Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Robin paused for a moment, her eyebrows knitting together slightly as she murmured, "Golden City?" Her confusion quickly gave way to excitement as understanding dawned. "The wings on the back of the Shandia tribe!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with realization.
Bai Ye nodded, his smile widening. "Exactly," he affirmed. "If our hypothesis that the Sky Islanders originated from Fairy Vearth holds true, then the Shandias' history is particularly significant. It's plausible to suggest that the ancestors of the Shandia tribe were among the founders of the legendary great kingdom that vanished centuries ago."
He continued, his voice filled with intrigue, "Noland's logbook mentions an ancient complex of buildings in the Golden City. It's hard not to speculate that the city, guarded by the Shandia, could be a remnant of that great kingdom. At the very least, it should hold some clues about Fairy Vearth."
After laying out his theories, Bai Ye exhaled deeply, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation at sharing his thoughts. His knowledge of the original story had informed him of the Poneglyph in the Golden City and Enel's plans involving the Ark Maxim to reach Fairy Vearth. This background fortified his theories about the city's mysterious origins.
Given the Shandia's portrayal in the story, Bai Ye found it difficult to believe they could have constructed something as grand as the Golden City, especially considering the improbability of Jaya Island harboring such vast amounts of gold. His theory extended even to Wano Country, suggesting a connection to the ancient Great Kingdom, though such hypotheses would take time to verify.
As night deepened around them, Bai Ye stretched lazily and pulled out two glasses of orange juice from his internal space. He handed one to Robin with a casual, "It's getting late, best to turn in."
With that, he downed his juice in one gulp and headed toward his room, leaving Robin with a smile on her lips as she watched him go. Clutching the glass he had given her, she gazed up at the starry sky, her mind buzzing with the possibilities they had discussed.
-----
As the morning sun broke over Angel Island, the Straw Hat pirates split into three separate teams, each with their own tasks for the day. Chopper, ever the attentive doctor, noticed Robin looking unusually weary and couldn't hide his concern. "Robin, you seem off today. Are you feeling unwell? I'm here if you need a check-up!"
Robin managed a small smile, reassuring him, "I'm fine, Chopper. It's just that I didn't get much sleep last night, that's all." Her mind drifted briefly to Bai Ye, whose theories from the previous night had kept her thoughts busy.
Conis, overhearing the conversation, expressed concern, "Oh, did you find the beds uncomfortable at my place?"
Quick to dispel any worries, Robin gracefully shook her head. "Not at all, your hospitality was wonderful. It's not that."
Before the topic could linger further, Merry, who had been holding Robin's hand, guided her towards a nearby shop. "Look, Robin, they have Sky Island wood here. It could be good for the ship." With a tactful change of subject, Merry steered the conversation towards their shopping mission, allowing Robin to put aside her restless night for the moment.
-----
On the sandy shores of Angel Island, Bai Ye felt a wave of dizziness as Luffy's cries for help rang out: "Wow!! Bai Ye!! Help me!!" Bai Ye couldn't help but wonder if he had overestimated Luffy's abilities.
Using his Wind Trigram - Feather Wind technique, Bai Ye summoned a gentle gust that safely guided Luffy back from the brink of falling into the sea. Once Luffy was securely on land, Bai Ye searched for the right words, finally saying, "Luffy, maybe this isn't your thing. And that's okay. Not everyone excels at everything."
As he spoke, Bai Ye gestured towards Zoro and Sanji, who were both looking quite disheveled after their own attempts with the Waver. "Look at them," Bai Ye pointed out, "they've been struggling just as much."
Sanji and Zoro, usually at odds, found a rare moment of solidarity. "Huh?!" they exclaimed in unison. Sanji clarified, "We've got the hang of driving the Waver. We were just testing out the Jet Ski."
Zoro, arms crossed, chimed in defensively, "Luffy can't even stay on the Waver for more than ten seconds. You can't really compare him to us."
Bai Ye's attempt at consolation seemed to have struck a nerve, as both Zoro and Sanji seemed offended by any implication that they were on the same level as Luffy when it came to ineptitude.
Watching Luffy stubbornly hoist the Waver and prepare for another go, Bai Ye tried to intervene, "But you still ended up in the water, right?" Zoro retorted, "I wouldn't have fallen if this love-cook hadn't been in my way!"
Sanji, visibly irritated, shot back, "You're the one who was lost and barged into my practice area, Moss head!"
Zoro scoffed, "Lost? As if! You know I don't get lost. Curly Eyebrow!"
Sanji snapped, "Says you, Cactus Head!"
(...)
Their bickering escalated, and Bai Ye, watching the two go back and forth, couldn't help but exclaim in exasperation, "...Why are you guys arguing again?!!"
"Luffy, look at them..." Bai Ye began, but when he turned around, he discovered Luffy was missing. Glancing around, he spotted Luffy attempting to ride the Waver again.
Luffy cried out, "Help! I fell again!"
Before Bai Ye could step in to assist, a sleek figure zipped across the water like a phantom and scooped up Luffy. It was Nami, looking every bit the part of a beach goddess in her bikini, effortlessly piloting a Jet Board. "Really, can't you guys learn when to give up?" she scolded with a mix of amusement and frustration.
From the shore, Sanji couldn't contain his admiration, shouting, "Nami!! So beautiful!!" while Zoro, not to be outdone in determination, barked, "Stop talking!! I won't give up!!"
Luffy, now safely aboard Nami's Jet Board but still flailing, protested, "Nami, leave me alone, you bastard!" That, of course, was the wrong thing to say.
Boom! Nami's retaliation was swift—a powerful "fist of love" to Luffy's head. "Then don't let Bai Ye save you all the time, idiot Luffy!!" she exclaimed, clearly exasperated.
Back on the beach, Bai Ye watched the chaotic scene unfold among his crew and couldn't help feeling a bit drained. It was then that Pagaya approached from behind, carrying drinks from home, his laughter filling the air. "Hahaha, it looks like everyone is having a good time," he observed cheerfully.
Bai Ye gratefully accepted the drink, thanking him with a tired smile, "Thank you, Mister."
Pagaya, observing the young pirate, commented, "I didn't expect you to have such superb construction skills."