One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 87: The Former Drum Kingdom

The tension in the air remained thick as the burly man finally lowered his weapon and stepped forward. His heavy boots crunched against the icy ground, drawing the attention of the Straw Hats. He took a deep breath before speaking.

"My name is Dalton," the man said, his deep voice carrying a tone of sincerity. "I apologize for the way we greeted you. This is the Grand Line, and only fools wouldn't be cautious of pirates. You understand."

There was no response from the Straw Hats, their silence heavy as Goku's lingering aura of intimidation still pressed down on the villagers. Dalton, unfazed, continued, "I will escort you to Bighorn. It's a nearby town where you can meet with a doctor."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the overwhelming aura emanating from Goku vanished, as if a storm had suddenly subsided. The villagers collectively exhaled in relief, their tense shoulders dropping.

"You've made a wise choice," Goku said calmly, his piercing gaze softening as he turned his attention to Vivi, who was still crouched on the ground clutching her shoulder.

"What hit you?" he asked, his voice now laced with concern.

Vivi winced but managed to answer, "It's just a scrape on the shoulder."

Goku nodded, his expression unreadable. "I'll go get Nami." Without another word, he turned to Sanji. "Carry Vivi and follow this man," he ordered.

Sanji immediately knelt down and helped Vivi to her feet, careful to avoid jostling her injured shoulder. Meanwhile, Goku disappeared below deck. Moments later, he reappeared, carrying Nami on his back, wrapped snugly in blankets. Her face was pale, and the fever hadn't subsided.

"Zoro, Gin," Goku said, his tone firm, "stay behind and watch the ship. Karoo, you'll come with us. Usopp, you too."

Zoro and Gin nodded, both silently standing guard as the group began to disembark. Karoo waddled after them, his oversized feet leaving comical prints in the snow.

Dalton looked at Goku once more, his face unreadable. "I apologize again for the hostility," he said. "But understand, this island is going through a great deal of change, and pirates are often the cause of that."

As they started walking down the snow-covered path, Usopp, his voice tinged with curiosity and nerves, asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Dalton hesitated for a moment, his breath visible in the frigid air. "Until less than a month ago, this island was under the rule of a tyrant king named Wapol," he began. His tone grew darker as he continued. "A group of pirates attacked us. They called themselves the Blackbeard Pirates. They were only five in number, and the king—foolish as he was—underestimated them. He led the charge against them with all the kingdom's forces."

Dalton stopped walking and turned to face the group, his expression grim. "The power of their captain… Blackbeard… it was like a god descended upon us. The things he could do defied understanding. Wapol and his entire cabinet—cowards that they were—fled the island, taking with them all the soldiers and every doctor in the kingdom."

Even Sanji, who usually masked his emotions well, looked disturbed. "If he took all the doctors, then who is this doctor we're going to see?"

"There's only one left," Dalton replied. "Dr. Kureha. She's an odd one, though. Skilled, yes, but most of the townsfolk refer to her as a witch."

The group continued their journey through the snow, their boots sinking into the deep drifts with every step. The cold air bit at their faces, and the world around them was painted in shades of white and gray.

As they walked, the silence of the snowy landscape was occasionally broken by the sight of unusual animals. At one point, they encountered a massive polar bear sitting solemnly in their path. Dalton immediately bowed low, motioning for the others to do the same.

"Bend down," he whispered urgently. "These bears are sacred here. Show respect, or we may not live to see the town."

The Straw Hats exchanged uneasy glances but complied, bowing as low as they could without dropping Vivi or disturbing Nami. The bear regarded them for a few moments, then ambled off into the forest without a sound.

"Sacred bears?!" Usopp hissed as they straightened up. "What kind of place is this?"

Dalton didn't answer, only urging them onward. They passed other strange sights—deer with antlers that glowed faintly in the dark, a pack of wolves that howled hauntingly in the distance, and trees that sparkled as though dusted with diamonds.

Finally, the silhouette of Bighorn appeared on the horizon. The town was small but bustling with activity, its wooden houses huddled together as if for warmth. Smoke rose from chimneys, and the sound of hammers and saws echoed faintly.

As they entered, a few townsfolk greeted Dalton warmly.

"Dalton! The elections are coming up soon!" one man called out. "You've got my vote!"

"I'll be voting for you, too!" another woman chimed in.

Goku raised an eyebrow. "Elections? What's that about?"

"It's nothing," Dalton said quickly, brushing off the question.

He led them to his home, a modest but sturdy cabin near the center of town. Inside, it was warm and inviting, a fire crackling in the hearth. Dalton immediately set about preparing places for Vivi and Nami. He laid Nami on his bed, covering her with extra blankets, while Vivi was given a comfortable spot on the couch.

Dalton then opened a chest and pulled out several thick winter coats. "Here," he said, handing them out. "These should help."

The Straw Hats accepted the coats eagerly, realizing only now just how cold they were. The warmth of the cabin was a welcome reprieve, but the weight of Dalton's words—and the promise of meeting the so-called witch doctor—lingered in their minds like the chill of the snow outside.

Dalton wasted no time tending to Vivi's wound. His experienced hands worked quickly, cleaning and bandaging her shoulder with practiced ease. As he stepped back to inspect his work, his eyes widened with recognition.

"You… You're Princess Nefertari Vivi of Alabasta, aren't you?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Vivi's face paled. "H-how do you know that?"

Dalton didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked over to his coffee table and retrieved a folded newspaper. "I wasn't certain before, but this confirms it. I've seen you before at the Reverie, and your father's reputation precedes him." He handed her the paper. "You should see this."

With trembling hands, Vivi took the newspaper and began reading. Her eyes darted across the page before widening in shock. Her hands shook as the paper fell from her grip and onto the floor.

Sanji quickly picked it up, his expression darkening as he read the headline aloud:

"Over 700,000 Rebels Prepare to Storm Alubarna! A Coup d'état for the Ages Expected to Clash with Over a Million Soldiers!"

The room grew silent as the weight of the news settled over everyone. Tears rolled down Vivi's cheeks, her voice breaking. "This… This can't be happening."

Goku stood quietly, watching her. He didn't offer any words of comfort, knowing there was nothing he could say to alleviate her anguish. Instead, he turned to Dalton and asked, "What's the situation with the doctor?"

Before Dalton could respond, the door slammed open, and a townsman rushed in, panting heavily. "Dalton! Someone spotted Dr. Kureha up north, but she's already left the town!"

Dalton nodded at the man. "Thank you for letting me know." He turned to Goku, who looked confused. "This means she's already on the move again."

Dalton led the group outside into the cold, snow-covered streets. Pointing toward the horizon, he gestured at the massive drum-shaped mountains that pierced the sky. "That's why I recognized you, Vivi. This island was once known as Drum Kingdom. I served under Wapol during his rule, and I remember seeing you and your father at the Reverie."

Dalton then turned to Goku, his expression serious. "On the tallest peak of those mountains lies the castle where Dr. Kureha lives. She rarely comes down, except when she feels like it. It's not easy to get there. The weather alone is brutal, not to mention the dangerous animals lurking along the way."

Goku adjusted his straw hat, his eyes narrowing. "If she's up there, I'll go. I can fly."

Dalton's jaw dropped. "Fly? What are you talking about?"

Goku smirked. "I'll carry Nami and head to the castle. You can take the rest of the crew there using the safer route."

Usopp raised his hand sheepishly. "I was just about to suggest that."

Dalton hesitated, glancing at the shack with the unconscious Nami inside. "It's dangerous, even for someone like you."

"I've been through worse," Goku replied. He crouched down to Vivi's level and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine. I promise."

His words carried a warmth that made Vivi nod, though her tears still flowed.

Goku stood and turned to Dalton. "Let's get moving. Time's wasting."

Dalton sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Very well. I'll take the others through the longer but safer route. But be careful. This island isn't forgiving."

Goku walked back inside the house, preparing to retrieve Nami while Dalton began gathering supplies for the journey ahead.

[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers!]