Chapter 168

One Piece —

Translation: "Pirate King——"

Note: The em dash? We'll keep as "——". So output: 【1】 Pirate King——

At the dinner table, Shan Zhi set down his drink, and Xiao San Yue's words reminded him of the fairy tales he'd seen as a child, but her reasoning was utterly absurd, even more so than a fairy tale: 'In Xiao San Yue's eyes, how could Rakshasa selling Star Cores be just like selling matches on the street?'

Thus: "At the dinner table, Shan Zhi put down the cup in his hand, Xiao San Yue's words made him recall the fairy tale he had seen as a child, but her speculation was simply absurd compared to a fairy tale: 'In Xiao San Yue's eyes, how does Rakshasa selling Star Cores resemble selling matches on the street?'"

Check: We must not add extra info. Keep same meaning. We'll produce a concise translation.

Let's craft: "At the dinner table, Shan Zhi set down his wine cup; Xiao San Yue's words reminded him of the fairy tales he had seen as a child, but her reasoning was downright absurd compared to a fairy tale: 'In Xiao San Yue's view, how could Rakshasa selling Star Cores be any different from selling matches on the street?'"

We'll keep as one line.

'Isn't Rakshasa a merchant?' Luffy, who was happily eating, suddenly asked.

Translate: "'Isn't Rakshasa a merchant?' Lu Fei, who was happily eating, suddenly asked."

We need to keep the quotes. Use Lu Fei.

Thus: 【3】 "Isn't Rakshasa a merchant?" Lu Fei, who was happily eating, suddenly asked.

But we need to keep the Chinese quotes? We'll use English quotes.

Usopp beside him shook his head, 'Being a merchant is obviously just a cover for his travels; without powerful connections, ordinary people couldn't get hold of such world‑destroying devices.'

Translate: "Beside him, Wu Suo Pu shook his head. 'Being a merchant is obviously just a cover he uses when he's out and about; without a powerful background, how could an ordinary person obtain something capable of destroying heaven and earth?'"

We need to keep meaning.

'Oh… but Rakshasa doesn't look like a bad guy,' Luffy said while chewing on a chicken leg, 'How should I put it? The impression he gives is…'

Translate: "'Oh… but Rakshasa doesn't look like a bad guy, does he?' Lu Fei, while struggling to chew the chicken leg in his mouth, said, 'How to put it? The impression he gives is…'"

Luffy struggled to find the right word, but a moment later Zoro across the table calmly interjected: '…He's too calm.'

Translate: "Lu Fei struggled to find the right adjective, but the next second, Suo Long across the table calmly took over: '…He's too calm.'"

'Just from the look of his strange sword I can tell it isn't a blade specialized for killing; if it were only for killing, its efficiency would be too low.'

Translate: "'Just from the look of his oddly styled sword I can tell it's not a blade specialized for killing. If it were only for killing, its efficiency at slaying people would be too low.'"

Zoro raised his cup and took a big gulp, adding, 'Moreover, can the Destroyer Sovereign really do honest business with people? Even if she's hiding her identity, it would be simple for an envoy to kill an ordinary person and forcibly seize the Star Core.'

Translate: "Suo Long raised his wine cup and gulped a large mouthful. 'Moreover, can the Destroyer Overlord really do honest business with people? Even if she avoids revealing her identity due to disguise, it would be simple enough for an envoy to kill an ordinary person and forcibly seize the Star Core.'"

Recalling the battle in the Abyssal Frontier between Phantomy and Jing Yuan and others, Zoro felt a chill just sensing a faint aura from outside the canopy; it's hard to imagine Phantomy, who could nearly take down a general single‑handedly, sitting down peacefully to trade Star Cores.

Translate: "Recalling the battle inside the Scale Abyss Realm between Phantom Mist and Jing Yuan and others, Suo Long felt a chill run down his spine just from sensing a trace of aura outside the canopy. It's hard to imagine the scene where Phantom Mist, who could nearly single‑handedly kill a general, would sit down peacefully to trade Star Cores with someone."

'Please, please, just let me see your boss?' Rakshasa immediately switched to an even more pleading tone.

Translate: "'Please, please, just let me see your boss?' Rakshasa immediately switched to an even more humble tone."

'Please, just make an exception for my sake!'

Translate: "'Look, I'm begging you so much—just make an exception, please!'"

Walter (fake) held his head high with disdain, his tone tinged with contempt: 'Lots of people beg me every day—do I have to accommodate them all?'

Translate: "Walter (fake) held his head high, his tone slightly contemptuous, sneering: 'So many people beg me every day—do I have to make an exception for all of them?'"

(March 7: 'It seems this approach won't work.')

Translate: "(San Yue Qi: 'It seems this trick won't work.')"

(Star silently wiped sweat: 'Is Rakshasa really like this?')

Translate: "(Xing wiped his sweat silently: 'Is Rakshasa really like this?')"

(Walter shook his head: 'In my impression, he'd never beg anyone.')

Translate: "(Walter shook his head: 'In my impression, he would never beg anyone.')"

Teyvat —

Translate: "Teyvat——"

Mondstadt, Knights of Favonius.

Translate: "Mondstadt, Knights of Favonius."

'Huh? Why doesn't this work, Brother Kaeya?' In the acting chief's office, Klee looked at Kaeya with confusion; even though she often repeats what Brother Rakshasa says, this trick usually works.

Translate: "'Huh? Why doesn't this work, Brother Kai Ya?' In the acting captain's office, Klee looked puzzled at Kai Ya; even though she often said the same things Rakshasa Brother said, this trick usually worked."

'Well, this problem is simple,' Kaeya smiled slightly, pointing to the Dodoco toy hanging behind little Klee.

Translate: "'Well, this problem is simple.' Kai Ya smiled slightly and pointed to the Doudouke plush hanging behind little Klee."

'Dodoco's magic accompanies Klee, but Brother Rakshasa doesn't have Dodoco, so it naturally doesn't work.'

Translate: "'Doudouke's magic accompanies little Klee, but Rakshasa Brother doesn't have a Doudouke, so it naturally doesn't work.'"

'Ah, I see!' Klee instinctively hugged her Dodoco, adding, 'But I could lend Dodoco to Brother Rakshasa first, and once its magic takes effect, return it to me—that would work too!'

Translate: "'Ah, that's it!' Klee instinctively hugged the Doudouke plush, but she added, 'I could first lend Doudouke to Rakshasa Brother, and once its magic takes effect, return it to me—that would work too!'"

'Um… Klee, better not.'

Translate: "'Uh… little Klee, better not.'"

Kaeya wiped sweat from his forehead, thinking, 'A Star Core isn't something you can easily sell just by being humble and relying on Dodoco's magic.'

Translate: "Kai Ya wiped sweat from his forehead. 'A thing like a Star Core surely can't be easily sold just by speaking softly and relying on Doudouke's magic, can it?'"

'After handing over the torn page, Walter (fake)'s eyes widened instantly.'

Translate: "'After tearing out the front page and handing it over, Walter (fake)'s eyes widened instantly.'"

'Is this… a contact signal?' Walter (fake)'s tone shifted abruptly, his eyes gaining clear respect: 'It really is you. Please wait, I'll go call the boss.'

Translate: "'Is this… a contact signal?' Walter (fake)'s tone shifted abruptly, his eyes gaining a few measures of clear respect. 'It really is you. Please wait—I'll go call the boss right away.'"

'Take your time, I'm not in a hurry.' Rakshasa was pleased with his respectful demeanor.

Translate: "'Take your time, I'm not in a hurry.' Rakshasa was very pleased with his respectful attitude."

(March 7: 'Puer received the contact page and went to inform his boss. Soon after, he saw a dignified figure approaching.')

Translate: "(San Yue Qi: 'Pu'er got the front page for the contact, then went to inform his boss. Not long after, he saw a dignified figure walking toward him.')"

'Hmm… let me first check the goods, Pam.'

Translate: "'Hmm… let me first look at the goods, Pam.'"

Rakshasa opened his eyes at the words, scanned the surroundings twice and saw no one, only to realize the voice was coming from beside his feet.

Translate: "Upon hearing that, Rakshasa opened his eyes, scanned the surroundings twice, saw no one, and finally realized the sound was actually coming from beside his own feet."

'This rumored boss… is actually Pam!'

Translate: "'The rumored boss… is actually Pam!'"

'What an imposing and majestic figure!'

Translate: "'What an imposing and majestic figure!'"

('Such a cute boss…' Star couldn't hold back laughter.)

Translate: "('What an adorable boss…' Xing couldn't hold back his laughter.)"

'Pfft, this boss, this boss… hahahaha!'

Translate: "'Pfft, this boss, this boss…' Hahahahaha!"

Kiana burst out laughing, doubling over in her seat: 'What's with this name? Star Yubo Bubbles—isn't that a milk tea name?'

Translate: "Qi Ya Na burst out laughing so hard she wanted to die, slumped in her seat unable to straighten her waist: 'What's with this name? Star Yubo Bobo—isn't that a milk tea name?'"

'Milk tea is still tea, so it makes sense for the boss of a tea party to be milk tea,' Bronya explained.

Translate: "'Milk tea is still tea, so it makes sense for the boss of the Tea Party to be milk tea, right?' Bu Luo Ni Ya explained from the side."

'…Oh right.'

Translate: "'…Right.'"

But Bronya wondered further: 'Why isn't the boss Kija? Kija looks more imposing.'

Translate: "But Bu Luo Ni Ya was also very curious: 'Why isn't the boss Ji Zi? Ji Zi looks more imposing, doesn't he?'"

'Miss Kija is just Yang Shu's coworker! If it were really her, she'd definitely be acting!' Kiana raised a finger, 'To be Yang Shu's boss, one must be this adorable Pam! March 7 is a genius!'

Translate: "'Miss Ji Zi is just a colleague of Uncle Yang; if it were really Ji Zi, she'd definitely be acting!' Qi Ya Na raised a finger, 'To be Uncle Yang's boss, one must be as adorable as Pam! San Yue Qi is a genius!'"

(March 7 scratched his head, feeling wronged: 'When it comes to Yang Shu's boss, I can only think of Pam.')

Translate: "(San Yue Qi scratched his head, feeling wronged: 'When it comes to Uncle Yang's boss, the only thing I can think of is Pam.')"

'Walter (fake) cleared his throat solemnly: 'This is our boss, Star Yubo Bubbles—quickly bring out the goods for him to inspect.'

Translate: "Walter (fake) at the side cleared his throat solemnly: 'This is our boss, Star Yubo Bobo—quickly bring out the goods for him to inspect.'"

'One hand for money, one hand for goods—such a simple rule, you couldn't possibly not understand?' Rakshasa crossed his arms sternly.

Translate: "'One hand for money, one hand for goods—such a simple rule, you surely don't misunderstand it?' Rakshasa crossed his arms and said sternly."

Pam glanced at Walter (fake) aside: 'Puer, give him the money, Pam. How about it? Now you're willing to give me the goods, Pam.'

Translate: "Pam glanced sideways at Walter (fake): 'Pu'er, give him the money, Pam. How about it? Now you're willing to give me the goods, Pam.'"

Rakshasa extended his hands forward, and the angle of the light curtain conveniently blocked the view of the goods he was trading.

Translate: "Rakshasa extended both hands forward; the angle of the light curtain happened to block the view of the goods he was trading."

'Be careful—this is extremely dangerous. Farewell.'

Translate: "'Be careful—this thing is extremely dangerous. Farewell.'"

Having said that, Rakshasa prepared to turn and leave.

Translate: "Having said that, Rakshasa prepared to turn and leave."

'Indeed, we won't meet again, Pam. Puer, take him out, Pam.' Pam's expression, full of behind‑the‑scenes menace, gave the order coldly. As the camera pulled back, the Puer who had just resembled Walter (fake) instantly turned into… a golden figure!

Translate: "'Indeed, we won't meet again, Pam. Pu'er, take him out, Pam.' Pam's expression was full of behind‑the‑scenes menace as he coldly issued the order. When the view pulled back, the figure that had just been Walter‑shaped Pu'er instantly turned into… a Golden Person!"

'I thought the transaction went smoothly.'

Translate: "'I thought the transaction went smoothly.'"

'You sold me something this dangerous, making us accomplices, Pam. To keep the secret, I have to regretfully silence you forever, Pam.'

Translate: "'You sold me something this dangerous, so we're accomplices, Pam. To keep the secret, I can only regretfully have you stay silent forever, Pam.'"

Gintama —

Translate: "Silver Soul——"

'That makes sense… wait, no! It makes no sense at all! How could a living person instantly turn into a golden figure? That's too abrupt!' Shinpachi widened his eyes and began to complain.

Translate: "'That makes sense… wait, no! It makes no sense at all! How could a living person instantly turn into a Golden Person? That's way too abrupt!' Shin Pachiki widened his eyes and began to complain."

'What's unreasonable about it? It's actually reasonable,' Gintoki, lying on the tatami, picked his nose and flicked his finger forward, 'Don't anime often feature robots disguised as humans?'

Translate: "'What's unreasonable about it? It's actually quite reasonable.' Gintoki Sakata, lying on the tatami, picked his nose and then flicked his fingertip forward, remarking, 'Don't anime often feature this kind of setup? Robots disguised as humans?'"

'There's no buildup at all!' Shinpachi couldn't comprehend, 'And is it really okay for such a cute character to say this? It's practically becoming children's taboo—wouldn't turning the boss into Kasumi be far more reasonable?!'

Translate: "'There's no buildup at all!' Shin Pachiki couldn't comprehend it. 'And is it really okay for such a cute image to say this? It's practically rising to become children's obscenity! Turning the boss into a Kafka look‑alike would make far more sense!'"

'…Kasumi.' Gintoki imagined briefly, 'Although it fits the character… it's just too on‑the‑nose and feels out of place with March 7, so let's forget it.'