Law wasn't one to mince words or back down from speaking his mind.
But his bluntness clearly unsettled the innkeeper, Bock.
"Shh!" Bock hushed, nervously glancing around before leaning in closer to Law and whispering, "Look, even though you gave Wapol a good thrashing, as long as he's still breathing and sitting on that throne, we subjects have no choice but to obey him. You and Takumi aren't from Drum Kingdom, so you'll leave eventually. But until then, it's best if you don't stir up any more trouble. Otherwise, it might spill over onto the rest of us."
Kureha chuckled, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Hehehehe, admit it, you're just scared they'll drag you down with them. This country is sick, but the people here are too broken down and bitter to do anything about it. No one dares to stand up and fight back. There's only one fool, a so-called doctor that you all despise and chase away like a plague. He's deluded himself into thinking he can cure this rotting kingdom with his half-baked experiments. You all label him a curse, the bane of Drum Kingdom. And yet, it's this very 'curse' who naively dreams of saving you cowardly fools. It's laughable."
Kureha took another swig of her drink, leaving Bock flustered and red-faced.
"That man? He can't even save himself, let alone anyone else!" Bock spat out, clenching his fists. "If he really wanted to help us, he'd stop making those damn potions that only make people sicker!"
"Hehehehe," Kureha laughed again, her tone almost pitying. "His medical skills are indeed pathetic, and he knows it too. But he keeps going, driven by this absurd belief that one day, he'll create a cure-all, a miracle drug that can heal anything. He fails over and over, yet he clings to this impossible dream, convinced that nothing is out of reach. In a way, he's just as hopeless as this kingdom."
Law, frowning slightly, broke his silence. "Even if he's a lousy doctor, he's still a doctor, isn't he? If there really was a medicine that could cure everything, doctors wouldn't be needed anymore. He should understand that better than anyone."
"Hmm…" Kureha's gaze settled on Law, her interest piqued. "That's why I said he's a hopeless quack. He knows full well that no such medicine exists, yet he still stubbornly chases after it. Finding another fool like him would be a rare feat. So, kid, it sounds like you've got some knowledge of medicine yourself?"
A small smile played on Law's lips as he replied, "I'm still in the process of mastering more advanced techniques. Since you're the oldest and most experienced doctor on Drum Island, you must have a wealth of medical knowledge. Over the past two months, I've gone through every medical book I could find in the local towns, but there are some things I still don't fully grasp. If you have the time, would you be willing to teach me?"
"Hehehehe, and why would I do that? My medical skills aren't something just anyone can learn. So, move along, kid!" Kureha shot back, draining her bottle and brushing past Law as she headed toward the nearest town.
Law watched her retreating figure, his brow furrowed in thought.
Takumi knew exactly what was going through Law's mind. Over the past two months, Law had stuck to him like a shadow, rarely speaking unless necessary. Even though Takumi had grown accustomed to solitude, the presence of a constant companion, however quiet, was still a bit irritating.
This was the perfect opportunity to shake him off.
Takumi knew Kureha's true nature all too well. Despite her sharp tongue and seemingly cold demeanor, she was anything but heartless. Beneath that tough exterior was a woman of principle, someone who could discern right from wrong with a firm sense of justice.
"Go ahead," Takumi said quietly.
Law blinked, turning to Takumi. "What did you say?"
"Her skills are worth learning," Takumi replied calmly. "Opportunities like this don't come around often. You don't have time to hesitate."
Bock chimed in, nodding in agreement. "I may not like that old hag, but her medical expertise is top-notch. Takumi's right, Law. If you're serious about learning more advanced and useful medical skills, you should take this chance and seek out Kureha before you leave Drum Island."
Law hesitated, battling his inner thoughts for a moment before clenching his fists and looking at Takumi. "I'm going, then."
Takumi chuckled softly. "Where you go is your choice."
With a determined nod, Law took off in the direction Kureha had gone.
"Guess we should head back to Cocoa Weed Town too," Bock said with a sigh of relief.
But just then, Hiriluk's voice echoed from the nearby pine forest.
"Hey! Has that old hag Kureha already left?"
Bock, panicking at the sight of Hiriluk's return, tried to grab Takumi's hand to make a quick getaway, but Takumi deftly avoided his grasp, leaving Bock momentarily stunned. "That crazy quack's back! We should get out of here, quick!" Bock urged.
"Hey, hey! Who are you calling a crazy quack?" Hiriluk growled as he marched over, clearly annoyed.
Trailing behind him was Chopper, now back in his small reindeer form.
Takumi's gaze softened as he watched Chopper.
So, in the end, Hiriluk had won Chopper over.
Noticing Takumi's stare, Chopper quickly hid behind Hiriluk, once again only managing to cover half of his head while leaving the rest of his body exposed.
Seeing that Takumi wasn't moving, Bock hastily excused himself, muttering, "I'm out of here," before bolting back toward Cocoa Weed Town.
"That old coward!" Hiriluk cursed under his breath before turning his attention to Takumi.
Noticing that Takumi was staring at something behind him, Hiriluk glanced over his shoulder and saw Chopper awkwardly trying to hide. He couldn't help but chuckle. "Chopper, you're doing it wrong again…"
"!" Chopper gasped in realization, quickly shifting his body to fully hide behind Hiriluk, with only half his face peeking out to watch Takumi.
Hiriluk shook his head with a smile before looking back at Takumi. "I gave this little guy a name—Tony Tony Chopper. Pretty good, right?"
Takumi gave a small nod of approval.
Hiriluk beamed. "Isn't that great, Chopper? See? There are still people who aren't afraid of you, who won't hurt you. This guy here seems like a good person, so there's no need to hide. Come on out."
Chopper blinked his big eyes, cautiously stepping out from behind Hiriluk. His face flushed slightly with a mix of happiness and embarrassment as he stammered, "Um, thanks... for what you did this morning."
"No problem," Takumi replied nonchalantly.
Hiriluk's grin froze for a moment, his eyes widening in surprise as he suddenly jumped back. "Wait, what?! Chopper, you can talk?! Why didn't you say anything earlier?"
But before Chopper could respond, another realization hit Hiriluk like a ton of bricks. "Hold on a second! You two already know each other? I thought Chopper didn't have any friends. What the heck is going on here?!"
******
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Hiriluk could hardly believe it—Chopper already knew Takumi.
And to think he'd gone ahead and given Chopper a name! What if Chopper already had one? That would've been a real blunder. Embarrassment flooded Hiriluk's face, turning it a deep shade of red. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Chopper, um, little reindeer... do you already have a name?"
Chopper blinked up at him, then smiled sweetly. "No, I didn't have a name before. I really like the name Chopper. Thank you, Doctor Hiriluk."
Hiriluk froze for a moment, then was overcome with emotion. "You're the first one who's ever thanked me... Ah, you're just too adorable, you little reindeer!"
Tears streamed down Hiriluk's face, his reaction so exaggerated it bordered on comical.
Chopper, innocent and unaccustomed to such displays, panicked. "Ah, Doctor Hiriluk, are you okay? Don't cry! Uh, what do I do... Ahhh, I don't know what to do!"
"Ha ha ha!" Hiriluk, seeing Chopper's flustered state, couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Chopper, I'm fine. I'm just really, really happy. You're such a kind-hearted little guy."
Chopper paused, then bashfully scratched the back of his head, his body twisting in place out of sheer joy. "You idiot, just because you're praising me doesn't mean I'm happy about it."
Hiriluk's laughter filled the air.
The atmosphere was light, cheerful.
Takumi, on the other hand, was like a background character, barely noticeable as Hiriluk and Chopper interacted. It was clear he wasn't needed here.
Takumi relished the feeling of not being in the spotlight. He was just about to slip away when Chopper, quick on his feet, ran over to him. With his face flushed and eyes sparkling, Chopper looked up at Takumi, speaking with genuine gratitude. "You were the first person who didn't look down on me or fear me. You even saved me... Thank you so much! Um, what's your name? When I grow up and get stronger, I'll definitely repay you!"
Takumi gazed at Chopper, his tone steady as he replied, "My name doesn't matter, and I don't need you to repay me. Humans aren't as scary as you think, and being called a monster isn't always an insult. One day, you'll meet more kind people. Until then, just focus on doing what you need to do."
With that, Takumi sidestepped Chopper and continued walking toward Cocoa Weed Town.
Chopper stood there, watching Takumi's figure grow smaller in the distance.
Hiriluk joined him, smiling as they both watched Takumi leave. "Chopper, you've met a good person today."
Chopper, still trying to understand, asked, "Doctor Hiriluk, what did that man mean by what he said? I didn't really get it..."
Hiriluk chuckled softly, replying, "He meant that humans really aren't as bad as you think. There are many kind people out there. Just like he said, one day, you'll meet more of them. Until then, don't lose hope in people, Chopper."
Chopper nodded slowly, trying to absorb the words, then asked another question. "What does 'insult' mean?"
"'Insult' is a word used to describe something in a negative way," Hiriluk explained, pondering a moment before continuing. "The word 'monster' can mean many things. It can be something bad, but it can also be something positive. You're still young, so it might not make sense now, but as you grow up, you'll start to understand what that boy meant."
Chopper nodded again, his gaze drifting back to where Takumi had disappeared. "I'm still too weak right now, Doctor Hiriluk. If I become stronger and more useful, will I be able to repay his kindness then?"
Hiriluk looked at Chopper with a twinge of sadness. "Chopper, you don't need to think like that. That boy didn't say those things because he thought you were weak."
"I know," Chopper replied with a bright smile. "But even if it's not to repay him, I still want to get stronger. Only by becoming stronger can I protect the things I care about. Doctor Hiriluk, please teach me how to be a doctor."
Takumi hadn't walked far when the familiar voice of the system echoed in his mind.
[Ding Ding! You've become a role model for Chopper and gained the approval of the quack doctor Hiriluk. Sign-in progress: +20%. Current total progress: 90%. New skill unlocked: Beginner Yin Healing Wound Destruction.]
Yin Healing Wound Destruction?
Takumi barely had time to ponder this new development before the technique's details flooded his mind.
It was a medical ninjutsu from the world of Naruto, allowing the user to preemptively heal areas where they anticipate being attacked, minimizing the damage taken.
To use this technique effectively, one must possess the ability to accurately predict an opponent's moves and make split-second decisions.
For someone like Takumi, who had already mastered Observation Haki, this wasn't particularly difficult. It was, in fact, a rather useful supplementary skill.
Takumi had expected his interaction with Hiriluk to increase his progress, but a 20% boost was more than he'd anticipated.
All in all, he was satisfied with the progress.
Only 10% left to go. It wouldn't be long now.
Setting aside any further thoughts on the matter, Takumi continued his journey toward Cocoa Weed Town.
As he entered the town, he noticed the townsfolk reacting to him with fear. They recoiled, as if he were some kind of dangerous beast, their faces filled with a mixture of terror and suspicion.
Takumi didn't need to ask to know what this was about. It likely had something to do with Wapol's soldiers coming after him earlier in the day.
It didn't really matter to him, though. As long as they left him alone, he was fine with it.
Ignoring their fearful and wary gazes, Takumi headed straight back to Bock's inn.
The moment he stepped inside, Bock, his face pale, hurried over to him. "Takumi, come here. I need to talk to you."
Takumi walked over, and Bock leaned in, speaking in a low voice. "Wapol's soldiers found him badly injured, but the Doctors 20 managed to patch him up. He's fully recovered now."
The Doctors 20 were the twenty physicians Wapol kept exclusively for his own treatment.
Takumi remained unfazed. "So what?"
Seeing Takumi so unconcerned, Bock grew even more anxious. "How can you be so calm? Wapol has issued a nationwide order to capture you. Anyone caught harboring you will be executed! I know it's not right to ask you to leave, especially now, but I have a family to think about. I can't risk their lives..."
"Fine, I'll leave," Takumi said, his tone indifferent.
Bock was taken aback. "You don't hold it against me?"
Takumi shook his head. "It's fine."
Relieved, Bock quickly produced the deposit Takumi had paid earlier. "Here's your deposit back..."
"Keep it," Takumi replied coolly. "Just give me another jug of your homebrewed liquor, and we're even."
Bock hurriedly fetched two jugs from behind the counter.
Takumi took them without hesitation and left the inn.
He hadn't gone far when a group of fully armed guards rushed toward him, quickly surrounding him.
The townsfolk, terrified of being caught in the crossfire, quickly hid themselves away.
"Ha ha ha ha! You little brat, let's see you run now!"
A smug voice called out, and the guards blocking Takumi's path parted to make way.
Riding atop his large, dimwitted hippo, Robson, Wapol appeared, flanked by twenty masked and gloved doctors in light pink protective suits.
******
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