Chapitre 16: Chapter 16: New crewmate
Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
In the panoramic vastness of the sea, the swan-headed pirate ship sailed smoothly, seemingly aloof from the underlying terrors of the sea. The art of "Paper-cutting into Soldiers," a mystical Daoist secret, served as a good solution for the absence of a crew.
Bai Ye, skilled yet pragmatic in his martial arts, produced the soul-gathering formation onto palm-sized, human-shaped paper. A subsequent placement within the spirit energy array, spanning anywhere from seven to forty-nine days, endowed them with a semblance of life. But Bai Ye, advocating for direct, physical confrontation, naturally only envisioned these paper soldiers for basic labor and ship-guarding duties. Not because he couldn't enhance them further... But, well, violent clashes were more suited to shirtless, visceral warriors, right? Or so he justified.
The tiny paper figurines, upon Bai Ye's mantra and a light toss, enlarged spectacularly into 1.9 meters tall paper men, striking awe into both Luffy and Zoro. Luffy, excited as always, jumped around the animate paper beings, poking them and, to Bai Ye's disdain, even trying to bite one.
"Luffy, for crying out loud, don't slobber over them!" Bai Ye chastised, although more amused than genuinely annoyed.
Zoro, ever the observant one, queried, "Will water affect them?"
"Oh, they're waterproofed. It's just Luffy's saliva that's repulsive," Bai Ye nonchalantly replied, causing an eyebrow raise from Zoro and an oblivious grin from Luffy.
The paper figurines, undeterred by Luffy's curiosity, marched stoically to their respective duties, aiding the ship in its departure from the port.
The peaceful drift across the ocean, as the trio lounged on the deck, epitomized a tranquil pirate's life. Amidst the gentle sea breeze at dusk, Luffy relished his barbecue, Zoro sipped from his wine jar, and Bai Ye savored a glass of fresh watermelon juice. Their eyes lingered on the charming sunset, unanimously expressing their satisfaction with soft sighs and whispers of "So comfortable!" and "Good times."
Yet, this idyllic moment stopped abruptly.
"Damn it!!!" Bai Ye cursed, his gaze hardening.
Twin glances, filled with puzzled concern, from Luffy and Zoro landed on Bai Ye.
"This formation-destroying pest!!" Bai Ye continued, his frustration palpable.
Bai Ye received a whisper from a paper figurine. A mischievous visitor, it seemed, had slipped aboard their ship. The paper's description nudged Bai Ye into a 99% sure grin because - oh, he knew that thief.
Suddenly, a girl's squeak echoed, "Eeeek! How in the world is that paper doll moving?!" Bai Ye twisted around, an amused smirk decorating his face. A-ha! It was indeed you, our little thief, Nami.
Luffy and Zoro, turning their heads curiously toward the distressed vocal sounds, spotted a girl puppeteered towards them by two animated paper dolls. Amidst her terrified screams and tears, she staggered forward, eyes tightly shut, expecting the worst.
Bai Ye chuckled, "Looks like our ship has attracted a petite pilferer." There she stood, a black turban hiding most of her orange hair and her figure clearly beginning to take a shape.
Nami paused, her voice wavering, "Huh? Did someone say something?" She'd become so accustomed to the silent manipulations of the paper figurines that human voices struck her as oddly comforting. As she lifted her tear-stained face, she locked eyes with three distinctly different fellows.
Bai Ye, with his Daoist robes and flowing long hair, earned a mental, "Ooh, handsome!" from her. Observing Zoro's three sheathed swords and serious demeanor, she thought, "Yikes, scary!" Lastly, meeting eyes with a nostril-picking Luffy, she inwardly proclaimed, "Oh dear, an idiot!"
Unaware that Nami's internal dialogue had labeled him 'idiot', Luffy mused aloud, "A thief, huh? Guess she's inedible."
Nami perplexedly retorted, "What's edible got to do with it?!"
Meanwhile, Zoro, ever the pragmatist, proposed, "Should I just chop her up and toss her into the sea?" earning him a branding from Nami as a chilling, casual killer.
Bai Ye, ever the observer, nearly chuckled seeing Nami's facial journey from 'I've been caught by an idiot' to 'Help, it's my doom.'
"The petite pilferer of the East Blue, known for swiping treasures yet also renowned as a skilled navigator," Bai Ye chimed in, nudging his companions, "Seems like luck's knocked on our door, gentlemen!"
"Oh? She's a navigator?" Luffy queried, a note of surprise in his voice.
Nami, aghast, shot back, "Can't a thief navigate too?" Frustrated, she bared her teeth towards Luffy.
Luffy's eyes sparkled, "A navigator? Great!" Despite his often foggy understanding of many things, the importance of a navigator resonated with him.
Unfazed, Luffy declared, with an air of finality, "She's skilled, according to Bai Ye. She's our navigator now!" He threw his hands into the air, joyously celebrating his own decision.
Zoro, indifferent, simply mumbled, "Whatever," and strolled away. No fighting? No Zoro needed. Plus, there was a jar of wine with his name on it somewhere...
Nami exploded, "Don't decide for me!!" However, inwardly, she harbored a silver of regret for sneakily boarding this seemingly deserted pirate ship, all in her quest to amass 100 million Beli to save her village. Her fate, yet again, appeared to be swayed by a few sentences from others. A shadow of bitterness momentarily clouded her expression.
Bai Ye, gentle amusement in his voice, remarked, "By the look... erm, the expression on your face, seems like you have some nasty ideas."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone