Release

This is the full-color version of the previous cover page. Nami and Usopp are shown in vibrant colors in the jungle setting. Nami's bikini top is green with black spots, and her pants are a solid, bright green. She sits on a flowing red cloth draped over the giant leopard's back. Usopp's tribal outfit features purple and yellow patterned shorts, a light green "PEACE" loincloth, and a brown horned headdress. The giant leopard has bright yellow fur with distinct black rosettes. The "ONE PIECE" logo is colored in blue with yellow accents and tribal designs. The chapter title "Chapter 175 'Release'" is visible in the top right corner.

The story resumes with a figure disguised in a large, striped cloak running frantically away, panting heavily with "ze ze" sound effects. A voice from off-panel questions, "Tony's a decoy...!?". Another voice reassures, "Yeah, don't worry though. He'll be fine." In the next panel, Sanji is seen running swiftly through the streets of Rainbase, carrying Vivi under his arm. They are passing by the Rain Dinners casino and other buildings, with crowds of people in the background. Sanji urgently tells Vivi, "But we still need to hurry. Fill me in on the situation, Vivi!". Vivi, looking overwhelmed and confused, replies, "R-right...". In the bottom panels, Vivi looks at Sanji in shock and asks, "But Sanji... Weren't you shot earlier!?". Sanji, with his signature cigarette in his mouth and a confident smirk, simply replies, "Hm? Who, me?".

Outside the massive pyramid-shaped Rain Dinners casino, topped with a giant crocodile statue, a loud thud and an "UGHH!" are heard. Sanji is shown talking on a Den Den Mushi. The voice on the other end, panting heavily, reports, "Pant... Pant... I've apprehended a weird male attacker! Ugh...". Sanji, maintaining his cool demeanor, asks, "HELLO?". The voice demands, "Where are you right now?". Sanji replies, "I'm, uhh... right outside the front entrance, of the Rain Dinners casino...". Sanji then turns to Vivi and says, "The boss should now come out soon.. That was some fine acting. Well done...". Vivi, looking nervous and exhausted, stammers, "T... Thanks... Ha... Haha... So uhh... can I go now...?". Sanji immediately shuts her down with a firm "No sir!". The voice on the Den Den Mushi continues, "Yeah? Seems like more bastards have come out of the woodwork...". Sanji, looking off-panel, says, "Look, Chopper."

The scene shifts to the bridge outside Rain Dinners. Chopper, still wearing his striped disguise, stands triumphantly over a large group of defeated Baroque Works Millions agents. He declares, "My... My name is Mr. Prince...". One of the conscious agents, looking battered, asks, "Huh!? Who the hell are you!?...Wait, are you the one who did this to our pals!?". Chopper, fully embracing his role, yells, "I CAN DO THIS...! MY NAME IS MR. PRINCE!" as he continues to strike the remaining agents, sending them flying with loud impact sounds. From a high balcony on the pyramid, a silhouetted Crocodile looks down at the chaos, exclaiming, "What in the world!?". Down below, another agent runs up to the scene, yelling, "What happened here!? HEY YOU! TELL ME!". A beaten agent on the ground reports, "SOME GUY... CALLED MR. PRINCE... DID ALL THIS...".

Chopper, having caused a massive distraction, turns and sprints away at top speed, leaving a cloud of dust behind him. Crocodile, observing from his balcony, narrows his eyes and thinks, "THAT MUST BE HIM!". Suddenly, a loud rumbling sound echoes as the bridge leading to the casino collapses into the water below. An agent panics, shouting, "OH NO! THE BRIDGE COLLAPSED!". In the bottom panel, Sanji is shown in profile, a sly grin on his face as he smokes his cigarette, clearly pleased with the success of his plan. Beside him, Robin (Miss All Sunday) is shown in a separate panel, observing the situation silently with a neutral expression.

Chopper is shown hiding behind a wall in the city, trembling violently with "doki doki" (heartbeat) and "biku biku" (trembling) sound effects. He looks around nervously, clearly terrified after his bold stunt. Meanwhile, Crocodile is furious. He grits his teeth, a vein popping on his forehead, and mutters, "WHERE THE HELL DID HE DISAPPEAR TO... DAMN THAT MR. PRINCE...". Crocodile turns and begins to walk away from the balcony, his large coat billowing behind him. He vows, "I SWEAR I'LL FIND YOU, AND KILL YOU ON THE SPOT...". In the background of the panel, Chopper can be seen shuffling away quietly, trying to remain unnoticed as Crocodile heads back inside.

Down in the VIP room, panic has set in. Usopp and Luffy are screaming at the top of their lungs, their faces contorted in terror, yelling, "AGHHHH! WE'RE GONNA DIE! WE'RE GONNA DIE!". The room is rapidly filling with water, and a massive Bananagator is swimming menacingly near their seastone cage. Usopp points out the obvious danger, crying, "THE WATER'S ALREADY UP TO OUR KNEES! IT'S ALL OVER FOR US!". Nami, trying to take action, yells at the beast, "HEY, YOU DUMB CROCODILE! OVER HERE! I'm trying to anger it so it'll bite and break open this cage for us!". Usopp, desperate, agrees, "G-GOOD IDEA!". Luffy joins in, taunting the creature, "OVER HERE, YOU BIG FAT BANANA!". Usopp, confused by Luffy's insult, asks, "W-WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU, NAMI!?".

Nami screams in terror, "IT'S COMING!", as the Bananagator approaches. Usopp tries to correct Luffy's earlier insult, explaining, "Luffy, I told you that's wrong! It's the banana that's growing from the crocodile, which is why its name has '-dile' at the end." Luffy argues back, "For example, the word 'Monkey Dance' refers to a dance even though the word 'monkey' is an animal...". Usopp retorts, "What's the difference? Both bananas and crocodiles are something you eat." Their argument is cut short as the massive Bananagator lunges at the cage with its jaws wide open. Nami shrieks, "KYAA!". The beast bites down hard on the bars, but its teeth shatter with a loud "CRACK!". Nami realizes her plan failed, yelling, "IT'S NO GOOD! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS CAGE MADE OUT OF!?". The Bananagator groans in pain. Nami pleads, "HURRY UP AND SAVE US, VIVI!".

Inside the cage, Smoker sits calmly amidst the rising water and panic. Usopp, furious at Smoker's lack of reaction, yells, "Hey, you... AND WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SO DAMN CALM RIGHT NOW!? HELP US THINK OF A WAY TO ESCAPE!". Smoker ignores the outburst and asks, "How much do you know, About what Crocodile intends to achieve...?". Luffy looks confused. Smoker continues, "That woman beside Crocodile... She's a wanted woman who's been on the run from the World Government for over 20 years... If I remember correctly, her bounty's worth over 70 million...!". This revelation shocks the crew. Nami stammers, "O-OVER SEVENTY MILLION!?". Usopp stutters, "S-S-SO WHAT!?". Nami thinks to herself, "That's almost as much as Crocodile's bounty...". Smoker concludes grimly, "From the moment those two joined hands, their plan turned into something far more than taking over a mere country. If left alone, this might develop into an incident large enough to engulf the whole world!".

Luffy, undeterred by the scale of the threat, looks fiercely determined. He declares, "TO KICK THAT BASTARD'S ASS! I DON'T NEED ANOTHER GODDAMN REASON,". Usopp, overwhelmed by the information, says, "Hmph, what the heck are you going on about? Whoa, this is getting too big for me... The whole world!? How is that possible!?". The reality of their situation sets back in as Usopp realizes the water level is rising. He panics again, "OH CRAP! THE WATER'S ALREADY UP TO MY THIGHS! WE'RE GONNA DIE! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!". Nami screams, "NOOO!". Smoker calmly asks, "I see... So then... How do you plan to get out of here?". Usopp, losing hope, slumps against Zoro, saying, "I'M... STARTING TO FEEL FAINT...". Luffy encourages them, "NO! HANG IN THERE, LUFFY! VIVI SAID SHE'LL BE BACK WITH HELP SOON!". Nami expresses her concern for Vivi, "Vivi... It must be hard for you, what with so little time... Sorry for putting you through so much stress...". Zoro, frustrated by his inability to cut the cage, thinks, "DAMN IT! IF ONLY I WERE STRONGER, I COULD CUT THROUGH THIS CAGE NO PROBLEM...!". A small thought bubble near Zoro humorously recalls, "'One should not make any loud noises while eating'...".

A massive, dynamic double-page spread captures a moment of explosive action. A gigantic Bananagator is violently launched upwards out of the water, its body contorted from a devastating impact. The beast's mouth is wide open, revealing its sharp teeth, as it is sent flying with immense force. Large, bold sound effects emphasize the sheer power of the blow. A voice shouts the name of the attack: "ANTI-MANNER KICK COURSE!". At the bottom of the panel, standing in the swirling water where the beast was just struck, is Sanji. His leg is still raised high in the air, having just delivered the powerful kick that sent the massive creature airborne. The water around him churns from the force of his movement.

Vivi is shown standing on the stairs leading down to the flooded room, looking on in absolute shock at the display of power. Sanji stands calmly in the water, smoking his cigarette, and lets out a small "COUGH!". The massive Bananagator crashes down onto the floor of the room, crushing part of the structure and sending debris flying. The impact creates a huge splash. The bottom of the page features four vertical panels showing the stunned reactions of the crew inside the cage. Nami looks surprised, Usopp's jaw drops in exaggerated shock, Luffy yells in excitement, and Zoro looks on with a serious, slightly impressed expression.

Sanji casually flicks his cigarette away, exhaling a puff of smoke and saying, "WHEW...". He then turns to face the cage, standing confidently in the knee-deep water. He greets the trapped crew with a simple, "'Sup. Did I keep you waiting?". Inside the cage, Nami, Usopp, and Luffy are overcome with relief and joy. They are drawn with comical, crying faces, screaming his alias, "PRINCE!". Nami cries out, "Oh thank god!". Usopp, quickly recovering from his tears, yells at Sanji, "STOP POSING AND FIND THE DAMN KEY ALREADY!".

Luffy gives Sanji a massive thumbs-up, grinning widely and shouting, "GOOD JOB! VIVI!". Sanji immediately switches to his lovestruck persona, swooning over Nami with hearts around him. He asks, "Nami! Did you fall in love with me just now? <3". Nami, exasperated but relieved, replies, "Yeah, yeah, I fell for you. Now get this cage open already!". Sanji happily obliges, "Yes, darling!". Zoro, watching this exchange, thinks to himself, "There's no limit to his stupidity...". Vivi, standing on the stairs, smiles warmly and gives a thumbs-up, saying, "Thanks!". However, the moment of relief is interrupted as more Bananagators emerge from the water, surrounding Sanji and growling menacingly. Sanji looks at them calmly and says, "So you all want a piece of me, do you...". Usopp cheers him on from the cage, yelling, "C'MON SANJI! BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF 'EM!".

Sanji leaps into action, delivering a powerful kick to one of the Bananagators. He declares, "I'll gladly kick some table manners, Into anyone boorish enough to harm a lady...! So be it. Come at me, you worthless bananas." Usopp urgently yells from the cage, "SANJI! THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME LEFT! FINISH THEM OFF IN A SECOND!". Smoker, observing the situation, corrects him, "NO, MORE LIKE HALF A SECOND! Tell your friend to go after the 3rd one to enter the room just now...". Usopp is confused, asking, "Huh?". Luffy asks Smoker, "What, can you tell them apart?". Smoker explains, "Are your ears just for show or something? That 3rd one had the exact same growl as the one that swallowed the key.". Sanji, hearing this, confirms, "GOT IT!".

Crocodile is shown walking purposefully down a long, ornate hallway. He pieces together the situation, thinking, "So they destroyed the bridge to buy a little time, did they... There must have been several more of their crew members still left!". He continues his stride, confident in his trap. "And they thought they could lure me away from the room? In any case, all their resistance is for naught...! Even if they're lucky enough to find the right crocodile and have it spit the key back out, They'll never get that cage open...". Robin, walking slightly behind him, comments, "...You're quite the villain.". Crocodile smirks, holding up a key attached to a ring. He reveals, "Was here all along. But struggle as much as you wish before your deaths... Because the real key,". He reaches the large double doors leading to the VIP room and pushes them open, declaring, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I'LL KILL THESE WORTHLESS RUNTS PERSONALLY!".

As Crocodile opens the doors, his eye widens in absolute shock, a large "WHA-!!!" escaping him. The scene inside the VIP room is not what he expected. The seastone cage is wide open, with a "CREAK..." sound effect. The Bananagators are all lying unconscious in the water. Floating in the middle of the room is Mr. 3, unconscious and battered, with a piece of paper pinned to his back. A small wrench or key is floating in the water nearby. The note on Mr. 3's back reads, "See ya later, Dumbass-gator -Mr. Prince-". Crocodile stares in disbelief at the ruined trap and the mocking message left by Sanji.

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