Friends

Marines stare in shock at the defeated Captain Morgan lying on the ground. "CAPTAIN MORGAN'S BEEN DEFEATED!!!" "THE CAPTAIN LOST!!!" A large impact sound "TA DA" fills the scene as Zoro drags the unconscious Morgan by his massive axe across the town square. A crowd of townspeople watches from behind a fence. In a smaller panel, marines whisper "...I" while Zoro glares and demands, "ANY OF YOU STILL WANT TO CAPTURE US!I"

The townspeople erupt in celebration, raising fists and cheering "BANZAI FOR THE NAVY!!" "MORGAN'S REIGN OF TERROR IS OVER!!" "WE'RE FREE!!" "HOORAY!!" with a massive "Y E A A A A A A H H K!!" Koby smiles and says, "...CAPTAIN MORGAN WAS RULING BY FEAR!! THAT MEANS..." Luffy grins beside him, "THEY'RE HAPPY WE DEFEATED THEIR CAPTAIN. HMPH!" Suddenly Luffy spots something and shouts "ZOLO!I" as Zoro lies collapsed on the ground with "ZOLO!!" and a large impact effect.

Zoro leans back with a huge grin after eating, exclaiming "NOT EATING FOR NINE DAYS WAS WORSE THAN I THOUGHT!!!" "PHEW!!" "UMPH! I'M STUFFED!!" while making loud "MNCH MNCH" sounds. At a restaurant table, Ririka the bartender tells Luffy, Koby, and Zoro, "IT'S THE LEAST I CAN DO! YOU THREE SAVED THE WHOLE TOWN!!" "IT'S KIND OF YOU TO FEED ME ALONG WITH THE HEROES, MA'AM!" Luffy adds, "FUNNY... YOU SEEM EVEN HUNGRIER THAN ME!" "SEE, YOU'D NEVER HAVE SURVIVED THE WHOLE MONTH!" Later Luffy declares, "YEAH, I'M KINDA GREAT!" while a small boy stares in awe and asks "WHAT'S NEXTI" "SO... AND I'M GOING TO BECOME A LOT GREATER."

Luffy leans forward with a huge grin, shouting excitedly, "WE'RE HEADED FOR THE GRAND LINE!" A shocked "!!!I" bursts from off-panel. Coby and Luffy react in the next panels as Coby yells, "THE MOST BLOODTHIRSTY PIRATES IN THE WORLD ARE THERE!!!" A bespectacled woman slams her hands on the table, face twisted in panic: "THERE ARE ONLY TWO OF YOU! IF YOU GO THERE, YOU'LL JUST BE SAILING TO YOUR DEATHS! THAT'S SUICIDE!!!" She adds a frantic "HUH!I" Zoro sits with arms crossed and replies coolly, "WHAT'S IT TO YOUI YOU'RE NOT COMING WITH US." Coby spins toward him in disbelief: "ZOLO!I YOU AGREE WITH HIM!I" Zoro answers firmly, "...THE GRAND LINE IS WHERE WE HAVE TO GO." He continues, "WELL, I GUESS IF WE'RE AFTER THE 'ONE PIECE'..."

Coby stands in the doorway, hesitant: "...WE'RE FRIENDS, AREN'T WEI LUFFY, WE HAVEN'T KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR VERY LONG, BUT..." The bespectacled woman leans across the table, pleading, "CAN'T I WORRY ABOUT... MY FRIENDSI" A loud "BAMSLAM" sounds as she bangs the table. She continues, "NO, BUT I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU! THAT'S NOT WHAT I--" Luffy smiles widely and declares, "...BUT WE'LL ALWAYS BE FRIENDS!! WE'RE GOING OUR SEPARATE WAYS..." Zoro glares and snaps, "EVEN I WOULDN'T STICK UP FOR ME!" Coby looks down sadly at the table where Luffy and the woman sit, saying, "NO ONE ELSE EVER STUCK UP FOR ME! YOU'RE THE FIRST REAL FRIEND I'VE EVER HAD..."

The bespectacled woman leans in passionately: "YOU TAUGHT ME TO FIGHT FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IN!!!" She adds, "BUT THE TWO OF YOU..." Coby waves his hands frantically, "I'M TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU THAT IT'S TOO RECKLESS!! WAIT! THAT'S NOT WHAT I--" Zoro and Luffy sit at the table as Zoro says, "MAKES SENSE TO ME. THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO THE GRAND LINE!" In a close-up, Zoro warns Luffy, "WATCH OUT FOR THE NAVY'S INTELLIGENCE. IF THEY FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, THEY WON'T LET YOU ENLIST." Coby grips his sword hilt in surprise as Zoro asks, "YOU WERE CABIN BOY ON ALVIDA'S PIRATE SHIP FOR TWO YEARS." Luffy reacts with "HUHI" and Zoro presses, "HUHI WHAT ABOUT YOUR PLANSI"

A loud "KREEK!!" echoes as the restaurant door opens. Luffy, Coby, and the bespectacled woman turn to see a Marine officer and soldiers enter. A voice calls, "EXCUSE ME..." Luffy grins and announces, "WHICH MAKES ME A GENUINE PIRATE CAPTAIN! THAT'S RIGHT. I EVEN HAVE A CREWMAN NOW!" The Marine stares down and mutters, "...CORRECTI YOU GENTLEMEN ARE PIRATES..." The officer salutes and states, "HOWEVER. WE'RE STILL NAVAL MARINES... AND WE CAN'T SHELTER PIRATES." He continues respectfully, "UM... YOU SAVED OUR BASE AND THIS TOWN... AND WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL TO YOU."

Townspeople yell at the Marine, "YOU HATED MORGAN AS MUCH AS WE DID!!! NAVY PIGS! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!I THEY'RE YOUR SAVIORS TOO!" The Marine captain answers calmly, "BUT TO SHOW OUR GRATITUDE, WE WON'T REPORT YOU TO THE NAVY. I'M SORRY, BUT I HAVE TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE." At the table Koby leans forward and asks, "YOU'RE LEAVING ALREADYI" Luffy tips his straw hat and replies, "I GUESS WE'LL BE GOING, THEN... MA'AM, THANKS FOR THE MEAL..." Koby stares in shock, sweat dropping, as Luffy turns and walks out carrying three swords, the Marine watching silently from the doorway.

Luffy pauses in the doorway and says, "I'M..." The Marine asks from behind, "AREN'T YOU GOING WITH THEMI" Luffy spins around, eyes wide, and shouts, "I'M NOT ONE OF THEM!!!" Koby stands frozen with a terrified expression, sweat flying, while Luffy grins broadly in the next panel. The Marine steps forward with a stern glare and demands, "EXCUSE ME, PIRATESI"

Luffy freezes with a blank stare. Koby gasps, "LUFFY!I YOU'RE NOT GOING TO..." The Marine narrows his eyes and asks, "IS THAT TRUEI" Koby points at Luffy and blurts, "I KNOW ALL ABOUT HIS PAST... LET ME EXPLAIN." Luffy suddenly yells in panic, "IF THEY FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, THEY WON'T LET YOU ENLIST..." Koby cries, "LUFFY, DON'T..." Luffy continues desperately, "SEE, THERE WAS THIS SECRET ISLAND... AND A BIG PIRATE WOMAN... HER NAME WAS ALVIDA..."

Koby screams, "LUFFY!! DON'T!!" while clutching his head. The Marine watches with a cold expression. Koby continues explaining, "SHE WAS REALLY MEAN... AND FOR TWO YEARS, THIS GUY..." Luffy keeps talking until Koby's glasses fly off; Koby lunges forward and punches Luffy hard across the face with a massive "HWAK" impact, yelling "SHUT UP!!!" Luffy reels backward, hat flying, as Koby lands the blow.

Luffy glances back over his shoulder with a tense expression. The Marine captain in the "MARINE" cap glares forward while a woman and child watch nervously from the side. Koby stares in shock, sweat flying as he huffs repeatedly, "HUF HUF". In a sudden burst of motion, Luffy lunges and delivers a powerful punch, the impact exploding with a massive "WHAM". Koby reels from the blow, shouting "WHY, YOU--!!!" as the force sends him staggering.

Marine Captain Morgan roars with fury, "STOP DISTURBING THE PEACE!! ENOUGH!". Luffy and Koby clash violently as impact sounds "FWAK THWAK" and "BAM" ring out. Koby lies sprawled on the ground, eyes swirling. A Marine with swords steps in, declaring "THAT'S ENOUGH." and "HEY, HEY...". Morgan thrusts his arm forward and bellows, "PLEASE, LEAVE TOWN NOW!!! IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU'RE NOT FRIENDS!!!".

Luffy stands with his back turned while the fallen man wonders, "DID HE GOAD ME INTO HITTING HIM!I WAS THAT HIS PLAN!I". Townspeople gather as Luffy dashes away with a grin, shouting "CATCH US IF YOU CAN!". A voice gasps, "HE DID IT AGAIN!! IN THE END...". Koby, helped up by a Marine, clenches his fists and resolves, "IF I DON'T DEPEND ON MYSELF FROM NOW ON, THEN I AM A LOSER!!!" while thinking in anguish "WHAT AM I... HELPLESS!I".

Inside the Marine base, Koby bows deeply and pleads, "I'LL BE A CABIN BOY, OR ANYTHING, BUT JUST LET ME JOIN!!!". The Marine captain replies, "PLEASE LET ME JOIN THE NAVY, SIR!!!". Koby's face fills with fierce determination as he repeats, "I'M GONNA DO IT!! I'M GONNA DO IT!!!". Nearby Marines discuss, "WE SHOULD DO A THOROUGH BACKGROUND CHECK ON HIM." "PIRATES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO PLANT SPIES IN THE NAVY." "I STILL DON'T TRUST HIM!" "LIEUTENANT! I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA!".

Coby's face fills the page in a massive close-up, eyes wide and mouth open as he shouts with all his might, "I'M GONNA BE A NAVY OFFICER!!!" and "I'M NO PIRATE!!" Sweat flies from his determined expression. Below, Lieutenant Morgan stares silently with a stern, narrowed gaze. An extreme close-up shows an eye glancing sideways. In a wider view, Morgan stands with two sailors inside a room while a woman and young girl watch from the doorway. Coby bows deeply, yelling "THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR!!" A bespectacled marine replies "YES SIR!" while another sailor adjusts his cap and says "YOU'RE ACCEPTED..." A speech bubble continues, "MANY OF MY FELLOW SAILORS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY PIRATES... DON'T TAKE BEING A SAILOR LIGHTLY."

At the harbor, Luffy stands with hands on his hips and tells Zoro, "IT'S ALL UP TO KOBY, NOW. HE'LL GET IN SOMEHOW!" Zoro, carrying his swords, answers, "I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY SAW THROUGH IT. THAT WAS SOME PRETTY BAD ACTING..." Luffy laughs heartily, "HAHAHA. I GUESS THAT'S TRUE!" Zoro adds, "WELL, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO BE LEAVING... EVERYBODY HATES US... THAT'S THE WAY PIRATES SHOULD LEAVE A TOWN..." In the town square, Koby runs toward them shouting "LUFFY!!!" Luffy turns and calls back "KOBY!" while two background voices stammer "L-LU--" "L-LU--"

Coby snaps a crisp salute, tears streaming as he cries, "I'LL NEVER FORGET ALL YOU DID FOR ME!!!" and "THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CAP'N LUFFY!" Luffy grins widely and shouts, "WE'LL MEET AGAIN, KOBY!!" Zoro chuckles in the background, "HA HA HA! THIS IS A NEW ONE. A PIRATE BEING SALUTED BY THE NAVY!" A full squad of marines stands at attention and salutes in unison. Their captain bellows "TEN-SHUN!" while a shocked Koby gasps "HUH!I"

From the small boat, Zoro lounges while Luffy stands with arms raised high as the harbor crowd cheers "HOORAY!!" The Marine Captain addresses his men: "AS PUNISHMENT, WE WON'T GET ANY DINNER FOR ONE WEEK!" The sailors reply "YES, SIR!" He continues, "NOW, IT'S AGAINST REGULATIONS TO SALUTE PIRATES LIKE WE JUST DID." Turning to Koby he adds, "YOU'VE GOT SOME GOOD FRIENDS, SAILOR." Luffy thrusts both fists skyward and yells, "TO THE GRAND LINE!!!" "WE'RE ON OUR WAY!" A narration box reads, "...NEITHER OF THEM REALIZING THAT THEY'VE MADE ONE SERIOUS MISTAKE..." and "LUFFY AND HIS FIRST CREWMAN (THE FORMER, INFAMOUS, DEMONIC PIRATE HUNTER ZORO) SET SAIL..."

A dramatic title page opens with the bold heading "The Great Age of Piracy." Below it, a large illustration shows several hooded pirates gathered around a large map spread on a table. A massive sword is stabbed upright into the map at a marked location, while a flintlock pistol and coins lie nearby. Pirate flags with skull-and-crossbones emblems wave in the background. The narration box reads: It was an age burning with the magnificence of those searching for the treasure of treasures: "One Piece," hidden by Gold Roger, history’s only "King of the Pirates." It was an age when pirates beyond number raised their flags to battle for fame and fortune. It was a Golden Age…

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