Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Bai Ye, with a graceful flick of his wrist, produced a photo, aged and yellowed with time. "After the Pirate King conquered the Grand Line, he stopped in Loguetown in the East Blue and captured a precious moment in a tavern, forever memorializing it in this group photo at Gold Roger bar," he narrated with eloquence and ease.
Directing everyone's attention to a particular individual in the photo, he pointed out, "Even though twenty-five years have passed, the saffron on your head, old man, is still a standout feature." Intrigued, Nami and the others leaned in, examining the photo closely, and unanimously agreed, "He really does look similar."
Crocus, with a hearty laugh, responded, "Hahaha, you all are quite the fascinating group." With the cat out of the bag, he saw no reason to hide his true identity any longer and openly acknowledged it.
Suddenly, Usopp, ever the inquisitive one, turned to Luffy and blurted out, "Hey, hey, Luffy, shouldn't you ask him about the location of the One Piece? Wouldn't that be a quicker route?"
But Luffy, with a beaming smile that showed no desire for shortcuts, firmly stated, "I don't want to know! We're on our own journey, and this adventure belongs to us." His words, full of conviction, resonated with the values of true adventure.
"Hahaha, that's the spirit, young Straw Hat," Crocus couldn't help but laugh, his admiration for Luffy's principles evident in his demeanor. He proceeded to share his knowledge and advice for navigating the treacherous waters of the Grand Line, ensuring the Straw Hats were well-prepared for the journey ahead.
A few days later, as the Log Pose had finally aligned itself, it was time for the Straw Hats to bid their farewells to both Crocus and Laboon, setting sail once more on their grand adventure.
As the Golden Merry drifted away, Crocus, standing alongside Laboon, couldn't help but express his sentimentality, "What a fine group of pirates." Reflecting on the days spent in their company, he was left with a lingering question and a sense of anticipation, "Could they be the ones we've been waiting for?"
With a contemplative gaze fixed on the departing ship, he pondered aloud, "Shanks entrusted your straw hat to that young lad. He truly is an extraordinary boy. What do you think, Roger?" His words, filled with curiosity and hope, echoed in the air, as he sought the opinion of an old friend long gone.
-----
To the surprise of everyone, a pair of eyes had been keenly observing every movement of the Straw Hats from their hidden perch on a reef.
"Mr. 9, are you absolutely certain we haven't made a mistake in identifying them?" The young woman with striking blue hair set aside her binoculars, casting a questioning glance at her yellow-haired companion, who had two nines prominently displayed on his face.
"There's no room for doubt, Ms. Wednesday," he responded with confidence, lowering his own binoculars. "I might have been uncertain, but that Straw Hat Pirate Flag is unmistakable. They're the renowned overlords of the East Blue, the Straw Hat Pirates, with a hefty bounty of 245 million Bellys on their heads."
These two were agents of Baroque Works, assigned with the grim task of slaying Laboon and hauling him back to town for provisions. However, stumbling upon the notorious Straw Hat crew, with their astronomical bounty, had led them to abandon their original mission.
This unexpected turn of events was a clear indicator of how Bai Ye's influence had subtly yet significantly altered the course of the Straw Hat's story.
Mr. 9 then produced a newspaper, swiftly unfolding it and pointing to a particular image, "And the captain of their ship is this young man right here."
The blue-haired girl leaned in, her eyes scanning over the photo he indicated. It depicted a young boy in a straw hat, beaming brightly at the camera. The backdrop was filled with smoke and debris, as if something had just crumbled to the ground.
"Monkey D. Luffy?" she murmured, her gaze lingering on the caption beneath the photo - The young boy, emerging bravely from the remnants of the once fearsome Pirate King's execution platform, raises an intriguing question. Could he, with his unexpected presence in such a significant place, possibly be the heir or successor to the legendary Pirate King?
Lost in thought, she pondered the implications, while Mr. 9 continued, "Judging by their sailing route, it seems they're headed straight into this place. It's hard to say whether they're incredibly unlucky or extraordinarily lucky. That place is the last spot any pirate would willingly venture to."
Turning back to his partner, he added, "We should make a move and return to the town ahead of schedule to report this. Maybe, just maybe, we might be able to escape the punishment for our failed mission."
Hearing this, the blue-haired girl, Mr. Wednesday, nodded in agreement, her mind made up as they prepared to set their new plan into motion.
-----
The weather on the Grand Line is notoriously unpredictable and capricious, capable of changing from serene to stormy in the blink of an eye. One moment, the sky is clear and bright; the next, it transforms, shifting dramatically from springtime warmth to the chill of winter. In an instant, the Golden Merry is blanketed in a thick layer of snow, resembling a ship adorned in a pure white coat.
With a cup of hot tea in hand, prepared meticulously by Sanji, Bai Ye takes a grateful sip, savoring the warmth spreading through his body. "This is just perfect, Sanji. This tea... it's like it's brought me back to life," he exclaims appreciatively.
Observing Bai Ye's heartfelt reaction, Sanji is momentarily taken aback. Seizing the opportunity to make a point, he delivers a swift kick to Luffy, who is lounging nearby, muttering under his breath, "Take a lesson from his attitude, will you?" Perhaps carried away by his own emotions, Sanji unwittingly infuses a bit of Haki into his kick.
Luffy, taken by surprise, can only utter a confused, "Huh? Why kick me?"
At that very moment, Usopp, eager to divert attention, calls out to Luffy, "Hey, hey, Luffy, check this out! Look at this masterpiece I've created with my bare hands. A snow sculpture, the Snow White Queen!"
Distracted, Luffy's pain is forgotten in an instant. His eyes light up with admiration as he approaches Usopp, exclaiming, "Wow! Usopp, you're truly talented!"
However, their moment of admiration is abruptly interrupted. Nami, with her typical no-nonsense demeanor, lands a punch on both of them, her voice sharp as she scolds, "Stop dawdling and start shoveling the snow! We don't have time for these frivolous activities."
Chastened, Luffy and Usopp can only mutter apologies, "Sorry..."
In the midst of this commotion, Zoro, vigilant as always from his post in the watchtower, suddenly raises the alarm, "Hey, Nami, we've got an iceberg dead ahead!"
Nami, startled and now fully alert, springs into action. "Usopp, to the rudder, now! Luffy, get to the sails—quickly!" she commands. Moments later, as the imminent danger is averted, she exhales a sigh of relief, "That was too close. The Grand Line is proving to be far more perilous than the East Blue."
As the crew gradually acclimates to the unpredictable nature of their journey, their destination, unbeknownst to them, quietly draws near: Whisky Peak.
-----
Within the confines of the town, a man of middle age scrutinizes the two individuals standing before him, his brow furrowed in contemplation. Breaking the silence, he poses a question, heavy with implication, "Wait, are you telling me that the Straw Hat Pirates are on their way here?"
Mr. 9, standing tall, confirms the man's suspicions with a nod, explaining, "Exactly. They've just navigated their way past Reverse Mountain not too long ago. Given the time and their pace, they should be arriving here any moment now."
The middle-aged man takes a moment to sift through his memory, recalling everything he knows about this notorious group. "The Straw Hat Pirates, huh?" he mutters to himself. "They've recently risen to prominence as the new powerhouse among pirates in the East Blue, and now they're venturing into the Grand Line for the very first time."
He takes a deep breath, contemplating the gravity of the situation. "Based on the bounties placed on their heads, it's clear that their captain and vice-captain are the ones we need to be wary of," he reflects. "There's the Straw Hat Kid, Luffy, with a staggering bounty of 60 million, and then there's the Priest, Bai Ye, with an even more daunting bounty of 100 million."
As he dwells on the bounties assigned to these two formidable individuals, a wave of unease washes over him. He can't help but compare their bounties to that of Crocodile, a formidable member of the Warlords of the Sea, whose bounty stands at 81 million. The realization hits him: these newcomers are not to be taken lightly.