Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Aboard the Golden Merry, Luffy's voice rang out with unrestrained excitement, "Hey, hey, Bai Ye, quickly show us your thing." He looked at Bai Ye with wide, eager eyes, clearly anticipating something big and spectacular. Bai Ye, surrounded by the curious gazes of the Straw Hats, felt a momentary awkwardness at the phrasing. He mused internally, 'I know Luffy didn't mean it weirdly, but it still feels awkward.'
Suppressing any reactive quips, Bai Ye gestured with his right hand, and suddenly, a lavish spread of pearls and gemstones materialized on the deck. While Luffy and the crew had found some treasures in the rainbow mist, the wealth Bai Ye could bring forth as its controller was on another level. The crew had expressed their desire to see these treasures, leading to this moment of reveal.
Nami couldn't hide her delight, her eyes sparkling as brightly as the gems before her. "Wow! Gems! So many gems!" she exclaimed, nearly swooning at the thought of lying amidst the glittering pile.
But the treasures didn't end there. With a flick of his wrist, Bai Ye produced two sharp swords. Zoro's face lit up at the sight, thinking about the potential of wielding these new blades. "Now I can have three in use and two spare," he mused, already planning his enhanced arsenal.
Bai Ye continued to sort and screen items from the mist, selectively showcasing the more unique findings. Gold and silver were mundane to him, so he stowed those away in his inner world. Among the more intriguing items were an ancient list of herbal medicines—around 180 years old—full of unknown herbs that piqued Chopper's interest, and some rare, extinct fish that immediately drew Sanji's attention.
As soon as the fish were revealed, Sanji's culinary imagination was ignited. Eagerly claiming the ingredients, he shooed a hungry Luffy away, determined to preserve these rare finds for special meals aboard. Finally, Bai Ye brought out a collection of old books, knowing they would be treasured by Robin.
At the culmination of their treasure haul, Bai Ye was particularly intrigued by a piece of incomplete paper. The paper itself wasn't extraordinary, but the script it bore was. Bai Ye surmised it was of significant importance. When Robin first laid eyes on the script, she couldn't contain her excitement and declared, "Ancient text."
Usopp, overhearing the revelation, was equally astonished, "What? Could it be part of the historical text?" The significance of such a text was well known to those familiar with the Ohara incident, hinting at a profound historical impact.
Chopper, gazing at the gathering, added his own speculation, "Could it be about the blank hundred years of history?" The group buzzed with theories and questions. Recognizing the potential importance of the discovery, Bai Ye promptly handed the paper to Robin, entrusting her with its translation. He did so nonchalantly, almost causing damage to the delicate artifact twice, much to Robin's quiet dismay.
With a protective glance at Bai Ye, Robin retreated to her room to fetch her archaeological tools. After ensuring the paper's preservation, she began the meticulous task of deciphering its content. While the paper didn't contain much text, Robin studied it intently for a long time. Finally, she emerged with a look that was hard to describe and announced, "It does contain a portion of the history from the Void century."
This revelation elicited a collective gasp from the crew, their eyes widening in amazement at the potential knowledge hidden within the ancient script. All except Luffy, of course, who remained typically indifferent to anything not directly related to piracy or adventure. His focus remained elsewhere, unswayed by the historical implications of their find.
Robin, with her expertise and focus, delved into translating the cryptic words scrawled on the ancient paper. Her voice carried the weight of history as she recited:
"We came from the infinite land..., all united to form an ideal country."
"Bastard! Betrayal, we've been betrayed, those guys..."
"Hasn't this world belonged to us from the very beginning?"
"D is our friend and the only one who chooses to help us."
"The world...split..."
As she finished, a profound silence enveloped the ship. The crew was visibly shaken by the gravity of the words, each one contemplating the implications. Bai Ye, in particular, felt the weight of the message deeply. As someone familiar with the original anime, he understood the potential significance more than anyone else on board. He mulled over the content, especially the cryptic mention of "the world... splits..."
From Bai Ye's perspective, the phrase suggested multiple interpretations. On one hand, it could imply the political disintegration of a once-unified nation. Yet, the historical context didn't quite align with a simple fall of a kingdom or a change in rulership. The more Bai Ye pondered, the more he leaned toward a literal, physical division of the world. He theorized that during the hundred years of history, there might have been a single massive continent or unified sea.
The overthrow of this great kingdom by the twenty kingdoms, Bai Ye speculated, could have involved some cataclysmic force, powerful enough to reshape the very geography of the world. Such an event would explain the current fragmented layout of the seas and continents.
Robin initiated the discussion with a hypothesis about the ancient text, "That ideal country should be a huge kingdom, right?" Bai Ye nodded in agreement, both contemplating the legendary nation predating the World Government.
Sanji, lighting a cigarette, pondered, "Maybe the World Government usurped the achievements of this Great Kingdom?" Zoro, drawing a parallel, added, "It sounds familiar, like what Crocodile did to Alabasta."
Usopp, intrigued by a different part of the text, pointed out, "The sentence 'D is our friend' is interesting. Could it be related to Luffy's 'D'?" Curious glances shifted towards Luffy, who was nonchalantly picking his nose and eating meat skewers. The crew collectively doubted the connection, murmuring, "It can't be."
The conversation continued with Chopper pondering about the 'infinite land' mentioned in the text. "Infinite land. Where it could be?" he asked.
Nami, too, was curious, "This person said the world does not belong to them. Could they be from another world?" This notion of an 'other world' sparked Luffy's interest, "Other world? That sounds very interesting."
Robin, with a wealth of knowledge from ancient texts, elaborated on the infinite land, recalling, "I've seen it referred to in an old book. It's described as a land separate from the sea, associated with the appearance of the sky island."
The crew's curiosity peaked. "Sky island? What is it? An island floating in mid-air?" Luffy asked, his imagination ignited. Robin clarified further, "To be more precise, it's not the island that floats, but the sea surrounding it."