Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Usopp stared as Robin and the strange creature exchanged what seemed like urgent dialogue. "Hey, hey, this is no joke. It looks like Robin actually understands him!"
"Wow! Robin is awesome!" Luffy exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration and a touch of envy.
"Robin is great!" Merry cheered, clearly impressed.
At that moment, Nami, puzzled, chimed in. "But how does Robin know their language? She's from the same world as us, right?"
Bai Ye responded with a knowing smile. "Did you forget? Robin doesn't only know our language. She's also fluent in another very ancient one."
"That's the ancient text," he added, just as Robin and the elderly creature seemed to wrap up their conversation.
"Miss Robin looks serious, it's really impressive~~~" Sanji couldn't help but twist his body, moving closer to Robin in a flattering manner.
"Hey, Robin, did you get what that guy said?" Luffy asked, full of hope.
Robin responded with a playful smile, "I didn't understand a thing~"
"Huh?!" Everyone looked shocked.
Zoro, a bit annoyed, blurted out, "Were you just pretending to understand him?"
In an unexpected twist, Sanji and Merry quickly sided with Robin, confronting Zoro. "Show some respect! Apologize to Sister Robin, you moss-head!" Sanji demanded.
"Yeah, Zoro, say you're sorry to Robin," Merry chimed in, supporting Sanji.
Even Luffy joined in, mockingly calling out, "Three Swords Style."
Usopp, exasperated, corrected him: "I've told you, 'Three Swords Style' isn't an insult!"
"Are you guys serious?" Zoro defended himself, annoyed by the sudden pile-on, his forehead creased with frustration.
Amidst the chaos, Robin burst into laughter. "While I didn't understand everything, I did catch some useful bits," she revealed with a playful smile.
"You're unbelievable..." Zoro muttered, more lines of irritation marking his face.
Ignoring Zoro's grumbling, Robin continued, "From what I gathered, they identify as space pirates and adventure across the cosmos."
"And that vast emptiness we see? That's what they call the universe," she added, clarifying her earlier point.
Luffy's interest was instantly piqued. "Space Pirates? The universe?!"
"There are so many amazing places and pirates out there?!"
Suddenly, Luffy looked distressed. "Oh! It's so confusing!!"
Usopp looked puzzled. "What's wrong with Luffy?"
Bai Ye, understanding Luffy's simple mindset, explained, "He's torn between wanting to explore space and his commitment to becoming the Pirate King."
Luffy's face twisted in conflict as he molded it into a funny shape. "I promised Shanks I'd become the Pirate King and find One Piece! But, I really want to see the universe too! It must be super fun!!"
Without warning, Zoro delivered a firm chop to Luffy's head, his hand wrapped in Haki. "Can't you resist even this temptation?"
Clearly, Zoro was the more mature one in this situation.
Bai Ye reassured Luffy, "That's right, before we aim for the stars, we should conquer the Grand Line."
He was confident that Luffy would ultimately choose what was right. Calming down, Luffy acknowledged, "Yes, thanks, Zoro and Bai Ye. One Piece is my goal for now. After that, let's embark on a space adventure together." His crewmates smiled, sharing in his resolve.
Robin then redirected the conversation to their current situation: "These space pirates didn't end up here by chance; they returned deliberately, searching for something ancient."
"They know where to find the underground ruins," she continued, piecing together the clues. "Maybe their ancestors once lived here too?"
Sanji, lighting a cigarette, pondered the implications. "The moon's full of secrets. Robin and Bai Ye mentioned that the people of Sky Island originated from here, and now we're dealing with space pirates."
"I'm curious about what drove the moon's inhabitants to flee," he mused.
Bai Ye added, "Let's uncover these mysteries together. If these pirates have pinpointed the ruins..."
He gestured towards the massive cylindrical machine with a conspiratorial grin. "Perhaps they'd be willing to share this device with us?"
-----
Even the odd creatures calling themselves space pirates turned out to be quite amiable. After a "friendly" negotiation with the Straw Hats, they were persuaded by Bai Ye's "arguments" to be cooperative. They not only left the cylindrical machine for the crew to use but also taught Robin how to operate it.
Choosing not to hinder the Straw Hats' adventure any further, the space pirates swiftly packed up their belongings and departed in their spaceship.
What followed was straightforward. The space pirates had been laboring here long before the Straw Hats' arrival. After a few more digs with the cylindrical machine, the crew uncovered what appeared to be an entrance to an underground passage.
Standing at the cave's threshold, Luffy's face lit up with the thrill of impending adventure. "I'm really looking forward to this!!" he exclaimed, undeterred by the daunting, seemingly bottomless tunnel ahead. The promise of adventure excited him.
Just as Luffy was about to launch into one of his trademark declarations, he suddenly yelped as he was unexpectedly kicked forward: "Then, everyone... ah!!"
It was clearly Nami's doing. "Really, we're all here, no time to waste!!" she chided. Caught off guard, Luffy managed only a startled shout before tumbling down the tunnel.
Hearing the echoes fade, Nami evaluated the sounds. "Doesn't seem too dangerous," she concluded confidently and then leapt after him, "I'm going next!"