Grim Premonitions

A grand palace interior comes into view. So let me ask you Jinbe... a voice begins. The speaker continues, I would never have expected a man of your calibre to serve under another master after Fisher Tiger. Does it not trouble youI While I cannot claim that she is always the most reasonable person to work with... she lets us have our freedoms....As part of Big Mom's fleetI How are the Sun Pirates getting on... A large fish-man king sits on an ornate throne, addressing the kneeling Jinbe. It was, after all, thanks to your connections that our island was able to obtain the protection of Big Mom's name... TrulyI I cannot help but think you do it for Fish-Man Island's sake... In the New World, affiliating oneself with one of the Four Yonko......is simply the most sensible way to ensure the safety of one's comrades. Not at all. I have no grand aspirations to absolute leadership....And thus remain safe even after Whitebeard's demise.

Neptune laughs heartily, Hahah ahah... But with bounties on our heads, that is a little impractical. In truth, I would prefer to remain here with my crew, that we might protect the island ourselves. A coincidence, nothing more. Jinbe remains kneeling. Could it be... that you mean to take Luffy-kun up on his invitationI! Oh...I Indeed... it is a very tempting offer. However, your majesty... I am now planning to leave that protection behind...! To sever such a bond is not always a simple endeavour... Of bonds formed not by written contract, but by spoken vows and shared goblets. That said, I live in a world of duty and honour. I cannot deny the possibility that it may turn Big Mom's wrath against this island.

If such a situation arises, then we will seek out a solution ourselves. You always try to take too much responsibility upon your own shoulders. Jinbe. Besides which, if this island ever were to lose the protection of Big Mom's flag......there is another flag I would like very much to borrow. Why, only today this land has come into possession......of a 70,000-man strong force of powerful, if rowdy, fighters from the Fish-Man District. Indeed, that would be a fine flag to fly...!! Wahaha! I see! The Jolly Roger that wears a Straw Hat!!

King Neptune clutches his trident in alarm as the Minister of the Right reports urgent news. "I have just remembered something quite terrible!! It relates to the treasure that was stolen......and your promise to give all of it to Luffy-kun and his friends...!" A close-up shows the Minister's shocked face. "What is the matter, Minister of the RightI" Neptune asks. The Minister screams, "Your Majesty!!" Neptune's expression hardens. "What nonsense is this!! The promise has already been made!! I have no right to demand the treasure's return!!!" The Minister continues gravely, "If they do succeed in recovering it, I must ask that you instruct them......to return the Tamatebako alone to us!" In a flashback panel, the Minister explains, "...I came up with this measure in order to prevent any future would-be treasure thieves from getting away unharmed...! Well, you see, after the incident ten years ago, when the contents of the Tamatebako were stolen... Why would you put explosives inside!!!" Neptune reacts in horror: "WhatI!! The box will explode if openedI!!"

The Minister of the Right explains further, "I see, I see... Very well, then. If Luffy-kun and his crew do succeed in recovering this treasure......you must carefully explain the situation to them, and recover the Tamatebako... As custodian of the keys to the palace treasures and the Tamatebako, I must humbly apologise for this oversight...!...which will activate as soon as the box is opened... The box is filled with powerful explosives..." A massive explosion SFX erupts: "ビッカァーン!!!" The Minister sweats heavily while speaking. Elsewhere, the Minister of the Left reacts with relief, "Ahhh...! Thank goodness they are unharmed! So our worries were for naught..." The Minister of the Right adds, "Your Majesty! Minister of the Left! Luffy-san and his crew......have just returned to the palace!!" A small figure dashes in the background as the Minister of the Left notes, "Though there was always the danger that they might open it before we reach them to explain..."

Luffy stares in shock as the Minister of the Right reveals, "...to Big MomI! You gave all the treasure..." Nami sweats nervously nearby. Luffy shouts, "With a YonkouI!!" while recalling the earlier chaos with Big Mom's ship. He yells, "Well, she was going on about destroying Fish-Man Island just 'cause there wasn't any sweets left! Stupid, rightI! I mean, if it was meat, then okay, but over sweetsI! Anyway, don't worry!! I've gone and picked a fight with her now!!!" Nami smiles and laughs, covering her mouth, "That's not the issue here!! Oh, my! You certainly are a strong man, Luffy-sama!" The Minister of the Right panics, "You picked a fight with Big MomI!!"

Usopp screams in terror, "Like hell we would!! She's a Yonkou!! She could wipe us out in seconds!!!" The Minister of the Right insists, "At any rate, see to it that your crew does nothing to provoke Big Mom further for the time being!" He continues anxiously, "Of all the outrageous... I fear I may have to sever my ties to Big Mom quickly, before things become more awkward..." Usopp wails, "Lwaaaaah h!! You're too scary, Noseopp-sama!! My name's Usopp and I'm sorry!" The Minister of the Right adds, "Now, Luffy, I understand that you had to pick a fight with her under the circumstances. You are a man, after all......and worse, if she were to open it herself...! This is a most unexpected twist of fate...! If the Tamatebako falls into Big Mom's hands... the resulting explosion would amount to a declaration of all-out war!!!" Nami smiles and says, "That's right!! I don't care who she is -" Luffy cuts in, "That's your problemI!!" The Minister of the Right cries, "M - Minister of the Right...!! Could this not be rather... problematicI!!" while background figures react in panic. Nami demands, "But why did you give her all the treasureI!!!!"

Panic erupts as a frantic voice yells, "WE'RE TOTALLY DOOMED!!!" Another pleads, "C'MON GUYS... LET'S GO TO DA NEW WORLD..." A cloaked figure with spotted pants declares, "I GOTTA TAKE THAT MOUNTAIN OF TREASURE AND THE MERMAID PRINCESS' SECRET OUTTA HERE WITH ME!! IF I DO, 'THAT PERSON' WILL TAKE A SHINE TO ME FOR SURE!!" while dramatic speed lines emphasize the urgency. Nearby, a furious man with wild hair and a scar shouts, "DAMMITALL! I WAKE UP AND WHAT DO I FINDI! ALL THAT TREASURE, GONE WITHOUT A TRACE!!! WHO THE HELL TOOK ITI! I'LL RIP 'EM TO PIECES, YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!!!!" A sign reads "NEAR THE SWEET FACTORY." A massive, grinning fish-man with swirling eyes roars, "THAT'S MY TREASURE!!! IT'S MINE BE!!! WHO THE HELL DO THEY THINK THEY AREEEEI!!! I'LL BURY 'EM ALIVE!!!" Two figures haul enormous sacks through a street as onlookers react: "AND WHO ARE THOSE TWO GUYS CARRYING THOSE GIGANTIC BAGSI!!" and "HUHI!! WHAT'S THIS CROWD OF PEOPLE...I"

A tall man in a patterned shirt carrying a giant sack wonders, "NOW, WHO MIGHT THAT BE...I" while a bystander mutters, "I'VE SEEN THAT FACE BEFORE... GRR." The cloaked figure yells, "AND I'M GONNA TAKE IT BACK!!! THAT TREASURE IS MINE!! I STOLE IT!!!" A lion-faced man with curly hair and a dark coat declares, "HE'S WET-HAIR CARIBOU, A ROOKIE WHO'S MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF RECENTLY. HE'S GOT TWO HUNDRED MILLION ON HIS HEAD." Caribou transforms with a burst of smoke and mechanical parts, shouting "NUMA NUMA NO..." as he unleashes a barrage: "KEHIHIHIHI!!!" and massive onomatopoeia "ジゴクキーン!!!" and "ドカドカドカドカドカ!!!" fill the air. He laughs wildly, "KEHIHIHIHI YAHYAHYA HIHIHIH!!!" while firing his Gatling gun, the text "GATLING GUN!!!" prominent amid the chaos.

Caribou continues his assault with "KEHE HEH..." and a massive explosion "ドギャアッ...!!!" as bystanders scream "AAAAA AAHHHHH HHHH!!!" Someone calls out, "MR. PEKOMS!!" A turtle shell appears amid the smoke with "NYOO!!" and "A TURTLEII!!" Pekoms, now in full turtle form, rolls forward as the lion-faced man reacts, "THE HECK IS THAT...I!!!" The turtle shell cracks open with "SPLURT" and Pekoms emerges in hybrid lion-turtle form, declaring, "A FRUIT USER, HUHI!!! BUT OF COURSE." The lion-faced man, identified as Pekoms, glares with sharp teeth while the curly-haired opponent smirks.

Pekoms, in his lion-turtle hybrid form, glares with bared fangs. The curly-haired opponent taunts from above, "STILL, YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A WORTHLESS ZOAN!!! KEHIH HIHIHIH!!!" Pekoms charges with a powerful "GRRRHH" as the two clash violently. The curly-haired man swings a massive scythe-like weapon while Pekoms blocks and counters with his clawed hands and shell, debris and impact lines exploding around them in a fierce close-quarters struggle. The curly-haired man's coat billows as he presses the attack, Pekoms snarling in resistance.

Massive explosions rock the area as a giant turtle-like figure crashes through structures amid roaring SFX ゴゴゴン and ドゴォン. Pekoms, transformed into his full turtle Zoan form, soars through the sky over Fish-Man Island ruins. Nearby fish-men react in shock with ビキ…!! and HUUH…I! A voice declares, "I TAKE NO PLEASURE IN CRUSHING SOFT-BOILED WEAKLINGS." Another warns, "FOOLISH LOGIA USERS WHO THINK THEMSELVES INVINCIBLE WILL NOT LAST LONG FROM HERE ON OUT." A third states, "LET US RETURN, PEKOMS. OUR MAMA IS WAITING." A large bounty poster reveals PEKOMS BOUNTY 330,000,000 BELI.

Meanwhile in the New World waters near the Red Line, massive Marine warships battle raging seas and storms with SFX うああああああ and ドゴォーン. A narration box reads "MEANWHILE IN THE NEW WATERS... NEAR THE RED LINE". Marines on deck shout "WHAT'S GOING ON HEREI!" "THESE PIRATE SHIPS JUST KEEP SURFACING ONE AFTER ANOTHER!!!" "ANOTHER VESSEL SIGHTED AT 2 O'CLOCK!!" One Marine cries "OH, THAT'S QUITE ENOUGH...!!" while another yells "CAPTAIN TASHIGI IS IN DANGER! I'LL KEEP HER SAFE IN MY TENDER EMBRACE!" A ship labeled 5 G-5 is shown amid cannon fire and chaos.

Tashigi leaps into action, sword drawn, deflecting cannonballs with precise strikes amid SFX スルルル… and キン…！ A massive explosion erupts with KYUIN!! and ドォォン as she spins through the air. Marines cheer from below: "THAT'S THE MAST YOU'RE TALKING TO, CAPTAIN!" "YOU HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TRAINED IN DEFENDING AGAINST CANNONFIRE, I HOPE!" "COULD YOU TAKE THIS A LITTLE MORE SERIOUSLYI!!" "OHHH YEAH!!! THAT'S OUR LOVELY CAPTAIN!!" One Marine adds "MAN, SHE'S CUTE! THE RADIANT FLOWER OF G-5!!"

Tashigi stands tall, adjusting her glasses with a serious expression. She scolds, "YOU'LL LOSE YOUR LIVES IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL! HONESTLY, I CAN'T STAND G-5 SOMETIMES..." and "...!! I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE YOU'RE MARINES AT ALL!!" A Marine retorts "WHY MUST YOU ALWAYS SAY THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF BATTLEI!!" while another pleads "BE QUIET, TASHIGI!!! I'M CONDUCTING AN INTERROGATION HERE!!" and "JUST BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN IS NO REASON TO SHOW SUCH A LACK OF RESPECT!!!" A background panel shows Smoker fighting. Tashigi continues, "THAT EXPLAINS WHY THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY ROOKIES PASSING THROUGH FISH-MAN ISLAND FOR THE PAST MONTH. I SEE... YOU WERE ALL PRISONERS OF THE SEABED PIRATE HODY JONES. AND IT EXPLAINS WHY ALL THESE PIRATE SHIPS ARE SUDDENLY CRAWLING LIKE COCKROACHES UP FROM THE DEPTHS...!!!" A sign identifies her as MARINE CAPTAIN AT "G-5" THE FIFTH MARINE BRANCH STATION IN THE GRAND LINE Tashigi.

G-5 Marines argue heatedly in the wreckage. One snaps, "YOU IDIOT!! JUST SPILL THE BEANS ALREADY!!!!" Another retorts, "...ANOTHER PIRATE CREW STEPPED IN, DEFEATED THE LOT OF THEM, AND SET US ALL FREE!!" A third insists, "THESE AREN'T ORDINARY MARINES WE'RE DEALING WITH!! THEY'RE FROM G-5!!!" and "I AIN'T TELLING YOU WHO THAT WAS, THOUGH!! WE OWE THEM OUR LIVES!!!" A prisoner-like figure yells, "PRISONERSI! I WISH!! THEY KEPT US AS SLAVES!!" while another warns, "BUT JUST WHEN HODY'S CREW TRIED TO STAGE A PROPER UPRISING..." Panic spreads as Marines scream "AAAAA GHHH!!! HEY - WAIT - STOP!!" and "VICE-ADMIRAL!! CAN WE TAKE CARE OF THESE ONESI GEHEHE HEHEHE..." One begs, "I'LL TALK, I'LL TALK!! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!!!" Others shout, "THEY'RE A LAWLESS GROUP AMONG THE MARINE RANKS, WHO DON'T EVEN TAKE ORDERS FROM MARINE HQ!!" "OR BURNING PIRATES AS FUEL ON THEIR CAMPFIRES!!" "I'VE HEARD STORIES ABOUT THEM USING PIRATES AS BAIT TO FISH FOR SHARKS!!" and "THEY'LL KILL US ALL IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL!!!" A close-up reveals a Marine with an armband labeled "MARINE" declaring, "IT WAS THE STRAW HAT PIRATES!!!" while thinking, "AS IF I NEEDED TELLING..."

A full-color splash page shows the Straw Hat Pirates posing triumphantly together. Monkey D. Luffy grins widely in the center foreground, fist extended toward the viewer. Surrounding him are the crew in dynamic poses: Roronoa Zoro with swords, Nami with her staff, Usopp aiming his slingshot, Sanji smoking, Tony Tony Chopper in heavy point, Nico Robin with arms crossed, Franky striking a pose, Brook playing his violin, and Jinbe flexing. The Straw Hat Jolly Roger skull-and-crossbones banner stretches across the bottom. The group radiates energy and unity against a bold black-and-white striped background.

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