One Piece: Bai Ye Deputy Captain of the Straw Hats

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

"I never imagined Lord Luffy would be willing to accept this broken-down old body of mine," Jinbe said, sitting up straight and looking at the young captain with profound seriousness. "How could I possibly refuse?"

"You just agreed, just like that?!" Sanji exclaimed, his jaw on the floor. "Are all the Seven Warlords this impulsive?"

But Jinbe wasn't being impulsive. He was remembering Whitebeard's final words to him before he left Marineford.

[I was never able to bring the people of Fishman Island to live in the sun. But perhaps... those young rascals can. If you get the chance, Jinbe, join the Straw Hat crew. Gurararara!]

Back then, Jinbe might have hesitated. But after seeing everything the Straw Hats had accomplished, especially their connection to the Spark Alliance and their unwavering stance against slavery, the idea had taken root in his heart. It was the same unwavering loyalty he felt for Whitebeard. For the sake of Fishman Island and his people, Jinbe was always willing to align himself with a greater, more righteous force.

Anyone who had witnessed or experienced the horrors of slavery would find themselves drawn to the Straw Hats' cause. The only thing that had held Jinbe back was his guilt over Arlong's actions in Nami's homeland. He felt he had no right to ask. But now, with the captain himself extending the invitation, Jinbe could finally speak his heart.

He first turned to address Sanji's complaint. "Because of what happened with Ace, I am no longer one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. The World Government will likely have a warrant for my arrest again very soon."

Then, he faced Luffy once more, his expression solemn. "My name is Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea. I wish to join the Straw Hat Pirates. Though this old body may not be much, I believe I am qualified to serve as your helmsman. Just grant me a little time. Once I have settled matters with Fishman Island and the Sun Pirates, I will officially join your crew."

To hear such humble words from a man of his stature touched everyone present.

Luffy, however, didn't hesitate for a second. He just grinned and nodded. "Yeah, sounds good."

To him, Jinbe's past titles and future troubles didn't matter in the slightest. He saw a man he respected, and he wanted him on his ship. Simple as that.

"And you just agreed!" Usopp threw his hands up in helpless exasperation.

"But that's Luffy, isn't it?" Nami said with a fond smile. Judging by her expression, she had no reservations about Jinbe joining them.

The rest was simple. At Luffy's insistence, they immediately threw another party to welcome their new crewmate. At the banquet, the conversation turned to their plans for the next three months.

Luffy decided he would find Rayleigh to master the advanced applications of Conqueror's Haki. Zoro declared he would return to the world within the Rainbow Mist for another round of intense training. Franky wanted to visit Karakuri Island, the homeland of Dr. Vegapunk. The others hadn't decided yet, planning to think it over.

After the banquet ended, Jinbe said his goodbyes and departed, while the rest of the crew headed back to Shakky's Rip-Off Bar to rest.

"Rayleigh! You're here!" Luffy called out enthusiastically as he walked into the tavern and saw the old pirate sitting at the bar.

"Oh, you're back," Rayleigh said, turning to face them. "Good timing. I have something here that might interest you." He pulled a folded newspaper from his pocket.

"The World Government just released your new bounties."

A jolt of excitement shot through the crew. Luffy stretched his rubber arm, snatching the paper from Rayleigh's hand as everyone crowded around to see the eleven wanted posters tucked inside.

-----

Meanwhile, in the New World, a lone pirate ship was anchored near an unnamed island. Any Marine worth his salt would recognize it on sight: the Red Force, flagship of one of the Four Emperors, "Red-Haired" Shanks.

On the island, a raucous banquet was in full swing.

"Hey, hey! A toast! To the captain getting completely played by Luffy and his crew this time!" the portly Lucky Roux shouted, raising his glass high while gnawing on a massive leg of ham.

"OHHH! CHEERS!" the crew roared in unison.

"You really embarrassed yourself this time, Captain, hahaha!"

"That's right! You acted all cool, saying you were going to maintain the balance of the seas, and look what happened! Hahaha!"

After another round of drinks, the crew started playfully complaining, though many of them were wrapped in bandages. They had, after all, just returned from a fierce clash with two other Emperor crews. This was precisely why they were mocking their captain. After they'd fought tooth and nail to block Kaido and Big Mom from reaching Marineford, they'd returned to find the seas not balanced, but more chaotic than ever before. The New World, in particular, had descended into madness.

And the culprits behind it all, the ones who had made their captain's efforts look foolish, were none other than the Straw Hat Pirates. For a moment, the island was filled with nothing but joyous, unrestrained laughter.

"Honestly," Shanks grumbled, though he was drinking and eating with just as much gusto as his men. "These guys have no respect for their captain."

"But you look pretty happy about it, Shanks," Ben Beckman observed calmly from beside him, a cigarillo perched between his lips.

"Oh? Is it that obvious?" Shanks replied, not the least bit embarrassed at being called out.

Ben Beckman just rolled his eyes at the massive, eight-toothed grin that had been plastered on his captain's face for the last hour. You haven't stopped laughing once.

"Of course I'm happy," Shanks said suddenly, his tone turning sincere. For a moment, the image of a little boy appeared before his eyes—the boy to whom he had entrusted his precious straw hat. "I thought I would have to keep maintaining this fragile balance until Luffy was fully grown. I thought he would still need our guidance."

He looked up at Beckman, a look of profound pride on his face. "But it seems Luffy and his companions have found a new path. It's their path."

Just as Shanks was lost in thought, a commotion erupted nearby.

"Hey, everyone, come look at this!" a crewman shouted, waving a newspaper frantically. "The Straw Hats' new bounties are out!"

The rest of the crew scrambled over, their curiosity piqued. Even for the crew of an Emperor, this was big news. What kind of bounties would the World Government place on the heads of the crew that had shaken the world to its core?

At that very moment, similar scenes were playing out in every corner of the four seas.