Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As the crew made their way through the town square, a gentle rain began to fall, dampening everything in its path. Smoker, his cigars now wet from the rain, raised his voice and called out to the navy soldiers around him.
"Form a perimeter around the Straw Hat Pirates, and do not let them slip away!" he commanded, his voice firm despite the discomfort he felt from his fall off the execution platform and the subsequent hit from the debris.
"Understood, sir!" The navy soldiers, now regaining their senses, hastened to obey Smoker's orders, moving quickly toward Luffy and his crew as they attempted to leave the square.
"Halt, Straw Hat Pirates!" shouted the leader of the marine soldiers, his words echoing through the square as he and his men advanced.
Usopp, taken aback by the sudden influx of navy personnel, couldn't help but express his surprise and fear. "Luffy, what did you do? Why are there so many navy soldiers after us?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with panic despite his increased strength.
With a swift and decisive movement, Zoro unsheathed his swords — the Wado Ichimonji, Yubashiri, and Sandai Kitetsu — and assumed his three-sword style stance. "It seems we have no choice but to deal with them first," he said, his voice steady and determined, ready for the confrontation ahead.
In that critical moment, a figure with green hair made a sudden appearance right next to Zoro. It was Bartolomeo who, extending his right hand forward, conjured a massive barrier right in the path of the charging navy soldiers.
[Protective Barrier]
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Caught off guard, the navy soldiers were unable to stop in time and crashed into the barrier one after another. The unexpected development not only caught the navy off guard but also left Zoro and his companions bewildered.
"Could this be a helper sent by Bai Ye?" Zoro wondered, the thought crossing his mind almost instinctively. However, this time his guess was off the mark.
Bartolomeo, turning his head and wearing a look of deep respect, called out to Luffy, "Senior Luffy, allow me to hold off these marines for you!"
"Eh? A Cocks-comb???" Luffy, taken aback for a moment, soon broke into a smile. "Got it, thanks a bunch, Cocks-comb!"
That's just the way Luffy is. In many situations, he doesn't bother asking for reasons. As long as he knows someone is on his side and offering help, that's all that matters to him.
"Leave everything here to me, Senior Luffy!" Bartolomeo, far from feeling put out by the nickname, only seemed more enthusiastic. "And to all of Luffy's mates, please be at ease and leave these guys to me!"
Hearing his words, the Straw Hat crew, despite their lingering questions, realized that this was not the time for a lengthy discussion. They quickly expressed their thanks to Bartolomeo and once again turned, rushing towards the port.
In that tense moment, Smoker too made his move, rushing to the scene. Witnessing his subordinates being thwarted by Bartolomeo, he didn't hesitate to engage, launching an attack.
Bartolomeo, ready and alert, countered swiftly, throwing his right fist forward to activate his [Shock Barrier] ability. A barrier sprang to life, effectively neutralizing Smoker's aggressive move.
"Are you really going to stand in the way of the navy and prevent us from apprehending pirates?" Smoker demanded, halting his attack but maintaining a tight grip, his gaze fixed intently on Bartolomeo.
Bartolomeo's demeanor shifted dramatically. He adopted a haughty expression, reminiscent of a mafia boss, and responded with a disdainful, "HA?"
"I was unaware of your pursuit of pirates. I simply lost track of my little brother and was hoping to seek assistance from your navy," he claimed, his tone laced with arrogance.
Smoker, upon hearing this, felt a surge of anger, and his veins nearly popped out of his forehead in frustration. Just then, another man, sporting black sunglasses, rushed up to Bartolomeo, panting, "Boss, I've finally found you! I just saw one of the Straw Hat..."
BOOM!
Bartolomeo's fist connected with the man's head before he could finish his sentence. "Idiot, don't wander off next time, got it?" he scolded, while holding onto the man's head. Then, bowing deeply, he said to the Smoker, "I must express my gratitude to you, the officers of the navy. You've put in a great effort to find my brother."
With that, under the watchful eyes of all present, Bartolomeo escorted his dazed 'younger brother' away, choosing a different direction.
"Captain Smoker?" a marine soldier approached, seeking guidance.
"Let them go. Focus on pursuing the Straw Hat Boy instead," Smoker commanded, his tone firm.
"Yes, sir!" the soldier responded promptly, ready to carry out the order.
-----
Once Bartolomeo and his 'younger brother' were out of the navy's line of sight, Bartolomeo turned to him with a question. "So, what were you saying about seeing someone from the Straw Hat crew?"
His companion responded, "I saw the Straw Hat Pirates' Vice Captain, Priest Bai Ye."
"Bai Ye?" Bartolomeo echoed, a hint of disappointment in his voice. He lamented the missed opportunity to meet someone with a higher bounty than Luffy. He wasn't sure when, or if, he would get another chance like this.
A moment later, an idea struck him, and he burst into loud laughter, "Then, why don't I set out to sea as well?" He nodded to himself, quite pleased with this sudden inspiration. "Yeah, that sounds like a great plan. But I'll need to get ready first."
He paused, deep in thought. "I've got so many young guys under my command; it's just not possible to bring them all with me. I'll rely on my own strength and dedicate some time to training hard. But first, I need to run this by Grandma."
With these thoughts in mind, Bartolomeo took his 'younger brother' and made their departure, choosing not to go to the port to bid farewell to 'Senior Luffy'. After all, he was already looking forward to their next meeting and had preparations to make.
-----
Bai Ye, having unexpectedly encountered Bartolomeo's 'younger brother', had already exchanged goodbyes with Dragon and was on his way to the port. As he was leaving, Dragon's parting words resonated in his ears: "Take care of that kid, Luffy, for me!" He spoke with an air of mystery, "Sail wherever the wind may take you." Bai Ye was momentarily at a loss for words, thinking to himself, "Why do you have to speak in riddles? Just say outright that you'll lend us your power to escape from marines."
Wasting no time, Bai Ye quickly made his way to the Golden Merry, reuniting with the rest of the crew. In the meantime, Zoro had swiftly defeated Tashigi and her navy squad, who had attempted to surround the ship. He made sure they were securely tied up in a spot sheltered from the rain.
Once the entire Straw Hat crew was on board, Nami expertly gave the command to set sail. Just as they were leaving, an inexplicable gust of wind caught Nami off guard, propelling the Golden Merry forward. Amidst the gathering storm clouds and the intensifying rain, the ship swiftly departed the harbor.
By the time Smoker and his navy troops arrived at the port, all they could see was a small, fading speck on the horizon. Tashigi, now freed by her comrades, stepped forward and respectfully bowed her head towards Smoker, apologizing, "I'm sorry, Captain Smoker."
After a moment of silence, Smoker finally spoke, determination in his voice, "Prepare the warship. We're setting course for the Grand Line as well!"
-----
Even though the rain was falling heavily, it couldn't dampen Luffy's spirit. He stood at the front of the Golden Merry, lifting his arms high, and shouted with all his excitement, "Grand Line, here we come!!"
Observing the moment, Sanji quickly found a wooden barrel and suggested to everyone, "In honor of our journey to the Grand Line, let's hold a special ceremony!" Sanji, braving the rain, was the first to step forward. He placed his left foot on the barrel, holding a cigarette dampened by the rain, and declared, "I'm on a quest to find the All Blue!"
Without missing a beat, Luffy eagerly became the second to join in, proclaiming, "I'm going to claim the title of Pirate King!" Following suit, Zoro placed his feet on the barrel, his face etched with determination, and vowed, "I will become the greatest swordsman in the world!"
Nami then stepped forward, expressing her dream, "I'll create the most accurate world map ever known!" Usopp, with a twinkle in his eye, added, "I aim to be a courageous warrior of the sea!"
Lastly, Bai Ye joined in, placing his feet alongside the others on the barrel, and declared with conviction, "I will change the entire world!"
-----
"Alright, everyone!" Luffy called out with unwavering enthusiasm. "LET'S GO!"
And so, with Luffy's rallying cry, the Golden Merry, carrying the crew and their dreams, boldly navigated towards the Reverse Mountain, ready to conquer the wind and waves that lay ahead!