Kai carried Nami on his back and walked with Luffy and Sanji towards the ice and snow-covered castle.
Just as Kai thought there was no one on the mountain, a red light flashed in his eyes. Kai's Observation Haki had already predicted someone approaching.
Sure enough, from the other side of the mountain peak, the sound of a sled suddenly came.
Kai's gaze quickly turned that way and he saw a blue-nosed Reindeer pulling a sled.
It was rushing towards them quickly, with an old woman on the sled, seemingly heading in their direction.
Luffy and Sanji also noticed the sled and saw the figure on it.
"Is that the doctor here?" Sanji asked immediately.
That's right, it was the doctor Dalton had mentioned, Dr. Kureha.
After Kai quickly identified her, he felt a slight relief in his heart; they had finally found a doctor to treat Nami's illness.
At this moment, Dr. Kureha also noticed the three figures on the mountaintop. She seemed a little surprised but didn't show too much astonishment.
With a gentle wave of her hand, Dr. Kureha directed her blue-nosed Reindeer to pull the sled to a steady stop.
In Kai's eyes, this old woman was quite old, but still full of vitality, even more spirited than young people.
She had a tall and robust physique, with tight skin, lacking the frailty typically associated with the elderly.
Her long, grayish-white hair was tied into a ponytail, and her strands still gleamed with luster.
Her eyes were sharp and profound, carrying a hint of playfulness, and a meaningful smile hung at the corners of her mouth.
She wore a purple cropped top, revealing toned abdominal muscles, paired with dark shorts, looking nothing like an old woman.
"Strange... someone actually managed to climb up here..." Dr. Kureha muttered to herself, then her gaze fell upon Nami on Kai's back, and a flicker of understanding passed through her eyes.
"So that's it." Her voice carried a certain steadiness, but more so, the calm and composure of someone who had experienced much.
"Doctor, please save her quickly!" Luffy urgently shouted, his tone carrying an unquestionable determination.
He suddenly knelt down, his action almost instinctive.
Sanji also knelt down with a thud, his expression becoming serious.
Nami was irreplaceable to them; kneeling on the ground to plead was nothing to be ashamed of. For Nami, they feared nothing.
Dr. Kureha was stunned for a moment. Watching these two people kneel without hesitation, a complex expression flickered in her eyes.
According to her temperament, she would have retorted, harshly mocking them.
But seeing their anxious expressions, she didn't speak, swallowing her words instead.
She cleared her throat and said, "Alright, I'll take a look first, but my consultation fee is very expensive."
She walked closer to Kai, crouched down, her gaze fixed on Nami's face, and gently lifted the blanket covering Nami.
She reached out and touched Nami's forehead, feeling the scorching temperature.
Then, her hand slid down Nami's face; the touch was warm and slightly damp, clearly indicating a serious condition.
"The situation is not good, it must be dealt with quickly." Dr. Kureha's expression was grave, without delay, "Follow me."
Kai nodded, following Dr. Kureha closely, carrying Nami deeper into the castle.
Luffy and Sanji followed right behind, Sanji occasionally glancing around, seemingly observing something.
Just then, the blue-nosed Reindeer behind them suddenly moved.
Initially, Luffy and Sanji didn't notice, but when they turned their heads, their eyes instantly widened.
The Reindeer, which had been on all fours, actually began to stand upright, like a human, bending its legs and standing straight.
It transformed into the size of a five or six-year-old child, small in stature but full of agility and quickness.
Its blue nose still stood out prominently, and its fur remained thick, yet it possessed a small, adorable charm.
It made one want to hold it and dote on it thoroughly.
Luffy was utterly dumbfounded, his eyes sparkling: "Wow, that's amazing! What's going on? How can it stand up?"
Sanji also looked surprised: "This... this must be a Devil Fruit ability!"
Dr. Kureha walked ahead, and hearing their exclamations, she couldn't help but turn back to explain: "This is Chopper, my apprentice. A Reindeer who ate the 'Human-Human Fruit'."
Luffy's eyes instantly widened: "What? Human-Human Fruit? So cool..."
"Chopper, I'm a Devil Fruit User just like you, I'm a rubber man!"
Chopper was a bit shy and somewhat afraid of people, so he didn't respond to Luffy. He tried to remain calm, walking silently behind the others.
Sanji, on the other hand, looked helpless: "Luffy, are you still thinking about that? Nami is sick now, hurry into the castle!"
"Right, right, hurry up!" Luffy finally remembered the main business and pulled Sanji forward.
Led by Dr. Kureha, the group entered a room in the castle.
Some accumulated snow had been tracked inside, and the air was dry and cold, making Luffy shiver.
Kai gently placed Nami on the bed, his movements careful.
The bed was large, covered with thick blankets to ward off the icy cold outside. At the head of the bed were a few worn candles, flickering with dim light.
Dr. Kureha stood by the bed, picked up a slender silver needle, and meticulously examined Nami's wound.
She frowned slightly, as if she had found something. Her sharp gaze swept over Nami's arm, and her expression suddenly turned serious.
"What is this?" Kai frowned, his voice somewhat heavy.
"Cascia." Dr. Kureha's voice was cold, as if she were speaking of something unimportant, but the weighty seriousness made one's heart sink.
"Cascia?" Luffy repeated, seemingly not understanding, "What is that?"
"Cascia is a parasite that lives in tropical, humid forests."
Dr. Kureha's gaze continuously moved over Nami's arm.
"Their larvae, like ticks, parasitize plants and animals in hot and humid environments, feeding on blood.
Their toxicity is very strong; once bitten, bacteria will invade through the wound and lie dormant in the body."
"Then Nami..." Sanji looked anxious, "What will happen to her?"
Dr. Kureha's expression didn't change much as she coldly stated:
"Wound infection, bacterial spread, high fever, myocarditis, encephalitis, toxins spreading throughout the body. If the wound isn't treated, she will surely die within five days."
Kai's heart suddenly constricted, and his breathing became somewhat hurried.
He looked at Nami's pale face, his heart filled with unease.
His heart raced, and his fingertips tingled slightly. "Then now? Can she still be saved?"