The three people in the room also heard Luffy's words. Giyu stood up and looked at Nami leaning against the headboard: "I'll go out with them to check."
Nami nodded, a trusting smile on her face: "Okay, be careful."
Sanji immediately stepped forward, his face full of concern and indignation: "I'm coming too! Just who are these reckless bastards daring to disturb Miss Nami's rest when she needs quiet recovery?! How despicable!!"
As he spoke, his body unconsciously began to sway, "Ahh~ But even when weakened, Miss Nami is so gentle today~~~"
"Alright, alright, hurry up and go," Nami smiled helplessly.
Without further delay, Giyu and Sanji turned and left the room, passing through the corridor to the outside of the castle.
As soon as they stepped outside, wind and snow blew against their faces.
Their captain Luffy, along with Zoro and Chopper—who might soon become their ship's doctor—were already standing ahead. The three figures appeared particularly resolute against the snowy backdrop.
Dr. Kureha leaned against a pillar on the porch, still holding her bottle of alcohol, watching her apprentice standing with those pirates. Somehow, it felt inexplicably fitting.
Chopper... will you be able to find a new place to belong this time?
On the open ground before the castle stood a dense crowd of soldiers. At their forefront was Wapol, whom they had encountered at sea.
Mounted on his white hippo, he looked at the castle where he had once lived his life as king and began laughing triumphantly with his head thrown back:
"Ahahahahaha! My castle! I've finally returned! You rats and pirates occupying my castle, get out here now!"
Wapol gazed at the snow-covered grounds, recalling the humiliation he suffered on that pirate ship. "This is my territory now! I'll show you how terrifying I am in the snow!!"
"And you, Dr. Kureha... the one who escaped the Doctor 20 Project. The others can leave, but you must die here."
Hearing this, Dr. Kureha also laughed, holding her bottle in one hand while pointing at Wapol with the other:
"Ahahahahaha! What nonsense are you spouting? I was already a doctor when you were still drinking milk somewhere."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Luffy burst into laughter, sitting directly in the snow, clutching his stomach while pointing at Wapol:
"BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Zoro looked at Dr. Kureha, then turned to Chopper, "Chopper, your Dr. Kureha really has a sharp tongue."
Chopper: "..."
Some soldiers behind Wapol also began to struggle, their lips twitching as they tried to suppress their laughter. Wapol turned and glared fiercely at their mouths:
"Let me see who dares to laugh... if I hear anyone, you'll be thrown off the cliff."
The soldiers immediately fell into dead silence. Though some still had twitching corners of their mouths, none dared laugh in Wapol's presence.
Wapol stared intently at the Straw Hat Pirates before him, then shifted his gaze upward to the castle's peak. There flew a flag—a black pirate flag bearing a cherry blossom-colored hoof print.
"What flag is that?! Where is my royal flag?!" he roared furiously, then turned to Chess beside him: "Shoot it down immediately! That pirate flag doesn't deserve to fly above my castle!!"
Upon hearing the order, Chess immediately nocked an arrow and took aim.
Kureha took a swig of liquor, her voice turning icy as her gaze drifted into the distance as if recalling something: "That thing was burned long ago. This place now is nothing but Hiruluk's grave."
"These pirates before me are more than enough to deal with you, Wapol. You'd better get lost."
Luffy pressed down on his straw hat, his eyes beneath the brim sharp as he looked up at the pirate flag flying over the castle before fixing his stare on Wapol:
"Though I don't know whose pirate flag that is, I won't allow someone like you to destroy it!!"
"I'll send you flying again!"
As he spoke, his arm already began stretching backward, preparing for a powerful attack.
"Wait, Luffy."
Sanji stepped forward, placing a hand on Luffy's tensed arm. He took a drag from his cigarette, exhaled smoke, and said:
"You all fought so hard at Little Garden while I couldn't help. This time, let me stretch my limbs. Besides, you just finished climbing that cliff - you should rest."
Almost simultaneously, Zoro also stepped forward.
He cracked his neck, bones popping audibly, his eyes burning with long-suppressed battle intent as a wild grin spread across his face, his gaze locking directly onto Wapol:
"Lying in bed made my bones stiff. Perfect timing to use you for exercise. This guy's mine."
Sanji's gaze swept past the crowd and landed on the clown-like archer Chess, his eyes filled with disgust:
"Then this stinking bastard who wants to destroy others' pirate flags will be my responsibility."
"What?! You're all fighting!! What about me?!"
Luffy puffed out his cheeks, bouncing between Sanji and Zoro as they picked their opponents.
Kureha watched the trio's coordinated division of labor, her eyes behind sunglasses turning with amusement toward Giyu who remained standing quietly nearby, hand on his sword hilt but showing no intention to move, teasing:
"Kid, you're actually being this obedient and not moving? Not planning to join the fun?"
Giyu's calm gaze swept over the confident Zoro and Sanji, finally resting on Luffy's back - though unhappy about being stopped, still trusting his companions.
He simply responded quietly, his voice clear in the snowstorm:
"Just believe in them."
Now the Straw Hat Pirates' opponents were clearly assigned, leaving only the afro-wearing boxer Krogh.
Chopper looked up at the tall Krogh before him. Though he didn't want to fight - he only wanted to be a doctor, to continue studying medicine, to wonder if maybe he could become a pirate too someday...
But this castle held Hiruluk's grave, this castle flew Hiruluk's pirate flag, this castle contained Hiruluk's beliefs.
I must protect this place!
Its gaze swept over Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji beside it, then Dr. Kureha and Giyu standing at the doorway, before shouting toward the man with the afro:
"This is Dr. Hiruluk's castle. I absolutely won't allow you to take another step forward."
It took a deep breath of the cold air and stepped forward. Though its body remained somewhat tense, its eyes gradually shifted to determination as it bravely met Krogh's gaze.
Krogh stared at the small reindeer before him, seeming to recall something: "Isn't this... that monster from back then? It's so small now."