Translator: PapaSmurf0700
The standoff continued, with the white wolf leader growing increasingly bold in his declarations. "I'm telling you now, don't even think about taking over our territory!" Chopper translated, his voice wavering a bit.
Quick to clarify, Chopper added, "We're not here to take anything; we have our reasons for being here."
The wolf glanced at the cooking setup with disdain. "This land is ours, how dare you start cooking without asking us," he growled.
Chopper meekly apologized, "Sorry~"
The wolf's tone then turned demanding. "It would be best for you if you handed over all the food. Every plant and tree in this forest belongs to me and my wolf pack, so you..."
Before the wolf could finish, Nami's fist swung into action. Boom! The white wolf boss hit the ground, a sizable bump forming on his head.
Chopper, watching Nami's swift movement, exclaimed in a mix of awe and fear, "Nami is scary!!"
Nami stood firm, her fists still clenched, her gaze fierce. "You won't be getting any gold from here!"
The other wolves snarled back, their expressions menacing as if they were on the verge of attacking.
Usopp, visibly nervous, remarked, "Nami, you're really cranking up the tension here!"
Nami shot back, confident and a bit exasperated, "Then come up with something fast!"
"Me? Think of a solution?!" Usopp was taken aback, flustered by the quick shift of responsibility.
Just as the wolves appeared ready to leap into action, a commanding howl cut through the tension. "Aww!" It was the wolf leader, still on the ground from Nami's punch.
Chopper, always the translator, relayed, "Stop!"
The white wolf leader, now sitting up and nursing his mouth with a paw, somehow managed to look both grim and authoritative. He addressed his pack, "Even together, you're no match for them."
Then, turning his gaze to Nami, his expression softened into an oddly charming smile. "Miss, your punch was really something. I'm quite impressed!"
"I like you very much!" he declared, his tail wagging slightly despite the tension.
When Nami noticed the white wolf's admiring gaze, she couldn't help but puff up with pride. Just as their eyes met, sparking what seemed like the beginning of an unusual alliance, the situation took a sudden turn.
Boom!
Sanji, overcome with jealousy, swiftly kicked the white wolf leader away, proclaiming with a mix of anger and protectiveness, "I will never let Miss Nami be taken by you!"
This comical scene brought a wave of laughter from everyone around, breaking the tension completely. Perched comfortably on Bai Ye's shoulder, Merry looked around, puzzled, and asked, "So, is everything settled now?"
With a broad smile, Bai Ye responded, "Yes, completely resolved."
Just then, Luffy, always ready to boost the spirits further, threw his arms up and cheered, "Hahahaha! If that's the case, let's all gather around a bonfire!"
The idea of a bonfire seemed perfect. With the night fully settled in and surrounded by new friends, it was indeed the perfect moment for a celebration.
In no time, the white wolves and the Straw Hats were intermingling as if they had been companions for years. Luffy and Usopp, in particular, were enthusiastically teaching the wolves a quirky dance they had picked up somewhere, both groups laughing and stepping around the fire.
Merry, tagging along with Chopper, listened intently to the white wolves' tales of forest adventures, their laughter filling the air with joy.
Meanwhile, Sanji was being handed various game meats by the wolves, interpreting it as an invitation to showcase his culinary skills. "Then, let me show you what real cooking is like!" he declared, setting to work.
The wolves howled in approval, clearly delighted: "Aww!". Unbeknownst to Sanji, however, the wolves' intentions weren't entirely about the food.
On the sidelines, the white wolf leader, now seemingly smitten, approached Nami with a gift. As she tasted the juice from a rustic wooden bowl, her eyes lit up with pleasure. "Is this the juice you made?" she asked, impressed. "It's delicious, let's have another!" Raising her bowl, she clinked it against that of the wolf leader.
In the calm outskirts of the raucous celebration, Zoro found solace under a large tree, savoring the freshly brewed spirit wine crafted by Bai Ye. His tranquility was soon shared, however, as he noticed a white wolf sitting nearby in an almost human-like pose, cradling a wooden bowl between its paws. The wolf's gaze was locked onto the wine jar Zoro held in his hands.
Their eyes met, and an unspoken understanding seemed to pass between man and beast. After a contemplative pause, Zoro relented, pouring some of the potent brew into the wolf's bowl. "Well, forget it," he grumbled half-heartedly. "If you get drunk, don't say I didn't warn you."
The white wolf responded with an appreciative "Ah woo~," a sound lost in translation but filled with mutual respect. Zoro, not one for lengthy conversations, especially with animals he couldn't fully understand, lifted the jar to his lips and took a hearty swig. Mimicking Bai Ye's earlier sentiment with a rough edge to his voice, he declared, "It's all in the wine!" before downing another gulp, enjoying the simple company and the quiet moment away from the festivities.
As Robin savored a bite of dessert, she noted the buzz of activity around her, remarking, "It's really lively." Bai Ye, watching her, chuckled a bit and responded, "It seems like you're not too fond of all this noise." Robin, with a smile, propped her chin with her hand, replying, "No way, I'm not as young as you and Luffy. I feel more like a big sister around here."
Bai Ye's smile twitched slightly at her words, finding himself momentarily at a loss for a response. Robin, noticing his discomfort, seemed amused by it. Successfully shifting the conversation, she said, "There seems to be something unusual about this forest."
Gazing up at the towering trees surrounding them, Robin observed, "Even though we've pretty much confirmed that this is the other half of Jaya Island, the plants here have grown abnormally fast over the past 400 years." Bai Ye shrugged and suggested, "It might be due to the unique substances that form the sea clouds and island clouds here."
Robin nodded in agreement, adding, "The ecological environment of Angel Island must be accelerating the growth rates of its flora and fauna." She expressed concern, "I just hope that the Golden City hasn't suffered too much from these rapidly growing plants and animals."
Bai Ye couldn't quite bring himself to tell her that Enel had smelted all the gold from Golden City to build his ark, sparing most of the ruins from further damage due to the island's limited population.
Just then, Luffy's voice cut through the air, full of excitement: "Bai Ye, Robin!!" Usopp, along with several white wolves, accompanied him. Luffy continued, "Let's dance together, Bai Ye, Robin." Usopp, performing a comical dance with a white wolf, chimed in earnestly, "You two really shouldn't just sit around eating and drinking tea at every party."
The white wolf beside him nodded as if agreeing. Over by the bonfire, Merry and Chopper waved their hands, calling out, "Robin~ Bai Ye~ Come and join us!"
Seeing the enthusiasm from everyone, Bai Ye could only smile and look over at Robin, resigning himself to the inevitable with a light-hearted sigh, "It looks like we can't avoid it after all."