gazing, she hurriedly said:
"Sherlock, we have to set sail immediately! You nearly demolished this castle, and that witch intends to make you pay full price for the damages! Plus the medical fee is half our treasure! Oh god! I went through so much trouble to make a fortune from the Hungry Wolf Pirates."
As she spoke, Nami grabbed Sherlock and dragged him off the bed. The strength she exerted made the Occultist secretly note that this woman could burst with endless potential the moment money was mentioned.
"Hurry up and change. Vivi already went to carry Sanji. You don't expect me to carry you too, right?"
"Vivi?" Sherlock paused slightly. "When did she get here?"
"Right after Luffy blasted Wapol away." Nami handed Sherlock his black robe and concisely recounted what had happened while he was asleep...
Sherlock dressed in front of the mirror, pondered for a moment, and then asked Nami, "You mean Dalton is in this castle too?"
"Yeah, he was badly injured and is being treated by that black-hearted old hag." When mentioning Dr. Kureha, Nami practically gritted her teeth, showing just how deep the navigator's resentment was toward the "unscrupulous doctor" who dared to swindle her "hard-earned money."
"Is that so? That's perfect. I happen to have some business to discuss with him." Sherlock pushed up his glasses. His eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp gleam flashing through his deep black pupils.
If Anna, or anyone who had worked with Sherlock at the Goldglint Trading Company for a long time were here, they would definitely recognize that this gleam was the precursor to Sherlock planning to "pit" someone.
"Business?" Nami tilted her head, looking puzzled.
Sherlock nodded and smiled slightly at the orange-haired girl. "After all, besides being a pirate, I am also a merchant."
"It's a full moon tonight too~"
Chopper hid on the roof of the castle, panting heavily and sticking his cute tongue out. "I've been running for so long. It got dark before I knew it. It's quiet outside now, so that guy with the straw hat must have given up."
Thinking of this, Chopper lowered his head in disappointment. He yearned for companions deep down, but he was terrified of being rejected by them. After all, his childhood experiences had inflicted unimaginable trauma on his heart.
(This is for the best. Companions are just too great a luxury for a monster like me...)
The blue-nosed reindeer turned his head to look at Hiriluk's treasured pirate flag. The black skull and crossbones with cherry blossom petals fluttered in the wind under the bright moonlight, leaving Chopper slightly entranced.
However, just as Chopper was staring blankly, the energetic voice of Straw Hat Luffy suddenly came from below the castle.
"Hey! Reindeer! Let's be pirates together!"
(Why hasn't this guy given up yet?!) Chopper's eyes went wide, though he felt a secret joy in his heart.
"Where are you! Reindeer, be my crewmate!"
Luffy yelled as he ran circles around the castle. Judging by his appearance, the concept of fatigue didn't seem to exist for him.
Bored, Usopp built another snowman on the snow. He turned to look at his simple-minded captain, who was looking left and right, and sighed helplessly. "Give up, Luffy. You've been looking for so long and he hasn't come out. That means he has no intention of becoming a pirate."
"No, I just want to bring him along," Luffy turned his head and replied earnestly.
Sitting on the snow, Zoro's face darkened with exasperation. "So it's just wishful thinking on your part, you idiot!"
The green-haired swordsman was truly defeated by his willful captain.
Sanji stood up with some difficulty, lit a cigarette, took a satisfying drag, and explained to the blue-haired girl beside him, "This idiot will pester the crewmate he wants until he drags them on the ship. That's how I got on board back at the Baratie in East Blue... Ah? Nami-san! How are you feeling? Don't you really need to rest here a few more days?"
"It's fine, my illness is cured. Once Sherlock is done, we head back to Alabasta immediately!" Nami, having walked out of the castle, declared righteously.
"Nami..." Vivi looked touched.
"Reindeer, come out! Reindeer!..." Luffy continued to shout loudly at the castle, adopting a roguish stance that suggested he would keep yelling until Chopper appeared.
"Stop shouting." Chopper suddenly appeared in front of the Straw Hats. "I won't go with you."
Luffy looked at the little reindeer strangely and asked in total confusion, "Why? Being a pirate is fun! You'll be really happy!"
"Why?" Chopper touched his pink hat, took a deep breath, and said with self-loathing, "Because I'm a monster that people hate!"
"I'm a reindeer, but I can speak human language. I have hooves, but I walk on two legs, and I have a blue nose."
"Even though I really want to be a pirate... I'm just a blue-nosed monster. I can't become your partner!"
The Straw Hats listened quietly to Chopper's heartbreaking speech, remaining silent.
Chopper was like a hedgehog longing for a warm hug, but because people had always shunned him for his spikes since he was little, over time, even though Chopper still craved warmth, he no longer dared to approach anyone, fearing he would "prick" them.
"Tony..."
Looking at Chopper's lonely, solitary figure, Dr. Kureha's words to her and Sherlock suddenly flashed through Nami's mind: "Can you cure the wounds in his heart?"
Chopper looked at Luffy gratefully. "I'm very grateful that you invited me, and I'm also thankful to that guy with glasses for willing to chat with me, but I'm staying here."
At this point, the little reindeer forced a smile at everyone, putting on a brave face. "If you guys miss me, you can come visit anytime, I..."
"Shut up!" Before Chopper could finish, Luffy raised both arms high, looked up at the sky, and shouted with excitement, "Stop talking nonsense! Just come with us!"
It was obvious that this simpleton, Luffy, was a guy who didn't fear "spikes."
"Inviting someone while telling them to shut up... only you, our idiot captain, could do something like that." Zoro sighed and shook his head helplessly.
The Straw Hat boy grinned.
Luffy's blunt words were like a bullet hitting the bullseye, making the little reindeer tremble with excitement. He looked up at the group; the entire Straw Hat crew was looking back at Chopper with smiles full of warmth.
"Ooh... Ooh!" Chopper cried out, losing his composure as hot tears finally couldn't help but stream down his face.
(I finally have companions again, Doctor!)
The snow fell heavily, and the cold wind blew. The night on Drum Island was exceptionally cold today, but right now, Chopper felt warm all over, as if he were in a warm embrace.
In this moment, the Ship Doctor, Tony Tony Chopper, officially joined the crew!
Inside a sickroom in the castle, Sherlock was having a "pleasant" discussion with Dr. Kureha and Dalton.
"That is the basic situation. In about a few months, professionals will come to discuss the detailed arrangements with you, Sir Dalton."
"Consider these treasures as the medical fees and the repair costs for the castle."
"Dr. Kureha, please rest assured, we will take good care of Chopper in the future."
After speaking, Sherlock bowed elegantly to the two at the door, then pushed it open and left, leaving Dr. Kureha and Dalton, who was sitting on the bed, looking at each other.
A long silence followed.
"Dr. Kureha, what do you think that man's objective is?" Dalton looked at the chests of treasure Sherlock had left by the bed, his face full of confusion.
"Investment. Isn't it obvious?" Dr. Kureha took a sip of plum wine, looking as if she had seen through everything. " The Drum Kingdom will be re-established soon. A newborn country like this is a piece of fat meat full of opportunity in the eyes of those merchants. And since you are the most likely person to become the new king, he naturally came to say hello to you in advance."
An elder in the house is like a treasure; after all, being 139 years old, her insight was extraordinary.
"That brat has a large chamber of commerce in the East Blue. From the looks of it, he wants to extend his reach into the Grand Line." Speaking of this, Dr. Kureha let out a terrifying laugh that sounded like a night owl. "But if it's really as he says, with the support of financial and material resources, Drum Island's medical technology will soon recover to its previous level, or even surpass it."
"Maybe in a few years, the Doctor 20 will become the Doctor 100, or Doctor 500." A rare look of excitement appeared on Dr. Kureha's face. Although this witch's personality was extremely eccentric, she was still very happy to see progress in medicine.
"Is that so..." Dalton let out a breath of relief. This honest, straightforward man didn't have any twisted thoughts in his mind. Wholeheartedly dedicated to the people, he completely relaxed once he felt it was a good thing. Therefore, honest people like Dalton were exactly the type Sherlock liked to deal with the most.
"By the way, Dr. Kureha, what did he mean just now by 'take good care of Chopper'?"
"Well..." Dr. Kureha took a sip of plum wine and was about to answer, but was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Doctorine..."
Chopper ran in from the outside, staring blankly at the witch who had taught him medicine for five years, his expression complex. Then his expression changed, as if he had made up his mind about something, and he shouted loudly: "I'm here to say goodbye, Doctorine!"
"I've decided! I'm going out to sea with them! To be their ship doctor and travel the world with them!"
"I'm going to be a pirate!!!" The little reindeer looked resolute.
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