Pururururu
"B, Boss! Nami, please save Nami."
"Elodie, is it? Where does Nami hurt?"
"Yes, she has a high fever."
"Wait. I'll be right there."
I teleported to Drum Island, immediately got into the Tahlarian vehicle, and moved to the Going Merry. When I arrived at the Going Merry, Vivi was also there.
"You're here!"
"Let me see first."
I saw Nami lying in the cabin. Nami had lost consciousness on the bed, was sweating cold sweat, and had a very high fever. Having seen the original, I already knew exactly what illness it was. So I pretended to examine her appropriately.
"Hmm..."
"Do you know what illness it is?"
"Yes."
I lifted Nami's blanket and slightly raised her top. Then I showed Luffy's crew the insect bite mark on Nami's side.
"This is from a bite by an insect called 'Kestaa'. It's a flea that lives in hot, humid jungles. That guy carries a very potent bacterium, and if bitten once, you get infected, develop a fever, and die within 5 days."
"What!!??"
Luffy's crew heard that and spoke in surprise.
"Can you save her??"
"Kestaa is a species said to have gone extinct 100 years ago. Antibiotics can be made, but even if we start now, it will take more than 5 days."
"Then..."
Hearing that, Luffy despaired and slumped to the floor.
"It's not that there's absolutely no way. There's a kingdom called Drum Kingdom nearby, a kingdom of doctors. They might have antibiotics."
At those words, Luffy's crew's expressions brightened again.
"Great, let's go now! But where should we go?"
"Really hopeless. Do you remember what I said while treating you in Cocoyashi Village?"
"Yeah... To quickly find a doctor of good will..."
Smack!
Thud!
"Luffy!!"
I slapped Luffy's cheek. Luffy was hit on the cheek and fell to the floor. Seeing that, the crew was surprised and called out to Luffy. But Luffy raised his hand to calm the crew.
"That Nami is in danger is all my fault."
"You know well."
I took out [Triton's Sword] from my inventory, adjusted the Going Merry, and set off for Drum Kingdom. [Triton's Sword] was a sword from 'Pirates of the Caribbean' with the ability to control everything related to ships on the sea. By the way, since it also helps with wind, the ship's speed increases. It was a truly cheat item in One Piece.
On the way, Chess, a subordinate of Wapol, was standing in the way on the sea, but I just hit and passed by. Since the speed was fast, we passed before Wapol's ship, which was underwater, could surface.
"Hey~ Wait!!!"
Wham!
"Squawk!"
Zoro, who heard that sound, spoke.
"Huh? Didn't you hear some sound just now?"
"I didn't hear any sound?"
"Weird... Did I mishear?"
Thus, we quickly arrived at Drum Kingdom. We anchored near the kingdom and searched for a village. This was different from the original. It seemed Teach hadn't attacked the kingdom yet. Luffy urgently carried Nami on his back and ran to the village. The other crew members also urgently followed.
"We came to find a doctor!!" "There's a patient!"
Luffy's crew shouted in the village. Since it was urgent, it was an unavoidable choice. Then Doctor Kureha, who heard that voice, approached and spoke. Kureha also seemed to be living in the village, not the castle, different from the original.
"What's the matter?"
I stepped forward and spoke. Since if Luffy's crew tried to explain, they wouldn't know anything, it would just waste time.
"Bitten by a Kestaa. Do you have antibiotics by any chance?"
"Kestaa? You're lucky to be alive. Bring her and follow me."
We followed Doctor Kureha and arrived at Kureha's house on the outskirts of the village. Going inside, Chopper was standing on a chair with his small height, preparing medicine.
"Gasp! A reindeer???"
"Gasp! Humans?"
"Huh? The reindeer is talking!"
Doctor Kureha introduced Chopper.
"This is Chopper. My apprentice. He ate the Human-Human Fruit and can talk."
"Wow~ Amazing!"
"More importantly, isn't that girl in danger?"
Doctor Kureha pointed at Nami, who was being carried on Luffy's back, and spoke.
"Yes, Nami is sick!"
"Lay her here."
Luffy slowly laid Nami on the bed.
"Chopper, prepare Penicora heart stimulant and Tialcilin. I'll go get the antibiotics."
"Understood. Doctor Kureha."
Thus, Nami's treatment began. Perhaps because the medicine's efficacy was good, Nami's fever began to drop rapidly. Luffy's crew was running around outside trying to catch Chopper.
"Hey! Stop there!! Become our comrade!"
"Uwaaaaaah~~!!!"
I took out a gold bar from my inventory and handed it to Doctor Kureha.
"What's this?"
"Treatment fee. I heard the story. Researching various diseases costs a lot, so you charge high treatment fees."
"Hahaha, as expected of the Merchant King."
"You knew?"
"Yes, there aren't many people with a handsome face, silver hair, golden eyes, and who wear suits."
"I see."
"For the Merchant King, this much is insufficient. Invest more."
Doctor Kureha said it wasn't a treatment fee but an investment. Then I decided to get something in return too.
"Goodness... Fine, I'll give you two more gold bars. In return, share your research materials."
"As expected, you have a big heart. Good, I've also been hoping to find someone with much research. I'll share."
I took out two more gold bars from my inventory and, with Nano's help, quickly stored various books and research materials in my mind. I didn't store everything, only the necessary materials like medical knowledge Nano didn't have, unique diseases and treatments only found in One Piece, pharmacology, herbalism, etc. And I analyzed various antibiotic drugs and had Nano store them so I could make them anytime.
I finished what I needed to do here and went outside.
"Luffy, I'm going back now. Hang in there."
"Bro, thank you. I guess I'm still lacking a lot as a captain. I realized a lot this time."
"Knowing is enough. You can improve."
After saying goodbye to Luffy's crew, I moved to find talents to use on the Merchant's Island. I took out [Jack Sparrow's Compass], got into the Tahlarian vehicle, and moved towards 'Little Garden'.
After moving for a while, I saw a white ship made of wax heading towards the Alabasta Kingdom. I teleported and boarded that ship.
"What do we do now? We failed the mission, so we're as good as dead..."
"If we go back and make up for it, won't they take us back?"
In the cabin, I heard voices worried about failing to deal with Vivi and Luffy's crew. I kicked the cabin door, destroying it, and went inside. Inside, I saw 'Miss Goldenweek Marianne', 'Mr.3 Galdino', 'Mr.5 Gem', and 'Miss Valentine Mikita'.
Bang!
"Gasp! Who are you?"
"I am Cassian."
"No way! The Merchant King!!??"
"Yes."
I used [Telekinesis] to immobilize them.
"Ugh! Can't move my body..."
I began reading their memories one by one. To pick out those who could be reformed and used.
'Hmm... Mikita was working for Baroque Works to open her own restaurant. There's potential.'
Next is Mr.5 Gem.
'Because of his ability, he was branded dangerous since childhood and suffered greatly, so his personality became a bit twisted, but he has a sense of loyalty. His dream is to be a firefighter. Good.'
Next is Miss Goldenweek Marianne.
'Huh? This guy just drifted in. Then he was recognized for his ability and is working. Seems like a laid-back guy who just lives, but he cares for his comrades...'
Next is Mr.3 Galdino.
'Trash. He enjoys turning people into wax.'
Currently trash, but later he's a character who gets inspired by Mr.2 Bon Clay and turns over a new leaf. After reading all four people's memories, I spoke.
Pointing at Mikita, Gem, and Marianne, I said.
"You three are accepted. If you return like this now, you'll be killed by Mr.0 (Crocodile), so come under me."
Hearing that, Mr.3 Galdino, who wasn't chosen, said.
"Kuh... Mr.0 won't just stand by!"
"Kehehe, interesting thing to say. Do you think I'd care about someone like Mr.0?"
Then Mikita and Marianne spoke.
"Let's go to the Merchant's Island. If we go back, we'll just die for mission failure. I don't want to die before opening my restaurant."
"Right! There's no other way! If the Merchant King protects us, even Mr.0 won't be able to do anything."
Gem asked why Mr.3 wasn't chosen.
"Why isn't Mr.3 allowed?"
"That guy enjoys killing. Unlike you guys, who do it because of missions and have no choice."
"How do you know that?"
"I know all information. Information is money, after all. Your movements are in the palm of my hand."
I made a rough excuse. There was no way they could know the truth even if I said this.
"Do you think you'll be safe after betraying?"
Without hearing more, I grabbed Mr.3's face and began applying force.
Crunch!
"Uwaah!"
"Wait! Spare Mr.3. Then I'll work under you." "Right, spare him. I'll work under you too." "Me too!"
As expected, the three loyal people urgently stopped me. Actually, I had no intention of killing him. If I kill this guy here now, Luffy might not be able to escape from Impel Down. Because he plays an important role in blocking Magellan. Even though the original is now quite twisted and Luffy might not go to Impel Down, if it flows according to the original, he's necessary for the escape.
Anyway, I looked at them once and released Mr.3.
"Guh... Damn! Don't think I'll be grateful for this!!"
Ignoring those words, I took out the Tahlarian camper, loaded the three, and moved to the Merchant's Island. From that day on, the three's hell training began.
Mikita trained focusing on martial arts to utilize the [Kilo Kilo Fruit] well. I taught Gem martial arts and throwing, and taught him the scientific theory of explosions to quickly awaken the [Bomb Bomb Fruit]. Marianne had no talent in martial arts at all, so I had no choice but to teach her focusing mainly on the Six Powers' Shave, Moonwalk, and Geppo so she could lay traps and escape quickly.
Naturally, all three also trained in 'Haki' concurrently. I had particularly high expectations for Gem, who was only using that good [Bomb Bomb Fruit] for things like throwing boogers. If he awakens it, he'll probably be able to use the Bomb Bomb ability on other objects too. If that happens, it's the same ability as the [Energy Bomb] I'm using.
I planned to continue gathering usable kids like this. For the future.
Pururururu
"Who is it?"
"It's Crocodile. Why did you take our employees?"
It seems Mr.3 reported to Crocodile. Moreover, he didn't say Mr.0 but directly said Crocodile. Probably thought it would be advantageous to reveal his identity when talking to someone of the Merchant King's level.
"Weren't you going to discard them anyway since they failed the mission? So I'm going to use them."
"That's for me to decide."
"Goodness, you're being difficult. I'll send you an extra barrel of alcohol next time."
"Hmm... Two barrels!"
"Fine."
Whether he didn't need employees who failed the mission or didn't want to make enemies with us, it ended well with two barrels of alcohol. Actually, I planned to take more after the Alabasta incident was over. I told the three this fact.
"Our worth is only two barrels of alcohol..."
"It's a sin to have been under such a boss."
"Damn..."
From the next day on, they trained even harder.