Chapter Forty: Kureha, Fierce in Appearance Yet Kind at Heart

Hearing this, Chopper replied carelessly, “Doctor Dorell, they’re here to hunt down the fugitive who killed their comrade; they suspect that person might attack our Drum Kingdom.” Chopper was still lost in the praise Ace had given him moments ago.

Kureha, knowing her foolish son’s kind-hearted nature, understood how easily he could be deceived by strangers. If they were ordinary people, it would not matter, but with the wisdom of her 139 years, she could tell these individuals were far from ordinary.

After a pause, Kureha said, “No matter your reasons for coming here, this is a clinic and we only receive injured patients. I ask that you leave.” She wished to avoid trouble, even though these two seemed harmless enough.

Ace laughed and said, “Doctor Kureha, young Buffon is an excellent physician as well!” Kureha was taken aback for a moment, but after a brief consideration, she replied, “There are countless doctors in the world. Am I obliged to host any doctor who comes to my place? Chopper, quickly show them out!”

Chopper’s eyes sparkled at the mention that Buffon was also a doctor, but hearing Dorell’s words, he could only say pitifully, “Sorry, I can’t offer you mushroom soup. Let me take you out.”

Just then, the clinic door was pushed open, and a burly man covered in blood was carried inside. The woman leading the group pleaded, her voice trembling with tears, “Doctor Kureha, please save my husband! He was gravely injured hunting bears, and we can't stop the bleeding ourselves at home. You’re the only one on the island who can save him, I beg you…”

Before she could finish, Kureha interrupted coldly, “My fees are very high. Are you prepared for that?”

Kureha’s medical skill was superb, but her fees were notoriously expensive. She often said there were only two ways for a patient to disappear from her sight: “One is recovery, the other is death.”

Hearing this, the woman’s cries intensified, “We know Doctor Kureha’s fees are steep, and we can't pay them right now. But once my husband recovers, all our game will belong to Doctor Kureha until the bill is settled. Until then, I’ll help out at the clinic as well.”

Kureha glanced at the man who was still bleeding profusely, and remained icy as she refused, “I’ve heard too many such promises. For him to fully recover will take at least half a year—maybe a year. If you help here, I’ll still have to feed you…”

Before she could finish, Ace erupted in anger, “You heartless old woman, have you no compassion as a doctor?”

Before Kureha could retort, Buffon stepped forward. He approached the wounded man, took a brief look, and was instantly overwhelmed by a sense of extreme discomfort. Without caring for others' opinions, he spoke directly, “Lay him down, I’ll treat him.”

The woman hesitated, “Are you a doctor?” Her doubt was understandable—thanks to the tyrant Wapol, no one on the island besides Kureha could save her husband.

“Don’t worry, young Buffon is the most skilled doctor I’ve ever met. Your husband will be safe with him,” Ace said earnestly. His own injuries had been treated by Buffon. Though he hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, Marco’s descriptions and seeing Buffon sew up Satch’s corpse convinced Ace there was no better doctor in the world.

The woman nodded, half-believing, “Then please, Doctor Buffon. But what about your fee…?”

“No need,” Buffon replied calmly, then began his work.

He examined the man—thankfully, none of the internal organs were injured. His steel needle flashed in his hand, thread danced swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, he repaired the bones that had been shattered by the bear, then moved on to muscles and skin. In just ten minutes, aside from the blood stains, there was not a single wound to be seen on the man’s body.

From the moment Buffon began, Kureha had donned her reading glasses and watched closely. When she saw Buffon sewing the bones, she was utterly astounded. At 139 years old, she had encountered many skilled colleagues in her long life, but a doctor who could stitch bones—she had never seen or even imagined such a thing.

Moreover, when Buffon stitched muscles and skin, he didn’t miss a single capillary. It was a feat no ordinary human could accomplish. And it took only ten minutes! Even with her own advanced skills, ten minutes was only enough to halt the bleeding, not to finish the entire procedure.

The flawless restoration of the wounds was nothing short of a miracle! She felt that even if she lived another lifetime, she could never reach Buffon’s level.

The woman who had been crying moments ago was now too shocked to speak. Ace, though he had seen Buffon stitch corpses before, had never witnessed him sew up the wounds of the living. Thinking of his own injuries, which were likely no less severe, his admiration for Buffon grew boundlessly.

When no one spoke, Buffon finally said coldly, “He’s lost too much blood. As for transfusion, that’s beyond my ability—you’ll have to find a way yourselves.”

Hearing this, Chopper, regardless of Kureha’s opinion, said, “Please carry him inside.”

The woman, finally reacting, thanked Buffon and called for help to move her husband inside.

Once everyone had left, Kureha turned to Buffon and said sincerely, “Doctor Buffon, I apologize for my earlier words and actions.”

Buffon was a bit puzzled, but soon understood. This stern yet kind old woman had forcibly driven him away upon learning he was a doctor, likely fearing Wapol would discover his identity and drag him to the castle. As for refusing the patient, it was simply her habit—she would always step in eventually.

Buffon waved dismissively, indicating it was nothing, but Ace grunted unhappily.

Seeing this, Kureha continued, “Chopper said you’re here to hunt down the one who killed your comrade—do you have a target?”

Sensing Kureha might be willing to help, Ace replied, “We’re only guessing that person might make this place a target, so we came to try our luck.”

Kureha nodded, asking nothing further, then said, “You may stay here, but don’t go out if you can help it. If Wapol discovers your medical skills, he’ll surely drag you off.”

Ace summoned a Fire Fist in his hand, unconcerned, “That would be for the best.”

Just then, Buffon’s Den Den Mushi rang.

“Gihihihihi! Buffon, we’ve encountered a strange group at sea—their ship looks like a giant raft!”

Hearing this, Buffon realized Moriah had run into Blackbeard. He thought for a moment and replied seriously, “Keep your distance, but don’t lose track of them. Avoid engaging unless absolutely necessary!”

After hanging up, Buffon told Ace, “Blackbeard is near the coast. Take Ryuma and Baccio and wait on the ship.”

“What about you?” Ace asked.

“I’m going to treat that tyrant’s mind!”

After Buffon spoke, Ace asked, “Can you handle it alone?”

Buffon nodded, and the four of them left the clinic.

Having witnessed Buffon’s battles with sea kings and Laboon, Ace no longer doubted his combat prowess.

Kureha watched as the four disappeared into the snow, murmuring, “Are they here to cure this country?”

Chopper emerged from inside, not seeing Buffon or Ace, and asked anxiously, “Doctor Dorell, did you drive both of them away?”

Kureha bent down, patted Chopper’s hat, and said earnestly, “Doctor Buffon has gone to find Wapol and cure this country. Hurry and lead him there!”

“Is that so?” Chopper’s eyes shone with determination as he transformed into his reindeer form, vanishing into the swirling snow outside.