At His Own Pace

Narration boxes state: SMALL RIPPLES, UNKNOWN TO ALL. BEGIN AS NO MORE THAN... EVEN THE LARGEST WAVES, CAPABLE OF DESTROYING CITIES. THE NEWS SWEEPS OVER THE WORLD!! In a bustling street, a man in a topknot and open shirt gestures wildly while speaking to an older man in a dark coat and hat. Speech bubbles read: NO ONE'S ANSWERING!! WHAT DO WE DO... THIS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER...!! PURU RURU RURU. JUST NOW... I TRIED CONTACTING THEM, BUT...!!! HEY, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR WEAPONS TRADE WITH THE DOFLAMINGO FAMILY!I A later panel shows a woman with dark hair and a large hat reading a newspaper, thinking HMM. Nearby, panicked figures shout: THOSE NASTY ROOKIES FROM TWO YEARS AGO HAVE ALLIED UP!! WITHOUT WEAPONS, WE'LL LOSE THE WAR!!!

The discussion continues with voices asking: BUT WHY!I ISN'T ANY MORE INFORMATION!I THEY'RE DEFINITELY PLANNING SOMETHING!! DOFLAMINGO IS OUT OF THE SHICHIBUKAI!! Further panels show a ship at sea near a mountainous island labeled NEW WORLD: KID PIRATE CREW'S HIDEOUT. Speech continues: DOESN'T MATTER WHO LEAKED IT, BUT... HE'S BEEN PUTTING OUT A WHOLE LOT OF SCOOPS LATELY. SOME FREELANCER NAMED 'ABSA.' WHO'S HE!I HOW DID OUR ALLIANCE GET LEAKED!!I THE REAL PROBLEM IS THIS... 'STRAWHAT' AND 'TRAFALGAR'!! A large close-up reveals a grinning man with goggles on his forehead and a wide smile, exclaiming: BUT WHICH ONE COULD IT BE!!I I BET THAT THEIR AIM IS THE SAME AS OURS—TAKING DOWN ONE OF THE YONKOU!!

A Den Den Mushi rings with... in a dark room. A young girl with curly hair crouches before multiple Den Den Mushi emitting PURU RURU RURU. A caption box announces DRESSROSA. YOUR HIGHNESS!! A dramatic close-up shows Doflamingo's face, sunglasses reflecting light, as he speaks into a receiver: IT'S ME... I'VE RESIGNED FROM THE SHICHIBUKAI. Large impact lettering emphasizes the moment. In a grand hall filled with shocked onlookers, figures react in panic: IT'S DOFLAMINGO!! IT'S REALLY HIM!! IT'S HIM!! SHHHHH!! SHHHHHHH!! HE'LL HEAR YOU GUYS! A voice warns: IT'S REALLY HIM!!

Luffy grabs Law by the collar and shouts over the chaos, "LIKE I JUST SAID, SHUT UP!!" Law yells back, "I'M THE MAN WHO'S GONNA BE KING OF THE PIRATES!!" while Doflamingo's voice cuts in with "HELLO HELLO I'M MONKEY D. LUFFY!!" Luffy snaps, "HEY, MINGO!!" In the next spread Luffy points accusingly at the tall figure in the feathered coat, declaring, "WE'RE GONNA RETURN CAESAR TO YOU, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE PROMISE, BUT... IF YOU EVER TRY SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN, I'LL KICK YOUR ASS TOO!!!" He adds, "ARE YOU THAT STUPID CAESAR'S BOSSI THAT GUY CAUSED ALL SORTS OF TROUBLE FOR BROWNBEARD AND THE CHILDREN!!" Doflamingo chuckles, "THERE'S SOMETHING I CRAVE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD..." Law reacts with shock, "FUFFUFU FUFU... I'VE REALLY BEEN WANTING TO MEET YOU," while Luffy blurts, "!!!... THERE'S NO WAY I'M TELLING YOU ABOUT THAT!!" An unseen speaker notes, "STRAWHAT LUFFY...!! IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE YOUR BROTHER DIED... AND THEN YOU JUST VANISHED. WHAT WERE YOU DOING, AND WHEREI"

Sanji's voice yells from off-panel, "LUFFY!! GET WITH IT!!! WHATEVER HE'S PLAYING AT IS SURE TO BE BAD NEWS!!" while a heart-filled thought bubble adds, "ONE PIECE OF MEAT... TWO PIECES OF MEAT..." Law warns, "DON'T LET HIM CONTROL THE CONVERSATION AT HIS OWN PACE!!" Luffy grins wildly and points, "STRAWHAT-YA!!" Someone else wonders, "H... HEY... COULD IT BE SOME AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS MEAT...!!I" Doflamingo continues the negotiation, "THE NEXT TIME WE MEET... WELL, YOU UNDERSTAND. BUT EVEN IF YOU BACK DOWN NOW AND TRY TO GET AWAY... YES. THAT WOULD BE WISE. AS PROMISED, WE'LL RETURN CAESAR TO YOU." He then snaps, "JOKER!! ENOUGH WITH THIS IDLE CHATTER!!" A cloaked figure drops to one knee, pleading, "I'M SORRY! ALL FOR MY SAKE, YOU QUIT THE SHICHIBU- JOKER!!" Doflamingo replies, "I NEED TO KNOW THAT MY PRECIOUS BUSINESS PARTNER IS ALIVE AND WELL," and adds with a laugh, "FUFUFU!! ANYWAY... FIRST..."

Doflamingo's face fills the panel as he states, "ON THE SOUTHEASTERN BEACH OF 'GREEN BIT'!!! EIGHT HOURS FROM NOW!! AT THAT ISOLATED ISLAND TO THE NORTH OF DRESSROSA." Law answers, "COLLECT HIM AS YOU PLEASE. BUT DON'T COUNT ON HAVING ANY OTHER CONTACT WITH US. WE'LL DEPOSIT CAESAR THERE AT 3 PM." In the next scene Law's crew reacts in panic: "HIS EYES!! LOOK AT HIS EYES!!" "WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!! HE ALMOST HAD ME!!" "HOLD ON NOW, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MEN HE'S BRINGING!!" Doflamingo smirks and says, "CLICK FORGET IT! JUST HANG UP!! FUFFUFU!! THAT MAKES ME SAD... I'D LOVE TO HAVE A DRINK WITH YOU, NOW THAT YOU'RE ALL GROWN UP..."

On a windswept cliff, the crew discusses the plan. Someone notes, "IS CAESAR JUST A DECOY. AS FAR AS THE PLAN GOES, RETURNING CAESAR... THAT DOESN'T MATTER. WHAT'LL WE DO IF HE BRINGS HIS WHOLE CREW WITH HIM!!" Usopp worries, "I'LL SUPER-FIGURE-IT-OUT ONCE WE GET THERE. IF IT'S A FACTORY, THEN IT'S BOUND TO BE BIG AND THEN I'LL TAKE IT DOWN ONE WITH ONE OF MY BEAMS!!" Nami asks, "I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS. YES... BUT YOU MEAN IT'S ALL JUST SO THAT WE CAN GO AND DESTROY THE 'SMILE' FACTORYI" Law replies, "THERE MAY BE SOME SORT OF SECRET BEHIND IT. IT'S THE ENEMY'S PRECIOUS FACTORY, RIGHTI IT'S JUST THAT...THE LOCATION. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT." A large "BIG BRO!!" cry echoes from the background.

The crew discusses their destination. Someone notes, "I HAVEN'T. IT'S A PLACE DOFLAMINGO RULED OVER AS KING." Another voice calls out "-ROSA!!" and asks, "IT'S RO-SA. TORA-MAN, HAVE YOU BEEN THERE BEFOREI" Law-dono replies about the "GREEN BIT," while a voice reassures, "DON'T WORRY. WE'LL DOCK AT DRESSROSA." A note explains "TN: ROBA MEANS 'OLD LADY,' HENCE THE PUN." Luffy bursts out with excitement, arms raised and eyes sparkling: "DRESSROSA- THIS IS GONNA BE FUN!! AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GO TO WANOKUNI EITHER!!" He laughs wildly, "SHISHISHISHI ADVENTURE, ADVENTURE!!" The others react with hunger and complaints. Sanji is asked about breakfast while someone yells, "DON'T BE AN IDIOT!! WE'VE GOT A PLAN TO FOLLOW HERE..." A small panel shows a character requesting "JUST SOME TEA, FOR ME" and another complaining, "I DON'T REALLY LIKE BREAD."

Kin'emon continues his story with a fierce expression: "I SET OUT FOR A PLACE CALLED 'ZOU'. I WILL NOT TELL YOU BY WHOM I WAS CHASED!!! BUT, ORIGINALLY..." The crew listens around a table as he explains, "MY NEXT TARGET IS ZOU. MY CREW IS THERE. AFTER RETURNING CAESAR AND DESTROYING THE SMILE FACTORY... JUST ONE COINCIDENCE AFTER ANOTHER...!!" Luffy reacts sharply, "ZOU...!I" Kin'emon recounts the disaster: "WE MET WITH DISASTER... THREE SAMURAI AS WELL AS MOMONOSUKE... FOUR IN TOTAL SET OUT FOR ZOU, BUT... MOMONOSUKE AND TWO OF US SAMURAI DRIFTED ASHORE IN DRESSROSA." Luffy leans in, asking about riding together, while Kin'emon replies, "SURE, THAT'S FINE!! WE'LL GO AS FAR AS WANOKUNI, EVEN!"

Kin'emon's flashback shows the ship departing: "UNFORTUNATELY, BEFORE I KNEW IT, THE SHIP SET SAIL FOR THAT ISLAND!!" He cries out, "CURSES!! MOMONOSUKE!!!" and "FATHER!!!" The samurai explains hiding aboard an unknown ship while pursued by Doflamingo. A close-up shows his desperate face as he recalls, "HE AIDED IN MY ESCAPE TO SEA, THAT HE DID!!!... I MUST RESCUE HIM!!!" while a samurai named Kanjuro was taken hostage. The crew reacts with shock. Luffy shouts, "DON'T LOSE FOCUS OF OUR GOAL" and "ALRIGHT!! WE'LL HELP SAVE HIM TOO!!" Another crew member yells, "WUOHH!! WHAT A MAN, THAT KANJURO!!" Kin'emon resolves, "I MUST... I MUST GO BACK THERE...!!"

The scene shifts to Marine HQ near the Red Line. Commodore Brannew stands before a large Marine fortress, declaring, "THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN IN THE WORLD!! THE ROYAL SHICHIBUKAI...!!" He explains their role: "IN EXCHANGE, WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED, THEY MUST LEND THEIR OVERWHELMING POWER AND RENOWN... PIRATES CHOSEN BY THE WORLD GOVERNMENT AND GIVEN PERMISSION TO DO AS THEY PLEASE!! TO SIDE WITH THE GOVERNMENT, AS A CHECK AGAINST THE OTHER PIRATES OF THE WORLD!!" Background text labels the location "MARINE HQ" and notes "THE NEW WORLD."

A series of bounty posters lines the page. The first shows Bartholomew Kuma labeled "THE TYRANT" BARTHOLOMEW KUMA, described as "CURRENTLY, THE MARINES' HUMAN WEAPON". Next is Donquixote Doflamingo, "TENYASHA" DONQUIXOTE DOFLAMINGO, titled "THE KING OF DRESSROSA, WITH THE DEVIL'S CHARISMA". Beside him is Dracule Mihawk, "HAWK EYES" DRACULE MIHAWK, called "THE GREATEST SWORDSMAN IN THE WORLD". Below, Buggy appears as "THE THOUSAND PIECE CLOWN" BUGGY, noted as "THE LIVING LEGEND, AND THE COMMANDER OF THE PIRATE DISPATCH ORGANIZATION". Trafalgar Law is shown as "THE SURGEON OF DEATH" TRAFALGAR LAW, "FROM 'THE WORST GENERATION,' AND THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THE ROCKY PORT INCIDENT". Boa Hancock is labeled "THE 'PIRATE EMPRESS' BOA HANCOCK", "THE CURRENT EMPRESS OF AMAZON LILY". A hand holds a newspaper as a voice states, "THAT MAKES SEVEN... ALONG WITH THE MAN I MENTIONED EARLIER..."

In a Marine meeting room, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki slams his fist as he declares, "UNTIL DOFLAMINGO'S SUDDEN WITHDRAWAL!!! BUT ALL OF THIS ONLY APPLIED... UNTIL THIS MORNING!!" Brannew reports, "YEAH, WE GOT IT, BRANNEW. WILL BE THROWN OFF... ALONG WITH MARINE HQ AND THE YONKOU, THE BALANCE OF THREE GREAT POWERS OF THE WORLD... AND GIVEN WHATEVER LAW IS UP TO, WE'LL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO EXPEL HIM FROM THE SHICHIBUKAI AS WELL." Sakazuki growls, "WE'LL CONSIDER THE SITUATION FOR ONE MORE DAY... I'VE ALREADY SENT 'FUJITORA.' WE WON'T LET LAW AND STRAWHAT DO AS THEY PLEASE...!!! YESTERDAY WE RECEIVED AN ANNOYING REPORT FROM G5'S SMOKER...!!!" A subordinate reacts with "!!I" as tension fills the room.

In Dressrosa, a grand palace towers under the sky as a voice pleads, "PLEASE DON'T ABDICATE!!! YOUR HIGHNESS!!" A large bearded man in a cap shouts, "IF THE MARINES SHOW UP, I'LL FIGHT 'EM!!" An old man in a hood yells, "EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE AS LONG AS WE OBEY THE YOUNG MASTER!! YOUNG MASTER MUST BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT TO DO." A young woman with pigtails calls out, "TREBOL-SAMA!I WHERE'S TREBOL-SAMA!I" Inside, the hooded figure grabs her, roaring, "TOO CLOSE!! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION!! YOU JUST CAN'T TAKE A HINT!! RIGHTI RIGHTI BY THE WAY, WAS ANOTHER FIANCE OF YOURS BLOWN AWAYI BEHEHEHE" She retorts, "OH, IS THAT BABY-5I HAVE YOU SEENI THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS IN AN UPROAR!" A voice from above answers, "AH, UP THERE!! NO... THE WHOLE WORLD, I EXPECT!!"

The argument escalates as the hooded man snaps, "SHUT UP ALREADY!! YOUNG MASTER IS CALLING!! HE TOLD YOU TO BRING HIM 'THAT'!! GET AWAY FROM ME!! YOU'RE DISGUSTING!!" The woman fires back, "COULD IT BE, I CAN'T TAKE A HINT, BUT YOU LOVE ME!I CAN'T TAKE A HINT!I...BUTI...HMMI CAN'T TAKE A HINT BUT WHATI WHATI HMM" She continues, "CUT THAT OUT!! DOES HE NEED ME!I AS IF!! BEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!! YOU'VE JUST BEEN PICKING MEN WHO END UP GETTING KILLED BY DOFFY. MARRY ME, BABY-5!!" In the grand hall, a cloaked figure stands before a statue as voices echo: "CUT IT OUT... TREATING ME LIKE THE HERO OF THE COLOSSEUM. NO. THE PRAISE GOES TO YOU. HARDLY... WE OWE IT ALL TO YOUR CHARISMA, AS KING. THE COLOSSEUM IS ALWAYS DOING WELL, THANKS TO YOU, DIAMANTE. BUT YOU ARE, IN FACT, THE HERO. NAW... I MEAN..."

A close-up shows a wild-haired man with a manic grin shouting, "THAT'S RIGHT- I'M THE HERO OF THE COLOSSEUM!!" Nearby voices respond: "If you're gonna go that far then I'll admit it!!" and "Okay, then, you're not..." In the next panels a striped treasure chest appears as someone says "RIGHT!!" while others yell "BACK UP, BUT...!I" and "BACK UP, BACK UP." A distant view reveals a ruined plaza with a voice calling "HEY, HEY, HEY." In a grand hall three large throne-like figures marked with club, heart, spade, and diamond symbols discuss strategy. One states, "AND THAT ALLIANCE WOULD BECOME NOTHING BUT A BURDEN TO HIM!!" Another adds, "STRAWHAT LUFFY WOULD SURELY COME FOR THIS." A third concludes, "IF HE WERE TO KNOW ABOUT ITS EXISTENCE..."

The discussion continues with lines such as "BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE BY A GENIUS LIKE YOU." and "CUT IT OUT... TREATING ME LIKE SOME SORT OF GENIUS." A figure protests, "NAW... I MEAN..." while another insists, "BUT... I WANT TO." The scene shifts back to the shouting man declaring, "THAT'S RIGHT- THAT BASTARD, STRAWHAT!!! JUST LET HIM TRY TO GET IT!!" and repeating, "If you're gonna go that far then I have no choice but to admit it!!" A gleeful character with curly hair and glasses laughs "FUFFUFFU FUFFUFFU FUFFU!!!" while holding a swirling fruit and proclaiming, "TO GET THE FRUIT THAT BEARS HIS BROTHER'S ABILITY, THE 'MERA MERA NO MI'!!" He adds, "HE WOULDN'T WANT IT FALLING INTO ANYONE ELSE'S HANDS!!" and "FUFFUFFU I EXPECT HE'LL JUMP AT THE CHANCE..."

Aboard a ship approaching land, Luffy leans forward with wide eyes and yells, "UHO!! WHAT A ROUGH-LOOKING ISLAND!!" A boxed caption states, "THE ISLAND HAS COME INTO VIEW." The crew reacts as massive rocky formations loom ahead. Large text declares "DRESSROSA!!" and "WE'RE HERE!!" Usopp shouts, "KEEP IT DOWN, IDIOT!!" and "DOFLAMINGO'LL HEAR YOU!!" while another crewmate says, "I REALLY DOUBT THAT." Luffy points dramatically and cries, "I'VE COME TO SAVE YOU!! KANJURO!!" A final caption reads, "THIS IS THE COUNTRY OF LOVE AND PASSION- 'DRESSROSA'" as the ship sails through turbulent waters toward the island.

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