One Piece: Bai Ye Deputy Captain of the Straw Hats

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

After Bai Ye pulled some food from his internal space to pacify Luffy's rumbling stomach, everyone gathered around again to hear more from the robot.

The robot recounted events that had unfolded unexpectedly. It described how it, along with Dr. Tsukimi and its fellow robots, were enjoying dumplings and gazing at the moon, a nightly ritual. That evening had taken a dramatic turn when an explosion burst across the moon's surface.

For Dr. Tsukimi, the moon wasn't just a celestial body but his ancestral home and a place of deep affection. To the robots, it represented something precious, a treasure to guard zealously.

Driven by a desire to protect their cherished moon, the robots hatched a plan. They used balloons to ascend to the moon, only to encounter formidable foes upon arrival. These enemies were not only towering in stature but were also armed with electrifying weapons.

The battle was swift and brutal. The robots were quickly overwhelmed, and one by one, they fell. The soldier robot, the very one the Straw Hats had found, managed to flee the massacre.

Wounded and desperate, it hid until discovered by Luffy. Subsequently, Franky and Chopper had repaired it. Revived, the robot led Franky to its three companions, who had suffered even graver injuries in the skirmish.

Nami's mouth twitched uncontrollably. "That's a lot to take in," she murmured, processing the robot's tale. Though the story was straightforward, each sentence was packed with significant details.

At the heart of the narrative was Dr. Tsukimi. His ability to craft such advanced robots and his revelations to them hinted at a profound truth—he was a descendant of lunar inhabitants.

Robin quickly zeroed in on what seemed like the most crucial lead: "If we could just find this doctor, perhaps we'd unravel the moon's mysteries."

However, her suggestion hit an immediate roadblock. The robot clarified with a shake of its head, leading Robin to ask, "Is Dr. Tsukimi no longer alive?"

"Yes," confirmed the knight robot. "He died when an explosion on the moon caused him to choke on a dumpling."

Robin paused, struggling to digest this odd piece of information. "That is... an unexpected way to go," she finally said, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Meanwhile, Luffy, ever impatient with discussions, called out to Franky, who was tinkering nearby. "Hey, Franky, can you fix these guys too?" He gestured toward the inert robots scattered around.

Clearly, Luffy was more interested in seeing more robots spring into action than delving into their backstories.

Franky stood up amid the clutter of the ancient factory, his face lit with excitement. "Aww!" he exclaimed, unable to hide his enthusiasm. "Even if you hadn't asked, I was planning on doing it anyway."

He continued, his voice filled with confidence, "I think I've figured out how to get this ancient city up and running again."

Despite the advanced technology of the moon's ancient city, which clearly surpassed anything from the Blue Sea, Franky was undeterred. His background as a shipbuilder from the legendary Water 7 and his self-modified cyborg body endowed him with a unique edge in mechanical engineering far beyond the usual capabilities of his Blue Sea contemporaries.

Franky explained, "The technology here and back home seems to share a common origin. After much tinkering, I've found a potential way to awaken this city."

He pointed to a peculiar machine in the center of the factory. "Nami, can you pump as much electricity into this as possible?" he asked, indicating a large black box that he had just regurgitated and fitted onto the machine.

Nami looked puzzled. "Are you sure? You want me to just zap it with electricity? Isn't that risky?"

Franky shook his head, the light behind his sunglasses flickering with excitement. "No, no, you've got it wrong. Like the Ark Maxim, this ancient city is powered by electricity. This place was designed to channel energy throughout."

He gestured to the device. "There used to be a power unit here that kept everything running, but it's missing now. Since we don't have the original schematics, I don't know exactly what it looked like."

"But," he added, puffing out his chest and striking a dramatic pose, "I, being SUUUPER, have crafted a new power source!" Franky crossed his arms and pointed dramatically at the makeshift box.

Even as a fully mechanical man, Franky's flamboyant gestures were a sight to behold, drawing a mix of amusement and admiration from his crewmates.

Nami quickly intervened, taking out her Clima-Tact and preparing to channel a surge of electricity. "Okay, okay, I've got this—just spare us the dramatics, Franky," she said with a hint of exasperation.

"Two hundred million volts!" she called out. A massive bolt of lightning erupted from her Clima-Tact, striking the black box with a fierce crackle. The thunder continued to roar as Nami channeled the energy, and the ancient city began to stir as if awoken from a long slumber.

As the electricity flowed, it traveled through the city's extensive network of pipelines, reviving the dormant technology with a surge of power. The ground beneath their feet thrummed with life as the city's ancient systems reactivated.

The first sign of awakening was light. What seemed like mere decorations on the city's walls began to illuminate, tracing patterns that glowed with a soft, steady light. Tube-like structures scattered throughout the city flickered on, casting away the shadows with their bright luminescence.

Seeing the city brighten, Bai Ye extinguished the fireballs he had been using to light their way. The scene transformed dramatically—from a relic shrouded in the dust of ages to a city pulsing with a strange, technological life.

The revival didn't stop with the lights. In the factory where they stood, the robots, too, began to show signs of life. As the power coursed through the city's veins, it directed itself into each room of the factory. Sparks of electricity danced through the air, channeling into the robots via specialized conduits that connected directly to their systems.

After a short while, the rhythmic sound of numerous footsteps filled the air, quickly followed by Luffy's boisterous laughter echoing through the space:

"Hahahaha, this is awesome!"

Although the crew had previously faced a large number of enemies at Enies Lobby, the scene unfolding in the factory was on another level. Nearly a thousand small robots, each adorned with wings, white robes, and spears, had gathered around them, creating an impressive spectacle.

"Are we going to fight them?" Zoro asked, his voice tinged with anticipation. The recent events had been somewhat dull for him, and he was ready for some action.

"Are you crazy?" Sanji snapped back irritably. "If we were heading into a fight, Franky would have told us."

Zoro sneered, "What's the matter, curly eyebrows, scared?"

"Shut it, moss head," Sanji retorted.

As Sanji and Zoro bickered, their usual squabble barely registering with the rest, Franky's laughter boomed through the area, drawing everyone's attention. "Wahhahaha, no worries, everyone!"

"These robots aren't here to fight us," Franky explained, a wide grin spreading across his face. "They're now part of our troops!"