One Piece: Bai Ye Deputy Captain of the Straw Hats

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

The mood in the tavern had shifted. Everyone was on edge, curious about what Bai Ye would reveal next. Luffy, however, remained focused on his meal, oblivious to the growing tension.

Bai Ye addressed the common perception of the Marines, noting that many people defend them by highlighting their success in combating piracy. They argue this point without considering the primary reason the World Government established the Marines—to enforce their control.

There's a popular belief that the Marines confine the Celestial Dragons to Sabaody Archipelago and Mary Geoise, suggesting that these rulers have no real power over the broader seas. Bai Ye pointed out the flaw in this logic. How could the World Government, which rules the seas, be restrained in just two locations by its own subordinate organization?

In reality, the Celestial Dragons don't need to appear elsewhere because the Marines ensure they get whatever they desire. This arrangement highlights the lack of independence within the Marines; they exist primarily to serve the World Government's interests.

Then Bai Ye turned to the true commodities that sustain the World Government's power: the Heavenly Tribute and slaves. He posed the question: aren't these practices, which are more deeply entrenched and widespread than piracy itself, the real issues at hand?

Seeing Coby struggle to find a response, Bai Ye pressed on, "Now, let's discuss the Heavenly Tribute."

Pirates are impulsive, often seizing everything in one go, exhausting all resources without a second thought. The World Government, on the other hand, operates more cunningly.

They don't exhaust resources all at once; instead, they take a bit at a time but continuously, without end. When civilians fall victim to pirates, they have the option to appeal to the Marines for help. However, when the World Government is the one taking from them, where can they possibly turn for aid?

Consider this: the Marines, who are supposed to protect the civilians, are often too preoccupied with transporting tributes to Mary Geoise to address these injustices.

"Now let's talk about slaves."

In a world brimming with superhuman feats, the fact that the World Government has sustained slavery for over 800 years stands as a disturbing testament to their control. It's quite remarkable, really, and the Marines play a key role in maintaining this system.

Some defend the system by saying, "The Celestial Dragons are few; they don't need many slaves," or "Pirates kill so many, the Marines are just balancing the scales by sacrificing a few to protect many." But this logic is flawed and unsettling.

It's similar to the rationale of ancient emperors. No emperor needed more than a few partners to lead a fulfilled life, yet they amassed harems of thousands. Consider a typical Celestial Dragon who might publicly appear with only a handful of slaves. Privately, however, they could be hoarding hundreds, hidden away from public eyes.

The wealth of the Celestial Dragons means they can easily sustain large numbers of slaves. And when they tire of these humans, they dispose of them without a second thought, secure in the knowledge that there will always be more. Slave traders across the world are eager to please the Celestial Dragons, kidnapping people to supply this gruesome trade. Their only fear is not having enough slaves, but rather failing to capture the interest of their masters.

"And here's where it all connects." The World Government maintains a grim blend of feudalism and slavery, a system that has persisted for centuries. When such an oppressive model exists for so long, it begins to spread its influence.

Do you think the kings of nations allied with the World Government wouldn't start to mimic the Celestial Dragons? Increasing taxes and engaging in slavery themselves seems like a logical step for them, following the example set at the top.

This cycle fuels Bai Ye's argument. The crushing demands of Heavenly Tribute and the horrors of slavery drive some islands to sever ties with the World Government. How does the World Government respond? They concoct accusations against these defiant islands and unleash the Marines to subdue them.

Why such severe measures? Because if one island successfully breaks away, others might be encouraged to do the same. This could lead to the collapse of their entire system, which relies on exploiting these territories to fund their operations.

In this scenario, stronger islands might manage to fend off the Marines and declare independence. But what about the weaker ones? Their only recourse is to take to the seas.

And thus, we arrive at what may very well be the true root of the Great Pirate Era.

"No!" Coby's voice cut sharply through the tavern air as Bai Ye finished speaking. He looked both troubled and defiant. "Even if what you're saying is true, why do these displaced people turn to piracy? They've lost their homes, sure, but why then go on to ravage others'?"

"They could just… fish for a living! Or become adventurers!" Coby was nearly at his breaking point, his belief in the Marines shaking.

"Idiot. You still don't see the truth?" Zoro's voice was low and carried a weight that silenced the room. Perhaps because of their past encounters, he felt compelled to dispel Coby's naivete once and for all. "It's not that they don't want to fish or become adventurers," Zoro explained.

"It's that the World Government won't allow it." His tone was firm, his gaze steady. "How could a regime that rules the seas with an iron fist tolerate the existence of truly free people?"

"If you're a fisherman or an adventurer—you don't have to pay the Heavenly Tribute." Zoro continued, each word deliberate. "You don't have to worry about becoming a slave. You're someone who can freely decide your own fate."

"And the moment people like that appear on the sea…" Zoro paused, his next words hanging in the air, "They become a threat to the World Government."

The room fell silent. Zoro stopped speaking, seemingly caught in his own realization of the deeper, darker truth behind the words he had just spoken.

"Mr. Zoro, I haven't finished yet," Coby persisted.

"That's enough, Coby," Helmeppo intervened, stepping forward to place a comforting hand on Coby's shoulder. He then picked up where Zoro had left off. "Fishermen and adventurers—they represent something the World Government fears the most." His voice grew firmer as he continued, "That something is freedom. And that's exactly why the World Government brands them as pirates."

Helmeppo, who had grown up under the shadow of his tyrannical father, Captain Morgan, in Shells Town, knew this reality all too well. "Because in addition to their freedom, pirates are also marked as evil," he added.

This was the lesson Helmeppo had learned through his own transformation—from a bully under his father's rule to a Marine officer striving for justice. He remembered how he had treated Zoro when the swordsman had challenged his father's authority. He had imprisoned him, labeling him a criminal to maintain control. The fearsome pirate hunter, thus, became just another villain through manipulation and rumors.

At that moment, Zoro's thoughts drifted. He realized why Roger had initiated the Great Pirate Era with his death. "So that's what you were planning all along…?" He smirked. "What a crazy bastard." While he admired Roger's audacity, he couldn't help but feel disillusioned by the chaotic era it had spawned.

Turning to Bai Ye, curiosity piqued, he asked, "Is that why you joined Luffy's crew?"

"Who knows?" Bai Ye shrugged, an easy smile on his face. "After all, it's hard to find an idiot like Luffy in this ocean. Hahahaha!"