One Piece: Bai Ye Deputy Captain of the Straw Hats

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

In the bar, Bai Ye and Garp settled at the counter, each sizing up the other. Shakky, sensing the gravity of their impending discussion, retreated to the kitchen with Camie to whip up some food.

"You really shook up my subordinates, kid," Garp chuckled, sipping the spiritual wine Bai Ye had offered him.

"It's just about challenging their beliefs, right? It's something Vice Admiral Garp can appreciate. It's good for Coby, isn't it?" Bai Ye replied smoothly, meeting Garp's gaze without flinching. He believed it was better for Coby to face harsh truths now rather than remain blinded by illusions, especially with the looming War of the Best.

Garp roared with laughter. "For a fine drink like this, I'll bite. What's your angle, kid?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Bai Ye smiled back, acknowledging Garp's sharpness. "Even though I'm more of a man of action, I won't underestimate you. You're a D., with a son leading the Revolutionary Army, yet you still hold a vice admiral's post in the Navy. You're no fool."

"Alright then, let me be straightforward, old man," Bai Ye shifted his tone, choosing his words carefully. "Initially, I was merely speculating, so I wasn't completely sure. But after listening to your exchange with Coby, I believe I understand where you stand."

Bai Ye's earlier words weren't just for Coby's benefit but were also a test for Garp, to gauge his true feelings about the Navy and the World Government. Given that the D. Clan was historically known as "enemies of the gods," Bai Ye was trying to ascertain Garp's true allegiance, especially in relation to the mysterious Void Century.

Garp, being a member of the D. Clan and yet a staunch supporter of the Navy, suggested one of two things to Bai Ye. Either Garp had relinquished any animosity towards the World Government, accepting that if he couldn't defeat them, he might as well join them, or he had made a different kind of compromise, one rooted in a commitment to justice.

Bai Ye, pondering Garp's interaction with Coby, felt certain it was the latter. Inspired, he ventured a daring proposal.

"Old man, why not leave the Navy and join us?" Bai Ye suggested with a casual smile as they sat in the quiet of the bar.

The moment hung suspended as Garp's face twisted into a shock and anger.

"You're asking me to become a pirate?!!! You really underestimate the justice I uphold!!!" Garp's voice boomed through the tavern, his outrage clear, yet his posture remained non-threatening, more theatrical than truly aggressive.

"I didn't mean to suggest you abandon your principles," Bai Ye clarified, undisturbed by the outburst. "I respect your dedication to justice deeply."

He continued, "Your battles against the Rocks Pirates, your pursuit of Roger—they weren't just about law enforcement. You staved off chaos, saved countless lives. That's the mark of true justice."

Bai Ye's praise was sincere, recognizing the complexity of Garp's actions and the weight of his decisions.

Bai Ye deeply understood Roger's decisions and perhaps even some of his motives. When Roger and his crew reached Laugh Tale and uncovered the great treasure, they also unraveled the world's hidden truths.

The so-called Celestial Dragons were not divine creators of nations but oppressive tyrants who had subjugated the globe. Yet, Roger realized that merely revealing this truth wouldn't suffice to challenge the World Government effectively. This institution had, after all, reshaped global perceptions to align with its interests for 800 years, including the obliteration of an entire century from recorded history. They could easily manipulate or suppress new truths.

Thus, the mere knowledge of the truth, while a potent tool against the World Government, was not the ultimate solution. The crux of the matter lay in igniting the will of the entire ocean to rise up. The truth would only have value if there was a collective desire to dismantle the prevailing oppressive system.

Roger's solution to spark this mass awakening was to initiate the Great Pirate Era. This bold strategy was designed to stir up chaos and challenge the status quo, though it was also a double-edged sword—hurting the enemy significantly but at great cost to many, including innocents.

This was a plan fraught with moral and practical risks, a plan that Roger knew would face significant opposition. Among those dissenters was clearly Garp, whose commitment to his version of justice stood in stark contrast to Roger's revolutionary path.

As they sat across from each other in the dim light of the bar, Bai Ye looked intently at Garp. His voice was steady, "You know better than anyone the true nature of pirates. If left unchecked, it's not the World Government that will suffer first—it's the innocent people."

"This world does need saving," Bai Ye continued, his gaze unwavering. "But pirates aren't the saviors it needs, right, old man?"

Garp, the seasoned marine, fixed his gaze on Bai Ye, a young man with the audacity of his own grandson. "Bai Ye," he began with a heavy tone, "are you trying to say that the justice I've dedicated my life to is misguided?"

His question seemed more directed at himself than at Bai Ye. After years of service, fighting pirates under the flag of justice, the world remained unchanged. Was his lifelong pursuit misplaced?

"Of course not," Bai Ye responded, surprising Garp with his sincerity. "The world won't be saved by villains. That's just a teenage fantasy—entirely unrealistic."

Garp's expression deepened into a frown, his thoughts a whirlwind. After all that intensity, was Bai Ye just playing games with him?

Garp's frown deepened as he listened to Bai Ye, who, noticing the tension, moderated his tone but pressed on with his point:

"Pirates alone can't save the world. But, there's one thing pirates can uniquely do—challenge the World Government directly!"

"That's something the Navy will never do. Pirates, by their very nature, oppose the World Government. It's embedded in their identity," Bai Ye explained, his words clear and concise, yet packed with profound implications.

The relentless emergence of pirates posed a continuous challenge that the Navy, bound by its own structures, could never fully address. Unlike the Navy, pirates weren't hindered by internal politics or allegiance to the World Government. Their very existence was a defiance against the oppressive global regime.

Garp, absorbing these ideas, finally grasped the essence of Bai Ye's argument and asked pointedly, "Are you suggesting I place all my bets on Luffy, just as you have?"

Bai Ye shook his head slightly, "It's not just about Luffy." He held up two fingers, emphasizing, "Luffy alone isn't enough for this task."

He paused before adding, "Your son is also crucial to this equation!"