Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Once the Straw Hats had taken down the Arlong Pirates, they bound the fish-men and escorted them to Cocoyasi Village. Seeing their longtime oppressors bound and weakened, the villagers erupted in jubilation. Some, overwhelmed by years of suppressed anger, even took a moment to express their contempt by kicking the tied up fish-men. Luffy and his crew didn't intervene.
The village's happiness soared when Luffy announced that he would distribute Arlong's hoarded treasures to Cocoyasi and other villages under Arlong's rule. Their cheers seemed to resonate everywhere.
"We're finally free!"
"The reign of Arlong and even Captain Nezumi, his protector, is over!"
"Thank you, Nami! Thanks to Luffy, to the priest and to others Straw Hats!"
In their joy, villagers repeatedly hoisted members of the Straw Hats into the air in celebration. At that moment, it didn't matter to them that the Straw Hats were pirates. All that mattered was that they were their saviors. The festivities kicked off with Luffy's enthusiastic call for a banquet.
That evening, Cocoyasi Village was alive with joy. Everywhere you looked, there were bonfires, singing, and dancing. And at the heart of it all were the Straw Hat Pirates, with Luffy and Usopp drawing most of the attention. Luffy reintroduced his quirky "nostril chopstick dance", which Usopp found captivating. Soon, both were dancing around with chopsticks sticking out of their nostrils, causing waves of laughter from the spectators.
Watching the duo's antics, Nami remarked, "It's hard not to feel embarrassed by them." Nojiko, beside Nami, chuckled, "Your friends are truly entertaining."
Suddenly, Sanji approached with two glasses of fruit wine. "I made this especially for you two. It's the perfect blend of sweet and sour." Nami hesitated, familiar with Sanji's ways, but Nojiko, unaware of his past antics, eagerly accepted his offering.
The wine was a hit, and Sanji's face lit up. "If you like it, Miss Nojiko, I'd be happy to make it for you every day." His expression, however, became a little too enthusiastic. Zoro, not missing a beat, teased him, "Nosebleed strikes again!"
Sanji's demeanor changed instantly, now challenging Zoro. "What's that, Mosshead? Want to settle this?" Nami watched Sanji's quick transitions from gentleman to overly keen and then to confrontational. She thought, with Luffy's unpredictability, Usopp's antics, and now Sanji's eccentricities, the future was going to be... interesting.
Had Bai Ye known Nami's thoughts, he might've added that there would soon be a hat-wearing raccoon mimicking them and a skeleton as lustful as Sanji.
-----
Where was Bai Ye during all this? He was engrossed in watching a video. Earlier, he had shared a captivating performance with Admiral Sengoku. Yet, when they moved on to Arlong Park, Sengoku disconnected the call, cutting off the live feed.
Bai Ye wasn't too bothered by Sengoku's lack of cooperation. Why? Because he had a backup. Bai Ye's Den Den Mushi, named the Cameko - Visual Den Den Mushi, had dual functionalities. It could live-stream and also record videos. At that moment, Bai Ye was replaying the events where they took down the Arlong Pirates.
While viewing, he approvingly nodded to himself. He was careful not to capture the part where he distributed Marrow Cleansing Pills to his crew. While Ripper might have hinted about the presence of these miraculous pills to Sengoku, the navy only knew about the Healing Pill. Its powerful effects were significant but not enough to raise alarm bells. However, the Marrow Cleansing Pill was different. It greatly amplified physical prowess. Bai Ye wasn't ready to gamble on whether the navy would be drawn to its allure.
His goal was to fly under the radar, avoid drawing unnecessary attention, and strengthen his group. It wasn't so much about fear but more about caution.
The reason Bai Ye recorded the video was strategic. He wanted to showcase the strength of his team to the navy. Based on what he saw, their capabilities were on par with some notable pirates in the Grand Line. Bai Ye's motivation for doing this was, in part, personal. He wanted all Straw Hats, not just Luffy, to earn a bounty. Moreover, he desired those bounties to be substantial. He felt that a team destined to find the One Piece should be renowned from the outset.
Switching off the Den Den Mushi, a smile graced Bai Ye's face. He eagerly anticipated the navy's reaction to the video. Suddenly, he mused about a new nickname for himself. Every notable pirate had one, right? Given his unique role as a Daoist priest, he had an idea.
"Hey, Bai Ye, have you seen any raw ham and cantaloupe around?"
Just then, Luffy hurried over, clutching several pieces of ham. He posed the question to Bai Ye with genuine curiosity.
Bai Ye, taken aback, replied, "Aren't you holding ham right now?" He found himself at a loss for words.
Luffy responded, "Is it? Well, I'll search somewhere else then." Luffy, in his typical swift manner, made up his mind quickly.
Watching Luffy's retreating figure as he dashed off again, Bai Ye just shook his head in amusement.
Gazing at the luminous moon against the night's backdrop, he whispered, "Dawn is breaking."
He continued, "Since they haven't shown up today, I bet the navy officer sent by Sengoku is that particular one..."
A realization dawned on Bai Ye, bringing a smile to his face. His upcoming plan was bold. He'd be anxious if it were any other navy captain, but with this particular officer, things might just go smoother.