One Piece: Bai Ye Deputy Captain of the Straw Hats

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

Bai Ye, initially taken aback by Hei Ye's declaration, quickly recovered and responded with a mix of surprise and curiosity, "Really? You managed that so quickly?"

Hei Ye simply shrugged, a wry smile playing on his lips as he gestured around the void they occupied, "Well, it's not like there's much else to do here." With a casual wave of his hand, he conjured a swirling orb of colorful mist between them.

Together, they stepped into the mist, shoulder to shoulder, entering a realm of the rainbow mist.

"This place is becoming quite impressive," Bai Ye remarked, looking around at the transformed landscape that now resembled a vibrant painting with blue skies, fluffy clouds, and lush greenery.

"Thank you for your efforts," Bai Ye continued, his voice warm with genuine appreciation. The transformation indicated his increasing control over the mist, allowing for more profound alterations to this inner realm.

Hei Ye, a little awkward with the praise, waved off the thanks. "You don't need to be so formal with me," he said, discomfort evident in his tone.

The truth was, Hei Ye should have ceased to exist after Bai Ye overcame his inner tribulations. Instead, Bai Ye chose to preserve Hei Ye using Daoist techniques, allowing him to maintain a semblance of consciousness within this secluded space. Hei Ye couldn't interact with the outside world, but the autonomy he retained was a gift he didn't take lightly.

When Bai Ye needed help, Hei Ye didn't hesitate to assist, partly out of gratitude and partly to stave off the ennui that came with his existence.

As they walked, Bai Ye paused, closing his eyes to sense the changes around them more deeply, attuning himself to the subtle shifts in the energy of their surroundings.

Bai Ye reopened his eyes, a thoughtful expression settling on his face. "A time speed of 5:1, then?" he asked.

Hei Ye nodded affirmatively. "Yes, after our last conversation, I accelerated the implementation of the 'Taomen Jilu' laws concerning time flow here in the inner world. Once I perfected it, I integrated the changes into the rainbow mist. It seems the highest we can achieve with our current abilities is a 5:1 ratio."

He continued, a slight frown creasing his brow, "Given the different levels of authority and the rank of our world, this is the best we can manage. Those maximum level enhancements from the Sect Collection Scroll are beyond our reach for now."

Bai Ye listened, nodding in understanding. There was no trace of disappointment on his face, achieving this much was already a significant feat. A smile of relief broke across his face as he said, "I was worried we wouldn't make it in time, but this... this is just right."

Hei Ye watched Bai Ye, recalling all of Bai Ye's past memories. To Hei Ye, Bai Ye's current demeanor reminded him of the times Bai Ye had scrambled to complete his Daoist assignments just before a surprise inspection by his master. Despite their identical roots, the situation amused Hei Ye.

He was about to let out a chuckle when Bai Ye placed a hand on his shoulder, his expression turning grave. "Soon, I'll face the most severe battle since my journey through time began. Even now, I'm not certain I'll come out of it unscathed."

He leaned in closer, his voice low. "So, I have an even more crucial task for you."

Hei Ye raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet wary of the impending seriousness.

Bai Ye's voice softened, tinged with a mix of jest and earnest, "After all, you wouldn't want your existence to be cut short so soon, would you?"

Hei Ye let out a muffled groan, his fists clenching at his sides as the urge to beat him surged as Bai Ye's intent left him feeling trapped.

With their tasks clearly outlined, Bai Ye left Hei Ye to his contemplations and returned to the deck to join the others in basking under the sun.

Bai Ye observed the group's excitement from afar, noticing their curious stares and eager gestures toward something that seemed ordinary to him. As he approached, the sound of Luffy's enthusiastic voice carried over, "There must be treasures in there!!! Look, it says it's the Sea God's Treasure."

Usopp, Merry, and Chopper, caught up in the excitement, echoed Luffy's enthusiasm, exclaiming in unison, "A treasure?!"

Nami, holding a crate labeled as such, sighed and corrected them, "Sorry, guys, it's just wine and dry food. Despite the label 'Sea God's Treasure,' it's actually a sea offering."

Unlike Luffy, the reckless fool who dared to venture out to sea in a tiny boat, Nami, as a skilled navigator, had a solid understanding of maritime traditions. "This is something sailors offer to the sea god to ensure a safe voyage," she clarified.

Luffy's excitement quickly turned to disappointment. "What? So, it's not a treasure?" He frowned, struggling to grasp the subtleties of Nami's explanation but understanding enough to know it wasn't what he had hoped.

Zoro chimed in, "Did you say there was wine? Why not just open it and have a taste?" For Zoro, anything labeled as wine was worth checking.

Usopp quickly scolded, "It's dedicated to the gods, you moron! Do you want to get us cursed?"

After assessing the situation, Bai Ye stepped forward, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Drinking it isn't forbidden," he said smoothly. "We just need to offer a prayer to the sea god first."

Bai Ye felt a twinge of confusion as he thought about the events that should have unfolded according to the original storyline. They were supposed to run into the Achino Family, notorious for stealing other pirates' Jolly Rogers. But there was no sign of them, leading Bai Ye to attribute this to the butterfly effect, considering the deviations from the original plot since departing from Water 7.

Little did Bai Ye know, the Achino Family had indeed spotted the Sunshine Merry a few days earlier. However, upon seeing the formidable pirate flag and recognizing the bounty associated with it—nearly 2.4 billion—they wisely chose to steer clear.

In the meantime, Zoro scoffed at Bai Ye's suggestion to offer a prayer. "Pray? Humph, I don't pray to any god."

Nami chimed in with a tidbit to pique their interest: "Legend says that wine hit by the sea waves turns exceptionally sweet and mellow."

Franky perked up at this, striding over to the wine barrel with a chuckle. "Hey! God! We'll take the snacks! Thank you!" he declared, giving the barrel a playful shake.

Luffy, taking the spiritual approach seriously, clasped his hands together and prayed earnestly, drawing a skeptical remark from Zoro, "What god? We all know who beat up the god of Sky Island."

Unperturbed, Luffy proceeded to open the barrel. Suddenly, as the lid came off, an explosion burst forth, sending a red light shooting into the sky.

boom!

The loud explosion filled the air, painting the sky red. Luffy, quick to react, shielded himself with his Haki, unscathed but baffled. "What was that?" he wondered aloud, staring up.

"It looks like a glow bomb or something," Robin noted, her tone serious. "If it's just a prank, that's one thing. But if it was intentional..." Her voice trailed off, hinting at the gravity of the situation. "I'm afraid we might have been targeted."