410. Past

The Straw Hats wake up at night on the hospital beds. Cocoyashi has a rather big hospital now after Buggy built it a few years ago. It is not the biggest hospital in East Blue, but it surely is the most advanced one.

Buggy wanted the best hospital in his home, so he built it with his overflowing money. They have many things that are only available in Grandline and Manba personally trained their doctors. So they are the best hospital in East Blue, but it's not widely known because they never spread it.

"Damn, that woman is a monster," says Zoro while rubbing his bruised face.

He looks at his body and it has been wrapped up with bandages. His wounds don't feel as painful as before now, which means the medicine is very effective.

"You have yet to see her real power, so it's too early to call her that," says the old doctor as he enters their room.

"That's not her real power?" asks Zoro with a very surprised tone.

Sanji and Luffy are surprised too, but Usopp is surprised by something else.

"Y-you, I think I've seen you before," says Usopp while pointing at the doctor.

"Haha, yes, we met a few years ago when I treated your mother. You are from Syrupp Village, right? Are you still running while saying your father has returned?" asks the old doctor.

Usopp is speechless and he looks away, showing that he still did that. Now it's the old doctor who becomes speechless that he still acts like that. He is not a kid anymore and his mother is healthy now, so he that means he just does it for fun.

A few years ago, when Usopp's mother was sick, Buggy sent the doctor to treat her. He called Yasopp first though and Yasopp asked for his help because Yasopp himself can't return. Unlike Buggy, Yasopp didn't have that much influence in East Blue, and if he went home, he would just endanger his family.

But when Buggy met Yasopp after that call, he still beat the crap out of that man. He was very pissed because Yasopp didn't take care of his sick wife. There were many things he could do with all the money he got as a pirate, yet Buggy was the one who took the initiative.

Buggy is a family man, so he hated those who abandon their families. That's why he also beat the crap out of Shanks when he found out that he left Uta. He could understand Shanks's reason, but it still pissed him off.

After that, Shanks kept an eye on Uta because Buggy forced him. Buggy always makes sure that Shanks does his job. But he made a mistake that he doesn't realize. He doesn't observe Uta closely and underestimates her devil fruit.

Well, he can't be blamed because he has many things to do, and it's Shanks's responsibility to take care of his daughter. Buggy has his own family to take care of and his crewmates' families also need to be taken care of. But sooner or later, Buggy will find out about the problem, and he won't stay silent about it.

Anyway, back to the Usopp. Buggy sent the old doctor to treat Usopp's mother, Banchina. The old doctor, Nako was personally trained by Manba for years, so his medical knowledge can be considered the best in East Blue. And he really cured Banchina after a long treatment.

Her illness was quite severe, so no wonder the local doctor couldn't do anything. The treatment fee was all paid by Yasopp and Buggy even increased the amount. May as well rob the bastard while doing a good deed.

"W-why are you here?" asks Usopp.

Nako tilts his head and says, "Because I work here? I am a resident of this village and the main doctor of this hospital."

"T-then how did you know about my mother and come to our village?" asks Usopp.

"Well, Nami's father is your father's friend and I met your father once when he visited this place. Nami's father was the one who asked me to help your mother. I was just doing what my boss ordered me to do," says Nako.

"His dad was here once?" asks Leo curiously.

"Yeah, he's the sniper of Red Hair Pirates," says Nako.

"Ah, that old dude with thick lips, huh? No wonder you look familiar," says Leo while looking at Usopp.

"Red Hair Pirates? Are they Shanks's crew?" asks Luffy curiously.

"Yeah, that's their Captain's name. He is Buggy's sworn brother if I'm not wrong," says Nako.

Luffy is surprised, but then he smiles happily before he starts telling them that he knows Shanks. He also tells them that Shanks was the one who inspired him to be a pirate. Now he is very curious about Shanks's brother, Buggy.

"So you know that red hair bastard, huh?" asks Bellemere as she enters the room.

The Straw Hats flinch and their wounds are hurt when they hear her voice. They get trauma just after getting a beating from her. More beatings will come soon, so they need to prepare their hearts.

Bellemere won't let Nami goes with a bunch of weaklings, so she will prepare them. Their short battle was enough to make her know their true natures and thought she can trust them. They aren't trying to use Nami, but they are too weak for her standard.

"I will give you a week. If you can show great progress in a week, then I'll allow Nami to go with you. But if you fail, then none of you will continue your lives as pirates," says Bellemere.

"Why are you deciding that for us?" asks Luffy rather angrily.

"Because I am stronger than you and I can kill you anytime I want. You should be glad that I even let you live and treat you in my family's hospital. If I am your real enemy, then you would have been buried now," says Bellemere seriously before she goes out.

"I-Is she angry?" asks Usopp.

Leo sighs and says, "Maybe, she doesn't really like pirates, after all."

"Huh? Isn't your dad a pirate?" asks Sanji.

"Yeah, but my mom was a marine," says Leo.

The Straw Hats are stunned by that because it's the first time they hear of a pirate marrying a marine. That just sounds impossible because they are enemies.

"But rather than angry, I think she is just worried about you guys. Aside from the fact that my sister wants to go with you, my mom is also worried about you guys. My mom said my dad become a pirate when he was very young and he almost died many times. So my mom knows well the risk of being pirates, that's why she wants to make sure that you guys are ready to face all the risks," says Leo.

The Straw Hats are touched, but then Leo says, "Or maybe she just wants to make sure you can be good pawns to save my sister. The stronger you are the longer it will take for enemies to kill you so my sister can run away."

Their touched expressions are gone instantly because this explanation sounds more logical. They let it be though because at least now they know that they are really weak. Even Luffy is contemplating now because there is another person who can actually hurt him with just a punch like his grandpa.

So the next day, Luffy challenges Bellemere again and she finishes him with a punch. Luffy keeps trying though and he is alone because Usopp is too afraid, Zoro hasn't healed, and Sanji doesn't fight women. Although Usopp is actually preparing something now.

Zoro heals after 2 days because the medicine is that good. But he doesn't choose to fight Bellemere, he is asking Leo to fight him. As a swordsman, Zoro is very interested to fight Leo who uses an unusual style.

Leo accepts it because he is also curious about Zoro's ability. He doesn't need to lend any sword though because Zoro's friends came here yesterday. Yosaku and Johnny, 2 bounty hunters came after getting forgotten and left in Orange Town because they disappeared.

They lend Zoro their swords because Zoro only has 1 sword now. It's the Kusanagi katana that Buggy gave him a few years ago to replace the Wado Ichimonji because Kuina didn't die. Kusanagi's rank is the same as Wado Ichimonji, so it's fair compensation.

As for Leo, he doesn't have any famed sword right now even though Buggy can afford it. There are only several famous swords and not all of them are cutlass. But Buggy has prepared a pair of famed cutlasses for Leo though, he just hasn't planned on giving them to Leo because the kid wasn't ready yet.

The ones that Leo wields now are still high-quality cutlasses though. They are just not famous because they are specially made for him. Buggy asked his crew's swordsmith to make them using good material, so they won't break against famed swords even though their grades are lower.

Anyway, Leo accepts Zoro's challenge and now they are gathering at the training ground. The others are also there to watch the battle, including Bellemere. They all want to know how strong these 2 are.

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