The fire crackled loudly inside Kureha's house, fighting against the cold pressing in from every crack in the wooden walls.
Gibbs lay wrapped in blankets near the hearth while Kureha worked with swift, efficient hands. She muttered under her breath as she applied heated compresses and forced a bitter-smelling tonic between his clenched teeth.
"Fool," she snapped. "At his age, jumping into frozen water? Does he want to meet the afterlife early?"
Gibbs groaned faintly in protest.
Hiriluk hovered nearby, arms folded, watching with dramatic intensity.
"I could accelerate his recovery," he offered brightly. "A controlled shock to the nervous system, perhaps. Or a rapid metabolic stimulant derived from—"
Kureha didn't look up.
"No."
Hiriluk clutched his chest as if stabbed.
"You wound me, Kureha."
"You wound your patients, that is if you get any."
Robin leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed.
"He once attempted to cure my mild cough with fireworks."
Hiriluk gasped.
"It was a trial of a new medicine!"
"It set the curtains on fire," Robin replied flatly.
Jack, meanwhile, had taken a seat at a small wooden chair he had carefully inspected for traps, loose nails, suspicious hinges, or hidden crossbows. Satisfied, he lounged with visible relief.
"Good," he said lightly. "Nothing says hospitality like structural integrity. And no traps."
Augur stood near the doorway, arms folded, watching everything with quiet alertness.
Hiriluk turned his attention to the pirates properly for the first time.
"Why are pirates here?" he asked. "And how exactly do you know Kureha?"
Robin answered first.
"I joined them," she said. "While I was on the run."
Hiriluk nodded slowly. That made sense.
"And now?" he pressed.
"I am part of their crew," she replied simply.
Ginny shifted slightly near the hearth, rocking Bonney gently. She avoided direct eye contact but nodded.
"So am I."
That made Hiriluk blink.
"You…?" He glanced between them. "You joined pirates?"
Ginny smiled faintly.
"It was safer."
Crocodile let out a quiet, impatient breath.
"Enough nostalgia. The old woman said we shouldn't be here."
Hiriluk's expression changed.
Awkward.
He scratched the back of his head.
"The Drum Kingdom now… isn't exactly stable."
Jack leaned forward slightly.
"How unstable are we talking?"
"The old king is dead," Hiriluk said. "Prince Wapol is set to take the throne."
Pintel, who had been hovering too close to the medicine cabinet, perked up.
"And that means?"
Hiriluk's tone darkened.
"It means tyranny."
He paced once before continuing.
"Even as a prince, Wapol has been cruel. Petty. Self-serving. He dismisses anyone who disagrees with him. And there are rumors."
"What rumors?" Augur asked.
"That he intends to centralize all medical practice under his control. Ban independent doctors. Keep only those loyal to him."
The room grew still.
"Drive out the rest," Hiriluk added quietly.
Robin's gaze sharpened.
"That would cripple the kingdom."
"It would," Hiriluk agreed. "But Wapol values control over welfare."
Ragetti frowned.
"So you and Kureha would—"
"Be among the first targets," Hiriluk finished.
"If word spreads that she is treating pirates," he added, glancing at them meaningfully, "he will not hesitate force. He just needs a reason to do that anyway."
Crocodile's eyes flicked toward the door.
"So we're a liability."
"You're a spark in a dry forest," Hiriluk said bluntly.
Jack had been staring at the fire this entire time, quiet.
Too quiet.
Kureha emerged from Gibbs' side, wiping her hands.
"He'll live," she said curtly. "Heat, rest, and less jumping into frozen water."
Augur nodded slightly in relief.
Hiriluk began enthusiastically describing a far more dramatic recovery plan involving hot springs and stimulants.
Kureha smacked him upside the head with a ladle.
"No."
Pintel looked disappointed.
Crocodile studied Kureha openly.
"And who are you?" Kureha asked her sharply.
"Crocodile," Ragetti answered proudly. "Newest crewmate."
Crocodile shot him a look.
Augur asked quietly, "How long until he wakes?"
"By morning," Kureha replied.
Jack finally lifted his head.
"How is this… Waffle treated by the citizens?"
"Wapol," Robin corrected.
Hiriluk answered.
"Many fear him. Few respect him. The doctors certainly don't."
Jack's lips curled slightly.
He glanced at Augur.
"Do you feel like starting a revolution?"
Augur stared at him.
"…What?"
Ragetti straightened instantly, recognition dawning.
He'd heard that tone before.
He'd been present the last time Jack had "improvised civic restructuring."
Crocodile's eyes narrowed.
"You're joking."
Jack smiled.
"I am not."
Augur shook his head immediately.
"No."
Jack stood.
"We are on an island where the future king intends to dismantle medical care, and mind you the said island is known for its doctors, and then silence dissent, and consolidate power. We have an injured crew member dependent on said doctors."
He gestured vaguely toward the fire.
"It seems rude not to intervene."
Hiriluk looked faintly ill.
"Intervene," he repeated weakly. "You mean rebellion."
"Reform," Jack corrected smoothly.
Crocodile folded her arms.
"This is exactly what I meant. Every kingdom you step into ends up in chaos."
Jack turned to her, amused.
"I prefer the term… bad luck leading to good results."
Augur pinched the bridge of his nose.
"We just barely survived Arabasta."
"And succeeded," Jack reminded.
"That is debatable."
Ragetti bounced slightly on his heels.
"So we're plundering the palace?"
"No," Jack said immediately.
Ragetti deflated.
Hiriluk stared at the pirates.
"You're serious."
"Yes."
"You're mad."
"Debatable."
Snow continued to fall outside.
Crocodile closed her eyes briefly.
"Fine," she muttered. "If this backfires, I am turning to sand and leaving you here."
Jack grinned.
"That is entirely within your rights."
Augur looked between them.
"This is reckless."
"Yes."
"We don't know their military strength."
"We will."
"This isn't our fight."
Jack's eyes flickered.
"It is now."
Silence settled.
Hiriluk suddenly squared his shoulders.
"I… may know certain weaknesses in the palace's defensive rotations."
Robin blinked.
"You're joining?"
Hiriluk swallowed.
"If Wapol bans doctors… people will die."
He looked at Kureha.
She didn't speak.
She didn't need to.
Hiriluk exhaled sharply.
"I suppose I am committing treason tonight."
Crocodile rubbed her temple.
Augur stared at the ceiling.
Ragetti looked thrilled for entirely incorrect reasons.
Jack clapped once.
"Splendid. Let's go now. The sooner the better."
Moments later, they were stepping back into the snow.
Augur walked beside Jack, muttering about consequences.
Crocodile moved ahead silently, cloak trailing in the wind.
Hiriluk trailed behind them, pale but determined.
Inside the house, Pintel remained behind, guarding Gibbs and asking Kureha inappropriate medical questions.
As they walked through the snow-covered path toward the distant lights of the Drum Kingdom's capital, Crocodile finally spoke.
"You are a bad omen."