Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
The sight of Mr. 2 winking playfully was enough to make even someone as composed as Bai Ye feel uncomfortable and avert his gaze. But at that moment, it wasn't just Mr. 2's curiosity that was piqued; Vivi, who was standing nearby, also had a realization.
In the original story, Vivi had always hoped that the Straw Hat crew would help her, and she believed in their ability to defeat Crocodile. However, she never promised them any reward for their assistance. In fact, the crew could have easily avoided the conflict. Since they was unaware that the Straw Hats were the ones aiding her, they could have simply changed their course and steered clear of the battle.
Mr. 2 had previously noted, "Crocodile is a long-established great pirate, and the bounty that has long since stopped rising does not reflect his strength." This statement highlighted the potential underestimation of Crocodile's true capabilities. While Bai Ye had a significant bounty, the bounties on the other Straw Hat members were relatively low compared to Crocodile's.
Upon reflection, Vivi realized that a direct confrontation with Crocodile could lead to serious consequences for the Straw Hats. The risk of casualties was real, especially considering the strength and number of Crocodile's subordinates.
Vivi, moved by the support she received from the Straw Hats, looked up at Bai Ye with a question that had been weighing on her heart. "Why?" she asked earnestly. "Why do you help me?" Her question wasn't one of suspicion but rather stemmed from a sense of overwhelming gratitude and bewilderment at their unconditional support.
In his mind, Bai Ye had a different reason – 'For Robin, of course. . .' – but he kept this thought to himself, knowing that voicing it would disrupt the image he had set for himself.
Instead, Bai Ye gazed at Vivi with calm eyes and a gentle smile, saying softly, "It's our captain's decision." His response was simple yet profound, reflecting the unity and resolve of the Straw Hat crew.
Vivi looked into Bai Ye's clear eyes, momentarily lost in thought. Bai Ye continued, his voice steady and reassuring, "When my captain said he wanted to help you, you were already our partner. We are pirates who can sacrifice our lives for our partners."
Bai Ye, unable to resist the urge to say something impactful, added, "As for the Warlords of the Sea," he paused for effect, then laughed lightly, exuding confidence. "My captain is destined to become the Pirate King. As his crew, how could we be afraid of the lackeys of the navy or others!!"
Vivi, touched by Bai Ye's words, covered her mouth, trying to hold back tears. She was overwhelmed by the feeling of being considered a partner by the Straw Hats. Reflecting on the journey and the moments she had shared with them, Vivi's eyes welled up with tears.
In that moment, Vivi even entertained the thought of becoming a member of Luffy's crew. The sense of belonging and the unwavering support she felt from them stirred something deep within her, making her contemplate a life of adventure and camaraderie with the Straw Hats.
Amid the emotional atmosphere, a rather peculiar and loud cry broke the silence, "Ahhhhhhh!!" It was Mr. 2, still bound tightly, who couldn't contain his emotions. "This kind of friendship really touched me!!" he exclaimed, tears streaming down his face.
"Ahhhhhhh!! Brother Bai Ye is too handsome!! I can't help but want to kiss you!!" Mr. 2 continued, his emotions overflowing.
Initially, Bai Ye felt a sense of satisfaction seeing Mr. 2 moved by their bond. However, Mr. 2's declaration about wanting to kiss Bai Ye caught him off guard, and he felt a bit overwhelmed.
Regardless, Mr. 2 had already made his decision to assist the Straw Hat crew. Bai Ye had a plan in mind for how Mr. 2 could be of help.
As the time came for parting, everyone from the Straw Hats waved goodbye to Mr. 2, who stood on his swan boat, tearfully bidding farewell. "By the way, my name is Bentham, remember it. And Little Straw Hat, Little Bai Ye..., I will definitely complete my mission. Farewell," he said, his voice filled with emotion.
"Waiting for your arrival," the Straw Hats responded in unison.
Bai Ye, with a slight twitch of his mouth, thought to himself that the task he had given Bentham wasn't particularly dangerous. Yet Bentham's dramatic farewell made it seem like a life-and-death mission.
But some crew members genuinely felt the weight of this goodbye. The trio of Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper appeared especially moved, biting their lips and watching Bentham with a sense of longing and sadness.
As Bentham's swan boat slowly drifted away, Luffy, unable to hold back any longer, cried out, "Bentham!!" In response, Bentham suddenly turned around and even reached out as if trying to grab Luffy, a final gesture of their newfound friendship and connection.
Upon witnessing the scene between Bentham and Luffy, Bai Ye couldn't help but display a somewhat disgusted smirk. He then made a swift jump, flipped his wrist, and pulled out a talisman. Talisman — God's Help
With a deft throw, Bai Ye attached the talisman to the swan boat. In the next instant, the boat sped away from the spot at an astonishingly faster pace, much to the surprise of everyone.
The trio of Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper called out in unison, "Bentham!!" But their emotional farewell was abruptly interrupted by a strong smack on each of their heads. This sudden action helped restore the usual peace and tranquility aboard the Golden Merry.
Later, the crew gathered in the meeting room to discuss their battle plan, enjoying the refreshments prepared by Sanji. The first topic of discussion was the current situation in Alabasta. Thanks to the talisman brought by Igaram, there had been no defections from the 300,000-strong king's army. However, the few rains that had fallen weren't enough to completely dissuade the revolutionary army from laying down their weapons. As a result, the revolutionary army had retreated to its base, and a truce was currently in place between them and the king's forces.
Bai Ye had previously explained a strategy whereby the royal family would clarify the Dance Powder incident to the revolutionary army within half a month and identify the real culprit behind it. The reason this issue hadn't been directly reported to the Navy was the lack of concrete evidence, whether it was proving Crocodile as the boss of Baroque Works or his involvement in the Dance Powder incident.
This lack of evidence was where Crocodile's confidence stemmed from, as he knew his plans would only be revealed in the final battle. Until then, he was virtually untouchable, and the Navy wouldn't arrest a Warlord of the Sea based on mere accusations.
Bai Ye understood that all his actions up to this point were aimed at buying time. In the original story, by the time the Straw Hats arrived in Alabasta, the situation had spiraled out of control. But now, with their timely arrival, Bai Ye believed everything could be resolved quickly.
This confidence stemmed from his advantage as a time traveler with foresight. However, whether this plan would work as smoothly as Bai Ye anticipated remained to be seen. The situation was complex, and the outcome uncertain, but Bai Ye's strategic planning gave them a fighting chance to resolve the crisis in Alabasta.
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As Captain Smoker disembarked from his warship in the port of Alabasta, he was promptly approached by Tashigi. She had important news to relay, and with a formal salute, she began her report.
"Captain Smoker," Tashigi said, getting straight to the point. "There is news from headquarters. Reinforcements have been officially dispatched to deal with the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates — 'Fire Fist' Ace."
She continued to brief Smoker about the details of the reinforcements that had been sent. Smoker, listening intently with his signature trio of cigars in his mouth, showed a slight hint of satisfaction at this news. The corner of his mouth raised slightly as he contemplated the significance of the reinforcements arriving to handle someone as notable as 'Fire Fist' Ace.
"It will be really good," Smoker remarked, his tone indicating a mix of anticipation and readiness.