Chapter 198: Blackbeard’s Arrival
Drum Island is named after the mountain that resembles a drum.
Well, although most of the islanders don’t know what the so-called Drum actually is, it doesn’t matter. The islanders suffering under the Tyrant’s rule don’t care about such trivial matters at all. When you’re in dire straits, who would care about these things.
Ever since the Hunting Doctor decree was issued, the renowned medical great power of the Grand Line has become a thing of the past.
Without patients coming to the Drum Kingdom in droves like carp crossing the river for medical treatment, the country that once prospered from this has become impoverished. Of course, the ones who are poor are always the common folk. His Majesty the King has 20 doctors, and collecting money is extremely easy for him.
“Drum Mountain… Building the royal palace so high up is really quite troublesome.”
Kalifa looked up at the distant peak in the center of the island. That was Drum Mountain, a peak reaching an elevation of five thousand meters piercing straight into the clouds. The top of the mountain wasn’t clearly visible, but the steep rock walls midway up couldn’t accumulate snow, exposing large patches of gray-brown.
The king’s palace was on top of the mountain.
“Lucci, are we really climbing up barehanded? Wouldn’t taking the cable car be better? A five-thousand-meter peak… and it’s a winter island at that.”
Jabura practically had “this is annoying” written all over his face.
However,
it really was quite troublesome.
According to the intelligence they tortured out of the routed soldiers, the only way to the mountaintop was via the cable car. There was no second route. Yet Lucci had abandoned the option of riding the cable car and was preparing to climb the five-thousand-meter Drum Mountain barehanded.
“The cable car is too dangerous. What if it’s destroyed halfway up? Falling from thousands of meters high… Jabura, even if we’re both Zoan Devil Fruit Users, we wouldn’t come out unscathed.”
Lucci said coldly.
“Moreover, this is also a great training opportunity. I’ve never tried barehandedly climbing a five-thousand-meter peak in winter…”
His eyes were filled with eager anticipation.
Captured alive by a maid in Water 7, then beaten by Elus in Alabasta to the point of lying in bed for two days… The successive blows had made him deeply aware of his own weakness. To grow stronger, he now even swung dumbbells while going to the toilet.
Jabura rolled his eyes.
If it were up to him, the fear of the cable car being destroyed and falling was just an excuse. The real reason was wanting to try barehandedly climbing a five-thousand-meter peak in winter.
“Kaku, Kumadori, Bruno, Kalifa, you three stay at this end of the cable car. If the target takes the cable car down the mountain, contact me immediately via Den Den Mushi. Jabura, Fukurou, you come with me to climb the mountain.” Lucci began assigning roles, splitting the group of seven into two teams.
One team was to guard the cable car in case the target came down. The port’s army had routed. Though most of the officers had been taken out, there was no guarantee someone couldn’t contact the king in the castle. So stationing people to guard the cable car was very necessary.
The other team would climb straight up the mountain and assault the Drum Kingdom’s royal palace to capture the target.
Lucci’s orders were given. Whether willing or not, everyone followed them. This was a habit from their CP9 days, likely to last a lifetime.
The cable car station at the base of the mountain was in a village called Long Horn Village.
Which was their current location. Of course, Kaku and the others didn’t enter the village to disturb anyone; they just found a spot to watch the cable car. And with Lucci’s trio heading into the wind and snow to climb, even knowing there was a warm fireplace in the villagers’ houses, they stayed at the forest edge not far from the cable car.
The path up the mountain was rough going.
Lucci and the others walked on the snow-covered gentle slope. There were no ready-made roads, which was only natural. Ordinary people had no right to go to the king’s palace. Those qualified to be summoned to the palace took the cable car. Who would bother climbing a five-thousand-meter peak for no reason?
Moreover, large sections were nearly ninety-degree sheer rock walls that ordinary people couldn’t climb even if they wanted to.
“Damn it! This snow is such a pain in the ass!”
Jabura cursed the troublesome environment. The soft snow easily trapped people, making travel extremely difficult.
“Hey, Fukurou, how are you running so fast, you guy?”
Trailing at the back of the group, Jabura looked at Fukurou running ahead of him and immediately yelled in annoyance.
“That’s because my ‘Shave’ is better than yours. Zip-zip-zip!” Fukurou unzipped his mouth and said without looking back. Despite his round, balloon-like body, his movements were as nimble as a water-striding dragonfly. Using ‘Shave,’ he sped across the snow like flying, staying close behind Lucci.
Jabura got even more pissed,
but Fukurou was indeed stating facts. Among them, Fukurou’s Doryoku was ranked sixth, just above Kalifa, the only female member. But his mastery of ‘Shave’ was second only to Lucci, earning him the moniker “Soundless.”
Truth be told, Jabura was a Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Wolf user. Agility and speed should have been his strengths. Losing to Lucci was one thing, but even Fukurou was faster than him… it was infuriating.
“Damn it, damn it! You bastards, don’t think you can outpace me!!!”
Jabura gritted his teeth and directly transformed into Beast Form, landing on all fours and racing across the snow like a wolf…
Lucci, leading at the front, glanced back at Jabura now in wolf form. He said nothing wasteful about conserving stamina. Weren’t stamina, endurance, and recovery the strengths of Zoan Devil Fruit Users? This bit of hardship was nothing; it was also good training for Jabura.
“Lucci, Lucci, there are rabbits in the woods.”
Fukurou spotted huge, bear-sized rabbits hopping through the forest at astonishing speeds, following them. The obvious killing intent proved these rabbit-like creatures, lacking any of a rabbit’s gentle cuteness, had marked the three of them as prey.
“Is this the so-called Raboon? Ignore them.”
Lucci couldn’t be bothered with these stupid beasts.
Intelligence on Raboon had been tortured out along with the rest earlier. The ignorant routed soldiers didn’t need CP9’s special techniques; a little intimidation had them spilling everything like beans from a bamboo tube—miscellaneous info including Raboon details.
They were said to be ferocious carnivorous animals that hunted in packs and never got close to humans—absolute man-eaters.
Now seeing them,
calling them beasts wasn’t wrong, but only relative to ordinary people. CP9 members were long beyond that. CP9 had something called Doryoku, a standard for measuring power. Assuming an ordinary Navy Soldier had a Doryoku of 10 as baseline.
Even Kalifa, with the lowest Doryoku in CP9, had 630—roughly 630 times an ordinary Navy Soldier’s strength.
Of course,
Doryoku reflected combat power but didn’t fully determine strength.
Combat skills, Devil Fruit abilities, strength of will, physical condition, mood… all affected performance.
“Bang!”
The pouncing Raboon was casually kicked flying by Lucci, crashing through seven or eight large trees before landing in the snow. That kick didn’t kill it. These beasts were dumb but tough-bodied, plus their thick fur.
Perfect sandbags.
Lucci savored the feel of that kick and gave his assessment.
Probably scared by Lucci’s kick, the Raboons halted their pursuit, watching Lucci and the others leave with eyes of awe. That was Raboon nature—they respected the strong, especially those they couldn’t beat.
————
Drum Mountain summit.
The grand castle was brilliantly lit. The fireplace flames dispelled the mountaintop chill, bringing spring-like warmth… Of course, Drum Island had no spring. This was a winter island, under eternal winter’s rule.
“Hey, no news yet? What the hell is Jess doing?”
Seated on the throne was an ugly-looking man.
His body was fat, his dark purple hair a messy, unkempt disaster. His mouth was huge, with a cylindrical tin tray attached to his chin. He wore a white hooded cape made of plank armor and tin, draped over with white fur.
He was the Drum Kingdom’s king, Wapol, Gulp-Gulp Fruit user,
looking like an old man at first glance, but his sturdy build suggested maybe only around thirty.
“Cromartie, go outside and check what’s going on at the port. What the hell is Jess dawdling for?” Wapol irritably slapped the throne’s armrest, in a foul mood. Port guards had reported a large ship without flags approaching.
Fearing pirates come to loot, Wapol had sent Jess to scout the port.
Not out of care for his subjects, but worry pirates would harass his castle. He knew the villages at Drum Mountain’s base had no loot left now. Unsatisfied pirates wouldn’t mind visiting the mountaintop castle.
So to prevent trouble, he sent someone to scout. If not big shots, take them out. But if strong pirates… time to plan retreat.
“I’ll go right now.”
Cromartie, dressed like a fistfighter, replied.
But before he could leave the hall, a guard rushed in like a gale, yelling while running: “Your Majesty Wapol, Jess, Lord Jess is dead, Lord Jess is dead!!!”
“What did you say?”
Cromartie, the fistfighter who hadn’t left yet, grabbed the guard’s neck.
“What happened to Jess? What exactly happened?”
“I don’t know, I don’t know either. Former Guard Captain Dalton contacted the comms room via Den Den Mushi, saying he encountered routed soldiers… Not just Lord Jess dead, lots of soldiers too. The survivors were all scared off…”
“Dalton? That damn stupid cow?”
Wapol on the throne ground his teeth, eyes darting slyly.
“The enemy? Who killed Jess and them?”
Cromartie pressed.
“Don’t know. Seems they routed too fast, scattered in a flash. Lots said it was the snow ghost, the snow ghost did the killing.” The messenger guard showed fear on his face.
Snow ghost killing,
that was local legend.
Said those frozen to death in blizzards became snow ghosts, wandering snow mountains killing passersby. Invisible in wind and snow, they killed unnoticed… Locals feared them greatly!
“Snow ghost?”
Cromartie knew the legend too.
But… did snow ghosts really exist? He didn’t know; his mind was blank now.
“Your Majesty Wapol.”
Out of ideas, Cromartie looked to Wapol on the throne.
His role was kingdom security officer—simply put, better with fists than brains. Staff Officer Jess handled strategy, but Jess, likely dead, couldn’t advise anymore.
Next steps depended on Wapol himself.
“Have people pack up, load all the treasure. Contact Bliking via Den Den Mushi, have the captain prep for sailing…” Wapol’s eyes spun. Jess taken out, 500-man army inexplicably crushed—gave him a very bad feeling.
“Cromartie, contact that stupid cow Dalton, have him investigate what happened at the port!”
Wapol’s scheme was clever.
Dalton was disobedient anyway, always badmouthing him to the old man before. If not for Dalton’s strength, he’d have offed the stubborn cow long ago. This time, let the cow trigger the mine—best if he uncovered attackers, good if killed too!
A win-win.
————
Village near the port, True Marlin Village.
A seaside village sustaining on fishing. Once they ran inns and eateries for medical visitors, but now no doctors, fewer outsiders… Life much harder!
“Captain Dalton, please help us.”
At True Marlin Village entrance, villagers with hunting guns and harpoons gathered around former Kingdom Guard Captain Dalton.
Routed soldiers brought terrifying news: snow ghost killing, pirates landed… Big trouble at the port. Villagers felt great unease. Luckily, Captain Dalton was shopping in True Marlin Village today.
They immediately latched onto this savior.
“You say… the warship docked at the port never responded to your hails from start to finish?”
“No, that ship was huge, tons of cannons along the ship’s side… but no flag, not even a pirate skull flag…”
“No markings at all! What about… Jess! Did you see how he died?”
“No, that… we weren’t with Lord Jess. When everyone routed and fled, I saw Lord Jess on the ground, red all under his body, snow dyed red. I was too scared, just ran…”
Dalton interrogated the routed soldiers.
Unfortunately, soldiers knew too little. After questioning forever, still unclear what killed Jess and routed the 500-man army.
Of course, he didn’t believe snow ghost tales. In his view, Jess met formidable foes—likely Devil Fruit Users or freakishly strong monsters… He’d escorted the previous king to the Holy Land for the World Conference.
Unlike villagers who’d never left the island, his worldview was broad.
“Captain Dalton, what do we do?”
Seeing Dalton finish questioning, a villager with a hunting gun asked eagerly.
“…Don’t approach the port.”
Dalton knew Jess was no good, but not total waste. Besides blind loyalty to the tyrant, he was a crack shot. Taking Jess out personally would take time.
“Stay in the village today, no wandering out. If anyone comes, run to the woods… I’ll go check.”
“Yo, Dalton boy, tired of living?”
Unnoticed, an old lady emerged from the snowy woods, a reindeer following behind her.
“Doctor Kureha!”
Dalton was startled.
“Dalton, if you wanna die, why not donate your body? Let me see what’s special about an Ability User’s corpse.”
“Doctor Kureha, I don’t wanna die yet!”
Dalton laughed wryly.
“But didn’t you just say you’re going to the port to die?”
“…I’m just going to check the port situation, not to die.”
“Hmph, easy words. Think your paltry skills get you back alive? Listen, those people aren’t after villagers. Their target is… that bastard Wapol!”
Doctor Kureha eyed the distant Drum Mountain main peak.
“They?”
Dalton’s eyes lit up. “Doctor Kureha, do you know what’s going on?”
He wasn’t surprised she had intel he lacked. This old lady was said to be 139 years old—what oddity wasn’t normal? Ordinary would be the real surprise!
“Heh heh heh… Dalton, too much chatter. You’re not Guard Captain anymore. That soft-hearted fool Andel died eight years ago!”
Andel,
Drum Kingdom’s previous king.
Father of current king Wapol, an extremely wise and capable monarch. Dalton had been promoted to Guard Captain by him.
Sadly, too soft in raising kids—both sons worse than the last. After Andel’s death, Wapol wrecked the kingdom in years. Dalton demoted.
“But…”
“No buts. Send these idiots home quick. This matter’s got nothing to do with us.”
Ignoring Dalton’s reaction, Doctor Kureha vanished into the snowy woods with her reindeer pet, seemingly appearing just to stop Dalton’s stupidity.
————
Port,
warship’s bridge,
“Eh?”
Elus, studying Door-Door Fruit powers, looked up toward Drum Island.
“Your Highness!”
Fran sensed it too.
Just now, suddenly felt watched—brief, but no illusion. In the New World, she’d fought many times; that was clearly…
“Observation Haki! Didn’t expect someone here masters Observation Haki…”
Elus casually closed the Air Door.
“Drum Island… Can’t be idiot Wapol. So… most likely the ‘witch’ who adopted a certain reindeer.” Recalling the 100+ year-old witch, Elus felt restless curiosity.
Curiosity stirring again, wanting to meet the witch doctor who trained that reindeer.
If not for not planning to reveal identity this op, he’d have gone ashore in the snow already…
However,
“Fran, shall we go… Hey, what the hell, every tom, dick, and harry popping up?” Elus’s curiosity won, identity-hiding shelved. About to call Fran to head ashore,
Neuro-Scan sensed several powerful auras approaching from sea.
One familiar, like seen before.
“Your Highness, it’s that Whitebeard Pirates guy… the fat one missing teeth, super crude manners. At Water Wheel Island, appeared with Ace and Jozu.” Fran remembered the aura. “But… didn’t feel this strong before.”
“That’s because he’s been hiding his strength!”
Elus laughed.
What a coincidence… Didn’t expect to run into him here. Even with history diverged, still had to visit Drum Island? Or was it their set itinerary?
“Hiding strength… Ah! That fat guy’s Blackbeard, Marshall Teach, the one who killed Sachi?”
“Eh? Fran, you didn’t know? Never seen Blackbeard’s bounty poster?”
“Didn’t pay much mind. Guys like that, Whitebeard’ll off him soon—betrayed Whitebeard, killed Sachi… Can’t last long.” Fran said matter-of-factly.
“Oh! You think that, huh?”
Elus rubbed his chin.
“What’s wrong? No way… Your Highness thinks Whitebeard can’t handle Blackbeard? Impossible, that’s Whitebeard!”
That’s Whitebeard!
That phrase showed how deeply Whitebeard’s strength ingrained!
“Who knows! But… now what do I do? Fran, should I catch him and hand to Whitebeard? Or ignore him…”
On the sea,
A giant raft battleship sped toward Drum Island.
Its prow sail with three skulls was soaked by wind and snow—the mark of the newly emerged Blackbeard Pirates.
