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The Going Merry entered the tributary leading to Drum Island.
However, before they could reach the port, they were stopped by a group of armed residents lining the shores of Bighorn Village.
"Pirates! Leave this island immediately! You're not welcome here!"
The commanding voice belonged to a broad-shouldered man at the front of the group, his stern gaze locked onto the Straw Hats standing on deck.
"Uncle, you've misunderstood us! We're not pirates!" Vivi called out, stepping forward.
After traveling with the Straw Hats for so long, she understood their nature. While they technically bore the pirate flag, their actions were anything but typical of pirates. She had learned to trust and rely on them, despite the initial shock of seeing the skull and crossbones flying above their ship.
Still, the residents of Drum Island were not so easily convinced.
"Not pirates?" one of the men scoffed, his rifle trembling in his hands. "Then why are you flying that flag? The skull and crossbones is a pirate's symbol!"
The man's words reflected the villagers' fear and mistrust. Just weeks earlier, the Blackbeard Pirates had ravaged their home, leaving them on edge and defensive. Their king, Wapol, had fled the island with his soldiers, abandoning the people to fend for themselves.
As the man spoke, his fear caused his hand to tremble violently. Suddenly, his finger slipped, and the gun discharged. The shot flew directly toward Vivi.
The villagers froze, their eyes widening in panic. They were civilians, not warriors, and their intention had been to scare off intruders—not provoke them.
But before the bullet could reach Vivi, Ikki stepped forward. With a flick of his arm, he summoned Thousand-Mile Flight, the wings deflecting the bullet effortlessly into the sea.
"Listen up!" Ikki said, his voice firm but measured. "We're not here to cause trouble. We just need a doctor. Our friend is sick, and her life is in danger. We don't even need to set foot on the island—just call the doctor here, and we'll leave as soon as she's treated!"
His calm yet commanding tone silenced the murmurs among the villagers, though their grips on their weapons didn't waver.
All eyes turned to the man leading the group, a stoic figure who had remained silent until now.
The man's name was Dalton, the former captain of the Drum Kingdom's royal guard. After King Wapol's cowardly escape, Dalton had become the backbone of the island, guiding its people through their struggles.
Dalton's gaze lingered on Vivi. Her poise and sincerity stood out, even in the tense situation.
After a long moment of contemplation, Dalton finally spoke. "There's only one doctor left in Drum Kingdom. But she doesn't work for free. If you want her to treat your friend, you'll have to pay a steep price."
Ikki immediately realized who Dalton was referring to: Doctor Kureha, the eccentric physician known as the "Witch of Drum Island."
He also suspected there was more to Kureha than her medical skills. Theories he'd pieced together hinted at a fascinating past:
Her personality—free-spirited and fiery—seemed to align with a pirate's lifestyle. She had a deep understanding of the Will of D, something few outside of legendary figures were privy to. Her physical strength and longevity were exceptional, even for someone her age. At over 140 years old, her vitality matched the descriptions of the powerful individuals from the era of the Rocks Pirates.
It was precisely Ikki's cautious nature that stopped him from storming into Drum Island without a plan.
Doctor Kureha, with her infamous eccentricity, was not someone to be angered lightly. If things went wrong, her wrath could spell disaster for the Straw Hats.
"Mr. Dalton, just tell us where the doctor is, and we'll find her ourselves!" Ikki suggested firmly.
Dalton frowned but hesitated. For the safety of the islanders, he had initially planned to confine the Straw Hats to their ship. Before he could respond, however, his attention was drawn to a familiar face in the group.
It was none other than Igaram, Alabasta's captain of the royal guard.
Dalton, who had held the same position in Drum Kingdom, immediately recognized him. Their paths had crossed before at a meeting of kings, where both had accompanied their respective rulers.
Dalton's eyes widened as he connected the dots. His gaze shifted to Vivi, realization dawning.
Princess Vivi.
He vividly remembered the incident from that meeting. During a heated exchange between King Cobra and Wapol, Vivi, still a child at the time, had been caught in Wapol's tantrum. The arrogant king had slapped her across the face.
Despite the pain, Vivi had only smiled through her tears and said, "I'm sorry. My face got in your way."
Her selflessness had prevented a diplomatic crisis, but Dalton had never forgotten how she broke down in tears after the meeting ended. The slap had been merciless.
Now, seeing Vivi standing before him, he was convinced that she wasn't a pirate.
Dalton turned back to the Straw Hats, his expression softening. "Come with me to the village. I'll help you find the doctor."
The villagers murmured in protest.
"Mr. Dalton, they're pirates!"
"Yeah, we can't just let them—"
Dalton silenced them with a raised hand. "Leave this to me. I'll take responsibility. You can trust me."
Reluctantly, the villagers lowered their weapons and stepped aside, allowing the Going Merry to dock.
Under Dalton's guidance, the Straw Hats entered Drum Kingdom. Though called a "kingdom," it was more like a large town with a sparse population, its people still recovering from Blackbeard's raid.
On the way, Igaram and Dalton struck up a conversation, reminiscing about their shared past. Their camaraderie reassured the rest of the group, further easing the tension.
At Dalton's modest home, he pointed toward the towering Drum Rock in the distance.
"The doctor you're looking for lives at the castle on that mountain," Dalton explained.
The crew gathered at the window, staring at the peak. The mountain was massive, its steep cliffs nearly vertical, making it look impossible to scale.
Dalton, noting their concern, added, "It's not just the height. The path is dangerous, and the slopes are guarded by ferocious snow rabbits called Lapahn. They'll attack anything that comes near."
Dalton paused before offering, "I'll have people keep an eye out for when the doctor comes down. Once she does, you can bring your friend to her."
Ikki shook his head. "Thanks, but Nami might not have that long. We'll climb the mountain and bring her to the doctor ourselves."
Dalton frowned. "You don't understand how difficult it is to—"
"It's fine," Ikki interrupted, smiling. "We've handled worse."
He opened the door to his Cozy Hut, carefully placing Nami inside its safe confines. "This will protect her during the journey."
"Hey! I'm coming too!" Sanji declared, stepping forward. "Nami will need proper nutrition. I can take care of that as we go."
Ikki nodded. "Alright, you're in."
"I'm coming too!" Luffy said with enthusiasm. "I want to see the witch doctor—and maybe climb the mountain for fun!"
Vivi, sitting nearby, couldn't help but sigh. "You're all so hopeless when it comes to taking care of others. I'll come along, too!"
Usopp hesitated, glancing nervously between the group and Igaram. Finally, he raised his hand. "I-I'll go too. Just in case!"
In the end, nearly the entire crew decided to tackle the climb together. Zoro stayed behind to guard the Going Merry, along with Karoo, Psyduck, and Igaram, who continued his lively conversation with Dalton.