MOONLIGHT AND TOMBSTONES

The full-color version of the splash page repeats the same composition under the title "MOONLIGHT AND TOMBSTONES." Luffy drinks from the bottle on the couch arm. Sanji grins while holding the yellow "GOALI" sign. Usopp's owl mask is now pink. The long-nosed man smokes two cigarettes and holds the "DON'T FUNK" sign. Zoro remains passed out on the floor. Two women in yellow-and-orange plaid dresses stand by the mirror. The vibrant coloring highlights the festive, chaotic atmosphere of the room filled with cacti silhouettes outside.

Night falls over Whisky Peak as the moon rises above the cactus-shaped buildings. Narration reads: "THE MOON RISES." and "AND THE WELCOMING PARTY AT WHISKEY PEAK CONTINUES..." In a tavern, a long-nosed man in overalls and a bandana points forward while holding a mug, declaring "DON'T YOU DARE LAY A HAND ON MY CREWMATES, YOU SEA KING BASTARDS!" and "AND SO I COOLLY SAID TO HIM." A crowd of excited townspeople cheers wildly with signs and mugs, trembling with excitement. One woman in the crowd says, "WELL, TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, EVEN I TREMBELED A LITTLE DURING OUR GREAT ESCAPE FROM CALM BELT..." Another replies, "THAT'S SOOOO COOOOOOL, CAPT. USOPP!" with hearts floating around her.

Inside the crowded tavern, a wild drinking contest rages. A burly man with a barrel on his head chugs while the crowd shouts "AMAZING! THIS MAN OUTDRANK 10 PEOPLE!" and "YOU WIN." A woman with short hair drinks from a massive mug as onlookers yell "AND THIS LADY HERE OUTDRANK 12 PEOPLE!" and "WHAT A COUPLE OF HEAVY DRINKERS!" The scene shifts to Luffy, now massively bloated with food stacked on his head and body, shouting "MORE!" while the cook collapses. The crowd reacts with "HOLY MOLY! HERE WE HAVE OUR CAPTAIN WHO'S EATEN ENOUGH FOOD FOR 20 PEOPLE!" and "THE COOK JUST COLLAPSED!"

Inside the lively tavern, the Straw Hats revel in the celebration. Sanji flirts shamelessly with multiple women at once while raising a mug. Someone shouts, "HE'S FLIRTING WITH 20 WOMEN ALL BY HIMSELF!" and "WHAT A PIRATE CREW!" Another voice adds, "AND WOULD YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS LADY-KILLER!" In the center, Igaram laughs uproariously with swirling eyes, declaring, "YOUR ENJOYMENT MEANS THE WORLD TO US!" and "MA-MA-MAA~ AHEM! HAHAHA! WHAT A FESTI-" as he clutches his chest. The narration notes the festive night. Outside under the moonlight, the town glows with lanterns and music. A large figure in a striped cloak watches silently as the party continues, thinking, "IT MEANS THE WORLD... TRULY..."

In a quiet room, Miss Wednesday (Vivi) and Mr. 9 write their report. The letter reads: "THUS ENDS... OUR REPORT... TO MAKE UP FOR OUR BLUNDER, WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN... LURING THOSE PIRATES TO CACTUS ISLAND... ALTHOUGH WE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN OUR TASK TO SECURE FOOD FOR THE TOWN... AND SO... YOURS SINCERELY, BABY." Vivi sweats nervously, saying "UMMM..." Later on a rooftop, she says, "SO LET'S HURRY UP AND PUT OUR REPORT IN THE UNLUCKIES' BOX." Mr. 9 replies, "YES." and "IF WE SEND THIS TO THE BOSS, I'M SURE WE'LL BE CLEARED OF OUR SHAME." They drop the report marked "BAROQUE" into a skull-emblazoned mailbox as a bat-like Unlucky delivers it with "GOOO!" and "SLIP".

The drinking contest rages on. A hooded woman downs beer while warning Zoro, "I'D BE BEST FOR YOU TO STOP AS WELL FOR YOUR HEALTH'S SAKE, YOU KNOWI" Zoro slurs, "J...EEEZ... SO PATHETIC, ZORO..." as he drinks. Spectators shout, "BUT THIS GIRL'S ON HER 15TH! HER OPPONENT IS THE SISTER!" and "OHHH! AND HE GOES DOWN AGAINST HIS 13TH OPPONENT!" Zoro collapses with "I CAN'T DRINK ANYMORE..." Elsewhere, the partygoers have mostly passed out. "3 COOKS HAVE COLLAPSED NOW!" one yells. Sanji lies defeated, thinking "I'M NO MATCH FOR YOU." A large man laughs, "SHE'S THE TYPE TO LAUGH WHEN DRUNK!" while others groan, "I CAN'T EAT ANYMORE. THANKS FOR THE MEAL." Nami and Usopp cuddle hearts, exclaiming "THIS IS SURELY HEAVEN!" and "AH, WHAT A GREAT TOWN THIS IS!" as more fall asleep.

Under the moonlight over the quiet town, a cloaked figure observes the sleeping buildings and thinks, "LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE FALLEN ASLEEP, AFTER ALL THAT PARTYING..." Close-ups show the crew at rest: Sanji snores with "MY FELLOW ADVENTURERS...", Nami sleeps peacefully, Usopp dreams with mouth open, and Zoro is out cold. The narration continues, "SWEET DREAMS," as the figure reflects, "O' HOW BEAUTIFULLY THE CACTUS ROCKS ARE, AS THEY DANCE AGAIN, BENEATH THE MOONLIGHT TONIGHT..."

In the desert outskirts, a cloaked figure with an ornate crown-like hat sits as a voice calls out, "QUIET THE POET, AREN'T YOU," while another asks, "MR. 8...I" Inside a building, Mr. 9 with his spiral hairstyle gestures and says, "AND WHAT ABOUT THEMI THEY'VE FALLEN DEEPLY..." as a suited man replies, "OH, IT'S YOU..." A close-up reveals the crowned man's face with the label "IGARAPPOI A.K.A MR.8" as he declares, "TO HELL, THAT IS..."

Miss Monday stands with her back turned, saying, "MISS MONDAY. IS THERE REALLY EVEN A NEED TO STAGE THIS WHOLE WELCOME PARTY IN THE FIRST PLACEI I MEAN, THEY'RE ONLY A BUNCH OF WEAK-LOOKING BRATS...!" Nearby, a man in a long coat enters through a door marked with "ガチャ...!" replying, "HIC! THAT BUNCH SURE KNOWS HOW TO EAT AND DRINK. OH DEAR LORD. AND I WAS ONLY DRINKING SPARKLING BARLEY TEA...!" A close-up shows Sister a.k.a Miss Monday with a fierce expression, stating, "AND IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN COUNT ON GETTING THAT WHALE MEAT EITHER. WE SHOULD'VE JUST CRUSHED THEM AT THE HARBOUR. THE TOWN IS SHORT ENOUGH ON FOOD AS IT IS ALREADY." In the next scene, the group gathers as one says, "I'VE DONE MY HOMEWORK ABOUT THIS CREW. NOW, NOW. JUST CALM DOWN FOR NOW AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. THAT'S RIGHT! WE TRIED OUR BEST, YOU KNOW! DON'T YOU TALK THAT WAY ABOUT US!"

The agents react in shock to a wanted poster as "ビビーン!!!" sounds and they shout, "THIRTY MILLION BELI!I" "W... WHAT!I" with Luffy's poster visible showing "MONKEY D. LUFFY" and a 30,000,000 bounty. In the street, Igaram gestures and says, "BUT IN ANY CASE... THEY'RE ALREADY OUT COLD. THIS SHOULD MAKE AN EXCELLENT REPORT FOR THE BOSS. MY APOLOGIES... THEM...!I MISS MONDAY. TO JUDGE A PIRATE'S STRENGTH FROM HIS APPEARANCES ALONE IS QUITE FOOLISH, MISS B-." Later, Igaram continues, "IF WE KILL THEM, WE'LL LOSE 30% OF THE BOUNTY MONEY. THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RATHER DO PUBLIC EXECUTIONS OF CRIMINALS, AFTER ALL. NOW GO CONFISCATE ANY MONEY OR TREASURES ON THEIR SHIP AND TIE THEM ALL UP!"

From a rooftop, a voice calls down, "WOULD YOU MIND LETTING THOSE GUYS SLEEP FOR A BIT LONGERI THEY'RE ALL TIRED FROM THE JOURNEY OVER HERE." Below, Igaram reacts with surprise, "!I" as someone replies, "SORRY BUT..." Inside, Igaram yells, "WHY YOU...! WEREN'T YOU PASSED OUT COLD AFTER ALL THAT DRINKING JUST A MOMENT AGO...!I ONE OF THEIR CREW HAS ESCAPED! M-MR.8! MS. MONDAY!" A dramatic panel shows a swordsman leaping with "どくん!!!" and the narration, "A TRUE SWORDSMAN, NEVER ALLOWS ALCOHOL TO TAKE CONTROL OF HIMSELF."

Zoro glares with a sharp grin. "AND YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OVERCONFIDENT NEWBIE PIRATES WHO'VE JUST ENTERED GRAND LINE...!" A voice replies, "SO THAT'S HOW IT WAS... THIS PLACE IS A DEN OF BOUNTY HUNTERS." In the next panel a hooded figure and a crowd of armed men surround the scene. "LOOKS LIKE THERE'S ABOUT A 100 OF YOU." Zoro stands with his back to the viewer, swords drawn, facing a massive crowd of bounty hunters spread across the cactus-filled graveyard. "YOU'LL BE A FINE OPPONENT FOR ME, BAROQUE WORKS." Large impact SFX explode across the panel as the standoff begins.

The two leaders react in shock. "WHAT!I HOW DO YOU KNOW THE NAME OF OUR ORGANIZATION!I" Zoro stands confidently with swords at his side. "...AN ORGANIZATION WHOSE MEMBERS DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT EACH OTHER'S REAL IDENTITIES, AND MUST REFER TO EACH OTHER BY THEIR CODE-NAMES. A CERTAIN ORGANIZATION TRIED TO SCOUT ME BUT I REFUSED, OF COURSE." The large man growls, "MUST BE ADDED TO CACTUS ROCK TONIGHT...!" while another mutters "ANOTHER TOMBSTONE." Close-ups show the leaders sweating as they realize, "THIS IS QUITE A SHOCK... BUT IF HE KNOWS OUR SECRET, THEN WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ELIMINATE HIM... A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION THAT ASKS FOR COMPLETE OBEDIENCE FROM ITS MEMBERS: BAROQUE WORKS. AND OF COURSE, THE BOSS' LOCATION AND IDENTITY ARE A MYSTERY AS WELL." One asks, "HEH... WAS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE A SECRETI"

Gunfire erupts with massive SFX "ドンッ" and "オオオ..." as bullets fly through the graveyard. Zoro vanishes in a blur. A man points and yells "KILL HIM!" while another gasps "!I" Chaos breaks out as agents fire wildly. "WHERE'D HE GO!I" "HE'S GONE!" The crowd searches frantically amid flying bullets and motion lines.

The bounty hunters panic as Zoro reappears among them. "ギョッ...!!!" Zoro smiles calmly and asks, "SHALL WE GET THINGS STARTEDI" then says "NOW THEN..." Agents open fire. "SHOOT!" "YOU BASTARD!" Massive gunfire SFX "ドッドッドッドン" erupt as bullets rip through the air. One man is hit. "UGH!" Zoro remains unfazed amid the chaos.

In the chaotic streets of Whisky Peak, Roronoa Zoro blurs into motion as Baroque Works agents panic around him. "HURRY UP AND KILL HIM ALREADY! HE'S ONLY ONE SWORDSM..." one yells. "HE DISAPPEARED AGAIN! HE'S TOO FAST!" another cries. "YOU FOOLS!" a third shouts in frustration. Igaram, long hair flowing and massive weapon slung across his shoulders, questions his allies: "ARE YOU SURE, THAT YOU WANT TO ADD ONLY ONE TOMBSTONE TONIGHTI" The agents open fire wildly. "I SAID STOP!" Zoro barks. "S-STOP YOU FOOLS! ARE YOU PLANNING TO SHOOT ME TOO!I" Igaram roars as bullets fly. "THERE HE IS!" someone spots the swordsman amid the gunfire and swirling dust.

Zoro is struck by a powerful blast. "AGHHHHHHH!" he cries out as debris explodes around him. "IGARAPPA!" Igaram yells, unleashing his attack. The smoke clears over the town rooftops. "WHEW... WAS THAT A SHOTGUNI TALK ABOUT DANGEROUS..." Zoro mutters, catching his breath. In close-up, several tense figures react: a bandaged man growls, "WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH HIM PERSONALLY." A dark-haired woman glares silently. A mustached man sweats with "オキ... オキ..." sound effects. A tall figure with a crown-like hat concludes, "IT LOOKS LIKE..."

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