One Piece: Bai Ye Deputy Captain of the Straw Hats

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

In the year 1498 of the Sea Circle Calendar, Gol D. Roger, the renowned captain of the Roger Pirates who had conquered the Grand Line and discovered Laugh Tale, was executed by the Marines in Loguetown. This event marked the beginning of the Great Pirate Era, sparking countless adventurers to set sail in pursuit of similar glory.

Clearly, this surge in piracy was not the outcome the World Government had hoped for.

Two decades later, in a move fraught with tension, the World Government scheduled a public execution for Portgas D. Ace, the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division. The decision was not solely because Ace was a key member of the formidable Whitebeard crew.

More significantly, Ace was the son of Gol D. Roger, the man deemed the greatest criminal of his time for initiating the Great Pirate Era. Executing Ace was undeniably a direct challenge to Whitebeard.

Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, several of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, sanctioned by the World Government, had gathered. Their assembly was strategically planned in anticipation of the looming conflict, clearly indicating the gravity of the situation at hand.

-----

"Fufufufufu! You're really in a mess, you little bastard." Doflamingo, decked out in a pink feathered coat, lounged with his legs crossed on the table, casting a mocking glance at Moria seated across from him. Moria, with his bat-like face, looked quite embarrassed as he faced his peers.

Despite Doflamingo's taunting, Moria kept his cool. The recent encounter with Straw Hat Luffy still haunted him, leaving him visibly shaken.

"Zehahahaha! Were you defeated by Straw Hat Luffy?" Blackbeard Teach jeered, now dressed in lavish clothes and adorned with diamond rings, he scooped up food with his hands while laughing at Moria. "They were once my targets, too! Zehahaha!"

"But who asked Captain Ace to come to us? Zehahaha!" Blackbeard continued, his laughter filling the room.

"Fufufufufu, I really admired that guy with wings back then, but now it seems like you're the real bastard!" Doflamingo chimed in, his laughter sharp. "It's not an exaggeration to say that you caused this war, fufufu."

Doflamingo's words, although biting, weren't meant to be sarcastic. In fact, he held a genuine admiration for schemers like Blackbeard.

-----

In the Marineford, at the headquarters of the Marines, inside Fleet Admiral Sengoku's meeting room, a serious discussion was underway.

"Is this really okay, Sengoku, to let Garp take on such a task?" It was rare for someone to address the Fleet Admiral by his first name; only a select few like Garp, Tsuru, and Zephyr had that privilege.

At this moment, it was Vice Admiral Tsuru who raised the concern. "It was Garp who insisted on going," Sengoku replied, setting aside the formality typical of his rank to provide a straightforward explanation to his old friend.

"After receiving the news, Garp himself called me, volunteering to undertake this mission," he continued. "And I simply agreed."

"You..." Tsuru appeared slightly taken aback. "Aren't you worried that Garp might act recklessly..."

"He won't!" Sengoku cut in sharply, his expression stern.

"If that old man were to act impulsively..." he paused, weighing his words, "it would betray the very principles of justice he stands for."

-----

In the depths of Impel Down, known as Infinite Hell, the most dangerous criminals were confined. It was here, in this lowest level of the prison, that a man was held by several thick seastone chains. Shirtless, with a string of red prayer beads around his neck, it was Ace, now the focus of global attention.

Straining, Ace lifted his head to see the white-haired old man in a Marine uniform seated across from his cell, arms crossed and back against the cold stone wall.

"Old... old man..." Ace murmured, his voice a mix of reverence and concern. "He was injured so badly, yet he's still alive."

There was a faint quiver in the old man's otherwise steady voice as he spoke: "Ace... Thanks to you, Marine Headquarters—no, the World Government is in chaos."

At this, the old man burst out laughing—a loud, hearty sound that echoed through the damp cell. Yet, Ace detected a hint of sadness beneath the surface of that laughter.

Tears welled up in Ace's eyes as he bit his lip and choked out, "Kill... Kill me."

The laughter stopped abruptly. The old man fixed his gaze on Ace, his expression softening as he observed the fear and desperation on Ace's face. "You... want me to kill you, Ace?" he asked quietly, disbelief coloring his tone.

"Fool!!!" he suddenly shouted, his voice booming in the confined space. "What do you think of your life, you bastard? You… do you really think of me as your grandpa?"

His voice grew heavy, laden with emotion, "But I am still your grandfather. Whether you admit it or not, I am your grandfather, you fool."

"So never say something like that again—don't ever ask me to kill you, Ace. Please consider my feelings for once, you idiot!"

As Garp's voice softened, Ace looked on in shock. The old man, usually so fearless and composed, was now visibly shaken, tears streaming down his weathered face.

"Old man... I..." Ace stammered, suddenly at a loss for words.

Garp quickly composed himself and responded firmly, "Besides, there's nothing to be done now."

"Even if you die, Whitebeard won't just stand by," Garp's voice grew stern as he added, "No one can stop him. This time, we have angered the King of the Seas."

Hearing this, Ace bowed his head, his face contorted with pain as tears of regret began to fall. "Dad..." he whispered.

"I always hoped you and Luffy would become outstanding Marines," Garp confessed, his voice heavy with a mix of disappointment and resignation.

Seeing the turmoil in Ace's expression, Garp sighed deeply, "Now, forget the Marines; you two have become major troublemakers."

"You've heard about Luffy, haven't you?" Garp continued, a hint of pride seeping into his tone despite the circumstances. "That idiot has put together a rather impressive crew of troublemakers. Not only did he storm Enies Lobby, but he also defied the World Government."

"Really... really... you truly are my grandsons, hahahaha!" Garp laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Oh, he kept me waiting so long in Water 7. Next time I see him, I'll give him a taste of my Iron Fist of Love." Garp clenched his fist, as if imagining the moment.

"That boy..." Garp's voice softened, "He must know about your situation by now."

Ace, catching every word, suddenly snapped back to reality. He looked up sharply and pleaded with Garp, "Old man, please, at least this time, stop Luffy."

"Absolutely... absolutely don't let Luffy do this for me..." Ace's voice was frantic, his plea desperate.

"Luffy shouldn't have to give up his dreams because of a criminal like me!" he cried out. "That guy dreams of becoming the Pirate King!!!"

"That's enough, Ace!!!" Garp interjected firmly once again, "Never say that you shouldn't exist."

"Luffy's decisions, even if I..." Garp paused, his tone resolute yet pained, "There's no way to stop him."