One Piece: Bai Ye Deputy Captain of the Straw Hats

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

Notes on Moria: Gecko Moria witnessed the execution of the Pirate King, Roger, and was inspired to set sail as a pirate himself. Twenty-three years ago, Moria clashed with Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, in a brutal battle at Wano Country. Moria suffered a crushing defeat, losing not only the battle but all his crewmates. In the aftermath, he retreated with the bodies of his fallen crew and ventured into the perilous Devil's Sea, rumored to be conducting mysterious experiments with his ominous three-masted ship. His notoriety eventually led to his induction as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Abilities: His power comes from the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, which allows the user to (…)

Strength Assessment: Moria's combat profile aligns with patterns observed in Crocodile, another former Warlord defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates. Following notable defeats, Moria has exhibited a dependency on external powers as a compensatory measure, highlighting a decline in his independent combat effectiveness.

-----

As Nami reviewed the detailed report in front of her, she let out a sigh, "They even have information from before he became a pirate. The CP department's intelligence gathering is impressive, even if their combat skills aren't."

Robin, eyeing the text closely, noted, "Given the final strength rating here, this report must be recent. It gives us a good idea of Moria's current power."

Luffy, putting things in simpler terms, chimed in, "So, he's someone who can mess with shadows, right?"

Usopp couldn't help but comment, "You really have a way with summaries."

Luffy, not fully grasping Usopp's tone but ever enthusiastic, declared, "Then let's go and beat him up! We need to get Brook's shadow back!"

"Hey, Nami! Set course for action!" Luffy shouted.

Nami, a bit overwhelmed, responded, "And just where do you suppose we find him?!"

At that moment, Bai Ye, standing by the window of the banquet hall, looked out at an "island" that seemed to engulf the Sunshine Merry and said calmly, "No need to search any further. It appears we've already caught his attention."

-----

On the deck of the Merry, Bai Ye was about to call for a full mobilization, something he hadn't done in a long while. "Well, to save time, let's keep it simple..." he started, but Nami quickly cut him off.

"Wait a minute, Bai Ye," she said. "It feels like you're always eager for a big mobilization."

"There's no need for that this time," Nami added with a smile. She pointed out from the information they had that Moria wasn't likely stronger than Crocodile. "Just the four of you should be enough to handle him," she said, nodding at Luffy, Bai Ye, and the others. "If you can't, we should just escape."

She gestured to herself and Robin. "Besides, it's getting late. Robin and I need to do some maintenance."

Robin and the others behind Nami looked in agreement; this adventure didn't seem to call for everyone's participation, and even Usopp appeared disinterested.

Bai Ye nodded in acknowledgment. "You make a good point," he conceded.

He recognized that the Straw Hat Pirates had grown stronger and didn't need to fully mobilize for an enemy like Moria. Given the limited number of enemies on Moria's ship, there wouldn't even be enough opponents to go around if everyone attacked.

So, only Luffy, Bai Ye, and three others prepared to confront the challenge, taking Brook along too. The rest of the crew headed back to their rooms to rest, conserving their energy.

As the Sunshine Merry glided towards the central island, Brook gave a hearty laugh and saluted the crew. "Yohoho, thanks for the help, mates!" he said. "But let me take the lead. It's my shadow we're after, and it wouldn't be right to hide behind you all. Not that I have much shame left, yohoho!"

Suddenly, to everyone's surprise, Brook spun around and leaped from the deck of the Sunshine Merry.

"Has he forgotten he's a Devil Fruit user?" the crew exclaimed in unison.

Rushing to the bow, they peered over and saw an astonishing sight: Brook's bony legs were carrying him across the ocean's surface, and he sprang onto the island in a flash.

Bai Ye explained to the puzzled onlookers, "Perhaps his lightweight, bony structure lets him skip across the water."

Luffy burst out laughing. "That's hilarious! I can't be outdone by him!" With a shout, "Gomu Gomu no—Pistol!" he propelled himself after Brook.

While Bai Ye and the others shook their heads at Luffy's antics, Sanji lit a cigarette and laid out the plan. "Once we hit the island, we'll split up. Whoever runs into Moria first ends it, quick and clean."

"If I find him first, I'll beat him before you even see him," Zoro declared, eyeing Sanji.

"Hah! As if, moss head. You'll probably get lost first thing!" Sanji retorted.

Zoro snapped back, "Who's directionally challenged, perverted cook? Want me to chop you up instead?!"

Their bickering continued as the Merry approached the island, only ceasing when they disembarked and went their separate ways.

Zoro chose a path through a dense forest, hacking at branches as he grumbled about Sanji's taunts. "Saying I'm directionally challenged..."

But soon, a clear path unfolded mysteriously before him, causing him to pause and mutter, "This place feels strangely familiar."

-----

As Zoro puzzled over his uncanny sense of familiarity, Sanji was making his own strides through the dense foliage of the island. In a clearing not too far from where Sanji progressed, a sneering voice echoed, "It seems the Straw Hat Pirates that Lord Moria has been waiting for have just walked right into our lair."

"First, we handle the one ahead, then we hunt down the others," the voice continued, a malicious chuckle filling the air. "Especially those two beautiful ladies among them. Soon, they'll be my brides, hahaha."

The laughter faded into soft, creeping footsteps.

Meanwhile, Sanji paused abruptly. He spoke as if to someone unseen, "I wasn't sure at first, doubting my own haki more than the reality before me."

He lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply, his face shadowed with a grave expression. "I remember skimming through the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia once and spotting what I thought was the ultimate fruit—a fruit that grants invisibility."

Just as Sanji finished his thought, rapid footsteps scrambled away. "How can you be so fortunate?!" he exclaimed.

In an instant, Sanji vanished from where he stood. The glowing ember of his cigarette drifted downwards slowly.

He reappeared a few feet away, delivering a powerful kick into the air. A pained scream followed, and a figure materialized on the ground, marked by a distressing trail that ended where the figure lay crumpled.

Sanji strutted back to his original spot, catching the falling cigarette with a smug flick of his fingers.