Translator: PapaSmurf0700
In a room within Enies Lobby, Nami flashed a knowing smile at Fukurou, who was still reeling in shock. "Thank you for all the information, Fukurou~," she said graciously, picking up her Clima-Tact before stepping out into the corridor. For Nami, a CP9 level opponent was no longer a significant challenge.
Exiting the room, she soon encountered a familiar face. "Eh? Isn't this Robin?" she exclaimed with a smile, spotting Robin who had just finished handling Wanze and Nero.
Moments later, Usopp and Franky arrived, breathless from their own battles. After catching up briefly, girls noticed two giant figures approaching—Oimo and Kashii.
Perched on the giants' shoulders, the Straw Hats shared tales of their skirmishes, the atmosphere surprisingly light and jovial.
Unlike the tense and urgent rescue mission of the original story, this time the Straw Hats were the aggressors. It was their first significant engagement since leaving Sky Island, and the opponent was none other than Enies Lobby, a major stronghold under the World Government.
Yet, despite the gravity of their mission, the crew handled the World Government's forces with ease, lending an air of calm to their assembly.
As the group made swift progress across the island, thanks to the strides of the towering giants, they soon arrived at the courthouse roof. There, they found Sanji, who was energetically waving down at them. "Nami-san~ Sister Robin~" he called out cheerfully.
At his feet lay the unconscious forms of Jabra and Kumadori. Merry, from her vantage point atop a giant's shoulder, spotted Sanji and shouted, "Ah! It's Sanji, and look, there's Zoro and Luffy too!"
Zoro stood by, his arms folded in his usual stoic manner, while Luffy sat atop tower, waving energetically. "Everyone~ Come over here!" he yelled, beckoning his friends to join him in what had become less a battle and more a triumphant gathering of the Straw Hat crew.
Soon, Nami and the others were lifted to the roof of the courthouse by the giants. Robin glanced at the foes sprawled near them and remarked, "It looks like you three had quite the 'challenging' opponents."
"But it seems everything has been handled perfectly," she added, observing the calm around them.
Luffy, touching his straw hat, chuckled. "Haha, yeah, they were tough cookies." He faced some of the island's fiercest, including the top enforcers of CP9: Lucci, Kaku, and Blueno. Although Luffy was stronger, the fights demanded his best efforts.
At that moment, Zoro, with his usual deadpan expression, commented, "If that perverted cook hadn't messed things up, I'd have been here sooner."
Sanji retorted, "Huh? You're the one who burst in suddenly. I was on my way to find Nami-san and Miss Robin, you moss-head!"
"And you'd still be lost if it weren't for me!"
Zoro shot back, "Curly eyebrows!"
Sanji snapped, "Cactus head!"
Zoro growled, "I'll slice you up, you jerk!"
Sanji challenged, "Bring it on, moron!"
Watching the familiar banter, everyone but Franky couldn't help but smile. Luffy laughed heartily, "Haha, Zoro and Sanji are really getting along better than ever."
Though they always seemed at odds, in battles, they were the least of the crew's worries.Suddenly, a thought struck them all, "Wait, where's Bai Ye?"
Luffy looked confused, "Could he have gotten lost like Zoro?"
Zoro looked bewildered, "??"
Chopper speculated, "Maybe he got stuck in a chimney?"
Usopp exclaimed, "Who could be that dumb?!"
As the Straw Hats were busy chatting, Bai Ye's voice suddenly floated down from a balcony of the Tower of Justice. "Looks like everyone's here!" he called out, holding a glass of pear juice and observing the group with a relaxed air.
The crew looked up in surprise. Bai Ye's casual demeanor took them aback, and quickly, their bafflement turned into exasperation.
Zoro frowned deeply, his irritation evident. "Have you been lounging up there this whole time?" he demanded.
"Is this really how a deputy captain behaves?" Sanji chimed in, his voice dripping with disbelief.
Nami clenched her Clima-Tact, visibly annoyed. "This is totally unacceptable! He's becoming more irresponsible by the minute," she grumbled, contemplating whether to shock some sense into him.
Amidst the growing grumbles from the crew, Luffy's carefree voice cut through. "Was the juice tasty, Bai Ye? You know, talking about drinks made me hungry."
The others stared, bewildered by Luffy's nonchalant response.
Laughing, Bai Ye set down his glass. "Well, it was hard to leave with such generous hospitality here," he explained casually.
As he spoke, Bai Ye dragged Spandam forward. The man was battered and barely recognizable—an apparent result of his 'hospitality.'
Bai Ye casually remarked as he nudged the bruised and battered Spandam forward. "This gentleman was quite helpful. When I mentioned I was searching for information about Mr. Tom, he promptly gathered it for me. It would have been rude to just leave without thanking him."
The Straw Hat Pirates exchanged looks, their expressions ranging from skeptical to amused. "Does he really expect us to buy that?" they thought to themselves.
Luffy, ever the optimist, chimed in cheerfully, "Oh, so he's a good guy then!"
Nami and Usopp exchanged a weary glance, muttering under their breath, "Forget about this guy…"
Spandam, seizing the moment to assert his authority, began to lecture them: "Straw Hats, do you understand the gravity of breaking into Enies Lobby? Even if you escape today, you've marked yourselves as enemies of the World Government—the rulers of the entire sea. Do you comprehend the magnitude of the forces you've provoked?"
Bai Ye suppressed a chuckle at Spandam's bravado, which was as inflated as ever. Spandam, believing his own life was safe from harm, became increasingly bold. "Perhaps you should ask Nico Robin about the hardships of being pursued by the World Government," he taunted, his voice tinged with malice. "And now, with Cutty Flam and the blueprints of Pluton in your possession, your days are numbered! You'll soon suffer agonizing deaths at the hands of the government's might!"
His laughter grew louder, edged with hysteria, perhaps a side effect of the beating he had taken from Bai Ye. Spandam's gloating was met with silence from the Straw Hats. He paused, suddenly aware of the mood shift. The atmosphere was not as receptive or fearful as he had anticipated.