Chapter 74: Talk-no-Jutsu

"Just who are you?" asked Kureha. "Why are you people so dead-set on taking away my reindeer...?"

Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "The decision is his to make. However, he would be much happier accompanying Lucy than staying here on Drum Island. Not just because he will have the chance to meet members of the Mink Tribe, but because Lucy and the other Straw Hats are 'good' people. With how much time has passed, I'm sure you've managed to get a basic grasp of Lucy's character."

Snorting through her nose, Kureha admitted, "The two idiots ain't so bad, but what about the two of you? You strike me as a 'schemer,' and this little brat in the bikini exudes the aura of a murderous tyrant."

Though Thomas had asked her to remain silent and not pick any fights, Caenis's animal ears perked up as she asked, "Who are you calling a brat, old hag?"

Inserting himself between the two, Thomas's smile cramped as he said, "I won't deny that I'm a scoundrel. I'm opportunistic, perverted, selfish, and self-deprecating. However, I also care about those close to me and do my best to use my power responsibly. Isn't that enough?"

Adopting a somewhat terrifying smile, Kureha replied, "I might actually have to rethink my opinion of you. You may very well be a scoundrel, but you're sincere and have a strong sense of responsibility..."

Picking up a bottle of alcohol, Kureha downed nearly the entire bottle before returning her gaze to Thomas and adding, "That makes me even more curious about your identity. From what I can sense, you, that girl behind you, and that scatterbrained pinkette don't possess so much as a trace of Haki. Despite that, I can detect a monstrous vitality within each of you. Tell me, are you one of that brat Vegapunk's creations? Some kind of artificial humans mixed with Sea Kings...?"

Not expecting Kureha to namedrop the leader of the SSG(Special Science Group), Thomas blinked in surprise as he asked, "You know Vegapunk...?"

Realizing her guess was wrong, Kureha shook her head and said, "Forget I asked," before picking up a fresh bottle of liquor with the word 'Ume' on it, adding, "The second floor has a few hospital beds. Use them to get some rest. Once the storm breaks, I want you and your friends out of my house. If Chopper wants to go with you, you can all piss off."

Before Kureha could retreat up to the third floor, her private quarters, Thomas called out to her, asking, "Did Lucy and Astolfo already tell you that Wapol has been defeated...?"

Turning around, Kureha retorted, "Yeah, and...?" with an impatient look on her face.

Adopting a wry smile, Thomas explained, "Once things settle down, you should speak with Dalton about using the castle's canons to launch you-know-what into the clouds. As for us, we'll probably leave right after this. I just came over to inform Lucy and Astolfo that we constructed a ryokan South of Bighorn. If you're interested, feel free to stop by in the future. I'll inform the staff to give you VIP treatment during your first stay."

Demonstrating she hadn't reached the age of 139 without accumulating a 'tremendous' amount of experience, Kureha parroted, "A ryokan? As in one of those bathhouses from Wano...?"

Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "Complete with a hot spring and salon. Once you get a chance, check it out."

Though she had 'many' questions, Kureha just nodded her head before retreating up to her room. She had already 'retired,' so she wasn't going to stick her nose where it didn't belong. Not after concealing her identity and hiding on a remote island for the past forty years...

Suppressing his own curiosity, Thomas briefly shifted his gaze to Chopper before focusing on Lucy as he asked, "Do you want to come back with us or spend the night here? The Enma-tei has warm baths and a functionally endless supply of food and drink."

Hearing the words 'endless supply of food and drink,' Lucy's eyes became cabbages as she exclaimed, "Let's go!" in excitement. However, instead of kicking open the door and racing outside, she turned to Chopper and said, "You should come with us! I'll introduce you to everyone, and then we can exchange drinks if you decide to become a member of my crew!"

Appearing a little bashful, Chopper scratched the back of his head as he replied, "I don't know...you all seem pretty nice, but I'm still not sure I can trust you..."

As Chopper was weak to praise and famously gullible, Thomas attempted to smooth things over by remarking, "The Straw Hats need someone with your exceptional skill and kindness, Chopper. More importantly, very few Pirate crews have what it takes to reach Zou. If you want to encounter the Mink Tribe and help the greatest number of people, traveling with them is your best bet. I guarantee it."

Looking up at Thomas, Chopper asked the question at the forefront of his mind, particularly, "Are there any Mink like me?"

As he had been abandoned by his pack after eating a Devil Fruit that turned him into a 'human,' Chopper craved kinship. Fortunately, while Thomas couldn't remember her name, he knew there was at least one reindeer Mink among Zou's Guardians. He also recalled that she and Chopper had gotten along very well during the Zou Arc, so he confidently replied, "Of course. Not only are there Reindeer Mink, but there are even Mink Doctors you can exchange knowledge with."

Imagining the scene of an entire community of Reindeer Mink, Chopper's perpetually wide eyes glittered with excitement. Because of his blue nose, he had been shunned even before consuming his Devil Fruit. Now, he was 15 years old, insatiably curious, and eager to meet others like himself...

Though his mind was already made up, Chopper replied, "Fine! I'll go with you and meet the other members of your crew! But if I don't like them, I'm staying here with Dr. Kureha...!"

Before Thomas, Lucy, or Astolfo could respond, Dr. Kureha could be heard shouting, "I don't need a snot-nosed brat constantly stinking up my exam room! If you want to become a Pirate, just do it! And don't come back until you realize your dream...!"

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Failing to understand that Kureha was 'encouraging' him, Chopper began to tear up as he muttered, "Dr. Kureha..." in a sobbing tone. Fortunately, he wasn't the only person present, permitting Thomas to take a knee and whisper, "Calm down. She just doesn't want you using her as an excuse to remain on the island. After all, you can't achieve your or Hiriluk's dream if you never get out and experience the world beyond..."

Though he was surprised to hear the name of his mentor and father figure, Chopper didn't question how Thomas knew of Hiriluk's existence. Instead, he asked, "Can I really achieve my dream...?"

Nodding his head, Thomas adopted a supportive smile as he answered, "Of course. We wouldn't have traveled all this way in search of you if we didn't believe you had what it takes. Lucy probably mentioned it, but she intends to be the next Pirate King. Alongside her, we have someone who plans on being the World's Greatest Swordsman, someone aiming to be a Great Warrior of the Sea, and someone aspiring to map the entire world. I also aim to stand at the pinnacle of this world, so it's only natural that the Doctor onboard our ship is one of the greatest..."

Though he would have liked to say that Chopper had the potential to be the best Doctor in the entire world, Thomas knew it was impossible with Asclepius around. If the Straw Hats ended up being separated like in the original story, Thomas would introduce them and let Chopper train under the man during the two-year 'time skip.'

Thoroughly convinced by Thomas's words, Chopped held up his hooves as if he were balling them into fists as he replied, "I'll do it! I'll become a Doctor that can cure any disease! Just watch me...!"

Since Chopper was wearing his oversized pink top hat, Thomas couldn't pat the toy-like Reindeer on the head. Instead, he gave an approving nod and expressed, "There isn't a doubt in my mind..." before rising to his feet and suggesting, "Now, shall we head to the Enma-tei? Captain...?"

As if she was voice-activated, Lucy sprung to life in response to Thomas's words, jumping up and raising her fist as she shouted, "Let's go, go, go~!" in excitement. Her mind had wandered off due to how 'serious' things had gotten, but now that the discussion had ended, she was once again lively and raring to go...

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After accompanying Lucy, Astolfo, and Chopper to the Enma-tei, Thomas was surprised to learn that Zoro had already checked into a room. He was originally planning to go search for the man with Astolfo's help, so it was a tremendous boon that Zoro had found his way back on his own.

Though it was a little late in the evening, everyone happily gathered in the Tenno Suite's banquet area to celebrate Chopper becoming a member of the Straw Hats. His adorable appearance had Nami and Vivi gushing, but they calmed down fairly quickly when Chopper revealed his nearly 2m tall human form, appearing more like a 'were-reindeer' than a proper human.

Fortunately, while Chopper's human transformation caught several people by surprise, no one had an overtly 'averse' reaction. The employees of the Enma-tei didn't even bat an eye, eagerly attending him and everyone else at the banquet. Their reactions helped to reinforce Chopper's decision to join, but it was the appearance of a distinctly 'reindeer-like' attendant that had the biggest effect on his mood.

Though he knew some yokai could take on virtually any form, Thomas was still surprised when a beautiful woman with golden-blonde hair and deer-like antlers appeared. She still had a human face and features, but, as Chopper had never encountered a Mink before, he likely assumed they were closer to Caenis and Atalanta in appearance.

As surprised as Thomas was, Zoro and Usopp had fairly tame reactions. Thomas didn't think anything of this at first, but when the party neared its end, he learned why. The two 'Nakai-sans(Room Maids)' that had greeted them upon their arrival at the Enma-tei were strikingly similar to Kuina and Kaya in terms of appearance. There were some notable disparities, but the duo had experienced a feeling of 'deja vu' upon first meeting the two women.

Since Zoro had encountered Tashigi at Loguetown, he wasn't nearly as surprised as Usopp. The latter's Nakai-san didn't just look like Kaya; she also had features reminiscent of his mother. When she later served him a meal, it tasted nearly identical to the soup his mother used to make when he was a kid.

As Nakai-sans were responsible for taking care of guests and ensuring their peace of mind, they almost always appeared in forms that inspired feelings of comfort or nostalgia. When Thomas later confronted Chopper, he learned that the woman attending him apparently had antlers similar to his mother and a faint aroma of medicine. More surprisingly, she even had some medical knowledge, enough to carry a conversation but not enough to come across as an expert. In that same vein, the Nakai-san attending Zoro knew about swords, while the one attending Usopp enjoyed listening to stories...

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(A/N: I'm going to keep simul-posting chapters on patre-on, Library of akasha, and webnovel. If you'd like to support me and help me continue writing this and many other stories, please consider becoming a patron or reading the novels on my website. Once this novel reaches chapter 100, I will be asking patrons to vote on which story I focus on next. Right now, I am considering Mushoku Impact and EPIC, but the final decision lies in the hands of the community.)

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