THE TRIAL

Nami stands with her arms outstretched, yelling angrily, "WE WERE TRICKED!! DIDN'T THAT OLD LADY SAY, 'YOU CAN STILL GO...' BUT ONCE WE DID, IT BECAME 'ILLEGAL TRESPASSING'!? THIS IS A FRAUD!! THEY CAN'T DO THIS!!" Pagaya, sweating slightly, replies, "--ANYWAYS, NOW THINGS HAVE BECOME REALLY COMPLICATED." Nami immediately snaps at him, "SHUT UP!!" Usopp, standing nearby, reasons, "--HOWEVER, EVEN IF SHE'D SAID, 'YOU MAY NOT PASS,' WE PROBABLY WOULD'VE USED FORCE TO GET THROUGH." Robin, standing calmly beside him, agrees, "THAT'S TRUE." Luffy, wearing his straw hat and a wide grin, says, "--OH WELL, IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE'RE ALREADY USED TO BEING CHASED BY THE AUTHORITIES!" Nami turns her frustration toward Luffy, yelling, "WHY DO YOU HAVE STAND SO FAR AWAY TO TALK!?" Sanji adds, "IF YOU'RE CLASS-2 CRIMINALS, WE CAN'T HELP YOU..."

Nami continues to yell at Luffy, "YOU...ARE A REALLY BAD LIAR! FOR A BIG ADVENTURE... WAIT...I MEANT TO GO THERE TO FIND YOU... WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO GO TO 'THE PLACE THAT NO ONE SHOULD EVER ENTER'" Luffy looks confused and says, "HUH??" Usopp asks, "ALSO, WHY DID YOU COME BACK?" Nami shouts, "AN ISLAND LIKE THAT...I WILL NEVER GO THERE A SECOND TIME!!! THEIR SUPER AND ILLOGICALLY IMMENSE POWER IS REAL!! EVEN THOUGH I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE REALLY GODS," Luffy yells back, pushing his hand against Nami's face while she pushes back against his, "YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SEE THEM YOURSELF!!" Nami retorts, "I TOLD YOU! THERE ARE SOME REALLY SCARY GUYS ON THAT ISLAND!!" Luffy excitedly yells, "BIG ADVENTURE!!?" Nami, sweating and panicked, says, "N-O!! PURSUERS ARE COMING!! WE'RE LEAVING THIS COUNTRY." Luffy stubbornly replies, "FINE! WE'LL GO BY OURSELVES. YOU STAY HERE!" Nami screams, "LEAVE~~~!?? DON'T TALK CRAP!!" Luffy asks, "JUST THINK! WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT, ADVENTURE OR YOUR LIFE?!!" Nami bluntly answers, "MY LIFE!! FOLLOWED BY MONEY."

Nami explains, "WE KEPT TRYING TO GET TO SKY ISLAND, BUT WE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT... HOW TO GET BACK!" Sanji interjects, "--OH. BY THE WAY..." Nami snaps, "SHUT UP!" Sanji continues, swooning, "AH <3, THEN FOLLOWED BY ME??" Pagaya, looking concerned, says, "..WITH YOUR CURRENT SITUATION... A SAFE ROUTE IS NON-EXISTENT, BUT..." Usopp eagerly asks, "IS THERE A SAFE WAY BACK!? CAN WE REALLY GO BACK TO THE BLUE SEA!?" Conis, looking serious, explains, "THERE IS A WAY TO THE BLUE SEA. YOU MUST GO BACK DOWN TO WHITE SEA, AND THEN HEAD TO THE FAR EAST-- TO A PLACE CALLED 'CLOUD END.'" Nami looks surprised and repeats, "CLOUD END...!?"

Conis continues her explanation, "--YES. ALTHOUGH...I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD TRY TO RUN... SKY OCEAN IS VERY BIG..." Nami looks alarmed, "WHAT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN!? ARE YOU SAYING WE CAN'T ESCAPE FROM THOSE GUYS?" Nami then resolves, "IF THAT'S SO, THEN IT'S THE SAME WHEREVER WE GO. AND IF WE STAY HERE, WE'LL JUST CAUSE YOU MORE TROUBLES. NOW THAT WE HAVE NO PLACE TO HIDE...LET'S JUST SET SAIL! CONIS! MISTER! THANKS FOR EVERYTHING." Usopp raises his hand and asks, "I HAVE A REQUEST, TOO! MISTER, YOU'RE AN ENGINEER, RIGHT? CAN I HAVE SOME TOOLS AND MATERIALS FOR FIXING THE SHIP?" Pagaya happily agrees, "OH, NO PROBLEM...JUST COME TO MY PLACE AGAIN!" Sanji calls out, "ALL RIGHT! SANJI, GET THE LUNCH BOXES!!!" Pagaya replies, "OH, OF COURSE." Luffy, drooling slightly, asks, "AH!! MISTER, CAN I TAKE ALL THE FOOD FROM EARLIER?" Sanji remarks, "YOU DON'T MISS A THING, DO YOU!?"

Nami complains, "THAT IDIOT...!! HE STILL WANTS TO GO!? IT'S REALLY SCARY THERE!!" Zoro, standing nearby, replies, "HOW WOULD I KNOW!?" Nami yells in frustration, "ARGH!! YOU GUYS GO AHEAD AND PREPARE FOR OUR ADVENTURE!! I'M GONNA GET SOME FOOD." Zoro asks, "WAIT, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Nami walks away, calling out, "CHOPPER! <3 YOU'RE ON MY SIDE, RIGHT...?" Chopper, looking annoyed, says, "I DON'T CARE EITHER WAY, SO DON'T YELL AT ME!" Nami tells Zoro, "DON'T SCARE HIM!" Zoro points out, "YOU KNOW IT YOURSELF. ONCE LUFFY IS SET ONE DOING SOMETHING, HE'LL DO IT EVEN IF WE ALL PROTEST AGAINST IT." On the ship, Robin lowers a rope ladder with a "GACHAN" sound, saying, "I JUST PUT DOWN THE LADDER..." Chopper, startled, jumps up with a "HYAH!" and says, "OKAY, THEN I'M NOT GOING. FINE, DO WHAT YOU WANT. WAH!"

Chopper hides behind the ship's mast, trembling. He mutters, "YEAH... WHATEVER YOU SAY. 'DO WHAT YOU WANT'...? YOU WANT ME TO GET KILLED BY THOSE PURSUERS!!?" He then suggests, "ROBIN!! HOW ABOUT... THE TWO OF US TAKE DOWN LUFFY!!" Robin calmly replies, "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE." Meanwhile, in a grassy area, a large man wearing a helmet and armor, Gan Fall, is shown sitting up. He chuckles, "...HEHEHEHE... PURSUERS...!? STUPID... GOD AND HIS PRIESTS ARE LIKE IMMOVABLE MOUNTAINS. THEY WAIT IN THE HOLY LAND TO JUDGE THOSE FOOLS WHO DEFY THEM. YOU WILL BE GUIDED TO..." A wide shot reveals a massive, dense forest covered in dark clouds. The man's voice continues, "THE FORBIDDEN HOLY LAND, 'UPPER YARD'!!!"

Usopp is sitting on the floor, looking through a large toolbox. Pagaya asks, "YOU'RE THE SHIP'S CARPENTER?" Usopp replies, "NO, THAT'S NOT IT. I'M THE SNIPER. OUR SHIP DOESN'T HAVE A CARPENTER, YET. BUT WITH MY ALMIGHTY RESOURCEFULNESS TO FIX THINGS, EVERYONE DEPENDS ON ME. IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE! IF I'M GONE, THIS SHIP WOULD SINK." Nearby, Sanji is carefully arranging food in a bento box. He says, "EVEN THOUGH I'M THE SNIPER, I DO MOST OF THE CAPTAIN'S DUTIES... SO EVERYONE CALLS ME CAPTAIN~~~" Pagaya observes Sanji and compliments him, "AH, THE WAY YOU PLACE THE FOOD. IT'S QUITE PROFESSIONAL!" Sanji agrees, "YES, THE PLACEMENT'S ALSO AN ART! OH~~...THAT'S NOT RIGHT. RED SHOULD BE HERE... THESE JADE GREEN BEANS SHOULD BE HERE... NOW IT LOOKS EVEN MORE DELICIOUS! <3 THIS ONE IS MORE NAMI-SAN AND ROBIN-CHAN..." Conis looks at the food in awe, "IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE FOOD ANYMORE! I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BOX-LUNCH." Sanji presents it to her, "REALLY!? THIS IS FOR YOU, CONIS-CHAN! <3" Conis is surprised, "EH!? FOR ME?" Sanji says, "OF COURSE. THE TITLE OF THIS ONE IS 'LOVE IS A DILEMMA, THE LUNCH OF A DESCENDING ANGEL.'" Conis smiles, "WELL,"

Luffy, sitting at the table, says, "AFTER YOU PUT IT IN YOUR STOMACH, IT ALL BECOMES THE SAME THING." Sanji yells at him angrily, "DON'T SAY STUPID THINGS THAT DON'T BENEFIT ANYONE! REMEMBER THIS, 'THE ART OF EATING' STARTS WITH VISUAL ENJOYMENT!!" Usopp, looking out the window, notices something and says, "HEY, SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THE SHIP..." Sanji asks, "WHAT IS IT, USOPP?" Usopp points outside, "LOOK! THEY'RE YELLING OR SOMETHING!!" Luffy excitedly asks, "A PARTY!?" Sanji grabs a pair of binoculars and looks out. He suddenly yells in shock, "AH!! NAMI-SAN!!!" Through the binoculars, Nami is seen looking completely stunned, uttering a quiet "WHA..."

Sanji continues to yell through the binoculars, tears streaming down his face, "WHY DID YOU PUT ON THAT T-SHIRT? AAAAAH...!!! WHERE WERE YOU LOOKING TO BE SAYING SUCH A THING!!" Luffy, looking out, notices, "AH!! THE SHIP IS MOVING!!" Usopp is confused, "EH, WHY!!?" Usopp points at the ship moving away on the cloud sea, "WHERE ARE THOSE GUYS GOING!!? OOOH!? THEY'RE MOVING BACKWARDS. COOL!" Sanji realizes, "NO!!! THEY DIDN'T SET THE SAIL!!!" Usopp yells, "LOOK UNDER THE SHIP!!" On the ship, Nami screams in panic, "HOLD ON!! WHAT'S HAPPENING!!?" Chopper is screaming in terror, "AAAAAH!!!!" Robin looks down, realizing the situation, "THAT'S...!!"

A massive, monstrous shrimp emerges from the cloud sea, carrying the Going Merry on its back. The word "GOD" is written on its forehead. Text boxes announce it as the "WHITE-WHITE SEA SPECIAL," "SUPER-EXPRESS SPEED SHRIMP!!!!" On the ship, Zoro draws his swords and asks, "WHERE'S IT TAKING US!!?" Nami yells frantically, "HEY!! EVERYONE ABANDON SHIP!! IT'S NOT TOO LATE!!" Chopper cries out in despair, "AND THE SHIP!!? IF THEY TAKE OUR SHIP..." Zoro firmly states, "DON'T WORRY!! I'LL STAY HERE!!" Nami argues, "WHAT!? WHAT CAN YOU DO BY YOURSELF!!?" Robin observes calmly, "...WAIT, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY PREPARED TO STOP OUR ESCAPE, TOO."

Robin points out to the cloud sea, where several giant, menacing sky fish with huge open mouths have surfaced around the ship. "THOSE GIGANTIC SKY FISH... THEY'RE CHASING US WITH THEIR HUGE MOUTHS OPEN!!" Nami realizes the danger, "EVEN IF WE JUMP, WE WON'T SURVIVE..." Chopper suggests, "WHAT IF WE JUST TAKE DOWN THE BIG SHRIMP!!?" Robin replies, "IT'S USELESS, WHATEVER WE DO. MAYBE... IT'S STARTED!" Zoro asks, "YOU MEAN 'HEAVEN'S JUDGEMENT'...??" Robin deduces, "SO INSTEAD OF SENDING PURSUERS, THEY MAKE US COME TO THEM... SUCH CUNNING BASTARDS." Chopper cries out in fear, "THEN WE'RE GOING TO THAT ISLAND AGAIN!!? LUFFY~~!!!" Nami also cries out for help, "USOPP...!! SANJI-KUN!!!..." The giant shrimp continues to carry the ship away rapidly.

From the balcony of Pagaya's house, Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji watch as the Going Merry is carried away into the distance across the cloud sea. Sanji is still fixated on Nami's clothing, muttering, "WHY IS SHE WEARING A T-SHIRT?" Usopp yells at him, "GET OVER IT!!" Usopp then turns to Luffy in a panic, "HEY, LUFFY!!! THIS IS BAD! WHAT DO WE DO NOW!!?" Luffy, looking serious, asks, "WHERE ARE THEY GOING?" He repeats, "WHERE? IT HAS TO BE... WHERE?"

Pagaya approaches the group on the balcony and answers Luffy's question, "WHERE ARE THEY GOING? THE SUPER-EXPRESS SPEED SHRIMP IS GOD'S SERVANT. ANYTHING IT TRANSPORTS IS ALWAYS A SACRIFICE FOR GOD." He continues, sweating nervously, "IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE GOING TO THE NORTHEAST PORTION OF UPPER YARD. TO THE 'SACRIFICIAL ALTAR.'" Sanji is shocked and enraged, "SACRIFICES!!? SACRIFICES FOR THAT GOD!!? NAMI-SAN AND ROBIN-CHAN AND THE OTHERS WILL BECOME SACRIFICES!!?"

Sanji yells furiously, "THAT ASSHOLE!! DON'T MESS WITH ME~~~!!!" Conis tries to calm him down, "PLEASE WAIT!! IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!!" Sanji asks, "WHAT?" Pagaya explains, "FOR SACRIFICES...I ONLY HEARD ABOUT IT. IN HEAVEN'S JUDGEMENT, THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PUNISHMENTS FOR CRIMINALS. ONE IS 'SACRIFICE' AND THE OTHER IS 'TRIAL.'" The giant shrimp is shown continuing its journey with the ship. Pagaya continues, "THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE NOW IN GOD'S HANDS. THEY'RE CALLED SACRIFICES, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY... HOSTAGES." Sanji repeats, "HOSTAGES!?" Pagaya points at the three of them, "--WHICH MEANS, THE ONES BEING JUDGED... ARE YOU THREE RIGHT HERE!!" Usopp is confused, "HUH!? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?" Pagaya says, "...IF I HAD A MAP..." Usopp quickly responds, "AH, IF YOU MEAN A MAP OF SKYPIEA, I HAVE ONE."

A map of Skypiea is spread out on a table. Pagaya points to it, "THIS MAP IS VERY OLD...BUT IT LOOKS CORRECT......HERE IS WHERE YOU ARE. THE SACRIFICIAL ALTAR IS IN THE UPPER LEFT, WHICH IS THE NORTHEAST. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GET THERE, AND IT'S VIA THE MILKY ROAD FROM THIS ISLAND. YOU MUST USE THE DIAL BOAT AND PASS THROUGH THE FOREST, WHERE THE PRIESTS RESIDE." Usopp asks, "AH. MISTER, WHAT IF WE GO AROUND THE ISLAND INSTEAD OF THROUGH IT!?" Pagaya shakes his head, "NO...YOU CAN'T GET TO THE ALTAR ON FOOT IF YOU LAND NEAR IT. THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS OLD MAP AND THE CURRENT GOD'S ISLAND IS THE ADDITION OF THE MILKY ROADS." Sanji asks, "THOSE CLOUD RIVERS?" Pagaya confirms, "YES. I HEARD THAT THERE IS A MAIN CLOUD RIVER AS WELL AS HUNDREDS OF OTHERS. SO OTHER THAN ENTERING VIA THE CENTRAL MILKY ROAD, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY." Sanji deduces, "I SEE...SO IF WE LAND DIRECTLY, WE WOULD GET BLOCKED BY THE RIVERS." Pagaya adds, "YES. ALSO, IN THOSE RIVERS THERE ARE MAN-EATING FISH."

Sanji exhales smoke from his cigarette and says, "SUCH A HEARTY RECEPTION THOSE GUYS HAVE FOR US. ANYWAY, IF WE WANT OUR CREW AND SHIP BACK, WE CAN ONLY GO IN FROM THE FRONT..." Usopp, looking terrified, realizes, "THAT'S OUR 'TRIAL'... IT'S HEAVEN'S JUDGEMENT...!!" Luffy grins confidently, "--BUT WE JUST NEED TO DEAL WITH THE PRIESTS THAT NAMI TOLD US ABOUT... AND KICK THEIR ASSES, RIGHT?" Luffy laughs, "NAHAHAHA HAHAHA..." Pagaya warns them, "IT CAN'T BE THAT EASY... DON'T BE CARELESS!! THOSE FOUR PRIESTS ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK!" A dark, imposing silhouette of a face appears behind Pagaya as he delivers a final warning, "MOST IMPORTANTLY, GOD ENEL HIMSELF... IS IN UPPER YARD!!"

A massive explosion occurs with a loud "BOOM!!" and a scream of "AAARRRGGGHH!!". Debris flies everywhere. In the aftermath, Luffy adjusts his straw hat with a wide grin and says, "ALRIGHT! THERE'S LESS OF 'EM NOW! LET'S DO IT!" Zoro, standing nearby with his hand on his swords, looks at him and asks, "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU!?" Nami, sitting on the ground, sighs and says, "SOMEBODY WHO LIKES TO SHOW OFF..." Below these panels is an SBS section. The author notes that the English version of Shonen Jump is entering the American market in November 2002, featuring series like Dragon Ball, Yu-Gi-Oh, Sandland, Shaman King, Naruto, and One Piece. He expresses excitement about One Piece being seen in many countries and announces that the regular SBS Q&A will return in the next volume.

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