Chapter 129

"I'll stay on the ship," Wilson said as we began leaving the ship, making everyone stop, staring at the four-armed primate with wide eyes.

"What's with that you look, you bastards?" Wilson said with a scowl, glaring back at us.

"Well, you're usually more eager than anyone to leave the ship," I replied with a chuckle, amusement in my voice.

"I hate snow," Wilson naturally replied, snorting in annoyance. "It gets everywhere," he added, patting his clothes and shaking his head to get rid of the snow piling on top of his hair.

"Suit yourself, big guy," I remarked with a shrug. "That's one less headache I have to worry about, at least," I murmured under my breath with a smirk as I turned around to walk away.

"You're lucky it's so snowy here!" Wilson exclaimed with a snort. "Or I would have given a headache right here and now!" he added as he turned around, heading towards the lower deck.

I merely laughed at Wilson's antics as I kept walking, nodding towards the Dalton and the soldiers as I walked past them, earning nothing but glares for my effort.

...

"So this is Bighorn, huh?" I remarked with a smile as I gazed at the snow-covered town full of strange, red hut-like brick houses with green, conical roofs, looking like stocky Christmas trees.

It was a moderately small town, but it was beautiful nonetheless, especially with how the Christmas-tree-like huts blended with the beautiful snowy mountains not far away from the township, creating a warm scene that contrasted Drum island's wintery weather.

"Pretty place," Doc Q wheezed while shivering under his heavy fur coat. "It would be a shame if we had to kill someone here," he added while admiring the scene.

"Of all the things you could have said...," I remarked with a sigh, earning a wheezing chuckle from the not-so-good doctor.

"Well, we're in such a beautiful place, so there's no need to rush things," I said with a smile. "Everyone can relax and do whatever they want for today," I added while waving everyone away.

"So you do have a heart, captain!" Elly said with a smile as she walked past, me snatching my hat and dashing away. I smiled in amusement, shaking my head as I watched her shrinking back.

"I'll stick with you, if you don't mind, captain," Laffite remarked with a smile as he stopped in front of me.

"Sure," I replied with a smile of my own, nodding my head.

"I'll go find myself somewhere warm before I freeze to death here," Doc Q wheezed with chattering teeth as he turned around, walking away.

"You do remember what I said about civilians, right, Doc?" I said in a firm tone as I watched Doc Q walking away.

"Not to hurt them unless necessary," Doc Q wheezed, his horse staggering for a second as both owner and mount vomited a mouthful of blood.

...

"That Dalton guy sure has some good tastes," I remarked, smiling as I sat inside a small restaurant, enjoying a dish of chestnut rice.

"Eh, it's definitely not bad," Laffite added as he sat in front of me, enjoying the same dish.

And although most of the small restaurant's patrons continued to send glances full of curiosity and caution, we ignored them as we both enjoyed our meal.

Everyone had gone to do his own thing. Elly and Kozue went shopping while Bryon immediately began searching for the closest brothel. I should make a note to ask him about it when he gets back.

Bob, surprisingly, decided to go for a stroll around the town, intending to explore the snowy mountains after he got an idea about the layout of the land.

Law, being the medical enthusiast that he was, decided the visit the local apothecary to view the selection of medical plants local to Drum island, and Bepo, of course, tagged along.

Doc Q didn't take long to locate the closest inn, and he's probably hugging the fireplace with Crocus there while shivering from cold or something along those lines.

And speaking of the not-so-good doctor, I wonder if he found a stable big enough to house his oversized horse, stronger. They have those enormous yeti mounts or whatever people call them here, so it shouldn't be a problem, but I digress.

"How about something to drink, Laffite?" I asked, heaving a content sigh as I demolished my third dish of chestnut rice.

"Sure thing, captain," Laffite replied, nodding his head as he too finished his dish, albeit the first one.

...

"Reahahaha, man, you should have seen the look on Wilson's stupid gorilla face when I cut him for the first time!" I exclaimed, laughing like a maniac in the middle of the restaurant as I shared some of my stories from the deserted island I met Wilson on with Laffite.

"Eh, Wilson does tend to make some comical faces when something unexpected happens," Laffite said, lightly chuckling as he took a sip from a cup of vodka.

Though he suddenly frowned as he turned to look at the restaurant's entrance, noting Dalton's form as the latter began walking towards us.

"Relax," I lazily remarked, waving my hand to the side, making Laffite's brow unfurrow as he resumed enjoying his drink.

"What I can I do for you, Mr chief of the royal guard?" I asked in amusement as Dalton stood in front of our table.

"To take you up on your offer," he replied, likely meaning the offer to share a meal. "And ask some questions," he added, maintaining an even tone.

"Sure, take a seat and order something," I said with a smile as I kicked an empty chair, pushing it a little forwards while gesturing for Dalton to sit.

"It's one me. I insist," I remarked as I called the server to take Dalton's order.

"You have my thanks," Dalton said as he took a seat and ordered a single dish of chestnut rice.

...

Dalton has been surprisingly polite, eating his meal in silence while listening to Laffite and me talking about this and that as he seemed to find the act of talking complicated matters while eating distasteful.

But he quickly finished his meal and wiped his mouth, turning to look at me with a serious expression, making me nod in response.

Thank you for the meal, but I must ask you some questions now as I would need to get back to my duties soon," Dalton remarked as he stared at me with a neutral expression.

I nodded, gesturing for him to ask away as I poured myself a drink.

"You said that you're here to meet Dr. Kureha, correct?" Dalton asked as he adjusted his posture, sitting with his back straight, and I nodded at him.

"Can I ask why you want to see Dr. Kureha?" Dalton asked in a cautious tone, searching my face for any sign of agitation.

"Why else would we want to meet a doctor?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "One of my crew members is suffering from a terminal illness, and he needs some professional medical help," I added with a shrug of my shoulders.

"Is that truly all you came here for?" Dalton asked with a frown. "You will not cause any problems and disturb the island's peace?" he asked again, seemingly confused.

"That would depend on the kind of payment Kureha asks for her services," I replied, meaningfully smiling as I did.

"What does that mean?" Dalton asked, seemingly even more confused now.

"Well, you know the lady more than I do," I replied with a shrug of my shoulder. "And I wouldn't mind going the extra mile to get her to cooperate with me regardless of what she asks...," I added, trailing at the end of my sentence.

"Whether she wanted money or something else in exchange for her services," I concluded with a smirk.