Within the Whale

A large, tearful, dog-like mink with a spiked collar begs on his knees: "FORGIVE ME, MY FRIENDS! FORGIVE ME!" Nearby, a stern samurai-like man with a topknot declares, "MARK MINE WORDS; IN ORDER TO REPAY THIS INSURMOUNTABLE DEBT, I SHALL WORK TIRELESSLY! SO, I BEG OF THEE..." while a cloaked elderly figure adds, "MEN OF THE WANO KINGDOM SHALT NEVER SHED A TEAR! AND YET..." In another panel, the cloaked man continues, "NOT IN THE SLIGHTEST! YOU JUST SO HAPPENED TO WITNESS MY NINJUTSU BY COINCIDENCE! COINCIDENCE, HMM~I EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE TOTALLY SHOWING IT OFF TO US~I" A small mink child asks, "ARE YOU GUYS CRYINGI" as a group of minks react with "GYAAH!" and "NIN-NIN! NIN-NIN!" One mink shouts, "ENOUGH WITH THE 'NIN-NIN' CRAP ALREADY! THE NINJA IS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY!" A black-haired man watches silently from the side. The scene shifts to a vast panoramic view of a sprawling ancient city inside the whale, with narration stating: "THE TOWNS... THEY WERE BUSTLING WITH PEOPLE LIVING THEIR DAILY LIVES! IT WAS AS IF THE COUNTRY ITSELF WAS ALIVE! THESE FOOLISH MINKS... THEY ACTED FAR TOO RASHLY... IN THE PAST, WHEN I FIRST JOURNEYED TO THIS LAND...! IT WAS NOTHING LIKE THIS! THE SPRAWLING CITIES... THE FLOWING RIVERS... THEY WERE SO BEAUTIFUL..." A furry figure exclaims, "LOOKS LIKE THE DECIPHERING OF THE 'STONE' IS COMPLETE! OOOOH! LITTLE RASCALS! COME! TO THE INSIDE OF THE WHALE!"

A bandaged, fierce-looking mink guardian growls, "WE 'GUARDIANS' ARE TASKED WITH THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF PROTECTING IT!" while another mink states, "WHALE FOREST IS REVERED AS A SACRED PLACE BECAUSE OF THE EXISTENCE OF THIS VERY STONE!" Robin, Nami, and others examine a large stone tablet. Robin notes, "IT SEEMS THAT IT MAY BE POINTING TO A SPECIFIC LOCATION, ROBIN!" Nami asks, "THIS IS WHAT WAS INSCRIBED ON THE PONEGLYPHI IT CERTAINLY APPEARS AS IF A SEA CHART WAS DRAWN HERE AT SOME POINT! HOW DOES IT LOOK, NAMII" Nami reacts with shock: "THE FINAL ISLAND... RAFTELI! YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY MEAN...!" The cloaked man declares, "THE FINAL POINT OF THE GRAND LINE, WHICH HAS BEEN ENDLESSLY SOUGHT BY THE STALWART WARRIORS OF THE SEA!" A large furry mink exclaims, "EXACTLY RIGHT!" while another reacts, "EEHI!" The cloaked figure continues, "THIS STONE IS A GUIDE TO THAT VERY LOCATION!" The group stands before the massive Road Poneglyph marked with the Straw Hat Jolly Roger, as someone points out, "THAT RED SLAB OVER THERE IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE 'ROAD PONEGLYPH'!"

The Straw Hats and minks stare in shock at the massive stone as Luffy screams at the top of his lungs, "RAFTEEEELLLLLL~~~I!" Below, the group erupts in frantic discussion. "HOW-EV-ER! Y'HEARI" one mink shouts. "WAIT, WAIT! HOLD YOUR HORSES! THERE'S A 'HOWEVER'!" another cries. A voice exclaims, "HUUUHHHHI! THE LOCATION OF RAFTEL IS SERIOUSLY WRITTEN ON THAT BIG SLAB O' ROCKI!" Others yell, "YOU'LL BE FREAKIN' PIRATE KING!" and "IT'S THE FREAKIN' FINISH LINE!" In the lower panel a stern dog mink raises his hand and declares, "THERE ARE A TOTAL OF FOUR THROUGHOUT THE WORLD!" and "THE RED STONE: 'ROAD PONEGLYPH'... IT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE!" The crew reacts with stunned silence.

The dog mink continues explaining while pointing at the inscribed stone. "INDEED, ON THAT STONE, THE PATH TO A SPECIFIC LOCATION IS INSCRIBED. BUT THAT LOCATION IS NOT RAFTEL. AND THE SAME GOES FOR THE THREE REMAINING STONES AS WELL." Luffy, wide-eyed, listens as the mink adds, "THE DESTINATION YOU SEEK WILL EMERGE... EACH POINT CAN THEN BE MARKED ON A MAP! AND AT THE POINT WHERE THEY CONVERGE AND INTERSECT..." Another panel shows the map with "WHOOSH" lines as the mink states, "ONCE ALL THOSE LOCATIONS ARE KNOWN... ON EACH STONE, A DIFFERENT POINT IS INSCRIBED!" In the final splash the mink roars, "WILL FINALLY BE REVEALED... RAFTEL!" while describing the unseen island that "NONE HAVE EVER LAID EYES ON FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS..."

Luffy leans forward with intense excitement, shouting, "OR ISN'T ITI! I WONDER, IS IT REALLY THERE...I SO, THIS IS FINALLY IT...! ONE PIECE!" The mink replies, "IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON HEADING TO 'WHOLE CAKE ISLAND' WITH PEKOMS, THEN... YOU'RE ALREADY ON THE RIGHT PATH!" Nearby, the crew reacts with shock as the mink explains the four Road Poneglyphs: "AND WHERE EXACTLY WERE YOU PLANNING ON SEARCHINGI! THE WORLD IS GINORMOUS YOU SIMPLETON!" and "I'LL JUST GO AND GRAB SANJI AND COME RIGHT BACK!" "ALRIGHT! WE'RE GOING TO SEARCH FOR THE REST OF 'EM!" A serious man in a cap exclaims, "PIRATESI!" while the mink notes, "ARE IN THE POSSESSION OF CERTAIN PIRATES!" and "THERE IS ONLY ONE FOR WHICH THE WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN! OF THE FOUR 'ROAD PONEGLYPHS' IN EXISTENCE..."

The mink growls with fury, "AND YET ANOTHER YONKO, 'HUNDRED-BEAST KAIDO'! THE YONKO 'BIG MOM'!" as impact lines explode around him. Luffy leaps up yelling, "EEEEEEHHHHHHHHH~I!" The mink continues, "SO IF THOSE TWO YONKO ARE CARRYING ONE RED STONE EACH... THEN THAT MEANS..." Luffy declares, "IT'S SIMPLE!! ALL WE GOTTA DO IS STEAL 'EM!" while striking a pose. The crew erupts in panic: "BUT IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT PICKING A FIGHT WITH THEM NOW THEN... YIP... I'M A TINKLE AWAY FROM PISSING MYSELF OUT OF FEAR ALONE!" "DON'T JUST SAY IT LIKE IT'S NO MATTER-OF-FACT!" "THIS JUST MEANS WE'LL BE DOING IT SOONER!!" "WILL YOU GUYS STOP WHINING ALREADYI! WE WERE GONNA BEAT 'EM SOONER OR LATER ANYWAY!" Nami clutches her head, "AHH... ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY VISION... IT'S GONE BLACK..."

A massive, bandaged mink with wild hair and a pipe explains the nature of Poneglyph copies. "Kinda like 'fish prints', there are copies of the Poneglyphs floatin' around out there. Most people try to just gather those. Who in their right mind would ever try to lug those big things around with 'em anywayI" He continues, "That's great an' all, but there's actually no need... To steal the actual Poneglyphs themselves, ya' hearI" Luffy stands nearby with a serious expression, sweat drops visible. The mink points dramatically, "I see now! We can just stealthily infiltrate the Yonko ships, and nab those copies!" Robin listens as the mink adds, "You'll arrive without a hitch... Then bam! You're Pirate King! That way, you can insidiously make it all the way to Raftel!" The mink later addresses Robin directly: "Nico Robin. Enough about that. What's really got me concerned is your safety, you stubborn son of a-!" Robin stands calmly with Nami and others nearby as the mink rants about the world's interest in the "Void Century" and how no one could decipher the stones. A small mink child watches the exchange.

The large mink continues his warning with a fierce grin: "All the 'big names' from 'round the world will surely come to snatch you away, rascal! When the time comes, and you go about readin' those things..." Robin smiles confidently and replies, "I've got strong, reliable friends who will always be there to protect me! I don't mind one bit! After all..." In a smaller panel, Wanda reacts with surprise, "Snatch Robin awayI!" The mink laughs heartily, "Goronyanya...! You're certainly a dependable bunch o' rascals, aren't yaI By the way, why is it that all of you are so knowledgeable about the PoneglyphsI" He then roars protectively, "I won't let any of you evildoers lay a single finger on Robin, mark my words!!! Even if you praise me and rely on me like that...! Hoohaa! Hwachaa! Hey now, hey now~ 'Strong and reliable'I! You're gonna make me blush~! Don't you worry, I'll blow anything and everything away just for you~!" The mink strikes a dramatic pose with claws extended while others react in the background.

The mink recalls the past with Inuarashi: "Ah... Weren't we s'posed to stay quiet about this, InuI! And that was because... It all started way back when... The master whom we serve, Lord Oden Kozuki... Began taking an interest in those 'stones', y'see..." Inuarashi sits with a serious expression. A young mink boy with a topknot shouts angrily, "You may speak as you see fit! I have no objection to it. We need not hide anything from these individuals!" The two rulers glance at each other. The mink continues explaining, "Even now, they're technological prowess is quite somethin', if I do say so m'self! Been a family of 'stonemasons' who quarry for stones and manufacture them. The truth of it is, the Kozuki family lineage of the Wano Kingdom has, for generations..." The boy protests, "What's all this 'I have no objection' crap, huhI! Someone's gettin' awfully full of themselves again, don't you think, hmm~I!" The large mink snaps back, "I am royalty so it cannot be helped, you insolent fool!"

The mink declares with intensity, "Those 'books' are none other than the Poneglyphs! The very same Kozuki clan, with their incomparable skills, constructed indestructible 'books'! Right y'are. 800 years ago, in the distant past..." The Straw Hats react with shock; Luffy, Usopp, and others stare wide-eyed as a massive sound effect erupts: "EEEEEHHHHHH~~~~~~I!" The mink explains further, "'Twas not me who carved them! Rather, it was my ancient ancestors from Wano in the past, that it was! You made 'emI! Those stones that Robin's been searching forI!" Robin looks stunned and questions, "The Poneglyphs, which are scattered throughout the world... They were all constructed by a single clanI!" The group processes the revelation about the Kozuki family's ancient role in creating the indestructible stones.

In a forest clearing, Kin'emon, Raizo, and Luffy discuss the ancient knowledge. Kin'emon exclaims, "HOWEVER, WHAT WAS PASSED ON WAS THE MEANS TO READ AND WRITE THE ANCIENT GLYPHS." Raizo adds, "THE CONTENTS OF THE STONES CAN ONLY BE MADE KNOWN BY READING THEM!" and "THAT KNOWLEDGE WAS NEVER PASSED ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS!" Luffy asks, "IN THAT CASE, DO YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT'S WRITTEN ON 'EMI!" Kin'emon replies, "YES... LORD ODEN WAS..." while Raizo reacts in shock, "CEASED TO BE"...I! THAT CAN ONLY MEAN...!" and "MOMO-NOSUKE'S FATHER WAS...!" The narration explains that imparting the knowledge ceased during Oden's father's generation and was handed to Momonosuke, but that led to misfortune. A distant scene shows a boiling pot and a sign as Raizo screams in agony, "HE WAS... BOILED... BOILED INTO A PIPING HOT ODEN* SOUP!" with sound effects "LUUGH...!" and "HRGH-!" A translator note clarifies Oden's name as a pun on the Japanese dish.

Luffy shouts, "HEY! IT'S ALRIGHT! NO ONE'S FORCING YOU IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT THEN..." as close-ups show Kin'emon and Raizo's anguished faces. Raizo declares, "BY THE HANDS OF THE 'SHOUGUN' OF THE WANO KINGDOM AND THE PIRATE KAIDO!" and "LORD ODEN WAS... OUR MASTER WAS... EXECUTED!" The massive impact text "ドドドーン!!!" shakes the scene. Below, the group reacts with shock: "HUHI!" as they stand before a massive stone monument in the ruined landscape.

Close-ups reveal the Straw Hats and retainers reacting in horror. Luffy yells, "KAIDOI!" The narration continues: "TO HIS VERY LAST BREATH, HE VALIANTLY SUCCEEDED IN PROTECTING US!" and "AND AS FOR ALL OF US, LORD ODEN'S HUMBLE RETAINERS..." Someone asks, "KAIDOU...I!" The scene widens to show the devastated land as text states, "OCCUPYING THE WANO KINGDOM!" "LED BY THE YONKO KAIDO, IS PRESENTLY..." and "THE 'HUNDRED BEAST PIRATE CREW'". Luffy, Carrot, and others stare at the massive monument and the fallen figures.

Kin'emon tells Luffy, "TO THE REASON WHY YOU ALL HAVE BEEN TARGETED AND CAPTURED, CAN YOUI" and "YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY TELL ME THAT IT'S NOT RELATED..." Luffy asks, "WHAT THE HELL DID YOUR GUYS' BOSS DO TO GET EXECUTEDI" Kin'emon replies, "LORD ODEN KOUZUKI... THE PREVIOUS DAIMYOU," and explains, "KAIDO WAS... ATTEMPTING TO EXTRACT 'INFORMATION' FROM US." Raizo adds, "INDEED... IT IS JUST AS YOU STATED IN YOUR CONJECTURE. THE WEIGHT OF OUR SIN IS IMMENSE." A massive close-up shows a fierce warrior shouting, "COMPLETED THE ARDUOUS JOURNEY TO THE FINAL ISLAND, RAFTEL! OUR LORD WAS PRIVY TO THE 'SECRETS' OF THAT WORLD!" and "ALONG WITH THE 'PIRATE KING', GOLD ROGER HIMSELF..." with sound effects "EEEEEH HH~~~I!" The page ends with the One Piece logo and chapter note.

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