Chapter 122: Dr. Kureha, Poaching Chopper (Patreon)

Soon, they arrived at a somewhat larger wooden cabin.

A crowd had already gathered outside, but everyone waited in orderly silence, anxiously peering inside without making a sound.

The boy helped the old woman push through the crowd, and Moren and the others followed. Through the gaps between people, they could see inside the house.

The room was rather dim, but the fireplace provided a little light and warmth.

Several people were gathered around a simple wooden bed, where a middle-aged man lay with a pale face and cracked lips.

His leg was wrapped in thick bandages, already soaked through with blood and grime, clearly a serious injury.

Beside the bed, a figure was busy at work. She was a rather fashionably dressed old woman.

She wore a distinctive leather jacket and pants, sunglasses, and her white hair was slightly disheveled but full of personality.

In one hand, she held a bottle of liquor, occasionally taking a large swig. Her other hand, however, moved with incredible speed and precision as she cleaned the man's wound.

Her movements were dizzyingly fast, but every step was flawlessly executed, as natural as eating or drinking.

Even more eye-catching was the blue-nosed reindeer beside her, wearing a pink hat. He stood on a stool like a human child, constantly pulling out different medicines, bandages, and tools from a medical kit and handing them to the old woman.

He muttered nervously, with a serious tone: "This is anti-inflammatory," or "Here's the bandage!"

The human-reindeer pair worked together seamlessly, as if they had done this countless times. Everyone else in the room held their breath, watching with hope and gratitude in their eyes.

"Dr. Kureha... and Tony Tony Chopper." Moren silently repeated their names to himself, the corners of his mouth lifting unconsciously.

Just as expected, it really was them. They were probably the only "attraction" Drum Island had left now.

That little guy Chopper was quite adorable, like an adorable plush figurine. The urge to take him away was stirring.

Before long, the man's wound had been properly treated. It was cleaned, medicated, and bandaged with swift, clean movements.

Chopper carefully pried open the man's mouth and fed him a small pill, muttering under his breath: "This is anti-inflammatory..."

Seeing the patient stabilize, the anxious family members finally let out sighs of relief, their faces filled with gratitude.

As if a switch had been flipped, the other waiting patients and their families, who had been holding back, suddenly erupted.

"Doctorine! Please take a look at my son, he's had a fever for days!"

"Granny, my father's legs hurt so badly he can't get out of bed. He's right next door!"

"Please see my family first! My wife, she..."

The small house filled with desperate pleas and clamor.

Chopper, who had been focused on the treatment, flinched at the sudden noise and instinctively shrank behind an old wooden table. Only his head was hidden; his furry body, especially his signature blue nose and his round little butt, remained fully exposed, gently bobbing with each nervous breath.

Dr. Kureha frowned, her expression growing impatient. She grabbed another unopened bottle from the table, took a long swig, and slammed it down with a loud crash.

"All of you, shut up!" Her voice boomed like thunder, instantly drowning out the noise.

"All this yelling, are you trying to kill the patients faster?! If anyone screams again, I'll throw them out into the snow, and the rest of you can fend for yourselves!"

Her sheer intimidation silenced everyone instantly. Though the anxious families still wore desperate expressions, they clamped their mouths shut, terrified of angering the only healer they had, this "witch" with a terrible temper.

Dr. Kureha scanned the room, let out an impatient snort, and downed the rest of her drink before tossing the empty bottle aside.

"You all know the rules. I decide who I treat! Those who can walk, come first. Then those who can't move."

Her words were ironclad. No one dared argue. The crowd silently obeyed, rearranging themselves and helping patients sit down to wait.

The boy helped the old woman to an empty chair by the wall.

During this process, Dr. Kureha's sharp gaze swept across the room again, landing on Moren and his group by the door, who stood out starkly from the villagers.

Her eyes lingered on Moren and Robin for a moment. A nearly imperceptible flash of surprise crossed her eyes, but she quickly looked away. Instead, she called out to the little reindeer still hiding behind the table: "Chopper! Stop hiding! Come help, get the No. 3 anti-inflammatory powder and the pain-relief herbal ointment ready!"

"Y-yes, Doctorine!" Chopper scrambled out from behind the table and hurried back to the medical kit, rummaging with practiced skill.

Meanwhile, Moren and the others weren't idle. They huddled together, using the surrounding chatter as cover for a whispered discussion.

"See that? What do you think of the little guy?" Moren gestured subtly with his chin toward Chopper, who was carefully preparing medicine, occasionally flinching at a patient's groan.

"A blue nose, can talk, so cute!" Nami's eyes sparkled. "And he knows medicine. He seems really capable! He was so quick helping with that wound!"

Robin observed more closely. "From a professional standpoint, his familiarity with the medicines and his tacit understanding with the doctor suggest he's been training with her for quite a while."

"So cute! I want to pet him!" Baccarat, less interested in the details, was fixated on Chopper, her hands practically twitching.

Hearing their comments, Moren continued, "It just so happens our ship is still missing a doctor."

"A ship doctor?" Nami's eyes lit up. "You're right! We do need one! He can treat people, and he's a reindeer... well, anyway, he's special!"

Robin nodded with a smile. "Professionally speaking, he would be an excellent choice."

"I'm afraid he won't be willing to leave with us so easily. He seems very attached to and respectful of the old woman."

They whispered among themselves, their faces occasionally breaking into mischievous smiles as they plotted how to whisk Chopper away.

Chopper, busy helping Dr. Kureha with the next patient, had no idea what was being planned.

He just felt a sudden chill down his spine and sneezed. He looked around in confusion, thinking someone must have left a window slightly open.

Instinctively, he edged closer to Dr. Kureha, as if seeking safety.

And Dr. Kureha, while examining a child's throat, used her peripheral vision to observe Moren and the others, who kept glancing at Chopper. Her eyes narrowed behind her sunglasses.