Drum Island was one of the most famous islands on the Grand Line.
It took its name from the shape of its central mountain—the peaks rose like the ridges of a giant magnetic drum.
But rather than calling it by its official name, most of the world preferred its nickname:
The Medical Country.
Now was the last month of the year 1510 of the Sea Circle Calendar.
The World Conference at Mary Geoise had ended only a few months earlier.There were still a full four years to go before the next one.
In other words, Drum Island's glory as a "medical superpower" would continue for several more years.
It would only begin to crumble after the current king's death, when his son Wapol took the throne—and, in one of the dumbest moves in political history, exiled almost all the doctors from the island.
Only then would this world-famous medical country begin its slide into the past.
But for now, that was still in the future.
The current king's life would only start its "final countdown" next year.At this moment, Drum Island still stood tall among the islands of the first half of the Grand Line, its prosperity comparable to Water 7.
Just as it was impossible to sail without a ship, it was just as impossible to live a life without ever getting sick.
That simple truth had made Drum Island's medical industry into a gold mine.
The cost of treatment here was astronomical.And that in turn made Drum Island one of the richest affiliated kingdoms under the World Government, able to pay Heavenly Tribute at a level that impressed even Mary Geoise. Its king had never once missed a World Conference.
In the waters around Drum Island, a powerful navy branch was stationed, protecting the kingdom from pirate raids.
So…
El was genuinely curious what kind of idiot Wapol had to be to ruin such a perfect golden goose.
Did someone swap the king's son with a Celestial Dragon's illegitimate child he cuckolded and dumped in the snow?
In El's mind, the title "pig" was well-earned.
After several days of sailing, the four finally arrived at Drum Island.
Before the fall of the "medical country," the flow of people through Drum's ports was enormous—not just from nearby islands, but from distant kingdoms as well. Patients arrived escorted by their own soldiers, rich nobles came in guarded by warships flying royal crests… and even pirates and marines appeared here at the same time.
Yes, pirates and navy warships could be seen in the same port.
And yet, no battles broke out.
The reason was simple:
Each affiliated kingdom had sovereignty over its own territory.
Unless the kingdom itself sent an official request for help, the navy could not simply attack within a member kingdom's borders.
Even if they wanted to act, they had to report and coordinate with the local government first.
If they ignored that and took action anyway, they could be investigated and punished—anything from demotion in rank to facing a military court.
That was the same kind of rule that stopped Smoker from entering the Kingdom of Alabasta without permission.
"Amazing… so many people—and that many luxury ships…"
Carina's violet eyes shone as she stared at the port.
"Is this really the world-famous medical country?" Nami breathed.
When their ship entered the harbor, all three girls were struck speechless by the sheer number of lavish ships lining the docks.
Banners and flags fluttered everywhere:
Pirate Jolly Rogers,
symbols of major merchant guilds,
royal crests from various kingdoms,
and the flags of the navy itself.
Nobles and wealthy merchants in thick mink coats and ornate winter outfits disembarked in groups, surrounded by guards and attendants, heading into the snow-covered streets of Drum Island.
It was a sight the three girls could never have seen in any East Blue kingdom.
And this—
This was the foundation of Drum Island:one of the fifty kingdoms that always managed to shine among more than 170 World Government member nations at every World Conference.
After mooring the ship, El slung a backpack full of money boxes over his shoulder and led the three girls ashore.
They bought a map of Drum Island from a vendor at the port, then headed straight to the local bank to deposit the Belly they were carrying.
Before Drum Island declined, wave after wave of wealthy traders had brought in money and taxes to open businesses in this frozen land.
Any thriving island in the world would eventually attract banks. Drum was no exception.
After depositing 900 million Belly, El didn't immediately rush off to search for the recipe for nutrient supplements.
Instead, he took the three girls to rent the most luxurious room on Drum Island.
This was when, for the first time since reincarnating into this world nearly nine years ago, El tasted the feeling of being treated as a "low-class person."
Because the hotel refused to rent him their best suite.
The reason?
"Our luxury suites are only for nobles, wealthy merchants, and marines—not commoners."
That was what the receptionist's mouth said.
But in front of El's ability, her heart was a lot less polite:
"No matter how much money they have, they look like commoners. The top floor isn't for trash like them."
Good. Very good.
El hadn't expected that even after reincarnating with talent one in a million, he still wouldn't be able to escape the label of "low-class" in this lifetime.
However, in order not to derail his longer-term plans, he didn't lose his temper.He simply memorized the name of this chain hotel, kept his expression neutral, and booked an ordinary room.
"Ugh, they even divide the elevators into 'regular' and 'VIP'…"
Carina grumbled after they were forced into the normal lift.
"This hotel is disgusting."
"Don't worry," El replied casually. "Their boss will pay for this later."
Compared to ordinary people, El wasn't so petty that he'd go storming upstairs just to yell at a local branch manager.
But the big boss behind this luxury chain?
That guy was an emperor-level figure in the underworld—the kind of person whose subordinates' arrogance would one day cost him dearly.
He just didn't know it yet.
Under El's watchful eyes, he'd go from empire to bankruptcy.
Maybe even lose his life along the way.
With that comforting thought, the "broad-minded" El put the annoyance aside.
Once they'd settled into their very ordinary room, the four finally turned to the real purpose of this trip:
Finding the best doctor on Drum Islandandobtaining the method for making nutrient supplements.
There were countless famous physicians on Drum Island.
But El didn't plan to wander around visiting them one by one.
His destination was a particular mountain peak.
At the top of that peak stood a large stone castle.
Inside lived a 129-year-old doctor, renowned across the island—a woman many called a "witch":
Dr. Kureha.
On Drum Island, there was no doctor above her in skill or reputation.
Even in the future, when all other doctors were exiled, Dr. Kureha would remain as the last doctor of Drum.
If there was anyone in this country who could help El unlock the secrets of high-grade nutrients—
It was her.
PS :
Drum Island / Medical Country - A winter island on the first half of the Grand Line.
Dr. Kureha
A legendary doctor living in a mountaintop castle on Drum Island.
Age: 129 years old in this period.
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