After a satisfying meal, the Freeza, under the watchful eyes of the Navy, slowly sailed out of the harbor towards the unknown.
Kouta ultimately didn't ask the question he desperately wanted to know, the one that would make Mihawk terribly awkward. He feared Mihawk might lash out if he asked, so the question remained buried in his heart.
Drum Island was the shortest stop for Kouta and his crew since they set sail. From their docking to their departure, the total time was no more than two hours. During this period, Kouta had killed Wapol and met Chopper, making the trip worthwhile. Furthermore, he had encountered the world's greatest swordsman, Eagle Eye Mihawk. Provisions were swiftly replenished thanks to Wapol's "friendly" delivery.
"Hmm! This guy is truly a good person!"
...
"Finally, they're gone."
The Navy personnel collectively breathed a sigh of relief. Although Kouta hadn't harmed any of them, his presence felt like a ferocious beast beside them. The ever-present sense of danger and the unparalleled pressure emanating from him left them with no sense of security.
"Huh?"
At that moment, the Navy personnel turned their heads in unison towards the distant shore. They saw a white line, originating from the direction of the large horn, steadily advancing towards them. Like a giant boulder rolling down a mountain, the snowline not only carved a long gully in the snowy ground but also emitted a rumbling sound. As it got closer, they realized the snowline was not a boulder but a fierce beast. At the forefront of the swirling snow, a mighty black bull, its hooves kicking through the thick snow, was charging headlong towards the dock. Behind the black bull, a squad of soldiers in guard uniforms followed, panting and hurried. And behind them, Kador led a group of Navy personnel, slowly approaching the port.
Kador raised his hand to shield his eyes, staring at the black bull, whose back was no longer visible. A smile played on his lips. "This new king is truly a simple fellow!"
The black bull was Dalton, the former captain of the Drum Kingdom's guard and now the King of the "Sakura Kingdom." After rescuing Dalton, Kador had informed him of the current situation on Drum Island. Upon hearing the news of Wapol's death, Dalton had been overjoyed. Then, witnessed by the Navy, the twenty doctors, and the former kingdom guards, he had swiftly ascended to the throne. As the doctors and guards had said, he was the only one capable of leading this nascent kingdom. Moreover, there was no time for hesitation, for if Drum Island's kingdom had no king to attend the World Conference, their new kingdom might be expelled from the alliance by the World Government. Without the protection of the Navy, who would safeguard this region? Could he, and this guard force composed of ordinary people, do it? Impossible. Without the Navy's protection, this place would inevitably become a haven for pirates. He understood this clearly.
His first act as king was to rename the Drum Kingdom to the "Sakura Kingdom." He would never forget how, a few years ago, a doctor named Hiriluk...
Even knowing that Wapol was actively searching for him, knowing that this might be a trap, and even knowing that he would die upon arrival, he willingly walked into Wapol's meticulously laid trap to save the twenty doctors and this country. When he learned that the twenty doctors were safe, he breathed a sigh of relief and met his death with courage, uttering words he would remember forever:
"When do you think people die?"
"When their heart is shot with a bullet?"
"Wrong."
"When they are afflicted with an incurable disease?"
"Wrong!"
"When they drink poisonous mushroom soup?"
"Wrong!!!"
"When they are forgotten by the world..."
These words, along with Hiriluk's final hearty laughter as he drank the bomb-infused sake, ignited the deep-seated desire within him to resist for the sake of the country and its people. This led to what followed. He didn't know why the word "Sakura" came to mind when naming the country, perhaps it was the sakura pattern beside the skull on Hiriluk's medical bag that left such a deep impression.
Upon learning that it was the silver-haired group, not the Navy, who had killed Wapol and saved the country, Dalton immediately led the guards and rushed towards the dock. He didn't know who the silver-haired group were or why they killed Wapol, but he knew that without them, this country and its people would have continued to suffer under Wapol's brutal rule. Therefore, he had to go and express his gratitude to the heroes who had saved their country. This was his duty as king, as the new king who represented the will of his people.
*Hiss!*
The black bull performed a sliding tackle, carving a long trench in the snow at the edge of the shore. Dalton shook the snow from his head, then straightened up, quickly reverting to human form.
"Have they left?"
He looked around, but seeing no other ships, a look of disappointment crossed his eyes. Then, he composed himself and his gaze fell upon the White Iron King. Wapol's royal ship. As the former captain of the Drum Kingdom's guard, he naturally knew it. After a moment's hesitation, he walked towards it. Although he had already learned of Wapol's death from the twenty doctors and the Navy, now that he was here, how could he not see Wapol's corpse for himself?
The Navy on the warship did not stop Dalton, as they had seen many of their fellow sailors behind the guards in the distance. They presumed this must be the new king of Drum Island that Rear Admiral Kador had gone to find. To think that he was also a Devil Fruit user. They looked at Dalton with curiosity.
Dalton ignored the Navy's curious gazes. He reached the side of the White Iron King and looked up at the enormous hippo head at the ship's bow, a trace of mockery in his eyes. Wapol had treated everything in the kingdom as his own, eating whatever he pleased. Like a hippopotamus, he bit into everything. Sometimes, when hungry, he would even devour the houses that ordinary people used for shelter against the cold, without any regard for whether the residents would freeze to death.
*Thump, thump, thump!!*
He withdrew his gaze, stepped onto the wooden plank laid across the ship, his steps neither hurried nor slow. When he stood on the deck of the White Iron King, when he saw the headless corpse embedded in the back of the hippo's head at the ship's bow, and when he saw Wapol's head rolling in the lower cabin through the shattered deck, Dalton could no longer contain his excitement and tears streamed down his face.
"So, all of this is true!"
"So, that scoundrel king 'Wapol,' who had always loomed over Drum Island and wantonly oppressed the people, is truly dead!"
He had rushed to the port in the first instance, partly to meet the savior of Drum Island. The other part was to see Wapol's body with his own eyes; only by seeing Wapol's corpse could he truly confirm that this was not a dream. Drum Island had truly been saved, truly welcomed a new beginning.
Turning around, he faced the sea.
"Thank you."
His voice was filled with gratitude, joy, and boundless hope for the future.