One Piece: Bai Ye Deputy Captain of the Straw Hats

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

To truly dismantle a system where slavery and feudalism are deeply entwined, simply defeating the Celestial Dragons won't suffice. What's required is a complete societal overhaul, starting from the grassroots level. This kind of liberation extends beyond mere freedom; it involves a profound shift in people's mindsets.

The acts of kindness performed by the Straw Hat Pirates were just the initial steps toward such liberation. However, changing deep-seated beliefs isn't a task they can accomplish alone. This is the very reason Oda introduced the Revolutionary Army into the storyline.

"Luffy's journey is about spreading the spirit of freedom, while the Revolutionary Army, led by Dragon, works to initiate change from the ground up," Bai Ye explained. "It's a formidable challenge, but there's a saying from my homeland that goes, 'A single spark can start a prairie fire.'"

"To rally all the allies we can—that's the essence of a true revolution."

At that moment, Bai Ye shared insights that seemed elementary to him but profound to his listeners. Observing Garp's reaction, it was clear the ideas had made a significant impact.

Despite the advanced physical prowess in the One Piece world, when it came to ideological advancement, a society that still clung to slavery was fundamentally inferior to the more progressive values from Bai Ye's original world.

Garp burst out laughing, filling the bar with his robust voice. "I admit, you've made a compelling argument."

"But convincing me to leave the Marines? That's out of the question." He continued, "Until the world you envision comes to pass, the Navy's strength remains indispensable."

"So, save your breath trying to sway me, young Bai Ye." Though Garp aligned with Bai Ye's ideals, his commitment to the Marines and his conception of justice held him firmly in place.

Garp's statement was final, but he seemed to soften a bit as he thought it over, adding, "But if you ever need my help, just ask."

"Really?!" Bai Ye's face lit up with a surprised and somewhat mischievous grin. "Grandpa, what a coincidence—I just so happen to need your help with something."

This approach was akin to suggesting an extreme solution to get a more reasonable response—propose tearing down the roof, and suddenly opening a window doesn't seem so bad. Bai Ye's strategic prompt had clearly worked.

Meanwhile, the other members of the Straw Hat crew had already dispersed throughout the city, each on their own mission.

-----

As they strolled through the bustling streets, Brook looked over at Franky with a mix of amusement and surprise. "Yohoho! Franky, I never imagined you'd have crossed paths with the Pirate King's first mate."

Franky casually flipped back his hair, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "Well, I only saw them from afar. Back in those days, I wasn't too fond of pirates. That persistent guy kept nagging at me, trying to get me to join his crew."

Brook chuckled, his skull rattling slightly. "Yohoho, interesting! Now that you mention it, I recall hearing about Roger before I met my demise. He was just a budding pirate at that time."

"Indeed, you've been a skeleton for decades now," Franky replied, shaking his head. "Fate really does play its tricks on us!"

Brook threw back his head in laughter, his bone fingers tapping on his ribcage. "Yohohoho! Such tales make my blood boil! ...Though, of course, I don't have any blood."

-----

On the opposite side of the street, a fearsome-looking pirate was begging fervently. "Please, I just want to remove this collar! I don't want to go to the New World anymore—just give me an axe!"

However, the moment he touched the slave collar around his neck—

BOOM!!!

The collar exploded with violent force. As smoke and debris filled the air, his large body crumpled to the ground.

Around him, the onlookers did not rush to help; instead, they knelt down, their heads bowed in terror, as if paying homage to a high-ranking official.

"Is this the fate of a slave?" Usopp whispered to himself, watching the scene unfold.

"Are those the Celestial Dragons?" Merry inquired, looking towards a group of nobles who marched arrogantly down the street, just as Shakky had described.

"Let's go," Sanji said curtly, lighting a cigarette and turning to leave. The sight had deeply impacted him, igniting a stronger desire to grow his strength after grasping the harsh realities Bai Ye had spoken of.

-----

"What a pity, we didn't find him here either," Chopper said as he stepped out of a tavern, with Robin walking beside him.

"There are still many taverns to check," Robin responded with a reassuring smile. "Let's try the next one."

"Okay!" Chopper agreed enthusiastically.

Just then, a voice halted them in their tracks— "Hold on a second. You two are part of the Straw Hat Pirates, right?" They turned to see who had recognized them.

A man stood in the doorway of the tavern they had just exited, his hat spotted and distinctive, a sword strapped across his chest. He fixed his eyes on them and introduced himself, "I'm the captain of the Heart Pirates."

He continued, addressing them directly, "Ship's doctor Chopper, and Devil Child Robin—how about joining me for a drink?"

-----

"Hey, you gambler! Lost all your money again, didn't you? Can you even afford a drink?" The bartender chuckled as he cleaned a glass, eyeing the man sitting at the bar.

Around the bar, other patrons joined in the mockery, "He's blind and still thinks he can gamble? What a fool!" "Fourteen straight losses! He's set a new record, even worse than Paul the Gambler, hahaha!"

The target of their ridicule was a middle-aged man with short black hair and a mustache, dressed in a purple kimono and haori, which gave him an air of flamboyant elegance. An X-shaped scar crossed his closed eyes, marking his forehead prominently.

Unfazed by the surrounding laughter, the man responded calmly, "Just a streak of bad luck today. And about that drink... unfortunately, I'm out of money. Maybe I could—"

"I'll stop you right there," the bartender interrupted sharply. "You're thinking of starting a tab? Seen too many like you. Don't expect any pity here just because you're blind!"

"In this place, cash is king. No money, no service. Now beat it!"

The man paused, sighed softly, and reached for his cane, preparing to stand.

Just then, a new voice cut through the noise, "I'll pay for his drink." A stack of money hit the counter with a thud.

Zoro stood there, arms crossed, speaking in his usual dominant tone.