Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
When Bai Ye opened his eyes, he found himself in an all-too-familiar setting that left him bewildered. "Did I just have a dream?" he wondered, looking around at the familiar furniture. The room he was in looked exactly like the one he had slept in before his adventure in the One Piece world began.
Shaking his head, Bai Ye struggled to come to terms with what he was seeing. Memories of his time in the One Piece world flashed through his mind, too vivid and detailed to be merely fragments of a dream. And who would dream of such a heroic end for themselves? Bai Ye felt a mix of emotions churning inside him, but he couldn't find an outlet to express them.
Intrigued by a sudden thought, Bai Ye attempted to use one of his techniques:
Xun Gua - WIND!
But there was only silence; nothing happened. The Qimen techniques he had relied on were no longer at his command, and he couldn't sense any Qi. This realization deepened his confusion. "Am I really dreaming?" he questioned himself.
After some contemplation, a theory formed in his mind. 'Maybe, I really did travel through time, but after I died, I returned to my original time?' This thought led him to consider Luffy and the others. 'They must be very sad,' he thought, empathizing with the grief his friends in the One Piece world must be experiencing, believing they had lost him forever.
-----
After hearing Ace's words, Luffy gazed at the large white cocoon on the ground and burst into laughter. "Hahaha! It's really great that Bai Ye didn't die!!" he exclaimed with joy. Then, clapping his hands together with a look of determination, he declared, "Then, let me save you, Bai Ye!" He prepared to unleash an attack on the white cocoon.
Gomu Gomu no...
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
But before he could finish, Zoro, Sanji, and Ace simultaneously punched Luffy on the back of his head, reprimanding him in unison, "Idiot!! What are you doing?" The trio exchanged helpless glances, each understanding the other's frustration in dealing with Luffy's impulsive nature.
Sanji then suggested, "Let's take Bai Ye away now and let Chopper take a look. Although Chopper may not fully understand his state, this is the only way for us." Zoro, usually quick to argue with Sanji, simply nodded in agreement, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
Ace, unfamiliar with Chopper, chose not to question further. Instead, he turned his attention to their immediate surroundings, adjusting his cowboy hat. "Before that, let's solve the current troubles first," he said, indicating the impending conflict.
The sound of footsteps announced the navy soldiers' return to consciousness. They had been stunned by Luffy's Haki earlier but now regrouped, standing firmly behind Smoker and Hina. Smoker, puffing on his trio of cigars, stated calmly, "Straw Hat Pirates, don't even think about leaving."
It was clear that the situation was not in the navy's favor, but they were determined to fulfill their duties. This resolve changed the mood among the pirates. Ace's smile faded, Sanji lit his cigarette, and Zoro unsheathed his three swords. Luffy, positioning himself protectively in front of Bai Ye's cocoon, lowered his straw hat with one hand, his expression serious and focused. The atmosphere was tense, charged with anticipation, as if a fight could break out at any moment.
From the sky above, a sudden voice commanded everyone's attention: "Stop!" All eyes turned upwards, and to their surprise, it was Princess Vivi who had called out. She was riding on a large falcon, which was none other than Pell, the head of the Kingdom Guard. Pell had the ability to transform into a falcon, thanks to the Zoan Devil Fruit - Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Falcon he had consumed. Accompanying Vivi on Pell's back were several other familiar figures - Nami, Usopp, and Chopper.
Sanji, taken aback, had previously instructed Nami and the others to sail away by ship. Not only had they returned, but they were also in the company of Princess Vivi. At this moment, Vivi addressed Smoker and the other navy personnel with a tone that grew increasingly serious, and even commanding. "In order to arrest pirates, your navy has destroyed a city to such an extent," she stated, her voice carrying a hint of regal authority. "Are you provoking Alabasta? Here, as the princess of Alabasta and a member of the World Government, I declare: Leave the waters of Alabasta within one hour. Otherwise, you will wait for the accountability from the World Government."
Before anyone else could respond, Hina spoke up. "The navy acted without consulting the royal family, which was indeed a mistake first, and Hina has nothing to say about that. But," she continued, "Hina hopes that Princess Vivi can grant us more time. Because there are still vicious pirates here, Hina needs to arrest them and bring them to justice." After making her point, Hina glanced at Princess Vivi with a challenging look and added, "If Princess Vivi refuses, Hina would think that you are covering up for the pirates. What do you say, Vivi?"
Caught in a difficult position, Princess Vivi had initially exerted her authority as a member of the World Government, but now she found herself constrained by Hina's counterargument. Hina's expression was one of confidence, skillfully using Vivi's own declaration against her to justify the navy's actions and goals.
In the midst of the tense standoff, Hina believed that Princess Vivi, under the pressure of the situation, would inevitably make concessions. Meanwhile, Ace and the others were contemplating their next move. Sanji and the rest understood they couldn't blame Vivi for her decisions. As a princess responsible for the welfare of her nation, which was already dealing with internal rebellions, her efforts to assist them in any way was commendable.
However, everyone was taken aback when Vivi responded swiftly and decisively. "That's right!" she declared, standing proudly on Pell's back and looking down at Hina and the navy. "So what if I cover them? So what if I don't cover them? Don't forget, this is Alabasta and I am the princess! Here, I have the right to deal with anything. Do you have an opinion? If you do, report it to the World Government and let them come and talk to us." Vivi's voice grew stronger, asserting her authority with confidence. "Or, do you think that with two captains from the headquarters, you can persecute the princess of Alabasta?!"
Her statement served as a reminder to Hina of the navy's role as enforcers of the World Government, whose member countries include Alabasta. The words she used implied that the navy was like a dog raised by these countries, meant to heed their commands. In an era dominated by powerful pirates, the navy's influence had grown substantially. This was often why the navy felt confident when operating within World Government territories.
Hina, initially angered by Vivi's retort, struggled to find a counterargument. She hadn't expected such eloquence and strategic thinking from the young princess, who skillfully avoided falling into the trap Hina had set. Instead, Vivi leveraged her status as a member of the World Government to her advantage. Hina realized that without direct orders from Navy Headquarters, further engagement here could lead to significant complications for herself and the navy.
Smoker, standing by, contemplated the situation. He considered whether a surprise attack could quickly resolve the conflict but soon dismissed the idea. Left with no other option, he expressed his frustration by smoking his cigars more intensely.
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