One Piece Chapter 33: The Silent Man

The Silent Man. This chapter has 19 searchable pages. Opening and key page summaries: The title page of Chapter 33, "THE SILENT MAN," features a playful illustration of Roronoa Zoro piloting a vintage biplane labeled "HAPPY" and "VICTORY." Clinging to the back of the plane is a giant, roaring gorilla holding a bunch of bananas, while Zoro grins confidently, holding one of his swords. Captain Kuro stands in the distance, looking down at his crew with cold disappointment. He remarks, "I didn't expect you to be held up by these kids..." and sighs, "The Kuro Neko Pirate Fleet has been reduced to a truly sad state..." Jango is visibly shaken by his former captain's sudden appearance. Kuro turns his gaze directly toward him, demanding, "Isn't that right, Jango?!?" Jango frantically tries to defend himself, stammering, "But... but... that day, you said that we could let that kid go... Cause' he couldn't affect our plans!!" Kuro remains completely unmoved, replying coldly, "So what?! He indeed still cannot affect our plans. I expected that he would come after us... I just didn't expect your uselessness! I don't want any more excuses!" Hearing this, Sham and Buchi are deeply offended. Sham's ears twitch as he mutters, "You said we're useless...?!" Buchi glares, warning, "Don't look down on us, Captain Kuro..." Kuro begins to adjust his glasses with the palm of his hand as Sham boldly steps forward, saying, "Indeed, you were very powerful. But that's in the past... That was three years ago...!!" Jango tries to intervene, shouting, "Hey! Shut up, Buchi!! Sham!!" But the Nyaban Brothers ignore him. Sham continues, "You've been pampering yourself in this village! But we've never stopped our attacks!! We've attacked quite a lot of villages... and sank many ships...!!" Watching the confrontation from the sidelines, Nami and Usopp realize there is an internal conflict brewing within the enemy ranks. Sham and Buchi fully commit to their rebellion, shouting, "You've been inactive for three years! Do you think you can still beat us, the 'Nyaban Brothers'?! We won't allow ourselves to be killed... for a stupid reason like 'a failed plan'!!" The other Black Cat Pirates whisper among themselves, agreeing that if the Nyaban Brothers gang up, even Captain Jango couldn't defeat them. Kuro calmly adjusts his glasses with a soft "Sret..." sound. With a fierce cry, Sham and Buchi leap at Kuro, yelling, "Instead of being killed by you silently, we might as well kill you first!! You're no longer our captain!" Sham and Buchi slash forward with a loud "SHAAAAAA...!!" but their claws strike only empty air. In the blink of an eye, Kuro has vanished, reappearing silently behind them. "Who did you say... you were going to kill?" Kuro asks coldly. The Nyaban Brothers freeze, sweat pouring down their faces in sheer terror. Jango is stunned, wondering when Kuro managed to get behind them, while Usopp gasps, "Ah... It's.. It's the 'Silent Step'!!" Zoro watches closely, noting, "What a weird looking weapon..." Terrified, Sham and Buchi spin around, crying, "He's behind us?!" but Kuro has already vanished again. "Huh? Dis... disappeared?!" they stammer, looking around wildly. Suddenly, with a heavy "DON!" sound, Kuro places his long, clawed hands on both of their shoulders. "You're right..." Kuro whispers directly into their ears, "I really don't feel too active." The two brothers scream in absolute panic: "WAH!!" "AH!!" Kuro holds his deadly claws right at the necks of the trembling Nyaban Brothers. He declares, "You're also right, that I'm no longer your captain... I am only the 'client' in this plan!! A client who will kill if the plan fails!!" Sham and Buchi can only shudder, whispering, "So... so fast...!!" Nami watches in disbelief, realizing that the Nyaban Brothers, who easily fought Zoro, are like helpless babies in Kuro's hands. Jango explains to the onlookers that Kuro's "Silent Step" is a soundless movement technique so perfect that he could silently assassinate fifty men, making escape from his plans impossible. Later page summaries: Sham and Buchi lie defeated on the ground. The pirates cry out in disbelief, "With... with only one slash...!! The Nyaban Brothers are..." Zoro stands tall, bleeding from his wounds but completely victorious. He turns a fierce glare toward the remaining pirates, declaring, "Don't worry... Within five minutes, I'll... kill all of you!! With no exceptions!" Kuro watches the scene unfold with a cold, silent gaze. Kuro adjusts his glasses, challenging Zoro: "Let's see you try it." On the ground, a heavily injured Buchi struggles to rise, groaning, "Damn him... I... I will kill him! Cap... Captain!! Captain Jango! Hypnotize me!!" Jango is surprised to see him still moving, muttering, "Hah... Hah... That guy... He's still alive! You were too nice..." Zoro watches Buchi get up, dryly commenting, "Must be because his blubber is too thick..." Jango begins to hypnotize Buchi, who roars as his muscles swell to an immense size: "UWAAA-AH...!!" Zoro watches in concern, realizing that Buchi was already strong enough to crack the ground before, and wonders how powerful he will become under hypnotism. Meanwhile, Nami spots Luffy still sleeping soundly nearby. She realizes this is her chance, thinking, "This is my chance! I have to go and wake him up! Really! How can he still be sleeping when we're in grave danger!!" Jango notices her movement, muttering, "Hmmm?!" Jango spots Nami trying to wake Luffy and throws his razor-sharp chakram at her, shouting, "What do you think you're doing, sly little girl!! Die!!" Nami reaches Luffy and begins hitting him with her staff, yelling, "Everyone is fighting with wounds and this guy just sleeps!! Wake up...!!" but Luffy only continues to snore. The chakram spins rapidly toward her with a loud "GYURURURU!!" sound. Seeing the danger, Zoro screams, "Nami! Look out! Duck!!"