The chapter title is "THE NEVER-ENDING NIGHT". The cover story is titled "COBY AND HELMEPPO'S DIARY OF THEIR HARSH STRUGGLES VOL.23 '5 SECONDS BEFORE GARP SPEAKS'". The image shows Coby and Helmeppo on their hands and knees, scrubbing a wooden floor. Standing over them is the large figure of Marine Vice Admiral Garp, wearing his coat with "JUSTICE" written on the back.
CobyHelmeppoMonkey D. Garp
01
Outside a building with crosses on the roof, loud snoring sounds "GOOOO OOOO" fill the air. Luffy is sleeping on the ground, his stomach massively bloated from eating. Sanji is also asleep nearby. A voice says, "SIT UP...". Luffy wakes up slightly, burping "URP." He rubs his head, looking confused, and thinks, "UGH... MY STOMACH DOESN'T FEEL SO GOOD..." He wonders, "WHAT AM I DOING OUT HERE...?" and says, "HUH?" Still groggy, Luffy decides, "BUT I'M STILL TOO SLEEPY. I'LL JUST SLEEP." He falls right back asleep, snoring "ZZZ...", with his huge stomach sticking up in the air next to the sleeping Sanji.
Monkey D. LuffySanji
02
Frantic footsteps "HUFF HUFF" echo as Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday (Vivi) run for their lives in a panic. Mr. 9 suggests, "LET'S JUST HIDE OURSELVES UNTIL THOSE PIRATES LEAVE THIS ISLA-" but Miss Wednesday interrupts, "BUT... WHERE DO WE EVEN RUN AWAY TO NOW?" Mr. 9 replies, "ANYWHERE'S FINE, JUST NOT HERE!" He adds, "TO THINK THAT AGENTS WITH NUMBERS LESS THAN 12 WERE DEFEATED... I NEVER THOUGHT THOSE 4 WOULD ACTUALLY LOSE...!" As they run, they suddenly encounter a large black vulture and a sea otter wearing a helmet. The bird squawks aggressively, "KIKII--!!". Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday scream in terror, "AGHHH!" and "!!!?". Mr. 9 recognizes them and yells, "IT'S THE UNLUCKIES, FRIDAY THE 13TH!"
Mr. 9Nefertari ViviMiss FridayMr. 13
03
The Unluckies, Miss Friday the vulture and Mr. 13 the otter, are perched menacingly on a wooden sign that reads "SAPOTEN GRAVEYARD". The otter wears a spiked helmet with a skull design and holds spiked bombs, while the vulture wears aviator goggles. Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday are terrified. Mr. 9 stammers, holding his hands up, "W-W-WAIT... W-WE WEREN'T UMM.. T-TRYING TO R-RUN AWAY OR NOTHIN'... WE WERE JUST... GONNA GO TO THE W-WASHROOM...!" Suddenly, the vulture swoops down aggressively with a loud screech, "GYAAAAA!". Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday look up in horror, yelling, "WAIT...!"
Mr. 9Nefertari ViviMiss FridayMr. 13
04
Two pairs of legs step into view in front of the town - a man's boots and a woman's heels. The woman remarks, "EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT RIGHT NOW, THIS TOWN IS QUITE ROWDY." The man replies, "HMPH. I CAN'T BELIEVE WE WERE ORDERED TO COME ALL THE WAY OUT HERE TO THE FRONT LINES..." Mr. 9, Miss Wednesday, and Igaram are shocked by the sudden appearance of these figures. "W-WHA!? WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE!?" The two figures stand silently in the distance. Igaram and Mr. 9 point their guns at them, demanding, "I SAID WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE!!!" The Unluckies, Miss Friday and Mr. 13, look surprised by the newcomers. Close-ups reveal the faces of the two figures: a man with dark curly hair and sunglasses who introduces himself as "MR. 5", and a blonde woman smiling who says, "MISS VALENTINE."
Mr. 9Nefertari ViviIgaramMiss FridayMr. 13GemMikita
05
On a rooftop, Zoro tosses a defeated bounty hunter off the edge, saying, "DOWN YOU GO." The body falls past the cactus-shaped rocks and crashes into a building below with a loud "CRASH". Zoro looks down, satisfied, and says, "THERE, THAT TAKES CARE OF THE CLEAN UP." A wide shot shows the town is now quiet. Zoro sits on the edge of the roof, drinking from a bottle with a "GLUG". He remarks, "IT'S BECOME A NICE QUIET NIGHT AGAIN... AH..."
Roronoa Zoro
06
Zoro is drinking from his bottle when he suddenly pauses, hearing something. He looks over his shoulder and wonders, "WAS THAT JUST MY IMAGINATION? THOUGHT I HEARD SOMETHING JUST NOW..." Down in the streets, Igaram (Mr. 8) is crawling on the ground, heavily injured and panting, "HUFF... UGH... I CAN'T... JUST DIE HERE...!" He struggles to move forward, determined, "I STILL HAVE... AN IMPORTANT MISSION...!" Suddenly, a voice mocks him, "HOW PATHETIC, YOU LOST TO A SINGLE SWORDSMAN?" Igaram looks up, shocked, his face frozen in disbelief.
Roronoa ZoroIgaramGemMikita
07
Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine stand imposingly before the injured Igaram. Text boxes introduce them as "BAROQUE WORKS OFFICER AGENT MS. VALENTINE" and "BAROQUE WORKS OFFICER AGENT MR. 5". Igaram looks up in shock, exclaiming, "MR. 5!?" and "MS. VALENTINE!?" Mr. 5 looks down at him sternly and asks, "ARE YOU IDIOTS JUST PLAYING AROUND? WELL?" Miss Valentine laughs cheerfully, "KYAHA HAHA! GIVE THEM A BREAK, YOU CAN'T EXPECT THEM TO BE AS CAPABLE AS WE ARE."
IgaramGemMikita
08
Igaram looks up, sweating and desperate, asking, "DID YOU JUST COME TO LAUGH AT US...?" Mr. 5 replies, "THAT'S ONE REASON." Miss Valentine laughs, "KYAHA HAHA. WE'VE OBVIOUSLY COME HERE FOR BUSINESS." Igaram struggles to speak, hoping for help, "KU... HAHAHAHA! WITH YOU TWO BACKING US UP, THOSE PIRATES STAND NO CHANCE...!" Igaram then begs, "THAT'S RIGHT... SO PLEASE, GO CRUSH THAT TROUBLESOME SWORDSMAN!" However, Mr. 5 looks serious and commands, "STOP JOKING AROUND." Igaram is shocked by the sudden shift in tone, and Miss Wednesday also looks serious.
IgaramGemMikitaNefertari Vivi
09
Mr. 5 glares down and says, "YOU THINK WE'RE YOUR BACK-UPS?" Miss Valentine laughs mockingly, "YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT WE'D BE ORDERED TO COME ALL THE WAY OUT HERE AT THE EDGE OF GRAND LINE, JUST TO HELP YOU FIGHT OFF A PESKY SWORDSMAN? KYAHAHAHA!" Igaram is confused and scared, asking, "...WHAT!? THEN WHAT BUSINESS HAVE YOU COME HERE FOR...?" Mr. 5 explains, "SURELY YOU MUST HAVE SOME HUNCHES... A CRIME SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE BOSS WOULD PERSONALLY DISPATCH US ALL THE WAY OUT HERE..." Standing over Igaram, Mr. 5 reveals, "THE BOSS' DIRECT WORDS WERE, 'MY SECRET HAS BEEN FOUND OUT.' OF COURSE, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT SECRET MAY BE BUT..."
IgaramGemMikita
10
A close-up of Mr. 5 shows him stating, "OUR ORGANIZATION'S CREED IS 'SECRECY'... NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO PRY INTO THE REAL IDENTITIES OF OUR MEMBERS. THUS, IT'S INEXCUSABLE FOR OUR BOSS' REAL IDENTITY TO BE KNOWN." Miss Valentine smiles and adds, "AFTER INVESTIGATING INTO THE MATTER, IT SEEMS AN AGENT OF A CERTAIN KINGDOM HAS INFILTRATED INTO BAROQUE WORKS." Igaram is terrified and tries to deny it, "WHA...! W-WAIT! I KNOW I WEAR A CROWN AND ALL BUT I'M NOT REALLY A KING!" Mr. 5 calmly replies, "WE KNOW IT'S NOT YOU." Nearby, Karoo the duck quacks in shock, and Miss Wednesday (Vivi) looks horrified. Igaram realizes the truth, thinking, "THEY'VE FOUND OUT ABOUT EVERYTHING...! IS THIS THE END!?"
IgaramGemMikitaNefertari ViviKaroo
11
Zoro is still drinking on the roof, observing the situation. He notes, "NOT GOOD... LUFFY'S CAUGHT OUT IN THE OPEN..." Down below, Mr. 5 continues, "THE SPY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IS THE ALABASTA KINGDOM'S-" Before he can finish, Igaram suddenly attacks, firing a barrage of bullets from the hidden guns in his saxophone-shaped hair. He yells, "DIE! IGARAPPAPA! I WON'T LET YOU HARM HER!" The bullets strike Mr. 5 directly.
Roronoa ZoroGemMikitaIgaram
12
A massive explosion engulfs Mr. 5 from Igaram's attack. However, as the smoke clears, Mr. 5 emerges completely unharmed. Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday watch in shock, with Mr. 9 exclaiming, "MR. 8!?" Mr. 9 repeats in confusion, "IGA-RAM?" while Miss Wednesday, realizing his true identity is exposed, cries, "IGARAM!" Igaram desperately yells to her, "PLEASE RUN AWAY! I SWEAR IT ON MY HONOUR AS THE HEAD OF ALABASTA'S ROYAL GUARDS!" Suddenly, Miss Valentine floats down from above using her umbrella, laughing, "HOW FUTILE. KYAHA HAHA!" She delivers a brutal kick directly to Igaram's face, making him scream, "AHH!"
GemIgaramMr. 9Nefertari ViviMikita
13
Miss Valentine's kick lands hard on Igaram, and she laughs, "KYA HA!" Igaram grunts, "UGH!" and crashes heavily into the ground with a loud "THUD...!". Miss Wednesday screams in horror, "AH! IGARAM! IGARAM!" Mr. 5 walks forward calmly and announces, "THE NAME OF THE SPY, IS IGARAM, THE HEAD OF ALABASTA KINGDOM'S ROYAL GUARDS! AND THE SECOND SPY..."
MikitaIgaramNefertari ViviGem
14
Mr. 5 holds up a photograph of Vivi and declares, "IS NONE OTHER THAN ALABASTA'S PRINCESS HERSELF, NEFERTARI VIVI!" Vivi glares at him, gritting her teeth, and calls him a "YOU MONSTER!" Mr. 9, shocked by the revelation, grabs Vivi and starts dragging her away, yelling, "Y-YOU WERE A PRINCESS, MS. WEDNESDAY!?" Vivi protests, "NOW'S NOT THE TIME FOR THIS, MR. 9!" They run past the sleeping Luffy, who mutters, "JEEZ, SOME NOISY NIGHT THIS IS... DON'T MIND ME, KEEP FIGHTING AMONGST YOURSELVES." Mr. 5 casually picks his nose and states, "UNDER THE DIRECT ORDERS OF OUR BAROQUE WORKS' BOSS, WE SHALL HEREBY ELIMINATE YOU TWO!"
GemNefertari ViviMr. 9Monkey D. Luffy
15
Mr. 9 suddenly turns and attacks Mr. 5, swinging his metal bats. He yells, "DON'T YOU UNDERESTIMATE ME! AH!" He continues his assault, saying, "I MAY NOT EXACTLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON... BUT YOU'RE STILL THE SAME COMRADE-IN-ARMS THAT I'VE PARTNERED WITH FOR A LONG TIME. I'LL HOLD THEM OFF FOR YOU SO HURRY UP AND RUN AWAY, MS. WEDNESDAY!" Vivi is shocked and cries out, "MR. 9!!!" Mr. 9 unleashes an attack, shouting, "NEKKETSU NINE KONJOU BAT! (Hot-blooded Gutsy Bat!)" Mr. 5 coolly answers, "BYE-BYE BABY!" Vivi yells his name again, "MR. 9!!!"
Mr. 9GemNefertari Vivi
16
Mr. 5 calmly flicks a booger from his nose, stating, "HMPH, THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS TO US IS THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF OUR MISSION. SUCH TRIVIAL THINGS AS COMPASSION FOR ONE'S COMRADES WILL ONLY INVITE DEATH... KNOW YOUR LIMITS!" He prepares his attack, calling it "NOSE FANCY". Mr. 9 charges at him with a fierce battle cry, "RYAHHHH!" Mr. 5 flicks the booger, shouting "CANNON!" The projectile hits Mr. 9 and creates a massive, devastating explosion.
GemMr. 9
17
Zoro watches the explosion from the roof, remarking, "DAMN, THAT'S ONE DANGEROUS BOOGER ALRIGHT..." Vivi looks back at the blast in horror. Suddenly, Igaram grabs Zoro's leg. Zoro is startled, "YOU AGAIN!? AH!" Igaram desperately pleads with Zoro, "MR. SWORDSMAN...! SEEING YOUR IMPRESSIVE STRENGTH, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO MAKE AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST!" Zoro tries to shake him off, "LET GO OF ME! I AIN'T GONNA HELP YOU JUST BECAUSE YOU SUCK UP TO ME!" Igaram cries, tears streaming down his face, "THOSE TWO ARE 'ABILITY USERS' AND IT IS BEYOND MY POWER TO STOP THEM! PLEASE! PLEASE PROTECT THE PRINCESS IN MY STEAD! I BEG OF YOU!" Meanwhile, Vivi mounts Karoo and flees. "CARUE! RUN FOR IT!" Karoo quacks and sprints away. Mr. 5 watches them go, noting, "SHE RAN AWAY. SHE CAN'T ESCAPE FROM US..."
Roronoa ZoroNefertari ViviIgaramKarooGem
18
Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine begin to chase after Vivi. Mr. 5 orders, "AFTER HER, MS. VALENTINE!" and she replies, "ROGER, MR. 5! KYAHAHAHA!" Igaram continues to beg Zoro, coughing up blood, "IF YOU SUCCESSFULLY SEND HER SAFELY BACK TO ALABASTA, A KINGDOM LOCATED IN THE FAR EAST... I SWEAR YOU SHALL BE REWARDED GREATLY...! I BEG OF YOU, SIR! PLEASE PROTECT THE PRINCESS!" Zoro, annoyed, threatens, "I'LL KILL YOU IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP." Suddenly, Nami appears, looking down at them with a greedy smile. She asks, "GREATLY REWARDED, YOU SAY?" Zoro is surprised, "WHAT?" Nami points confidently and proposes, "HOW ABOUT A BILLION BELI THEN? ALRIGHT THEN! <3" Zoro exclaims, "NAMI!"
GemMikitaIgaramRoronoa ZoroNami
19
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End of chapter20 pages
Discussion
p6Two silhouettes observe the scene near the church.
p7Miss Valentine and Mr. 5 are officially introduced as Baroque Works Officer Agents.
p7Miss Valentine carries a parasol and wears a polka-dot outfit.
p7Mr. 5 wears a long black coat with the number 5 displayed.
p8Igaram kneels and pleads for help against a swordsman.
p8Miss Valentine states their arrival is for business.
p8Gem and Miss Valentine confront Igaram in ruined streets.
p9Gem confronts Igaram about expecting backup from Baroque Works.
p9Multiple bodies are visible in the ruined town square.
p9Broken sign reading OTENS and PIC hangs in the square.
p10Gem explains Baroque Works secrecy rules and infiltration incident.
p10Karoo appears briefly and quacks.
p10Gem identifies that the spy is not the man wearing a crown.
p11Sanji observes Luffy through improvised bottle scope.
p11Gem reveals the spy belongs to Alabasta kingdom.
p11Gem blasts Igaram with explosive attack.
p12Igaram leaps into explosion to protect others.
p12Mr. 9 observes the blast with sunglasses.
p12Vivi is hit during the confrontation.
p13Igaram is down and injured on the floor.
p13Vivi continues fighting despite being hit.
p13A cloaked observer watches the scene from afar.
p14Mr. 9 reveals Vivi identity using wanted poster.
p14Townspeople witness the confrontation in the street.
p14Igaram remains down during the announcement.
p15Vivi engages Mr. 9 in direct weapon combat.
p15Igaram intercepts an attack to cover Vivi escape.
p15Mr. 9 uses Nekketsu Nine Konjou Bat in fight.
p16Mr. 5 performs Nose Fancy Cannon technique by flicking a projectile that triggers a large explosion.
p17Igaram pleads with Zoro to protect Vivi while being unable to fight ability users.
p18Nami agrees to protect Vivi in exchange for one billion beli reward.
What is said, page by page
p0Title page label states chapter name THE NEVER-ENDING NIGHT with formal chapter header.
p0Bottom caption identifies scene as Coby and Helmeppo's diary volume 23 five seconds before Garp speaks.
p1Luffy complains of stomach pain saying UGH... MY STOMACH DOESN'T FEEL SO GOOD... URP while holding belly.
p1Luffy expresses confusion asking WHAT AM I DOING HERE...I HUH? while looking around.
p1Luffy decides to sleep again stating I'LL JUST SLEEP while lying back down.
p2Mustached man urges hiding saying LET'S JUST HIDE OURSELVES UNTIL THOSE PIRATES LEAVE THIS ISLA-.
p2Scarred man panics asking BUT... WHERE DO WE EVEN RUN TO NOW! ANYWHERE'S FINE, JUST NOT HERE!
p2Scarred man internally notes that agents with numbers less than 12 were defeated and the four actually lost.
p2Voice screams AGHHH! as vulture crashes into the group.
p3Panicked men claim they were not running away but going to the wash room.
p3One man yells WAIT...! as the vulture attacks.
p3Man screams GYAAAAA! in terror during the vulture's strike.
p4Miss Valentine complains they were ordered to the front lines at night.
p4Mr. 5 notes the town remains rowdy despite the late hour.
p4Townspeople shout demands to know the identities of the two agents.
p4Panel labels identify the arriving pair as Miss Valentine and Mr. 5.
p5Mr. 5 declares the cleanup is complete after the explosion.
p5Seated figure remarks that the night has become quiet again.
p5Figure reacts with a soft AH sound while gazing at the town.
p6Man on ground wonders if he heard a noise.
p6Drinking man questions whether the sound was his imagination.
p6Wounded man gasps that he cannot die here.
p6Tall figure in hat calls the wounded man pathetic for losing to one swordsman.
p6Wounded man insists he still has an important mission.
p7Crowd reacts with surprise at the arrival of Ms. Valentine and Mr. 5.
p7Miss Valentine laughs and tells others to give the lower agents a break.
p7Mr. 5 asks if the defeated agents were just playing around.
p8Miss Valentine laughs loudly while holding parasol, declaring they came for business in mocking tone.
p8Igaram sweats heavily and asks if they only came to laugh at them, voice filled with fear.
p8Igaram drops to knee and begs Gem and Miss Valentine to crush the troublesome swordsman.
p8Gem laughs darkly and questions if they are expected to back up the agents.
p9Gem demands to know if they think Baroque Works agents are their back-ups, voice angry.
p9Gem laughs while questioning why they would be sent to the edge of the Grand Line just to fight a swordsman.
p9Gem states a crime severe enough for the boss to personally dispatch them occurred.
p9Igaram sweats and suggests they must have some hunches about the business.
p10Gem declares no one may pry into member identities and that the organization's creed is secrecy.
p10Gem explains an agent from a certain kingdom infiltrated Baroque Works, making the boss identity leak inexcusable.
p10Karoo shouts QUACK in small panel.
p10Gem points and states they know the spy is not the crowned man.
p10Crowned man panics and protests he is not really a king despite wearing a crown.
p11Sanji mutters through bottle scope that Luffy is caught out in the open.
p11Gem announces the spy they seek is the Alabasta kingdom's agent.
p11Igaram shouts he will not let them harm her while lunging forward.
p11Gem yells DIE IGARA-PPAPA while unleashing explosive attack.
p12Igaram declares he swears on his honor as head of Alabasta royal guards while charging into explosion.
p12Shocked voice calls out Mr. 8 in confusion during blast.
p12Multiple voices shout Iga-ram and plead for him to run away.
p12Vivi cries out in pain from heavy blow.
p12Mr. 9 laughs triumphantly and calls the resistance futile.
p13Vivi grunts from heavy impact while charging.
p13Voices repeatedly call Iga-ram as he lies injured.
p13Narrator states Igaram is head of Alabasta royal guards and reveals second spy identity.
p14Mr. 9 announces that the second spy is Alabasta princess Nefertari Vivi.
p14Vivi calls Mr. 9 a monster in anger.
p14Townspeople question the situation and tell Mr. 9 to focus.
p14Mr. 9 reveals Vivi was Ms. Wednesday and states orders to eliminate both targets under Baroque Works boss command.
p15Vivi tells attackers not to underestimate her while spinning weapon.
p15Igaram tells Vivi to run while he holds off enemies.
p15Mr. 9 swings bat and says bye-bye baby.
p15Vivi shouts Mr. 9 name during the clash.
p16Pompadour-suited man declares mission priority over compassion in cold tone while posing with finger guns.
p16Sunglasses-wearing agent dismisses comrade concern with "HMPH" and emphasizes mission completion only.
p16Action man shouts "CANNON!" while performing flicking motion during explosion sequence.
p17Blonde man reacts with shock and annoyance at recognizing the suited attacker.
p17Armored horned man begs swordsman to protect the princess in his place with desperate tone.
p17Swordsman refuses the plea and tells armored man to let go.
p17Duck creature shouts "CARUE! RUN FOR IT!" while fleeing explosion area.
p18Mr. 5 orders Miss Valentine to pursue the target with commanding gesture.
p18Igaram offers great reward and swears safety for successful escort of princess.
p18Nami grins and proposes one billion beli reward while pointing forward.
p18Off-panel voice shouts "NAMI!" in surprise at the reward amount.