Vergo and Joker

Over the ocean, a small boat sails toward a distant island as narration boxes state "A CERTAIN ISLAND..." and "THE NEW WORLD". Voices plead desperately: "PLEASE, JUST IF YOU COULD TRY ONE MORE TIME...!!!" and "YOU HAVE TO SEARCH FOR THE CHILDREN!!" Someone snaps back, "POINTLESS! FAR TOO POINTLESS!!" On the island, a hooded figure reacts with "EHI!" and "ギィ...!!I". Citizens argue with a Marine, one saying "WE'VE HEARD THAT SHE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO LEND AN EAR TO CITIZENS IN NEED -" while another asks about contacting "CAPTAIN TASHIGI". A girl with a bow smiles and suggests sending a search party. In a town square, chaos erupts as Commodore Yarisugi is confronted; he roars "DO YOU MEAN TO SAY THAT YOU DOUBT THE REPORTS OF YOUR MILITARYI!" and "HOW PREPOSTEROUS!! DO YOU MEAN TO INSULT ME!!!" while citizens scream "AAAHHHH HH!!" and "AGH HHHH HH!!" as Marines clash with the crowd. Someone yells "COMMODORE, YOU'RE GOING TOO FAR AGAIN!! GYA HAHAHAHA!"

A massive close-up shows Commodore Yarisugi shouting furiously, "WHEN WILL YOU PEOPLE LEARNI! THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR!!" Behind him, a giant angry face bellows "THOSE CHILDREN DIED IN AN ACCIDENT!!!" Yarisugi's coat displays G-5 markings. Citizens protest that Vice-Admiral Vergo has already sent ten thousand search parties, calling it "THAT'S WAY TOO MUCH!!" Yarisugi threatens, "IF YOU CAUSE ANY FURTHER DISTURBANCE, I WILL MURDER YOU ALL FOR THE OBSTRUCTION OF AN OFFICER IN THE ACT OF DUTY, AND SET THE TOWN ALIGHT!!" A sign labels him "MARINE FROM G-5 UNIT 06 Commodore Yarisugi". In the crowd, a woman cries "GYAH!! THAT'S GOING TOO FAR, COMMODORE!!" while others react with shock.

Yarisugi continues ranting about Tashigi, calling her "THE RIGHT-HAND OFFICER OF THE HEAD OF UNIT 01, VICE-ADMIRAL SMOKER HIMSELF!!" and complaining she is "FAR TOO WONDERFUL!!" while mocking requests to speak with her. Citizens discuss Vice-Admiral Vergo, one asking if the incident is true. Yarisugi yells "FILTHY WORMS!!" and "GYAHAA! SERIOUSLY, THAT'S GOING TOO FAR!!" as he strikes someone. A flashback panel shows a man recalling how the children were playing happily before an accident at sea three years ago. Another Marine reflects, "HE WAS SUCH AN UPSTANDING OFFICER, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE HE'S A G-5 MARINE LIKE THEM..." while a woman insists the kids are still alive. The crowd reacts with disbelief and grief.

Over the stormy seas of Punk Hazard, narration boxes declare: "SOMEHOW... SOMEWHERE...!!" and "OUR CHILDREN ARE STILL ALIVE...!!" The scene shifts to the ice side, where the remains of the first and second research facilities lie in ruins. Nami and Usopp's team struggles amid the chaos as Usopp yells, "USOPP!! HURRY UP AND PUT THEM TO SLEEP!!" while a child screams "AAAAA GHHHH H...!!!" In the lower panel, the children writhe in agony, chained and suffering severe withdrawal. One cries, "UNDO... THESE CHAINS...!!! PLEASE...!!" Another shouts, "THE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS MUST BE TOO STRONG, IT'S NOT WORKING AT ALL!!" Usopp grunts, "URGH... I'M TRYING, BUT...!!" as Nami adds, "IT DOESN'T WORK SO WELL IF YOU USE IT OVER AND OVER!!!" A desperate voice asks, "TH... THEN WHAT SHOULD WE DOI!!" while the children moan "AAAAA RGHHHH HHHH!!!" and "UURGH" "URGH".

Usopp snaps at Sanji, "WELL, EXCUSE ME FOR BEING USELESS!!" while Sanji retorts, "...!! UGH... JUST LOOKING AT YOU, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'D BE MORE USE..." Nami yells, "I'M NAMI, REMEMBERI!!" and orders, "GO ON, SANJI!! WE'LL JUST HAVE TO RESTRAIN THEM BY FORCE!!" The children continue to suffer, pleading "IT HURTS SO MUCH...!! JUST GIVE US CANDY... THEN IT'LL BE BETTER..." "UERG GHHHH" "MY HEAD HURTS SO BAAAD..." "CANDY... WE NEED CANDY...!!" and "AARGHHH...!! HELP UUUUS SSSS...!!" Sanji refuses, "OF COURSE IT'S NOT OKAY!!! THEY'RE ONLY CHILDREN!!" as the kids transform into raging monsters, shouting "Y... YOU THINK IT'S OKAY TO ATTACK THEMI! THEY'RE PRACTICALLY MONSTERS!!" "AAAAAGH HHH!! HERE THEY COME!!!" and "GIVE US THE CANDY!!!".

The children suddenly react in terror: "IT'S THE MASTER!!" A figure appears in the gas, prompting "HUHI" and "AHH!!" Caesar Clown emerges dramatically in his gas-formed coat, declaring "COME ALONG WITH ME, BACK TO THE FACILITY, IT'S DANGEROUS OUT HERE." He addresses the children, "ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, MY CHILDREN...I SHURORORO...I" while offering, "I'M SURE YOU WANT TO EAT YOUR FAVOURITE CANDY, NOW, DON'T YOU...I" The children cry out "MASTER!!" repeatedly. Close-ups show shocked faces, including Sanji's, as someone stammers "M... MASTERI!!" Caesar's gas swirls around him with bold "GAS GAS" lettering.

At Punk Hazard's central lake, a massive slime creature erupts violently from a mountain with explosive SFX "バシュオオオ" and "BAD OOOO OHHH HH!!" The group reacts in shock: "!!I" Kin'emon, Brook, and others leap back as someone shouts, "YOU RECKON IT'S BECAUSE WE MADE ALL THE LITTLE SLIMES EXPLODE BACK THEREI!" Another exclaims, "WHAT'S GOING ON ALL OF A SUDDEN!!" and "THE SLIME...GOT ANGRYI!" A voice notes, "LIKE A MOTHER AND HER CHILDRENI! BUT WE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE...!!" The slime towers menacingly over the snowy landscape.

A spiky-haired man stares in horror and shouts, "WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS...I!" The massive gelatinous creature Smiley begins to shift and bubble violently as someone exclaims, "IT'S SHAPE APPEARS TO BE CHANGING SOMEHOW!!" Smiley's form twists and expands, its surface rippling with dark, dripping slime and bubbles. A framed caption identifies it: "Smiley THE MASTER'S PET (A gelatinous mass of poisonous gas that has eaten the Sala Sala no Mi, Model Axolotl.)" Below, Tashigi and Smoker react in shock. Tashigi cries, "...WHAT IS THAT SHAPE! A FROGI!" while Smoker wonders, "...MAYBE SOME KIND OF LIZARDI" The creature continues to morph, its grotesque mass swelling and reshaping amid clouds of gas and debris.

Smiley's body erupts upward in a violent surge, its core swirling into a massive sphere as a huge impact SFX "BAOO DOOOHH HHHH!!" shakes the area. The creature's dripping, skull-like face twists and expands dramatically. Brook, the skeleton with an afro and top hat, stares upward in terror and yells, "OH, DEAR ME!! IT'S SO BIIIIIGG!!!" Kin'emon stands nearby with his hand on his sword, watching the colossal mass loom over them. Smiley's enormous form continues to grow and bubble, filling the sky with poisonous gas and slime.

Tashigi screams, "RUN FOR IT!!!" as the group flees. Smiley's massive body crashes down with explosive force, sending everyone flying. Smoker yells "NGUOHH!!" while Tashigi shouts "AAA ARGHH HHH!!!" The slime hurls chunks of itself in all directions. In the aftermath, Tashigi gasps, "DON'T TELL ME IT'S TRYING TO CROSS THE LAKE BY THROWING ITSELF OVER, BIT BY BIT...I!" Smoker growls, "...!! NO... I HAVE THE FEELING THE MAIN SLIME IS GETTING SLIGHTLY SMALLER THE MORE OF THEM IT THROWS...!!!" Someone notes, "CAN IT JUST CREATE AS MANY COPIES OF ITSELF AS IT PLEASES...I" The creature keeps splitting and advancing across the water.

The group races away as multiple copies of Smiley pursue them. Someone shouts, "MOMONO-SUKEEEE!!!" while another warns, "WHAT...I! THEN ALL THE MORE REASON FOR US TO HURRY!!!" and "TRUE ENOUGH... CUT IT AND IT SPEWS GAS, BURN IT AND IT EXPLODES... AND WE'RE TALKING A WAY BIGGER EXPLOSION THAN THE ONE JUST NOW...!! THE RESEARCH FACILITY COULD BE IN BIG TROUBLE TOO!!" Brook declares, "YOHOHO! I WOULD QUITE LIKE TO SEE HIS SWORDSMANSHIP FOR MYSELF, TOO!!" Kin'emon calls out, "WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO SEARCH US IF YOU END UP SEPARATED FROM KIN'EMONI!" Tashigi yells, "WELL, IF YOU'RE GOING, WE HAVE TO GO TOO, DON'T WEI!" as the party heads toward the research facility with Smiley's copies closing in. They shout together, "TO THE RESEARCH FACILITY!! LET US HURRY!!"

Outside Caesar Clown's research facility, G-5 Marines desperately attack the sealed entrance. "GIVE US BACK TASHIGI-CHAN!!" "GIVE US BACK OUR SMOKE-YAN!! CAESAAR!!" they shout while firing bazookas that explode harmlessly against the massive shutter. "WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS DAMN SHUTTERI!! IT WON'T BUDGE AN INCH!! EVEN BAZOOKAS DON'T SCRATCH IT!!" one yells as another screams "OPEN UP ALREADY, DAMMIT!!!" Inside, a large Marine growls "UGHHHH... DAMN THAT GASSY FREAK!!" while others report "IT'S NO GOOD!! WE'VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE, ALL THE ENTRANCES ARE SHUTTERED UP!!" and wonder "PERHAPS THERE'S A BACK DOORI!"

The Marines continue fighting the growing slime creatures outside. "BUT DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!! THEY'RE GATHERING UP AND GETTING BIGGER!!" one warns. Another notes "THESE DISGUSTING JELLY THINGS DON'T SEEM TO BE RAINING DOWN ANY MORE FOR SOME REASON..." Realizing their dire situation, they shout "THERE'S NO SHIP LEFT TO STEAL!! THERE'S NO WAY TO ESCAPE...!!" "WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DOI!!" and "WE CAN'T EVEN SEND WORD OFF THE ISLAND!! WE'RE STRANDED IN THESE FREEZING MOUNTAINS!!" Inside Caesar's laboratory, a blonde woman and a man with sunglasses discuss events. "IF HE'S WOKEN UP HIS PET, SMILEY......SEARCH ME. I SUPPOSE HE MIGHT HAVE A BIG EXPERIMENT IN MIND" and "WHAT IS CAESAR TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH ALL THIS...I!"

Inside the facility, Vice Admiral Vergo lounges while talking with Monet. "I'M QUITE FOND OF THEM." Monet asks "SAY, VERGO, DID YOU HAVE A HAMBURGER THIS MORNINGI" and points out "YOU'VE GOT A BIT OF HAMBURGER STUCK ON YOUR FACE..." A large title panel reads "V.A VERGO VICE ADMIRAL VERGO HEAD OF MARINE BASE G-5". Tashigi bursts in yelling "I HOPE YOU REALISE, THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE ARE ALL G-5 MARINES!! YOUR OWN SUBORDINATES!! OI, VERGO!!" Vergo calmly replies "MOST LIKELY. WE'LL BE SAFE HERE INSIDE THE FACILITY." "DO YOU THINK EVERYONE OUTSIDE WILL DIEI" "I WOULD QUITE LIKE TO OBSERVE HOW THIS EXPERIMENT UNFOLDS..."

Vergo stands before a large cage holding multiple prisoners. "STILL..." he murmurs. "TRUE ENOUGH... TRUE..." He smiles and says "I RATHER ENJOY IT....SUCH AN ASSORTMENT OF FACES RESTRAINED IN A SINGLE CAGE. IT'S QUITE A SIGHT TO SEE..." Inside the cage are Luffy, Law, Smoker, and others. Luffy laughs "OH, YEAH, IT'S LIKE THAT TIME WHEN YOU GUYS CAPTURED ME AND SMOKEY BACK IN ALABASTA!" Someone snaps "BE QUIET, YOU!!!" Another remarks "THIS TAKES ME BACK A LITTLE, ACTUALLY." Tashigi notes "IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR PREDICTION CAME TRUE IN THE WORST POSSIBLE WAY." A sweating Smoker cries out "AAHH SMOKER-SAN, I... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS FEELING...!!"

Tashigi stands with a serious expression, speaking firmly. "To think that the corruption originated at the very top... Since this is G-5 we're talking about, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised... but still, this is an utter disgrace for the military." She continues, "In other words... the kidnapping incident in which Caesar abducted those children... was covered up as an 'accident at sea' by none other than this man." Trafalgar Law, wearing his spotted hat, replies with a calm but pointed tone, "He was a pirate from the start. Before he ever made a name for himself... he entered the marine ranks under Joker's orders... You shouldn't blame yourselves for not noticing... It's not as though Vergo simply betrayed the military." Vergo appears in close-up, glaring intensely. "Vergo was a member of Joker's crew from the very beginning...!!!...And spent fifteen years working his way up from the bottom of the ranks. There's no marine that Joker could rely on better than this man."

Vergo smirks while addressing Smoker. "No need to be so negative. I'd rather you praise this rat for having the skills... to evade the notice of the famed White Hunter all this time. Right, Smoker-kunI" Smoker lies injured on the floor with Tashigi beside him, both looking battered. Smoker mutters, "...I feel ashamed of myself... this rat was right under my nose all this time... and I failed to catch the stench...!" Vergo continues, "Now that I've revealed my true colours to you, a secret I can't let anyone discover... I'm sure you understand what that means. Just thinking that I won't have to worry about that stress any more... is a huge relief." He turns away, adding, "Since the day you were transferred here from Marine HQ... I've had to stay vigilant like never before." In the final panels Vergo speaks over the scene, "Don't worry... I'll make sure this goes in the books as an 'accident', the same as always. And I'll let Caesar do as he pleases with your subordinates outside. Vice Admiral Smoker, Captain Tashigi... the two of you will die here, and tell nobody of what you have learned."

The group reacts in shock. Luffy asks, "Who is this 'Joker' guy they mentionedI" Law replies, "Hey, tra-dude. I've been wondering..." Someone begins, "Once upon a time..." The explanation continues, "One of the royal Shichibukai... but his true identity is a pirate whose name the whole world knows well." "'Joker' is the name he goes by as a black-market broker." A character adds, "I worked for that man, too. That's how I knew about Vergo." The final spread erupts with massive lettering as Law and Luffy react with wide eyes: "DOFLAMINGO!!!" and "DONQUIXOTE..." accompanied by impact effects and exclamation marks.

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