Chapter 135: Chapter 135 Apple and Sniper Rifle
Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Caught off guard by the suddenness of the man's action, Chopper narrowly escaped the perilous situation by quickly transforming and shrinking, avoiding the intended forceful feeding of the apple. Looking up, he observed the man who had just been lying weakly on the ground now sitting cross-legged on the horse, his face still pale but his eyes sharp and cunning. The man, seemingly amused by his own plot yet hindered by a fit of coughing, attempted to maintain a mischievous grin.
"Cough, cough. This is troublesome," the man muttered, trying to regain his composure as he focused his gaze back on Chopper. He insisted in a delusional manner, "Since you have picked it, you have to eat it."
Chopper, now quite irritated and aware of the danger, retorted, "Knowing that it's a bomb, who would eat it!!" The man, unfazed and embodying a distorted sense of destiny, closed his eyes and declared with a twisted sense of conviction, "Everything is fate! So, can you eat it quickly and die, okay?"
Realizing the man's irrational state and unwilling to engage further in such madness, Chopper made the decision to leave the unsettling scene behind. "Who cares about you!!" he exclaimed, dismissing the man's bizarre request and prioritizing his own safety as he turned away.
In the midst of his departure, Chopper heard the man's voice again, prompting him to pause. "You said just now that you are a doctor, right? Let me introduce myself, I am also a ship doctor, and at the same time... also an undertaker." These words caused Chopper to halt and look back, his curiosity piqued despite the evident oddity of the man.
The man continued with an eerie tone, "The so-called doctor is to let people die according to the guidance of fate, right? People will always die, and doctors are the spokesperson of death! In this world, only doctors know how those patients will die." A disturbing smile crept onto his face as he indulged in his morbid philosophy, "As for me, I just need to let fate decide."
His eyes bore into Chopper with a sinister intent, "And you, you seem lucky..." But before he could further elaborate his twisted thoughts, Chopper, fueled by anger and a sense of justice, interrupted, "Asshole!! What fate, what damnation." Chopper then brought out his medical tools, determined to prove him wrong.
Chopper asserted, "In this world, there is absolutely no patient who is not worth saving," as he focused intently on the apple, meticulously removing all traces of explosives embedded within it. His skilled hands made the apple appear untouched, unmarred by his intervention.
As Chopper proceeded to neutralize the explosives with medicine from his box, the man observed with narrowed eyes, seemingly intrigued by Chopper's defiance and skill. The explosives dissolved under the effect of the medicine, showcasing Chopper's proficiency and deep commitment to his role as a doctor.
Chopper, with renewed resolve, picked up the cleansed apple and confidently ate it. "Just take out the bad stuff, wouldn't it be fine?" he posited, reflecting on his mentor Dr. Hiriluk's dream of creating a panacea. Looking squarely at the man, Chopper declared, "Doctor is not the spokesperson of death. The doctor! It is the person who can perform miracles in order to save others!!" His voice carried the weight of his conviction, and he transformed into his larger form, ready to stand his ground in this ideological clash between healers.
A lengthy, tense silence ensued before the man, previously sitting cross-legged with piercing eyes, showed movement. His demeanor shifted drastically; he appeared much weaker, slumping over the horse's back as if the previous confrontation was merely a fleeting intensity. He then weakly addressed Chopper, introducing himself as Doc Q, hinting at a potential future encounter, "Next time, let's play together again."
Chopper, feeling a mix of determination and premonition, responded firmly, "My name is Chopper, no matter how many times I have to but I will beat you and tell you what a doctor is!" Despite the uncertainty of their paths crossing again, Chopper was resolute in opposing Doc Q's twisted vision of their profession.
Doc Q, taking a final, contemplative look at Chopper, acknowledged, "Chopper? I remember." With that, he signaled to his horse, "Let's go," and departed from the scene.
Doc Q, having moved away from his encounter with Chopper, wandered into another street. It was there he was greeted by a familiar voice, one that carried a hint of curiosity, "Is it my illusion? You seem...a little excited." The speaker was none other than Van Augur, the sharpshooter from the Blackbeard Pirates. This encounter confirmed that Doc Q, too, was a member of the notorious crew.
Without looking up, Doc Q responded with a hint of intrigue in his voice, "Well, because I met an interesting guy. I really want to kill him." Van Augur, familiar with Doc Q's brutal tendencies, probed further, "Why don't you do it?" Doc Q revealed his belief in fate, indicating it wasn't the right time for such action, "Fate told me that now is not a good time to do it."
He then raised his head, a bloodthirsty grin spreading across his face, "I always feel that the current him is not mature enough." Van Augur, recognizing the look in Doc Q's eyes, realized they both had encountered someone intriguing. With a knowing smile, Van Augur reminisced about the long-nosed man he had encountered earlier...
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Not long ago, Van Augur was caught by surprise when an enthusiastic voice exclaimed from behind him, "Wow!! This sniper rifle is really good." Turning, he encountered a man with goggles and a distinctive long nose admiring his weapon. "Who are you?" Van Augur inquired, his tone calm yet imposing.
Usopp, brushing his long nose, introduced himself, "My name is Usopp, and I'm a sniper just like you." Unbeknownst to him, he had grown from the timid liar he once was into a pirate with a bounty of 30 million Bellys. Drawn by the appeal of Van Augur's exquisite sniper rifle and an inexplicable sense of connection, Usopp had stepped forward to engage in conversation, driven by his admiration for the weapon and a curiosity about the person before him.
Van Augur, who typically would not hesitate to deal with nuisances with a quick shot, found himself refraining from any hostile action this time. "Sniper?" His gaze shifted to Usopp's waist, noting the two finely crafted pistols there. Though they were aesthetically pleasing, Van Augur dismissed Usopp's claim with a hint of disdain, "Such a pity! You, who don't even have a sniper rifle, are not the sniper I recognize."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone