Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As Bai Ye stepped out of Nami's room, he found himself unexpectedly greeted by a group of people pointing guns at him. Unfazed, he turned to Luffy for an explanation. "Luffy, can I trouble you to explain the current situation?" he asked calmly, his demeanor betraying no sign of concern.
Luffy, with his usual carefree smile, responded nonchalantly to Bai Ye. "Well, we were attacked," he stated simply. Bai Ye couldn't help but notice one of their attackers, whose head was unusually large, making him wonder about the bizarre growth.
At that moment, a voice boomed from the enemy ship. "Is it just you guys?" The voice belonged to Wapol, a remarkably overweight man with a peculiar appearance. He had dark violet hair and a jaw shaped like a cylinder, composed of tin plates. He wore brown gloves, purple and orange woolen shorts, and thick short boots. His body was as hefty as Alvida's. As he spoke, he nonchalantly swallowed a knife as though it was a piece of meat.
Zoro, observing this strange behavior, was taken aback. "Did this guy just eat a knife?" he thought, tightening his grip on his three swords.
Wapol, after wiping his mouth, demanded again, "It doesn't matter how many people there are. So, who will answer me? Do you have a Log Pose or Eternal Pose to Drum Island?"
Nami and the others reacted with surprise to the mention of Drum Island, as it was their intended destination. It was at this moment that Vivi had a realization. "I remembered! You are the king of Drum Island, Wapol!" she exclaimed.
This revelation left the Straw Hat crew in even greater shock. "King??!!" they echoed in disbelief.
Usopp, unable to wrap his head around the idea, expressed his skepticism. "How is it possible? If he is really the king, how could he be on a pirate ship?" he wondered aloud, convinced that there must be some mistake.
Vivi's expression was grave as she explained her recognition of Wapol. "I met him when I accompanied my father to the World Conference. His face seemed familiar, and when he mentioned Drum Island, I was certain it was him."
Wapol, upon hearing Vivi's recognition, burst into loud laughter. "Hahahahaha!! That's right, I am the king of Drum Island!" he declared with a boastful tone. However, his demeanor abruptly shifted as a more pressing concern took over. "But wait, I'm a bit hungry," he mused, his head enlarging grotesquely as he lunged towards the Golden Merry, chomping down a significant portion of the ship's edge in one gigantic bite.
"Merry!!" Usopp shouted in alarm, swiftly pulling out his modified Desert Eagle. He fired thunder and fire elemental bullets simultaneously.
Thunder! Fire! BURST!
The combination of elements triggered a massive explosion, sending Wapol flying back into the sea.
In a coordinated effort, the rest of the Straw Hat crew sprang into action, swiftly subduing all the pirates aboard Wapol's ship. Zoro, sheathing his sword with a sigh, remarked with a hint of regret, "Unfortunately, we were too late."
Meanwhile, Luffy curiously picked up a knife that Wapol had dropped during the commotion. Without a second thought, he took a bite and immediately grimaced. "Bleh! This tastes awful!" he exclaimed, his face twisted in disgust.
Usopp, looking incredulously at Luffy, couldn't hold back his remark. "Are you an idiot? That guy must be a devil fruit user," he pointed out, referring to Wapol's unusual ability.
Sanji chimed in with his own observation, "He might have the powers of the Munch-Munch Fruit." He recalled flipping through a devil fruit illustrated book during his childhood, which led him to this conclusion.
Bai Ye, standing by the damaged edge of the Golden Merry, looked at the sea with a mix of concern and resolve. "Let's capture him and get some answers," he suggested, focusing his energy as he prepared a technique.
[Kan Gua – Water Dragon]
In mere moments, Wapol, who was struggling in the water after being blown away, found himself ensnared by a massive water dragon conjured by Bai Ye's technique. The water dragon deftly hoisted the floundering Wapol onto the deck of the Golden Merry, where he was promptly met with a round of retributive beating from Luffy and the others, outraged over the damage he had inflicted on their beloved ship.
Afterwards, Nami, with the help of a puppet charm, extracted crucial information from Wapol. The crew learned of the grim situation on Drum Island, including how Wapol had cowardly abandoned his kingdom upon the arrival of the Blackbeard Pirates. Vivi, upon hearing this, couldn't contain her disdain. "A king who abandons his people is no king at all," she declared with contempt.
Luffy's attention, however, was caught by the mention of a witch on the island known for her medical expertise. His face lit up with excitement. "We've gotta get her to join us as our ship doctor!" he exclaimed. And when he learned about the legendary snow monster rumored to inhabit Drum Island, his imagination ran wild. "Maybe the snow monster will join us too!" he mused aloud, only to be swiftly corrected by Nami's firm reprimand, delivered via her trademark iron fist.
Observing the efficient way the situation was handled, a faint smile tugged at Bai Ye's lips, amused by the seamless, albeit chaotic, operations of the Straw Hat crew.
The Straw Hats, true to their pirate nature, eagerly embarked on a treasure hunt. Bai Ye, taking charge, securely chained the defeated Wapol Pirates and confined them within the Golden Merry. Wapol himself was unceremoniously dunked into a vat filled with seawater, effectively neutralizing any potential threat he posed.
With the enemies subdued, Nami, accompanied by Vivi, delved into the task of plundering the submarine. Despite his hasty escape from the Blackbeard Pirates, Wapol had managed to accumulate a considerable hoard of wealth, which now fell into the hands of the Straw Hats. Their coffers swelled with the newfound loot, marking yet another profitable venture.
In a final move, Bai Ye, showcasing his unique abilities, stored the entire submarine within his mystical interior space, a feat that left some of his crewmates in awe of his powers.
Having dealt with Wapol, Bai Ye surmised that Drum Island couldn't be far off. True to his intuition, it wasn't long before Zoro, from his vantage point on the observation deck, spotted the island. Guided by his directions, the Straw Hats skillfully navigated their ship towards the shores of Drum Island.
-----
As the Golden Merry approached Drum Island's shore, the crew noticed something unusual. The beach was packed with people, all armed to the teeth. It felt eerily similar to their experience at Whisky Peak, yet distinctly different.
A man who seemed to be in charge stepped forward and asked bluntly, "Are you guys pirates?"
Luffy, without hesitation, confirmed, "Yes, we are pirates." Instantly, the crew found themselves staring down the barrels of numerous firearms, all pointed at them.
The man spoke again, his tone firm, "Leave Drum Island now. This is our home, and we don't allow pirates to set foot here."
It was then that Bai Ye stood up, addressing the man calmly, "You're Dalton, aren't you?" He then explained, "We're here for two reasons. Firstly, we're in search of a ship's doctor. Secondly, we have a present for you." He snapped his fingers, and several paper figurines brought a large barrel onto the deck. Lifting the lid, Bai Ye revealed its contents.
The crowd on the shore gasped in unison, "Wapol!!" Dalton's eyes widened in shock as he saw the deposed king.
But Bai Ye wasn't finished. With another snap of his fingers, paper soldiers presented more captives - those who had fled with Wapol. "It's not just him," Bai Ye declared. "With these gifts, I'm sure you can find a place for us on this island. Right?"
Dalton, absorbing the situation, finally nodded in agreement. "Come with me," he said, "I'll take you to the town."