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There were five paths to a long life upon the seas—or so the legends claimed.
The blood of giants. The bones of Millennial Dragons. The strange power of Pure Gold. A handful of time-bending Devil Fruits.
And the Perennial Youth Operation.
Kureha had lived for so long, and her first question to any stranger was always, "Want to know the secret to my eternal youth?"
She was hiding something in plain sight.
The blood of giants, the bones of dragons, and Pure Gold were out of the question. That left only the power of a Devil Fruit.
Arthur was willing to bet she was a beneficiary of that fabled operation.
"Hahaha! You know quite a bit, don't you, brat?" Dr. Kureha's eyes glinted behind her sunglasses. She had no desire to linger on the topic. A wide, mischievous grin spread across her face.
"So, state your purpose. Are you here to learn the secrets of the D. clan?"
"You want to be direct? Fine by me," Arthur nodded. "Forget the D. clan. You're the greatest doctor on the seas. You don't need me to tell you I'm seriously injured."
"So, you've come begging for a cure?" Kureha asked as she took another slow sip of wine. "In that case, let me tell you—you're beyond saving."
"Beyond saving??"
The blunt dismissal made Arthur's eyebrow twitch. He raised a hand, stopping Shiryu before he could act.
His expression turned to ice.
"Eighteen years ago, this man, Hiriluk, was dying of a terminal illness," Arthur stated, his voice flat. "It was you who cured him, wasn't it? With those cherry blossoms… the ones that can cure even the incurable."
The miracle of the cherry blossoms—of course, Arthur knew the story. He even suspected Kureha herself had orchestrated it. The old woman's medical skill was the stuff of legends, likely surpassing that of the "world's greatest doctor" Crocus, by an unimaginable degree.
Kureha froze.
She began to re-evaluate the man before her. How could he possibly know about that? She glanced at Hiriluk, who now looked rather emotional, but said nothing.
"I came here for two things," Arthur continued, pressing his advantage. "First: heal my wound. Second: tell me if it exists—the legendary 'Forbidden Medicine' that can reforge a human body, that can allow a man to consume two Devil Fruits."
"And you better not lie. I have it on good authority that a member of the Whitebeard Pirates, one Marshall D. Teach, is a product of just such a procedure."
As he spoke the name, Arthur's cold gaze locked onto Kureha. His killing intent flooded the room.
"If you give me an answer that disappoints me," Arthur said, his voice dropping. "I will exterminate every last person in this kingdom. And this Mr. Hiriluk… my rather uncontrollable associate will take him apart, piece by piece, right in front of you. Tell me, Doctor. Does your famous medicine work on shredded meat?"
The corners of Arthur's mouth turned up in something that might have been a smile, but the menace in his words was absolute.
He was not joking.
If she said no, then to ensure she wasn't lying, everyone in the Drum Kingdom would die. Then, after he found another way to heal, he would personally hunt down Blackbeard, capture him, and have him dissected until he understood the secret of his body.
"Is that how you ask for a favor, brat of the D. clan?!" Kureha's anger finally flared.
"A favor?" Arthur retorted. "You seem to have misunderstood. This is a threat. Have you still not grasped the situation?"
The one who holds the power holds the right to speak.
Kureha might be strong, but she was no match for Shiryu.
"Shiryu," he commanded. "Make her understand who is in charge here."
Shing.
Without a word, Shiryu obeyed.
The Seven Star Sword was instantly drawn, its edge pressing against Hiriluk's neck. A thin trickle of blood ran down his throat.
To kill one man—it was a simple thing.
Even after hearing so many secrets, Shiryu's expression remained impassive. Besides Arthur's words, killing, and the way of the sword, he was interested in nothing. It was this singular focus that had earned Arthur's complete trust.
Blood was trickling down his neck, but Hiriluk did not panic. His eyes darted back and forth, as if he were trying to cook up some scheme.
"Stop," Kureha said, her head bowed. After a long moment of silence, she spoke, her voice heavy with defeat. "I don't know anything about this Blackbeard Teach. But the Forbidden Medicine… it does exist. And I can heal your wound. On one condition: you let Hiriluk go."
She would not let her dearest friend die in front of her. She had lived for 120 years, had seen too much death. The number of people she could truly talk to was vanishingly small. Hiriluk was one of them.
"Hah… Hahahaha! Cough, cough!" Hearing the words he had expected, Arthur couldn't help but laugh, even though it sent a fresh wave of agony through his chest.
"It's too early to let him go. Who knows what you'll try during the surgery? But once the operation is a success, I swear on the name of the Thunder God Pirates that I will leave the Drum Kingdom in peace."
He turned to his swordsman. "Shiryu. Watch him. If he tries to run, cut off his hands and feet. The medical skills here are so advanced, they can even reattach a severed head. A few limbs should be no problem."
"A pirate's oath? And I'm supposed to believe that? That's as laughable as saying a pirate won't burn and pillage," Kureha sneered.
"You have no other choice," Arthur stated simply.
"Spoken like a true pirate," she said, her voice laced with venom. "So unreasonable. I hope you keep your promise. And have your subordinate be careful. If anything happens to Hiriluk, I can't guarantee the surgery will be a success. It is, after all, a life-threatening procedure."
With that, Kureha stood up and led the way out of the study.
"Wait," Arthur said. "A timeframe. To heal my injuries and perform the… other surgery. How long?"
"Depends on you," Kureha said without turning back. "Two months, if you're quick. Three, if you're not."
"Shiryu," Arthur commanded, before following her. "You stay here. If I don't come out of that operating room in three months, kill Hiriluk. And burn this kingdom to the ground."
"Captain…" Shiryu began, a hint of worry in his voice.
But this was a high-stakes gamble. Even if the chances of success were slim, Arthur would take it. And by holding Hiriluk hostage, he was certain he had greatly increased his odds of winning.
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They left the warmth of the study. Neither of them spoke again. Kureha led the way, step by step, down to the castle's basement.
It was a dark, damp, and gloomy room. Candles, on the verge of extinguishing, flickered on the walls.
The air was thick with the lingering stench of decay.
In the center of the room was a large operating table, surrounded by a dense array of medical instruments and scalpels.
"Lie down," Kureha said, her expression ice-cold.
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