As they neared the Drum Kingdom, everyone could already feel the chill settling in.
What had been a bright, sunny sky began to flurry with gentle snow.
Since they were about to arrive—and the snowfall was so beautifully scenic—Yemu finally gave everyone a well-earned break.
"Ah... it's so beautiful..."
Flare had seen snow before, but snow falling over the ocean was completely different from the kind that blanketed the land.
With no ground for it to settle on, the snowflakes drifted down and melted straight into the sea. The blue ocean below and the white, snow-filled sky above formed a stark contrast—like a dreamscape suspended between two worlds.
Bundled up in a thick coat, Flare held a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. Standing atop the mast, she gazed out at the distant, snow-draped horizon, her face glowing with happiness.
Compared to the grueling two weeks of training they'd just endured, this moment felt unreal—like a reward wrapped in peace and beauty.
"No training today... this feels amazing. But it's kind of weird, isn't it? This morning was as warm as summer, and now it's freezing like winter—with snow and everything."
"That's because we're heading to a winter island."
The reply came from Tiger.
Living beneath the sea, Fish-Men rarely, if ever, saw snow—so Tiger had a soft spot for it. That said, his body didn't handle the cold well. Even with his massive build, he was wrapped up in even more layers than Flare.
"Winter island? Wait, do islands on the Grand Line actually have different seasons?"
"They do. The Grand Line's climate is incredibly chaotic and unpredictable. It's totally normal to go from clear skies to a storm, and then a blizzard, all within a few hours. But despite that, each island's individual climate tends to stay consistent. Most islands fall into one of the four season types: spring, summer, autumn, or winter. So when the weather suddenly stabilizes while we're sailing, it usually means we're getting close to land."
Yemu had truly made the right call in choosing Tiger as their navigator. It wasn't just his skill with charts and currents—Tiger's knowledge and intuition were invaluable assets to the crew.
Yemu, who only stayed ahead thanks to foreknowledge of the story, couldn't hold a candle to that.
"I get it now," Flare said with a nod, but she still looked a bit puzzled.
"But the weather seemed normal the whole way here."
Tiger chuckled, and Yemu explained for him.
"That's because Tiger was steering us the whole time. He noticed the weather shifts early and navigated us around the rough patches."
"Oh, I see! Tiger-san, you're amazing!"
"Hahaha, well, I am the ship's navigator. If I didn't have at least that much skill, I'd be letting the captain down."
Just then, the cabin door creaked open, and Baby-5 waddled out—bundled up like a little dumpling. She trotted over to Flare, happily clinging to her leg.
"Flare, let's build a snowman!"
Though she'd only been aboard for fourteen days, Baby-5 had grown more attached to life on the ship with each passing day.
The biggest change? She'd gone from clinging only to Enel, to forming bonds with everyone on the crew.
Now that she shared meals and a room with Flare, her reliance on Flare was nearly on par with her bond to Enel.
"Sure!" Flare said cheerfully.
The two of them started building a snowman together on the deck.
Before long, a snowman about the same size as Baby-5 stood proudly before them, and the two girls giggled as they decorated it.
Enel emerged from below deck. Wearing only a light shirt and a draped coat, he looked completely unbothered by the cold.
"Charging complete. That island up ahead—is it our destination?"
"Yeah."
As he spoke, a towering white island emerged through the snow mist. Three colossal, drum-shaped mountains rose high from its center.
Even from a distance, it was a breathtaking sight.
"Are we really just going to sail in like this?" Tiger asked, a little hesitant. "The Drum Kingdom is one of the World Government's member nations. If we show up out of nowhere, word of our arrival might spread quickly... and then..."
"Don't worry, Enel. How's your work on the Den Den Mushi coming along?"
"No issues. I can already disrupt and block its communication function using radio waves."
"Good. Once we land, do as you see fit. Just stay discreet while monitoring. Until we leave, make sure no one spreads word of our presence."
"No problem."
Hearing that, Tiger finally relaxed a bit.
"Truly dependable... it's reassuring."
Still, it seemed Yemu had overestimated the people of this world. As the Twin Goddesses slowly approached the island, both his and Enel's Observation Haki gave them the same conclusion.
"Doesn't look like anyone's noticed us..."
"Yeah... looks like they're all gathered in one place. Watching some kind of commotion."
"What a strange world..."
As the ship drew closer to shore, Yemu picked up something curious through his Haki. He turned to Flare and Baby-5.
"You two want to check out the island?"
"Of course! We need to restock food, and I'm planning to get a few cute outfits for me and Baby-5. The clothes on this ship are awful."
There was no way Flare would pass up the chance to explore such an interesting island. Baby-5 nodded excitedly in agreement.
"In that case, once we're docked, you and Tiger can move freely—just be careful. If anything happens, Enel will contact you. I've found something interesting, so I'll head off first."
"Got it, Captain."
And with that, Yemu vanished from sight.
...
Not far from the Drum Kingdom's port lay a small village.
Besides the soldiers stationed there to guard the harbor, a few friendly villagers also lived nearby.
In the past, this village had welcomed outsiders warmly. As a renowned medical hub in the Grand Line, people came from far and wide seeking treatment, and the kingdom had prospered because of it.
But two years ago, everything changed.
The cause? The kingdom's two princes—First Prince Musshuru and Second Prince Wapol.
At just nine and seven years old, the word "incompetent" might as well have been stamped on their foreheads. They imposed outrageous port entry fees, jacked up the cost of medical treatment to absurd levels, and added crushing taxes on top of it all.
What truly crushed the people's spirits, though, was the realization that their aging king wouldn't be around much longer—and one of these two brats would eventually become their ruler.
Even though the king was fully aware of how disgraceful his sons were, he'd fathered them late in life and couldn't bear to discipline them.
As a result, the Drum Kingdom was spiraling deeper into misery.
Take the snowy white road connecting the port to the village, for instance.
There, surrounded by royal guards, the First Prince Musshuru and Second Prince Wapol were viciously beating a young man and a child.
"Bastard! You think you can get treatment with no money? Keep dreaming!"
"Filthy commoners like you should just drop dead!"
"One hundred million Belly! If you can cough up that much, maybe I'll let my father's doctor treat your sister... Ahahaha!"
Around them, soldiers and villagers watched in silence, faces filled with shame and helplessness.
In the thick snow, the bloodied boy clutched his pale little sister, shielding her with everything he had. But no one dared step forward.
Just then, a lazy voice broke through the stillness.
"I don't know what's going on here... but 100 million Belly, was it? I'll pay."