Dr. Kureha quietly listened to Chopper's story.
Chopper sat on the bed, swinging his short little legs.
"At first, I was really scared.
"Other than the captain, I didn't dare get close to anyone. But slowly, I realized that everyone on the ship truly accepted me. Everyone liked me.
"They all took care of me too. They didn't treat me like a monster. They treated me like a companion."
As he said that, Chopper giggled.
Dr. Kureha could tell that this silly son of hers was smiling from the bottom of his heart.
When he mentioned battles, her heart tightened.
Only when Chopper said he had not been sent onto the battlefield did she finally relax.
"Although I didn't fight on the battlefield, the captain taught me a lot. He said he can't protect us every moment, so we have to learn to protect ourselves."
By the end, Dr. Kureha was completely at ease.
From Chopper's story, that White Ghost brat really had not mistreated her silly son.
Dr. Kureha looked at him seriously.
"Chopper, remember this. That man has enormous ambitions.
"From now on, just do what you're supposed to do. Don't do anything extra. Protect yourself.
"No matter who asks you about the ship, you must not tell outsiders anything.
"Best of all, stay with that brat as much as possible. Understand?"
"Mm!"
Chopper nodded hard.
"Doctorine, come with us too, okay? Then we can always stay together."
Dr. Kureha opened the high-end red wine Chopper had brought back. As she poured it, she shook her head.
"I won't go. As long as you're happy, that's enough.
"Although I tell outsiders I'm only a hundred and something years old and still young, I know my own body. I don't know how many more years I can live. I won't trouble the young people."
Chopper ran over and hugged her tightly.
"I'll ask the captain. He'll definitely have a way. The captain can do anything."
Seeing the little guy begging like that, Dr. Kureha stroked his head.
"Chopper, there are many things you don't know.
"Even if I boarded that ship, that man wouldn't fully trust me. Besides, this old woman doesn't want to leave this place. This is our hometown, after all."
"Doctorine…"
Chopper cried.
Actually, there were some things he did understand.
For example, the "rats" the captain often mentioned.
He often saw the captain cursing under his breath. At first, he had not known what it meant. Later, after the captain explained it to him, he understood.
Dr. Kureha took a sip of red wine.
"Alright, Chopper. You're going to become a real man. Don't cry so easily."
"Mm! Mm!"
Chopper nodded hard, though his tears still would not stop.
The next day, White Ghost walked out of the room feeling refreshed, with an arm around Squirrel Tang.
The moment he reached the outside, the corner of his mouth began twitching.
In the snow outside, his pet that had already grown crooked was standing there throwing punches. Beside him were several other Lapahn rabbits.
"Did this guy drag his whole family here?"
White Ghost's mouth twitched.
The moment Big White saw his master come out, he stopped punching and ran over. He hugged White Ghost's leg and cried out, looking at him pitifully.
Beside him, two large Lapahns and two small ones also looked at White Ghost with the same pitiful eyes, crying out together.
White Ghost's face was full of question marks.
He could not understand what this guy meant.
Beside him, Squirrel Tang watched the scene with a smile.
White Ghost tightened his arm around her.
"Can you translate for your man? I don't understand what this guy wants."
Through Squirrel Tang's translation, White Ghost finally learned that the two large rabbits beside Big White were his parents.
Back then, White Ghost had thought Big White had been abandoned by his family and had taken him away.
Later, his parents had searched everywhere but failed to find him. They thought something terrible had happened to the little guy and had been sad for a long time.
Until a few days ago, Big White returned to his hometown and found his parents. The rabbit family reunited happily.
Big White was also happy to discover that he now had a younger brother and sister. He had told his parents the story of what happened after he separated from them.
His parents were very surprised by their son's experiences.
After seeing how strong and muscular he had become, his parents decided to let their other two children leave with him.
After hearing the translation, White Ghost covered his face.
He really did not want to raise another pet crooked.
Big White kept crying out, staring at White Ghost with pleading eyes, afraid that White Ghost would reject them and embarrass him.
White Ghost slapped the guy.
"Bring them, then. But what about your parents?"
After Squirrel Tang translated it, the five Lapahns were all very happy.
As for his parents, they said they could still have another child to support them in their old age.
White Ghost looked at the three siblings.
The smallest Lapahn was female and about the same size as Big White had been when he left.
He pointed at the second one.
"From now on, you'll be called Second White. As for you, you'll be White Sis."
"Awoo! Awoo!"
The two Lapahn rabbits grew excited after hearing that they had names. They hugged White Ghost's legs and howled.
When Dr. Kureha walked out, this was the scene she saw.
She had also heard the conversation just now.
All she could say was that this guy's personality really was the kind that never left empty-handed.
White Ghost looked at Chopper, who was carrying a small bundle.
"Finished saying goodbye? Once we leave this time, we won't know when we can come back again."
"Mm."
Chopper's voice was a little choked.
The others walked out one after another.
They had stayed here for a few days. It was time to set out again.
However, when Dr. Kureha saw Crocus, her eyes looked like she wanted to skin him alive.
Crocus had the same thick skin as White Ghost. He acted as if he had seen nothing and even greeted the captain with a smile.
"Roar!"
White Ghost's body expanded.
Before long, a thousand-meter-long dragon appeared in the sky.
The others were already used to White Ghost's appearance.
The four Lapahn rabbits were different. Their eyes rolled back, and they collapsed straight onto the ground.
White Ghost extended his claw, and the group jumped onto it.
Big White carried his useless younger brother and sister and jumped onto White Ghost's palm.
Chopper looked at Dr. Kureha with tearful eyes.
"Doctorine, take care of yourself. When I get the chance, I'll come back to see you."
Dr. Kureha stroked the little guy's head.
"Go, Chopper. You have your own life and adventure. This old woman can still live a few more years. No need to worry."
"Mm. Then I'm leaving."
The crying Chopper stepped onto Geppo and reached White Ghost's palm.
White Ghost glanced at her and said nothing else.
This woman could live very long. He did not need to worry about anything.
A wind barrier appeared around his claw, wrapping everyone securely. Then White Ghost twisted his enormous body and left.
Only after White Ghost's body could no longer be seen did Dalton walk out from the side and stand with Dr. Kureha, looking into the distance.
"You clearly could have gone with them. Why didn't you?"
Dr. Kureha shook her head.
"This is my hometown. Why would I leave? Besides, what help could this old woman offer if I boarded that ship?"
Dalton said nothing more.
He had known long ago that guests had come here.
He had also wanted to thank that man face to face.
But their identities were different. There was no need to meet.
Besides, that man probably would not admit he had done it anyway.
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