One Piece: Bai Ye Deputy Captain of the Straw Hats

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

For the Straw Hat Pirates, decisions are made swiftly once Luffy gives the final word and Bai Ye gives his approval. Thus, with unanimous agreement, their next destination was set for the Sabaody Archipelago.

Before they set sail, however, a few minor incidents unfolded. One such incident involved the Rolling Pirates.

After Sabo mistakenly identified Lola as Chiffon, Lola revealed that she was actually the daughter of Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors, and had fled from the New World. Her escape was driven by a desire to avoid an arranged marriage—a quite dramatic backstory. The intended groom was none other than Loki, the prince of the Elbaf Giant Kingdom.

This wasn't just any arranged marriage; it was a union intended to bridge Totto Land and Elbaf. Loki had fallen in love with Lola at first sight and was adamant about marrying her. When Lola chose freedom over marriage, Big Mom attempted to substitute Lola with her twin sister, Chiffon. However, Loki immediately saw through the deception, a testament to his genuine feelings for Lola.

Lola was thankful for the assistance she received from Luffy and the others, having learned about their reputation through the "Straw Hat Pirates Special." In gratitude, she gave Luffy the Vivre Card of her mother, Big Mom, and expressed a hope that if they ever went to Wano Country, they might confront her mother.

Bai Ye, however, didn't show much concern for the lead that connected them to Big Mom through Lola. The New World was largely dominated by the Four Emperors, and it was almost inevitable that the Straw Hat Pirates would cross paths with Big Mom at some point.

Nevertheless, the Vivre Card Lola handed over was not without its uses. This wasn't just any Vivre Card; it was imbued with Big Mom's powerful soul, which had the capability to intimidate ordinary Homies. It was this very card that had facilitated Lola's successful escape.

Lola's plea for the Straw Hat Pirates to confront Big Mom didn't stir much interest in Luffy. His priorities were adventure and the quest for One Piece. Soon after, Lola bid farewell to the crew, ready to leave the Florian Triangle where she had been trapped for three years.

Unknown to Bai Ye and the others, as Lola and her group departed, they encountered a massive black shadow lurking in the dense fog—a sight that Bai Ye could never have predicted.

-----

"Thank you."

"What?" Bai Ye, puzzled, tilted his head, unaccustomed to feeling confused.

As the Straw Hat Pirates prepared to set sail, Kuma, typically a man of few words, approached Bai Ye and unexpectedly expressed his gratitude. Due to Kuma's reserved nature, Bai Ye found no forthcoming explanation to clarify the sudden thanks. He could only wonder aloud, half-jokingly, "Could it be that I've lost my memory? Did I previously give him some magical artifact for preserving the soul?"

"Hahaha, Mr. Bartholomew Kuma really isn't one for words," Sabo chimed in, approaching with a smile.

"First, Bai Ye..." he began.

"Just call me Bai Ye. You're Luffy's brother. There's no need for formalities between us."

"Okay, Bai Ye." Sabo nodded, then turned towards the tall but reserved Bartholomew Kuma and explained, "Mr. Bartholomew Kuma wants to thank you for saving his life."

"Oh, is that so? Then I understand..." Bai Ye responded automatically, then paused, "What the hell do I understand?" He suddenly realized his confusion.

"Hahaha, don't get too excited yet," Sabo laughed, amused by Bai Ye's momentary loss of composure. It seemed to be the first time he witnessed such a reaction from Bai Ye, and he was clearly entertained. "This is what happened..."

Sabo went on to explain how Bai Ye's arrival in this world had inadvertently triggered a series of events— a butterfly effect. In the original scenario, the Revolutionary Army had planned for Kuma to undergo Vegapunk's transformation into an unconscious robot, a decision made willingly by Kuma. However, Bai Ye's presence had altered that path.

In Rogue Town, Bai Ye confidently told Dragon that he believed Luffy would change the world. From that moment, Dragon began to take a keen interest in his son's pirate crew. This attention led to the "Straw Hat Pirates Special" and a significant move by the World Government to revive ancient weapons. These events seemed to influence Dragon's thinking and even altered some core policies of the Revolutionary Army. Crucially, it also led Dragon to halt plans for the sacrifice of Kuma.

"Bai Ye, did you know? Before the leader decided to scrap the plan, Mr. Kuma had already undergone several rounds of experiments in Vegapunk's laboratory," Sabo informed him. "Vegapunk was developing a series of robots and was about to transform Mr. Kuma's body."

Sabo looked grateful as he continued, "Normally, after this battle, Mr. Kuma would... no longer be Kuma."

"And it was you, Bai Ye, who changed all this," Sabo added, emphasizing the impact of Bai Ye's influence. "That's why Mr. Bartholomew Kuma came here specifically to thank you."

Bai Ye's initial reaction was modest: "You don't have to praise me like that." Then, with a flicker of realization, he thought, "It's me!!!"

Though he kept the thought to himself, Bai Ye mused over the impact of his words on someone like Dragon, considering how a single conversation could shift strategies. "However, from what you said, there is only one step left in the experiment. Is it really okay for the Kuma to refuse like this?" he pondered aloud.

"There will definitely be an impact," Sabo agreed, nodding. "But it seems the transformation of Kuma was proposed by some foolhardy Celestial Dragon, not by the World Government or the Navy themselves."

"And with the impending war, both the Navy and the World Government will need Mr. Kuma's fighting power, which is why they agreed," Sabo explained.

"What's more," Sabo paused, then continued, "after this war, Mr. Kuma will resign from the Seven Warlords of the Sea and officially join the Revolutionary Army."

Bai Ye raised his eyebrows, intrigued by the implications. "Is the revolutionary army ready for an all-out war?" he asked directly.

"That's about right," Sabo replied with determination. "With Luffy and everyone's influence growing, the Revolutionary Army no longer needs to conceal its activities."

"After this war, it's time to advance to the next phase."

Bai Ye was genuinely excited about these developments. If the Revolutionary Army began to stir trouble, it would undoubtedly throw the World Government into disarray.

This would mean fewer obstacles for the Straw Hat Pirates in their future endeavors.

Just then, Kuma spoke again, drawing everyone's attention back to the present moment.