Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/Veni_V
---------------
Just as Ikki handed the Gravity Bracelets to Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Luffy, a sharp exclamation rang out from the cabin.
"Nami… Nami, what's wrong with you?" Vivi's worried voice echoed across the ship.
Hearing the urgency, Ikki and Sanji immediately rushed into the cabin, only to find Nami collapsed on the floor. Her face was flushed, and her breathing was labored.
"Nami!" Sanji cried, panic evident in his voice. "How could this happen?"
He was visibly distressed. "I always make sure Nami and Vivi get the freshest, most nutritious food! I'd never be careless with their meals!"
Vivi, already kneeling beside Nami, gently helped her onto the bed and took her temperature. Her expression darkened as she read the thermometer.
"We need to find a doctor immediately," Vivi said gravely. "Nami's fever is at 40 degrees! If this goes on, her life could be at risk."
Ikki, standing nearby, realized the situation was worse than he anticipated. Nami's sudden illness had caught everyone off guard.
Sanji clenched his fists, his worry turning into frustration. "How could this happen now of all times?!"
As the crew tried to make sense of the situation, Nami stirred. She opened her eyes weakly and handed Vivi a crumpled newspaper.
"The news… about Alabasta," she whispered hoarsely.
Vivi unfolded the paper with trembling hands. The report detailed the dire situation in her homeland: the rebels were gathering en masse and preparing to march on the royal capital.
Vivi's heart sank. The paper in her hands shook as she wrestled with the decision before her.
Should they prioritize finding a doctor for Nami, risking further delay to Alabasta? Or should they head straight to Alabasta, where her people desperately needed her, even if it meant endangering Nami?
Ikki watched Vivi closely but remained silent. He had the jelly bean capable of curing all diseases in his possession, yet he hesitated to act. This was Vivi's choice to make, a moment that would define her character.
The rest of the crew also looked to Vivi, their expressions a mix of concern and quiet support. Even Igaram, who instinctively wanted to urge haste to Alabasta, held his tongue, leaving the decision entirely in Vivi's hands.
Nami, her voice faint but steady, broke the silence. "Vivi… don't worry about me. It's just a fever. I can handle it."
Vivi's hands gripped the paper tightly as she heard Nami's words. Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. After all the time she'd spent with the Straw Hats, she had come to see them as true friends. How could she sacrifice one of them for her own cause?
"Nami… stop talking," Vivi said, a determined smile breaking through her inner turmoil. Gently setting the newspaper aside, she took a deep breath and declared, "We'll find an island with a doctor. Because if we want to reach Alabasta quickly, we need you, Nami!"
Luffy grinned at Vivi's words. "That's right! We've got to make sure Nami's at her best. She's the one who gets us where we need to go!"
The rest of the crew nodded in agreement, their respect for Vivi growing. She had chosen compassion over urgency, putting her friend's life above her kingdom's plight.
Ikki, relieved to see Vivi's decision remain true to her character, quietly approached Nami as the others continued to talk. With a quick, subtle motion, he slipped the jelly bean into Nami's mouth.
In Ikki's mind, Nami's fever should have subsided entirely after eating the jelly bean. The miraculous candy was supposed to cure all ailments.
However, after retaking her temperature, he realized her body heat was still hovering around 39 degrees Celsius. While it was an improvement from the previous 40 degrees, she still had a fever.
Despite this, Nami's condition was visibly better.
Ikki furrowed his brow, thinking carefully. It didn't take long for him to figure out the issue.
The jelly bean's ability was absolute—it cured diseases. But was Nami truly "sick"? Her fever began after being bitten by some kind of bug. Most likely, it was an infection or virus. And by the jelly bean's stringent definition, that might not count as a disease.
"Seriously? Does this thing have to be so literal? Can't it bend the rules a little?" he muttered, annoyed at the jelly bean's inflexibility.
Not wanting to alarm the crew, Ikki kept the jelly bean's limitations to himself. When Nami asked about its effects, he simply said, "It'll help ease your pain."
Nami, still weak but more comfortable, nodded. "It does feel a little better. Thank you."
Realizing the situation, Ikki thought, 'Looks like we'll need to head to the Drum Kingdom to find a doctor.'
Ikki had originally planned to rush straight to Alabasta after curing Nami, hoping to resolve the rebel issue swiftly and minimize casualties. By doing so, he could save the kingdom and earn valuable justice points.
As for Chopper, Ikki's plan was to recruit him after the Alabasta crisis was resolved. He believed the reindeer doctor would fit perfectly into the Straw Hat crew even without the usual "fighting side by side" story.
Without a clear destination, the crew began searching for an inhabited island. Soon, the Going Merry sailed into a snowy sea.
Ikki recognized the snowy landscape immediately. "We're close to Drum Island," he thought, feeling a sense of relief.
From the crow's nest, Usopp called out, "Guys! I see an island to the north!"
With their destination confirmed, Ikki distributed the remaining treasures. The Seed for clairvoyance went to Usopp, enhancing his role as the ship's lookout, while Sanji received the Legendary Kitchen Utensils.
Sanji immediately retreated to the kitchen, determined to prepare a warm, nourishing meal for Nami using the magical tools.
Meanwhile, Usopp marveled at his new ability. With clairvoyance, his range of vision became unparalleled, though the strain on his physical stamina was noticeable. The farther he tried to see, the more exhausted he became. After prolonged use, Usopp's endurance began to waver, forcing him to rest.
Zoro took the helm, steering the Going Merry northward toward Drum Island. However, before they could reach their destination, a massive submarine surfaced directly in their path.
The ship belonged to none other than Wapol, the former king of Drum Kingdom.
As the submarine hatch opened, a rotund figure emerged, flanked by his soldiers. Wapol strode onto the Going Merry with an air of arrogance.
"Hey, you little pirates—" Wapol began, his tone condescending.
Before he could finish, Ikki moved faster than anyone could react. With a roar, he launched Wapol into the sky using a powerful Sky Dragon's Roar.
But Ikki wasn't done. Drawing his Bokuto, he leapt after Wapol, his arms steady as he delivered another strike mid-air, sending the king flying thousands of meters away.
As Wapol plummeted toward the ocean, Ikki caught up again, his blade wrapped in a swirling hurricane of energy. Without hesitation, he landed a final blow across Wapol's face, sending him hurtling into the sea with a resounding splash.
The sheer force of the attack left no doubt about its impact. "If that didn't crack his skull, he's tougher than Usopp," Ikki muttered to himself, landing back on the ship.
He turned to the startled crew. "That guy eats anything. I'm not letting him near the Going Merry. Better to deal with him now than risk him causing trouble later."
Wapol's soldiers, panicked by their leader's defeat, scrambled back into the submarine and fled to search for their king.
With the farce over, the Going Merry continued on its way. Not long after, the crew caught sight of Drum Island on the horizon.