By the time they made it back to the Going Merry, Kureha and Chopper were already working their magic on Vivi. Saved for Nami, the others were all waiting outside, kicked out by Kureha so they wouldn't get in the way, and they were now all waiting for an update.

"Welcome back," greeted Robin with a pleasant smile. "You found a doctor after all."

"She's a weird one, though – kept cackling about indentured servitude or something like that," sweatdropped Zoro.

"A tough old hag – reminds me of Chef Zeff," snorted Sanji.

"What happened up there, anyway?" asked Usopp, curious.

"Luffy will catch you up – I'll go and check in on Vivi," Brynlee announced.

While Luffy launched himself into a wild retelling of their venture, with some… extra information that could definitely give Usopp's own stories a run for their money, Brynlee headed inside and found her way to the women's quarters. Inside, she was quite relieved to find Vivi now awake, with Nami holding her hair back while she vomited blood and clots alike. Chopper was a little further away, using Nami's cleared desk to brew some medicine, while Kureha checked Vivi's vitals.

"May I come in?" she called, gently knocking on the frame.

"Bryn!" gasped Nami, clearly relieved.

For only answer, Vivi vomited again, coughing a bit while she was at it. Kureha kept her hand pressed to Vivi's back for a few more seconds, before nodding firmly.

"Your airways are opening up nicely. Just keep at it for another minute," she instructed before going to check on Chopper.

"Y- yes, ma'am…" groaned Vivi, her sweet voice breaking.

"So? What's the verdict?" asked quietly Brynlee as she joined Kureha to the desk.

"Well, I still don't quite understand how, exactly, most of her internal organs ended up with wax coating them," huffed Kureha. "Most of it is gone by now, and what little is left will be expelled the more natural way, let's say. There were some lesions and some minor internal damage, but the medicine my assistant Chopper is brewing right now will alleviate the pain and accelerate the healing process. She'll be as good as new by tomorrow." Kureha then lowered her glasses to stare into her soul, eyes narrowed. "You guys are lucky. One more day and her lungs would have collapsed onto themselves."

"She won't suffer from any lasting damage, then?" asked Brynlee, a bit worried.

"Well, her throat will hurt for a couple of days, but that's about it."

"Incredible. Thank you, Doctor Kureha, Doctor Chopper."

Chopper, who'd been eavesdropping this whole time, instantly started his cute, wiggly little dance as he tried not to be affected by the compliment, while Kureha barked out a laugh.

"I didn't do it for your thanks! Now, about that payment…"

"How much?"

…

…

…

Brynlee's ears were ringing, and she admittedly felt a bit dizzy by the number of zeroes that had just been thrown in her face. Nami had gone incredibly pale, to the point where Brynlee feared she might pass out, and even Vivi had stopped coughing, in shock.

Kureha cackled even more.

"What? Can't pay up after all?"

Brynlee scoffed, then went to the small cabinet that was hers and started pulling out wads of cash… and wads of cash… and wads of cash…

"Bryn, what the fuck?" whispered Nami, almost reverently.

"There. That's the grand total of what we owe you," stated Brynlee, shoving all of the bills into one of the few burlap bags she'd yet to throw away. "With that being said, however, I have another offer to make."

"What? Trying to get out of paying me, now?" scoffed the doctor.

"Hardly. But tell me, what do you value more: your practice, or a free kingdom?"

"… Talk fast, girl."

"Well, my Captain's a pretty reckless guy, and he'd be all too happy to go up the mountain again and kick Wapol's ass," she shrugged. "All of the able-bodied members of our crew would accompany him, ensure it gets done without too much property damage. So, let's say… I give you half the amount in cash, as well as a tyrant-free kingdom, and also the keys to his castle. Sounds like a fair trade, doesn't it?"

"Hmmm… You seem awfully confident. What if your Captain can't beat Wapol?"

"Well, in that case, we'll all die up there and you'll know where the rest of my money is."

"Ah!" Kureha paused, calculating her options. "Two-third of the original fee, along with the castle keys and Wapol's head on a stick."

"Well, we try not to indulge in mindless murder. Three-fourth of the original fee, the keys, Wapol's sorry ass abandoned at sea and access to the armory."

Kureha narrowed her eyes, now a bit suspicious. "How strangely specific. But I'd argue that the keys to the castle would include that of the armory."

Brynlee shrugged. "That's fair. Then, two-third of the original fee, the keys, and Wapol's defeat – but I also want you and your assistant to give a checkup and appropriate treatment to everyone on board saved for me and my Captain." She paused, then added: "Also, I want your autograph."

"You sure drive a hard bargain, girl. I could just take the money in full and call it a day."

"You could. Wapol's tyrannical rule certainly helped you establish a particular monopole in terms of medical services. But I daresay you'll be able to extort a lot more from people who are grateful to you. And hey, a castle's a pretty sweet deal, I say!"

Kureha paused, then nodded in agreement. "Fair enough. Alright, we have a deal, then."

"Wonderful! Pleasure doing business with you, Doctor Kureha." They shook hands, and Brynlee leaned a bit closer, now curious. "Also… How much would your secret to eternal youth cost me? Out of pure curiosity."

"AH! Go for thirty times the amount you just halved, and we'll call it a starting bid."

A bead of sweat rolled down Brynlee's temple as she felt Nami's killing intent wash over her – clearly, her friend didn't think the secret to eternal youth was worth it. To be fair, though, Brynlee didn't have that kind of money, anyway – yet.

There's nothing stopping me from coming back for it in a few years!

Alright, things are starting to move a bit more! I really love Dr. Kureha, ah ah.