Chapter Seventy-Five: Hope

Dodo, who was the last to jump down after the others, stood frozen in place with wide eyes when he witnessed this scene. Buffon's simultaneous display of two completely unrelated skills shattered his expectations.

“Is this man a doctor or a weaver? How can such disparate abilities exist so perfectly within one person?”

Seeing Dodo standing dazed, Vivi walked over and took his arm. “Uncle Dodo, Captain Buffon is an exceptionally skilled physician! Even the doctors in the royal palace are likely not a tenth as capable as he is. If any residents of Bayou are ill, you can let everyone know to come by. Doctor Buffon will treat each one of them.”

Hearing this, Dodo, eyes brimming with tears, looked at Vivi. “Is that true? What about Doctor Buffon's consultation fee…”

Before he could finish, Reiju interrupted sweetly, “Mr. Dodo, you don't need to worry about that. Captain Buffon only charges one hundred Beli for each treatment!”

“Yes, and perhaps soon, Mr. Dodo, you'll hear the title 'Miracle Doctor' spread throughout all of Alabasta!” Vivi added with a smile.

After copying the historical text, Saul put away the white cloth, and everyone prepared to return to the surface.

But just then, the sand under their feet began to shift violently. As the sands churned, two enormous yellow-green figures emerged from beneath.

Seeing these silhouettes, Vivi and Dodo cried out in unison, “It's the Sandora Giant Lizard! Run, everyone, or you'll be eaten!”

Upon hearing 'lizard,' Lily, who had been in her normal human size, had stars sparkle in her eyes. She swiftly returned to her giant form, grabbed her dining fork, and started to act.

Brook was quick as well, unsheathing his cane sword and launching an attack.

Baggio glanced at the two, then coolly remarked, “These thick-skinned beasts are perfect for practicing my Three Thousand Three Hundred Fifty-Seven Cuts.”

Reiju changed into her battle suit, picked up Vivi, and soared upward, showing no intention of joining the ferocious eaters below.

Saul lifted Dodo and placed him on his shoulder.

“Lizard meat, huh? I don't think I've ever tried it.” Buffon mused, clenching his fist and delivering an uppercut to the Sandora Giant Lizard that was roaring at him with its mouth wide open.

Though Buffon used only a tenth of his strength, the lizard—several times his size—was knocked unconscious, the force of the blow sending its massive body through the stone ceiling and out onto a distant sand dune aboveground.

The other Sandora Giant Lizard, meanwhile, was already unrecognizable as a desert overlord under the torment of the three ruthless companions.

Its once-tough hide had been completely stripped by Baggio with his Autumn Water blade, evenly divided into three thousand three hundred fifty-seven pieces.

Lily grabbed its tail, mustered all her strength, and swung it in the air, then flung it through the newly made hole, sending it crashing back to the surface.

On Saul's shoulder, Dodo trembled—not from fear, but from disbelief.

He knew that even a single Sandora Giant Lizard could easily destroy all of Bayou without a strong warrior to hunt it. Now, two appeared together, and yet these fierce companions dispatched them in the blink of an eye!

Returning to the surface, the battle had alarmed all the remaining residents of Bayou.

Dodo calmed the people and spread the word that Buffon was willing to treat the sick.

Soon, beside the fire where Buffon and his companions were roasting Sandora Giant Lizard meat, a long line formed.

Unlike the port of Rapeseed, most patients here suffered from chronic ailments rather than injuries. Buffon switched to the Hormone Fruit state, healing each one with a touch.

For their hundred Beli, Bayou’s residents received not only Buffon’s medical care, but also a slice of Lily’s roasted Sandora Giant Lizard meat.

With their pain eased and the stimulus of delicious food, hope returned to the people.

The reputation of the Miracle Doctor began to spread throughout Bayou, starting from Dodo’s lips!

The next morning, the rejuvenated citizens joined in digging out the sand.

From Dodo, everyone learned that the rebel army had moved its headquarters to Cattleya, beside the port of Rapeseed.

This left Vivi in a deep dilemma, but she still chose to travel with Buffon’s group, since the Rain Banquet Casino in Rainbase was Crocodile’s stronghold.

If Buffon and his companions could truly defeat Crocodile there, then...

As he dug, Dodo encouraged those around him, “This is the land entrusted to us by the king. We cannot let it be buried by yellow sand. No matter how many times, we must dig it out!”

Just then, Lily spoke up, “Captain Buffon, why don’t we help them dig? We giants…”

Before she could finish, Reiju interjected, “Buffon has already given them hope. This is something they must accomplish themselves.”

At the front, Buffon noticed a small child, digging at the sand with a branch, though to little effect.

Seeing Buffon approach, the boy beamed, “Mr. Buffon, when you return, I promise I’ll help everyone dig Bayou out.”

Buffon smiled but did not answer.

Then the boy asked, “Mr. Buffon, can you do another magic trick for me?”

“What kind of magic?” Buffon asked calmly.

“Can you make all this sand disappear from Bayou?”

Buffon considered, switched to the Paw-Paw Fruit state, and handed the boy a compressed air shaped like a bear paw. “Have everyone hide indoors, bury this in the city center’s sand, count down from thirty, then come out and look.”

The boy took the bear paw-shaped compressed air and left.

Vivi, walking behind Buffon, asked curiously, “Captain Buffon, what did you just give him?”

Buffon shook his head and said nothing, leading everyone out of Bayou.

About five minutes later, Buffon looked back at the city—there were no figures moving on the sand. He snapped his fingers.

Moments later, a loud air explosion sounded. Vivi turned and saw huge waves of air and sand coming from Bayou.

When the air settled, she looked again at Bayou and was instantly moved to tears.

She called out loudly to Buffon’s departing figure, “Thank you, Captain Buffon!”

Buffon continued on as if he hadn’t heard.

Soon, shouts came from behind.

They turned to see Dodo riding a camel toward them.

Catching up, Dodo dismounted and grasped Buffon’s hand, tears streaming down his face. “Mr. Buffon, thank you for your magic. I promise to protect it.”

He handed Buffon a water pouch and continued, “Mr. Buffon, I distilled this fresh water from the newly exposed moist layer using distillation. It’s just a little, but it’s true Bayou water. May it bring you good luck!”

Buffon nodded, smiling, and accepted the pouch, then led the group onward.

Dodo gazed at Buffon’s back and murmured, “I hope Mr. Buffon’s magic can truly make this country flourish again!”