Chapter 21: Drum Island

Roger's ascent to the top was, ultimately, of no concern to Doflamingo. Right now, he focused solely on what he wanted, adhering to his goals, step by step, on his climb to the peak.

Drum Island, a winter island, was perpetually covered in snow. The frigid weather made life arduous for its inhabitants, and even pirates rarely ventured there, deterred by the harsh environment. The current king was the father of the future tyrannical, selfish Wapol, known as "Bliking". Unlike Wapol, his father, while not exactly making Drum Island prosperous, at least made it a paradise compared to twenty years later. Wapol's cruelty was truly terrifying to the people.

Drum Island, this winter island blanketed in cold, white snow, sat isolated and seemingly helpless. A pirate ship was slowly approaching, soon to land on this snowy, picturesque nation.

"Young Master, Drum Island is just ahead."

"Oh, we've finally arrived? Then let's go experience the scenery of Drum Island," Doflamingo said calmly, wrapped in a cotton coat. Although he looked somewhat frail, his kingly aura was undeniable.

Crunch, crunch. A group of people wearing thick cotton clothes walked on the snow, hurrying against the blizzard. This group was the Drum Kingdom's guard, having just received news that a pirate crew was about to land. For the peace-loving citizens of Drum Island, pirates were their greatest fear, causing them considerable anxiety. Therefore, upon discovering the pirates' tracks, the guard immediately set out for the coast, hoping to drive the pirates away before they could set foot on their land, preserving their peaceful and stable lives.

The moment he stepped onto this snowy island, Doflamingo marveled at the scenery before him. Snowflakes gently fell from the boundless sky, swirling and dancing... Each crystalline, flawless flake, like jade leaves and silver flowers scattered by celestial maidens, or white angels dispatched from the heavenly palace, were so beautiful, selflessly adorning the earth into a fairy-tale white kingdom.

"What a beautiful place... What a shame..."

No one understood why Doflamingo suddenly sighed and then uttered "what a shame." Their simple minds wouldn't dare delve into the Young Master's meaning, so they could only keep their questions buried deep inside.

"Someone's coming."

Diamante and the others immediately prepared to retaliate.

A group of people, thoroughly weathered by the snow and wind, approached Doflamingo and his crew without haste. The leader, with a serious expression, addressed Doflamingo, who had just set foot on this land:

"Vile pirates, Drum Kingdom does not welcome you. With our guard here, you will not be allowed to enter and cause havoc. Leave immediately, or you will suffer the consequences."

'Indeed, what kind of capable people could you expect from a snow-covered place like Drum Island? A small place is just a small place, with people who overestimate themselves, not knowing their own limits! Is your brain filled with this blooming white snow? You're really asking for a beating. You should know, our Young Master doesn't have the best temper. You're stepping on a tiger's tail. Pray for yourselves.' This was the inner voice of every member of the Donquixote Family at this moment. They were truly speechless.

Although their spirit was strong, and their will to defend the kingdom and protect the people was commendable, jumping out so hastily and arrogantly like this... they probably wouldn't even know how they died.

Of course, this was the pirates' perspective. The guards, however, were inspired by their captain's impassioned speech. To protect their homes and country, they were ready to face death. Their gazes towards their captain were filled with admiration. 'As expected of our captain!'

"Fuffuffuffu, you don't need to worry about us causing any damage to this island. We merely admire Drum Kingdom's medical expertise and have come specifically to seek treatment. You don't need to be so wary. Although we are pirates, we have never plundered civilians. This doesn't necessarily mean we are good people, but we have no malicious intentions," Doflamingo said with a smile, his tone sincere.

This was somewhat incomprehensible to the pirate crew. In their view, such a provocation to the Young Master's authority should have angered him. If Doflamingo knew their thoughts, he'd be exasperated: 'Do you really think I'm so petty? To retaliate just because someone provoked me? That would be too low-class.'

Blind brutality only incites greater resentment. Using violence to suppress violence is never a good thing. Countless examples throughout history serve as warnings. If he were to rule with the same brutality as in the original story, suppressing everything, failure would be inevitable. It would be better to adopt a policy of appeasement, which might yield unexpected results. The will of the people is fundamental and beneficial to his rule.

Doflamingo's show of goodwill surprised the guards. In their eyes, every pirate was notorious, wicked, and foul-mouthed. To encounter such a polite and courteous pirate was unexpected. Indeed, on the vast sea, anything could happen; all sorts of people existed. But this didn't immediately dispel their caution. Although Doflamingo's first impression was quite good, in this world, deceitful people were numerous. You could be sold out and still help count the money. No matter what, they couldn't let their guard down.

However, since the pirates were being so gracious, they wouldn't rudely drive them away. Partly to maintain their country's dignity and partly to demonstrate their own magnanimity, they said politely, "Since you are seeking medical treatment, we were perhaps too hasty. However, you are pirates, and it is our duty... you cannot all enter Drum Kingdom."

Doflamingo knew that it would be difficult to convince them with just a few words and gain full access, especially since he didn't possess any mind-control techniques. To show his sincerity, he only had Diamante accompany him towards the town, while the rest of the crew remained where they were, awaiting good news.

Seeing Doflamingo's understanding, the guards' anxieties eased. After all, it was only two people, one of whom was a kid; there was nothing to fear.

Doflamingo's confidence in bringing only one person stemmed from his self-assurance. If anyone underestimated him simply because of his youth, they would be in for a rude awakening.

While Doflamingo was following the guards towards the town, News Coos had already spread the news of his new bounty throughout the world. A new pirate star was rising. Although it was insignificant compared to the shocking news of the Pirate King a few days earlier, and few people paid attention to this pirate newcomer, it did leave an impression on those who were paying attention.

"Doflamingo, huh? Bounty of 100 million Berries. It seems the new era is truly coming," a golden-haired man said, drinking wine and looking at the news, which described the deeds of Doflamingo and his crew. Although there weren't many major atrocities, in the eyes of the Navy, opposing the Navy was the greatest atrocity. The Navy was justice.

"A newcomer, huh? Roger, is this what you were hoping for?" On the Moby Dick, in Whitebeard's territory in the New World, Whitebeard Edward Newgate looked at the latest news and suddenly smiled. "Gurararara, it's still too early, kids."

Doflamingo's new bounty didn't attract much attention. Most pirates' eyes were still on Roger. They were constantly searching for the Roger Pirates' whereabouts, but they couldn't find any trace of them. This frustrated those who sought to obtain secrets from Roger, forcing them to continue their search patiently.

Fleet Admiral Kong was quite satisfied that Doflamingo's new bounty didn't cause a major stir. After all, the emergence of a Pirate King had already made them uneasy. If news broke out that a Celestial Dragon had become a pirate, it would not only tarnish the reputation of the Navy and the Celestial Dragons but also shake the World Government's rule. This was not what Kong and the others wanted. Therefore, while the buzz of Roger becoming Pirate King hadn't yet subsided, they very quickly issued Doflamingo's new bounty.

"It seems our time has come. Old-timers, start preparing to exit the stage."

Newcomers always pay more attention to other newcomers. Although the Pirate King had been established, for ambitious and energetic newcomers, the Pirate King was never an obstacle, merely a mountain on their path to be conquered.

The Pirate King was more of a symbol. Secular kingdoms had successions of kings, so why not the Pirate King? Since someone had successfully conquered the Grand Line, why couldn't they? They were all human; why could they conquer the Grand Line, and why couldn't they? The newcomers' ambitions couldn't be dampened by the dangers of the Grand Line. They were fueled by a burning passion, yearning for that supreme position.

It's just that when the burning passion cools, when reality shatters illusions, when they are surrounded by the dangers of the Grand Line, who knows how many will regret their decisions, paying for their recklessness with their precious lives.

We shouldn't complain about the unfairness of fate, because it's your own choice. Since you've chosen this path, you should walk it with unwavering determination. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, it's better to improve your strength and focus on survival. Giving up is easy, but standing up is difficult. Even if we are in hell, we must hold onto hope, because once you give up, you have truly lost everything.

Reality is real, and life is cruel.

Navy Headquarters, Marineford. After dealing with matters related to Roger, Fleet Admiral Kong made a surprising decision. To prevent Doflamingo from continuing to run amok, and also to appease the Celestial Dragons, Kong had to dispatch Vice-Admiral Tsuru, the Navy's strategist, to capture Doflamingo. Although it was a bit of overkill, it showed how seriously they were taking Doflamingo. However, there was really no other choice. The Roger Pirates were nowhere to be found, and Garp had to be on standby at all times; Sengoku, as the only Admiral, had to remain at Navy Headquarters to stabilize the Celestial Dragons' anxieties; the retired Zephyr was out of the question, focusing on educating the next generation; and the other Navy officers all had their own duties, stationed in various locations to maintain world stability. Vice-Admiral Tsuru was indeed the best choice.

"Vice-Admiral Tsuru, the capture of Doflamingo is entrusted to you." Kong was also quite helpless. If there were anyone else available, he wouldn't have sent Tsuru. Although Tsuru's strength wasn't as monstrous as Garp's or Sengoku's, she had sailed the seas for many years and was among the top tier of Vice-Admirals, not to mention her intelligence.

Tsuru understood Kong's pressure and his deep concern about Doflamingo. Dispatching her was a bit of overkill, but it was undoubtedly the best option.

"I'll handle this matter properly. These young punks are so unreliable; they still need a lot of training."

Receiving the combat mission, Vice-Admiral Tsuru departed with her fleet, beginning the pursuit of Doflamingo. Doflamingo was unaware that he was already being targeted, and by one of the people he could least afford to provoke.

If Doflamingo knew that Kong had sent Tsuru after him, he'd probably curse up a storm. 'Wasn't it just a near-draw with a Commodore, and I was heavily injured at that? Do you really need to send his nemesis after me, like in the original story?' You know, in the original story, Doflamingo received a lot of "care" from Tsuru. He could handle losing to her, that's fine, but what if he accidentally injured her and provoked those few reckless lunatics? Given their relationship, Tsuru was the pampered one of the group. If he hurt her, those guys would turn into rabid dogs and wouldn't let Doflamingo go. This wasn't what Doflamingo wanted. However, for the current Doflamingo, his own strength was his weakness; he was in a tough spot, unable to overpower her. Moreover, Tsuru's strength shouldn't be underestimated.

Drum Kingdom. Doflamingo was following the guards towards the central town. The wind and snow along the way, however, couldn't stop these people from advancing.

After a long time, the guards brought Doflamingo to the town's hospital. To avoid causing panic among the residents, the guards didn't reveal Doflamingo's pirate identity to others. Both groups tacitly agreed, neither intending to expose the truth.

"Hey, you two are pirates, right?"

A sudden voice raised the guards' vigilance. However, upon seeing who it was, the guards relaxed.

Doflamingo, on the other hand, was quite curious about the identity of the newcomer. Regarding Drum Kingdom, he was most curious about Dr. Kureha, a person with exceptional medical skills, and Chopper's foster father.

"Oh, it's you, quack doctor - Hiriluk."

The people of Drum Kingdom didn't think highly of Hiriluk. After all, in this country of skilled doctors, a third-rate doctor who often acted like a madman, trying to invent a "panacea," wasn't someone they held in high regard. Instead of engaging in wishful thinking, it would be better to be practical and improve your medical skills, shedding your quack doctor title. This was the guards' opinion, very realistic, and indeed the best option for Hiriluk.

Seeing that the newcomer was Hiriluk, Doflamingo's eyes showed a flicker of interest. He just so happened to be very interested in Dr. Kureha, and he was wondering how to meet her. This was like a gift from the heavens, sending her friend Hiriluk right to him.

The newcomer was indeed Hiriluk. He was wearing a black coat over a green inner shirt. The most striking feature was his iconic hair, resembling a cross missing its lower half, standing upright on his head, though the topmost part was covered by a black top hat. His still-young face, however, was excited, as if he had spotted his prey.

"That's right, we are pirates," Doflamingo admitted openly.

Hiriluk's eyes lit up even more with the confirmation. He was filled with curiosity about Doflamingo and his crew, as this was the first time he had seen living pirates standing before him.

"This is Kureha's house, but she's a very difficult person to deal with. You should be mentally prepared, and..."

Doflamingo and Hiriluk got along quite well. Finally, Doflamingo stated his purpose, wanting to request the best doctor to treat his injuries. Taking this opportunity, he followed Hiriluk to Kureha's house.

"Hiriluk, you brat, speaking ill of me behind my back!" Before Hiriluk could finish his sentence, Kureha suddenly opened the door and gave him a good scolding, her hands not idle, delivering a few loving punches, a must.

Seeing this, Doflamingo's eyes flickered with a trace of reminiscence, his face expressionless, appearing calm to outsiders.

"You wanna know the secret to my eternal youth, lads?" Kureha finally stopped and addressed the group.

Seeing Kureha like this, the guards were unfazed. Indeed, strange people got along well with other strange people.

"I am quite curious about your secret to eternal youth, but before that, I hope you can help me heal my injuries," Doflamingo said seriously.

"Oh, sure, kid. Come inside," Kureha said, taking Doflamingo and the others into her house. He didn't look around much, only casting a quick glance before looking away. Out of respect for Kureha, it wasn't polite to casually examine someone else's home. This detail was noted by Kureha, who became quite interested in this young man.

"You guys sit. Kid, you come with me. Let me take care of your injuries," Kureha said without delay, immediately getting down to business. Doflamingo calmly followed Kureha out of the main hall, leaving the guards, Hiriluk, and Diamante to stare at each other.

Soon, they arrived at the medical room, and Kureha said to Doflamingo, "Let me see your injuries."

Doflamingo took off his coat, revealing his body wrapped in thick bandages, receiving treatment from the best doctor in the world.

"Kid, you're not even twenty yet, and you're already abusing your body like this. Not taking care of yourself, you're really quite harsh on yourself. Besides being beaten up like this, you must train a lot, too," Kureha said seriously. "Although your body has accumulated so many injuries and internal wounds, it's a miracle you haven't been crippled."

Hearing this, Doflamingo thought to himself, 'Zoro twenty years later is the truly strong one, what am I compared to that.'

"I hope Dr. Kureha can heal my injuries and restore my body to good condition. After all, you are the strongest doctor."

"Haha, kid, you have good taste. But do you want to know the secret to my eternal youth? Don't worry, just obediently receive my treatment," Kureha said cheerfully, laughing heartily.

While Doflamingo was receiving treatment from Dr. Kureha, the sea was exceptionally calm, but everyone knew this was just the tranquility before the storm.