The Rumor

A massive domed tower rises above the water in the City of Water. Large onomatopoeia 'ビュオォォォ' howls across the sky. Luffy, in his straw hat, appears in a speech bubble asking 'BADI...WHAT'S BADI'. Below, Nami explains in a bubble: 'THE *TOPOGRAPHY AND THE CLIMATE OF THIS ISLAND.' An editor's note clarifies: '*EDITOR'S NOTE: TOPOGRAPHY IS THE LAY OF THE LAND, OR THE GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES.' In the next tier, a group including a man with a topknot and others on a balcony react as Nami continues: 'THIS PLACE IS CALLED THE CITY OF WATER...' and 'A TYPHOON MIGHT PASS THROUGH TONIGHT.' Two more bubbles add: 'AND THE PRESSURE IS DROPPING.' and 'THE WIND IS BLOWING HARD,' with SFX 'ヒュウゥゥ' and 'ゴォ'. At the bottom, Luffy leans forward and says 'UM, I'LL CHECK INTO IT LATER...' while Nami replies 'SO, SUBSEQUENTLY, IT'S VULNERABLE TO ANY NATURAL DISASTERS ON THE SEA.' Luffy reacts with 'SO WHATI'

From a high vantage point overlooking the massive Galley-La Company headquarters, two figures scan the scene below. "IT'S CONNECTED TO THE FIRST DOCK, TOO..." one notes. "ICEBERG-SAN MUST BE IN THAT MANSION!" the other exclaims. "ANYWAY, THAT'S IT... LOOK DOWN," comes the reply. "JOURNALISTS ARE CROWDING AROUND THAT PLACE." On a nearby rooftop ledge, Robin and Luffy sit together. Robin warns, "LET ME REMIND YOU THAT WE'RE BEING CHASED," while Luffy responds, "ROBIN SHOT HIM." Luffy continues, "YEAH. I'M GONNA ASK HIM WHY HE THINKS," as Robin questions, "YOU'RE REALLY GOING!I" She adds, "SO FIND ICEBERG'S ROOM FIRST, THEN ENTER WHEN NO ONE..." Suddenly Nami's face fills a panel in shock: "WAIT...!!!" A small figure leaps away with a "C!!" sound as someone asks "WHAT...I" Luffy waves casually, "SEE YA LATER," leaving Nami and Robin staring after him in surprise.

An enormous explosion rips through a window of the Galley-La building, sending shards of glass and debris flying outward. Luffy is hurled through the blast in midair. "!!I" someone cries. A large hand reaches toward the chaos. On the ground below, several people react in terror: a fish-man-like figure, a bald man shouting "AH!!!", and another yelling "WHO..." Panic spreads as voices shout, "WE'RE BEING ATTACKED!!!" "A WINDOW BROKE!!!" "WHAT'S HAPPENINGI!!" and "WHAT!II" The building's upper floors are visibly damaged, with smoke and falling debris everywhere as the attack unfolds.

Panic erupts across the Galley-La Company headquarters as workers spot an intruder. "INVADED HEAD QUARTERS!!!" someone yells while a massive sound effect "わあああああ" fills the air and another voice cries, ""STRAW HAT LUFFY" HAS". From the second floor stairs to the third floor, the figure races upward. "WHERE IS HE!!!" "IN BROAD DAYLIGHT!!!" "WHAT!!!I" "SO SUDDEN!!!" the workers shout in alarm. "HE'S PROBABLY GOING AFTER THE BEDROOM. STALL HIM!!!" one commands. Below, a lone figure stands on a striped rooftop as another yells, "IT'S THE STRAW HAT!!!" Inside the building, workers rush forward: "PROTECT ICEBERG-SAN!!" "HE'S WEARING A RED VEST AND A STRAW HAT!!!"

Chaos spreads as the intruder heads for the headquarters again. "HE'S GOING AFTER THE HQ AGAIN SO FAST!!!" "THEY'RE ORDERING THE WORKERS AROUND THE ISLAND!" "WHERE ARE THE HEADS!!!I" "ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!I" the workers scream amid the din "うおおおお!!". Luffy dashes through the streets, hat in hand, reacting with "WHOA!!!" and "THERE!!!" while muttering "WHERE IS IT". In a quiet bedroom, a bandaged man lying in bed speaks to a woman by the door: "APPARENTLY, THE STRAW HAT HAS INVADED THE HQ..." "NMAA... WHAT IS ITI" "IT'S SO NOISY OUTSIDE. I AM TERRIBLY SORRY..." The man replies, "KALIFA, I HAVE A FAVOUR TO ASK......"

Inside the building, agents react in panic as someone flees. "IT'LL AFFECT ICEBERG-SAN'S BODY!!!" one shouts. "BUT THEY'RE..." another begins. "WE'RE INSIDE!!!" a third yells. "IDIOT!! DON'T USE A GUN!!" comes the urgent warning. "WHERE DID HE GO!I" demands a guard. Luffy appears surprised in close-up. "HUHI" he reacts. "STRAW HAT!!" someone recognizes him. "YOU'RE..." trails off. "!I" Another figure reacts. "WOW!! SO MANY OF THEM!!" a voice exclaims as Luffy dashes away. "HE WENT TO THE SECOND WING!! GO UP!!!" an agent points. Kalifa stands with agents near a door. "GUARD HERE," she orders. "OK... THEN WE'LL" replies one. "BUT PLEASE, CHASE HIM QUIETLY!!!" another urges. "NO," Kalifa states firmly. "DID A PIRATE PASS BYI" asks an agent. "HEY KALIFA-SAN," calls another. "HE'LL DEFINITELY COME FOR THIS ROOM," one notes. "ICEBERG-SAN IS STILL SLEEPING," confirms the figure by the door.

Luffy enters the dark bedroom where Iceberg lies in bed. Large impact effects and "HAA" sounds fill the air. "ZEEEE..." snores Iceberg. Luffy stands facing the bed. In the next panels, Iceberg speaks calmly from his seat. "IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THAT YOU CAME TO KILL ME IN THIS CHAOS." Luffy stares intently. "I WANT TO HEAR THE REAL STORY!!" he demands. Iceberg replies, "..... YEAH." Luffy answers, "THANKS... FOR CALLING ME." Iceberg continues, "NMAAA, YOU HAVE BUSINESS WITH MEI" with "....." trailing. He adds, "PIRATE TWERP." A small "CHILI" reaction appears near him as the tense conversation unfolds.

In a lavishly furnished bedroom, a voice confirms, "THAT IS TRUE." Another speaker insists, "LAST NIGHT, I SAW NICO ROBIN WITH MY OWN EYES......!!! SHE'S ONE OF YOU." The man with the headband, Iceberg, points a gun at Luffy and declares, "THE REASON I CALLED YOU HERE IS BECAUSE I HAVE A FAVOUR TO ASK..." Luffy responds with surprise, "ARE YOU SURE IT WAS ROBINI" Iceberg snaps, "DON'T SPEAK. YOUR WORDS HOLD NO POWER ANYMORE," as a sharp sound effect "††4+...!!" rings out. Luffy's face twists in shock, sweat flying, as he stammers, "THAT'S... IMPOSSIBLE....... I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS..." Iceberg leans in close, eyes intense, and demands, "LET ME MEET WITH NICO ROBIN ONE MORE TIME."

A gunshot erupts from the bedroom with a massive "ビオォォォ...!!!" and "ドドドド" impact. Iceberg is hurled backward through the air, body twisting violently as the narration states, "A GUN WENT OFF, FROM THE BEDROOM!!!" Outside, doors burst open with "ガチャ..." and "ガラガラ" sounds as figures react in panic. Someone screams, "ICEBERG-SAN......!!!" In the grand hallway, a voice calls out, "YOU'RE SAFE." Another replies weakly, "YEAH..." Iceberg, bloodied and sweating, glares forward and mutters, "IT'S USELESS. I WAS HOPING THAT I COULD GET CLOSER TO THE TRUTH."

A silhouetted figure in a wide-brimmed hat stands before a grand stone building marked with a Galley-La Company sign, raising one hand while declaring, "OF COURSE!!!" "ALL OF THEM..." "ARREST..." A small bubble nearby shows only "...." In the next tier, a blonde woman with a worried expression asks, "BUT WHY WOULD ROBIN DO SUCH A THING..." Nearby panels show Luffy seated on a rooftop with "ROBIN..." "BUT..." "HE REALLY DID SEE" and sound effect "zii..." A third panel has the blonde woman continuing, "... WERE YOU ABLE TO TALK WITH ICEBERGI" The bottom splash focuses on a close-up of Luffy's intense face, eyes wide and teeth gritted, shouting "BELIEVE IT!!!" "I WON'T" amid heavy motion lines and large impact sound effects "ゴオオオ".

The scene opens on the streets of Water Seven Middle Town with signs for "BLUE-NO'S BAR" and "BLUENO'S BAR" visible on a curved building. Sound effects "whi hha" and "gacha" fill the air. Inside the bar, Blueno, a tall man with horns and a polka-dot outfit, leans forward with a wide grin and says, "WEL-COME." while laughing "HEHEHE..." "whi hha" and "gacha gacha". A close panel shows a hand gripping a door frame with sound "イ---イ". The bottom panel erupts into chaos as two figures burst through the doorway: one shouts "HOW YA DOING, BLUENOI!!" "ARE YOU SUPER!!I" while the other yells "AU!" amid flying debris and impact effects as they charge inside.

Inside the lively bar, a customer with a tall pompadour and star-shaped sunglasses leans on the counter. "I'LL TAKE THE USUAL, FILL 'ER UP." The bartender with a polka-dot shirt and curly hair replies, "I GUESS"I "BE A BIT MORE CLEAR, WILL YAI" A voice answers, "I GUESS, YEAH." Someone chuckles, "HEHEHE..." The customer asks, "YOU GOT MONEYI" The bartender responds with a grin. In the next row of panels, the customer reacts in shock: "WHAT!!!I WE STILL GOT THAT MUCH!!!I WHAT SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOUR!!! I LOOK BAD!!!" He continues ranting, "FOR ME TO HAVE 'OVERNIGHT LEFTOVER CHANGE' MONEY WITH ME!!!" The bartender notes, "ONE MILLION BERI." A woman at a table says, "WE'VE GOT SOME CHANGE FROM YESTERDAY'S SHOPPING." The customer growls, "YOU'D TAKE MONEY FROM YOUR CUSTOMERI HOW CAN YOU RUN A BAR LIKE..." The bartender cuts in, "WHATEVER, JUST GIMME SOME COKE." The customer then exclaims with joy, "WHOA!! REALLY!!!I YOU'RE A GREAT PERSON, FRANKY!!" as bottles are slammed down with a loud "BASA". The bartender laughs, "AU!! CUSTOMERS!!! WHAT LUCK!!!" and declares, "YOUR BILL'S ON ME. DRINK WHATEVER!!!" while the customer cheers, "WATER SEVEN'S DARK FACE!! THANKS A LOT!!"

Franky bursts out laughing with a massive "NYUO!! KOKORO HAG!!!" while a voice yells "NGA-GAGA GAGA!!" The bartender grins widely, "YOU SEEM TO BE IN A GOOD MOOD, FRANKY.......!!" Franky shouts back, "I THOUGHT YOU WERE SOME KINDA STATUE OF A WEIRD MONSTER!" In the next panels a small girl with pigtails cheers, "YAY~~~ I GOT JUICE~~~" and "I GOT JUICE ~~~" while the bartender complains, "I'M HAVING A GOOD TIME, BUT I'M IN A BAD MOOD. THIS A LOAD OF CRAP... LOAD OF CRAP." He snaps at the kids, "YO, THIS IS A BAR. IT'S NOT A PLACE FOR LITTLE TWERPS." The girl asks, "CAN I REFILL MY JUICE, FRANKYI" with a small "NYAA" sound. Franky reacts with a pained "HN...!!!" and a big impact effect as he grabs bottles. The bartender hands over drinks, saying "FINALLY, SOME FUEL!!" and "HERE YA GO. ALL FULL" while the customer yells "AU!!" amid the clatter of bottles and bar chaos.

A massive muscular man with a chain necklace, open floral shirt, and wild hair strikes a dramatic pose with arms spread wide as the word SUPER!!! explodes behind him in huge letters. In smaller panels below, a long-nosed woman in a hat announces, "AQUA LAGUNA'S COMING." A curly-haired man glares and asks, "BY THE WAY, HAG. WHY'RE YOU HEREI" He continues, "NEXT TIME I MEET THAT BASTARD, HE'D BETTER...!!!!" The muscular man suddenly reappears shouting, "GAH!!! I'M BACK!!!" In the bar below, the long-nosed woman explains, "'CAUSE I GOT NO HOUSE TO SINK." The curly-haired man replies, "NO, I DIDN'T." She presses, "DID YOU FINISH GUARDING YOUR HOUSE AGAINST ITI" Another voice notes, "SO THAT'S WHY THE WIND'S SO FREAKIN' STRONG." A small character with pigtails laughs, "ISN'T THAT AMAZINGI HAHA HAHA."

Inside the bar, the curly-haired man gestures while saying, "APPARENTLY..." The long-nosed woman continues, "APPARENTLY, HE WAS SHOT." She adds, "I WAS HOPING TO DRINK WITH ICEBERG TODAY, BUT..." A speech bubble explains, "THEY SAY IT'S BY THOSE PIRATES, SO THE WORKERS AND THE CITIZENS ARE ALL MAD." In a close-up, the long-nosed woman leans forward with a wide grin and challenges, "ARE YOU REALLY GONNA BELIEVE THATI" She mocks, "PIRATESI" and laughs, "NGA-GAGA." The muscular man glares intensely and warns, "DON'T GO AROUND SAYING RANDOM THINGS, HAG." She replies knowingly, "YOU SEEM TO KNOW SOME- THING."

Inside the crowded bar, patrons react with shock to the news of Iceberg's attack. A man in a top hat exclaims, "HUH!I SO WHAT, THAT COGI GUY DID ITI" Another voice adds, "BY THE WORLD GOVERNMENT...!!!" while a third wonders, "BUT ISN'T ICEBERG BEING STALKEDI" A woman with long hair leans forward, muttering, "STUPID... THEY JUST DON'T SHOW THEMSELVES. THEY'RE THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES UNIT." The top-hatted man continues, "...WHAT A PETTY BOURGEOIS... THEY BELIEVE SOME ORGANIZATION THAT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST." A man with a pompadour gestures wildly, "THE CRIMES IN THE DARK ARE DONE BY CP9...!!! DO YOU KNOW, BRUNOI" Someone questions, "...WHAT'S WITH THE CONFIDENCE... YOU GOT SOMETHINGI" At the counter, a customer asks Franky, "FRANKY, CAN I HAVE A REFILLI" Franky snaps back, "YOU'LL DIE IF YOU GET INVOLVED." The customer protests, "YOU, JUST DRINK WHAT YOU WANT!!!" while another voice says, "THE FACT THAT THEY'RE CONSIDERED 'A RUMOR' IS WHAT'S SCARY. THEY MAKE PEOPLE DISAPPEAR WITHOUT EXPOSING THEMSELVES." Franky growls, "THAT'S A RUMOR!" as a large figure beside him adds, "I HEARD IT THERE."

Water Seven's back streets are shown under a bright sky with signs reading "EMPTY STORAGE" and "WATER SEVEN BACK STREET." A voice recalls, "YESTERDAY WAS A SUCCESS." In a dim alley, two figures sit at a table. One states, "FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THAT..." while the other replies, "OF COURSE, YOU ALSO BECAME AN OUTLAW... NICO ROBIN." A sign for "BASA" hangs nearby. In close-up, Robin's face is shown with a slight smile as she answers questions: "IS TONIGHT!!" "WHAT'S IMPORTANT..." "BUT THAT'S TEMPORARY." She simply says, "YES."

In a shadowed interior, unseen figures discuss urgent orders. A voice explains, "TOM" HAD IT ORIGINALLY, AND OF ALL OF HIS APPRENTICES, THE ONLY LIVING ONE IS ICEBERG. Another continues, IF WORST COMES TO WORST, YOU CAN ERASE ALL EVIDENCE. GET INTO ICEBERG'S MANSION AGAIN. The orders intensify: YOU MUST TAKE IT TONIGHT. IN THE NAME OF CP9, I DON'T CARE HOW YOU DO IT. The final panel reveals a close-up of a dark-haired woman with a serious, intense expression and dark eyes, declaring, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE DUTY OF JUSTICE...

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