Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
The village feast continued throughout the night. As the celebration went on, Luffy wandered into a nearby graveyard, searching for some fresh ham and cantaloupe. Here, he encountered Genzo. Even though Genzo only threatened him in a symbolic manner, Luffy made a sincere promise never to harm Nami.
By dawn, the energy in Cocoyasi Village had subsided. Where the banquet had taken place, villagers now lay sprawled out, fast asleep from the night's festivities.
Observing the Straw Hat Pirates:
Luffy was in a deep slumber, still munching on meat.
Sanji and Zoro ended up sleeping in an odd position, each resting their feet on the other's face.
Nami and Nojiko found comfort in each other's arms, sleeping peacefully.
Usopp, after boasting with a group the previous night, was now surrounded by them in sleep.
Bai Ye had gone to sleep early, so he sat nearby, smiling at the sight before him.
A while later, as everyone began to stir, the distant sound of marching footsteps echoed closer. Smoker announced his arrival, "This is the place." He surveyed the gathering and immediately addressed the issue, "Arlong Pirates and Captain Nezumi, we're taking over."
Genzo, the village's sheriff, stepped forward offering to guide them. The navy soldiers, excluding Smoker, followed him to where Arlong Pirates and Captain Nezumi were detained.
Smoker, meanwhile, assessed those who remained. Using the information he had, he swiftly identified the Straw Hat Pirates. He quipped, "Thought you'd flee at the sight of me?" He had recently been informed by Ripper, after a conversation with Sengoku, about the Straw Hats. This agreement was struck with Bai Ye. Smoker was aware that these individuals, although pirates, had not yet hoisted their pirate flag.
Commonly, pirates would flee upon seeing navy officers. However, the group in front of him didn't react as expected. The young man in the straw hat continued to enjoy his meal. This wasn't entirely surprising, given Bai Ye's influence. Ever since Zoro joined them, the crew had witnessed Bai Ye's friendly interactions with the navy on multiple occasions. Therefore, seeing the navy once more, they assumed Bai Ye had called them over, so there was no reason to fear. Even Luffy, after a few hard lessons, had learned: don't run from the navy, first see what Bai Ye has in mind.
Smoker felt slighted by their lack of fear. He wondered if he didn't appear intimidating enough. With a snort, he remarked, "Such audacious pirates!" They not only collaborated with the navy but even beckoned an admiral. As these thoughts swirled in his mind, he cast an appreciative glance at Bai Ye. Clearly, Bai Ye was the brains behind it all. Were they brave or just naive? Considering their triumph over the Arlong Pirates, it seemed more like the former.
Bai Ye, ever calm, asked, "Do you plan to arrest us, Officer?"
Despite Smoker's assertive presence, Bai Ye remained unfazed, seated comfortably with a confident grin. He believed Smoker wouldn't dare arrest him. In the original narrative, Smoker had purposefully overlooked the Straw Hats in Alabasta. Although Bai Ye and his crew hadn't achieved the grand act of rescuing an entire nation, they had successfully liberated 20 villages. With this in mind, Bai Ye was certain that Smoker wouldn't act against them, even if ordered by Sengoku.
Bai Ye's intuition was spot-on. Sengoku had indeed instructed, "Judge the situation and ideally arrest the Straw Hats." However, Smoker had no intentions of complying. But that didn't mean he wouldn't challenge them. Bai Ye's self-assured gaze irritated him, as if silently proclaiming, "I've got your measure."
Smoker, in a challenging tone, retorted, "What if I intend to?" The mood shifted immediately. While Bai Ye's smile remained unchanged, the reactions of the other Straw Hats were starkly different.
Luffy paused his meal, adjusted his iconic straw hat, and stood upright, emanating a calm yet fierce aura. Zoro, in his hood, and Sanji, puffing on a cigarette, both positioned themselves ready for any conflict. Even Nami and Usopp, typically not the combative sort, armed themselves with sticks and slingshots, directing their focus on Smoker.
Suddenly, the jovial crew transformed into determined warriors, ready for battle.
Witnessing their sudden transformation, Smoker was momentarily stunned. Recovering quickly, he chuckled, "You all are impressively resilient!"
What he hadn't anticipated, however, was the spirited reaction from the Cocoyasi villagers. They began to voice their concerns:
"Are you here to take our dear Nami away?"
"Do you side with Captain Nezumi? Planning to harass those who've helped us?"
"Luffy and his crew are our honored guests. We won't let you harm them without a fight!"
"The navy has shown its true colors. You can't take Nami and Bai Ye from us."
Even the children raised their voices, saying, "When we were in danger, it was Nami and her friends who came to our rescue."
At that moment, Nojiko stepped forward, spreading his arms wide and shouting defiantly, "If you wish to take them, you'll have to go through me first!"
Echoing his sentiment, the villagers chorused, "Yes, you'll have to go over our dead bodies!"
Nami's eyes welled up with tears at the overwhelming support. Zoro couldn't suppress a smirk. Sanji's usually sharp gaze softened. Meanwhile, Luffy and Usopp, overwhelmed with emotion, embraced each other, tears streaming down their faces.
Smoker hadn't expected his words to ignite such a fervent response, particularly the villagers' defiance towards the navy. If Sengoku had been present, he would've surely reprimanded Smoker. However, Smoker remained nonchalant, casually puffing on his trio of cigars. While he may not have been too concerned, such public defiance was problematic for the navy, especially those who valued their reputation.
Smoker, intrigued by Bai Ye's earlier confidence, asked, "What are you aiming for?" Bai Ye understood the underlying question. From the perspective of the navy, the journey of Luffy and Bai Ye had been notable since their defeat of Alvida and their arrival at Shells Town. They consistently tackled pirates in the East Blue with bounties exceeding 10 million. Moreover, they ensured the navy was always informed of their successes. Admiral Sengoku believed Bai Ye's interaction with the navy wasn't merely about bounties. They wanted the navy to recognize their feats. While those who dream of becoming pirates often have unconventional motives, even the astute Sengoku struggled to discern the true intentions behind their actions. He entrusted Smoker with the responsibility to uncover the Straw Hats' objective.
In response to Smoker's inquiry, Bai Ye wasn't taken aback. He seemed to have anticipated the question. Calmly, he replied, "To see the rise of a legend!"
P.S Recently, I started writing my own novel, "Poop Mage: Manure Mysteries" Consider checking it out.