Chapter 371: Drum Kingdom
Mihawk slowly stood up, ignoring the long slash across his chest.
He turned, sheathed his sword, and slowly spread his arms wide.
"A wound on the back is a swordsman's shame."
He smiled as he spoke—facing death without fear, smiling in its face.
This act shocked everyone on the deck.
"He's got guts!" Caesar muttered.
Others nodded in agreement.
"He's the bravest man I've ever seen," Robert added with admiration.
Charlotte stared into Mihawk's eyes.
Then, with another swing—
Slash!
Blood sprayed as Mihawk was sent flying.
He landed directly on his coffin-shaped boat.
"Don't be in such a rush to die, boy!"
Charlotte looked at Mihawk, who lay sprawled on his small boat.
"My name is Rockefeller Charlotte. Understand the world, grow strong, Dracule Mihawk. In the years to come, I will be waiting at the top. Come surpass me, Mihawk."
Charlotte sheathed his sword and stood at the bow, watching Mihawk's boat drift away.
Lying in his boat, Mihawk slowly raised his massive cross-shaped sword.
A silent message.
"I will surpass you. I won't lose a second time. I will defeat you, and become the world's strongest swordsman. On this path, I will never fail again!"
Mihawk looked to the blue sky above and made his vow with sword raised.
Charlotte smiled.
The boy's unyielding spirit had moved everyone on deck.
The swordsmen were reminded of the passion and dreams they once had when they first began training.
In Mihawk, they saw a glimpse of the future.
Charlotte turned his back and sheathed his sword.
"Let's move. Our next destination: the Drum Kingdom!"
His voice carried across the deck.
Everyone snapped out of their daze and scattered back to their duties.
Esdeath remained at the bow, watching the boy lying in his boat, sword still raised.
Her eyes wavered slightly.
She gripped the hilt of her rapier tightly.
"I want to see how far you can go," she whispered softly before returning to her cabin.
The ship resumed its course across the sea.
To Charlotte, Mihawk's appearance was merely a small interlude.
The boy's strength wasn't enough to gain his full attention—at most, a fleeting sentimentality from his previous life.
Another half month passed on the sea.
They briefly stopped in Alabasta, the desert kingdom, for a single day.
Charlotte had little interest in the endless sands—what was there to look at, sand?
After replenishing supplies, they set off again.
This made the Alabasta king sigh in relief, placing a secure transponder snail back on the table.
After leaving Alabasta, it wasn't long before the Poseidon docked near the Drum Kingdom—a nation famous worldwide for its medical prowess.
Charlotte was especially interested in this place.
"Captain, we're ready to dock," Barrett reported.
Charlotte nodded and walked toward the stairs.
This time, the ship's head doctor, Nathan, eagerly followed along. He was clearly excited about the medical capital.
"They have excellent medical techniques here. Have the ship's doctors and nurses come learn. We'll be staying here for a while."
Charlotte began issuing orders.
"Yes! I've been wanting to exchange knowledge with Drum Kingdom's doctors!"
Nathan's eyes sparkled as he took in the snowy landscape.
Charlotte nodded. He had other matters to attend to.
He wanted to investigate whether the Drum Kingdom's two princes had consumed any Devil Fruits.
After all, he had his sights set on several fruits:
The Munch-Munch Fruit was non-negotiable—he planned to give it to Caesar Kuran.
The Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit was also targeted.
As for the Human-Human Fruit: Ordinary Human Model, that one was up to fate. It was, after all, something Chopper had eaten in the wild, and its location was never clearly stated in the original story.
And it wasn't a particularly powerful fruit—not worth turning the island upside down for, especially if it risked alerting the World Government.
Charlotte didn't fear the World Government—but he did hate unnecessary trouble.
Once docked, the crew spread out into the city.
Charlotte made no effort to hide their arrival.
With five or six massive ships flying the Rockefeller Pirates' flag—alongside the colossal Poseidon—it was impossible not to attract attention.
Word of their arrival spread quickly.
"Quick! Report to the king! A fleet of pirates has docked—it's the Rockefeller Pirates!"
A breathless soldier ran through the snow.
Soon, the message reached the king's desk.
The old Drum Kingdom king glanced at the paper.
"Rockefeller Pirates?" he said, then set the report down.
"Don't provoke them. Don't make trouble. Act like we didn't see them."
As a member of the World Government alliance, the Drum Kingdom was well aware of Charlotte and his crew.
Some allied nations had requested aid from the World Government during the Reverie.
But at that time, the government had been focused entirely on chasing the Roger Pirates—not some non-D-clan pirate like Charlotte.
The World Government's instructions were clear: if you encounter the Rockefeller Pirates, do not engage. Treat it like nothing happened.
It was an order many nations disliked—but had no power to oppose.
Fortunately, Charlotte hadn't caused much trouble in recent years. Most had grown used to his presence.
"Oh—and summon Waldo back. Don't let him leave the palace these next few days."
The king remembered his troublesome son and issued the command.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the guards replied, quickly heading out.
But the old king had no idea—life has a funny sense of timing.
Just as he thought of his headache of a son…
That very son was causing a huge problem!
"Damn it! Damn it all! Once I become king, I'm kicking every last doctor off this island!"
Waldo—a slightly pudgy but clearly greasy young man—stomped through the streets, cursing and kicking at stones.
The nearby guards were used to his tantrums.
Shopkeepers and townsfolk hurried to get out of his way, fearful of offending the prince.
Waldo kicked a pebble with his right foot.
Whizz!
It flew through the air—
"Ouch!"
A young girl's pained cry rang out.
A little girl in a skirt clutched her forehead, tears welling up in her eyes as a nasty bump began to swell.
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