One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

"Purururu—Purururu—click!"

A Den Den Mushi rang as Wright, aboard the Lightbringer, patrolled with his unit.

"This is Wright."

"Wright, it's Tsuru."

"Oh, Granny Tsuru! This is rare—you contacting me directly."

Wright was genuinely surprised. The "Grand Strategist" Tsuru typically relayed her matters through Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

"What can I do for you?"

"…Wright, this is a personal request, not an official mission," Tsuru said, her tone softening with a trace of a smile.

"No need to call it a request. What's the situation?"

"Here's the thing—a friend of mine from my younger days is in some trouble. She's a doctor, a very skilled one. However, one of her friends has fallen ill with a terminal disease. He has only two weeks left to live. Even with all her expertise, she can't find a cure."

"…"

Wright felt a strange sense of familiarity with this scenario but couldn't immediately place it.

"So, through you, she's hoping I can save this person?"

"That's right…" Tsuru paused briefly before continuing. "A few days ago, the World Economy News ran a feature on you, calling you 'the pinnacle of modern healing abilities.' That's why, after exhausting all other options, she thought of you."

Wright searched his memory, and a name slowly emerged.

"Granny Tsuru, what are the names of your friend and the patient?"

"Kureha and Hiriluk."

As expected…

Wright took a deep breath. "No problem. Let me know their location. I'll wrap up things here and head to headquarters immediately."

"Thank you, Wright. They're in the Drum Kingdom, a medical powerhouse. You should go incognito—the king there, Wapol, is not a decent man."

"Understood, Granny Tsuru."

...

"This is it."

"This is the medicine I've spent thirty years developing—a panacea that can heal the wounded hearts of this nation!"

"What a waste of thirty years…"

"I don't have much time left…"

"And please, teach Chopper medicine. He wants to become a doctor!"

"Get out! Even shamelessness should have its limits! You want me to finish your foolish research and take care of that strange pet of yours?"

"I understand… You're also trying to save lives… Doctors are all good people!"

"In that case, I'm officially entrusting this to you!"

"What? All the 'Doctor 20' have fallen ill?! How is that possible?"

"Even prescribing some medicine would help!"

"This country only has the 'Doctor 20' as its medical staff!"

"Damn it! Are you just going to let people die?!"

With a flash of golden light, Wright appeared in his office at Marine Headquarters.

"The Drum Kingdom… It's too far. I don't know how long it will take for events to unfold, but it's certainly less than two weeks!"

"Perhaps only a week… No, just a day or two!"

Wright changed into civilian clothing and dialed the Den Den Mushi for King Cobra of Alabasta.

"Your Majesty Cobra, this is Wright!"

"Vice Admiral Wright! What—"

"Your Majesty, I need to travel to the Drum Kingdom to save someone. I'm currently at Marine Headquarters and request permission to use Alabasta's Lightforged Beacon for transit!"

"…"

Cobra's expression turned solemn. "Please proceed, Vice Admiral Wright. Lives must not be delayed!"

"Thank you!"

With another flash of golden light, Wright vanished.

"Where's Hiriluk?!"

Kureha burst into Hiriluk's treehouse, startling Chopper, who was bandaged and scurrying about in panic.

"I'm not going to cook you! I just want to know—where's Hiriluk?"

"Doctor… He felt better and might've gone to town!"

"Impossible! That illness can't be cured by modern medicine!"

"He drank this and said he was fine!"

"Amiudake…"

Kureha was shocked. Tears filled her eyes as realization struck.

"You foolish reindeer! Amiudake… is poison!"

"After consuming it, he won't live past half a day…"

"I… I contacted the one person who might have been able to save him…"

Chopper couldn't process her words. "Liar! Doctor said he felt much better. The skull in the mushroom guidebook—he said it meant good medicine!"

"The skull in the guide means poison…"

Kureha dropped to her knees and shouted at Chopper, "Listen! There's no such thing as a panacea in this world. That's why we need doctors!"

"Kindness alone can't save anyone!"

"…"

"Ahhhhhh!"

"Move! I've come to save the 'Doctor 20'!"

Hiriluk, who had endured countless hardships to reach the palace gates, was stunned by the scene before him. Rows of royal guards, Captain Dalton, King Wapol atop his hippo, and the unscathed "Doctor 20" stood there.

"What… What's going on here?"

"Wa-ha-ha-ha! Hiriluk, you've been fooled! Guards, prepare the execution!"

As Wapol laughed maniacally, Hiriluk collapsed in the snow, stunned.

"So… there's no patient? That's great…

"I really thought something terrible had happened to the country…"

Captain Dalton and the unharmed "Doctor 20" were speechless, shaken by Hiriluk's reaction.

Chopper ran out of the treehouse, desperately heading toward the palace. The ropeway connecting to the palace was within sight.

From the horizon, a streak of golden light raced toward the Drum Kingdom's iconic Drum Rockies.

"When do people truly die?"

"It's when they're forgotten!"

"Dalton… Why are you crying?"

"This country… Can it be saved?"

"As long as someone carries on my ideals!"

Hiriluk raised his glass to the sky, his bloodshot eyes barely making out the streak of golden light on the horizon.

"What a wonderful life…"

"Boom!"

Hiriluk detonated every bomb, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. The violent explosion scattered the falling snow, blurring the shocked eyes of Dalton and the "Doctor 20."

Wapol's laughter echoed. "Wa-ha-ha-ha! Blown to bits! What a lunatic! Serves him right!"

On the other side of the dense smoke, Chopper arrived just in time.

"Roar!!"

Note: The connection between Tsuru and Kureha is not canon but was added here for narrative creativity.

[TL/N: I don't know if you understood who was talking who here, but I don't. I just translated what the author wrote. So, don't ask me.]

-------

Want to read ahead of schedule?

Join here: patreon.com / juanpiece

There are more than 100 advance chapters available for you!