One Piece Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Enter Zolo: Pirate Hunter

Chapter 3: Enter Zolo: Pirate Hunter. This chapter has 21 searchable pages. Opening and key page summaries: Luffy and Koby are sailing on their small boat under a clear sky. Koby is telling Luffy about the terrifying reputation of Roronoa Zolo, the "Pirate Hunter," describing him as a bloodthirsty hound and a demon in human form. Koby warns, "Luffy, he's a pirate hunter! Pirate hunters don't mix well with pirates!" Luffy, relaxed and sitting on the edge of the boat, ponders, "I haven't decided whether I'll invite him to join my crew or not. If he's a good guy, then I'll-" Koby frantically interrupts, "He's in prison because he's not a good guy!!" The title page for "CHAPTER 3: ENTER ZOLO: PIRATE HUNTER" features a cheerful illustration of Monkey D. Luffy riding a giant, spotted shark through the ocean waves, holding onto a rope attached to its mouth while smiling broadly. Luffy and Koby arrive at Shells Town, the naval base town. Luffy is extremely excited, raising his fist and shouting, "We're finally here! We made it to the naval base town." He praises Koby, saying, "Koby, you're amazing! You actually got us to our destination!" Koby, blushing but proud, replies, "Of course I did! That's the minimum requirement for people who sail the seas." Koby then advises Luffy, "Luffy, if you keep randomly floating around, you'll never become a pirate. You should find a navigator for your crew." Luffy agrees enthusiastically, "Yeah!! That's what I'll do!! Now, let's eat!!" Luffy and Koby are eating at a local restaurant. Luffy mentions that this is where they will part ways, saying, "Well, Koby, I guess this is where we go our separate ways. I hope you join the Navy and become a great sailor!" Koby tearfully thanks him, "Th-thank you, Luffy! And I hope you become a great pirate!...Even if that means we'll be enemies." However, when Luffy casually mentions, "Hey, I just remembered... That guy is supposed to be imprisoned here-- Roronoa Zolo...", the entire restaurant suddenly panics with a loud "KRASH!!!" Customers crash to the floor and tremble in absolute terror. Koby whispers to Luffy, "Maybe you shouldn't say that name out loud around here..." Koby mentions, "I saw a poster that said that Captain Morgan is at this base," which causes the restaurant patrons to crash and panic once again with a loud "KRATA-KRASH!!!" Now outside, Luffy is laughing, "Ha ha ha ha! What a great restaurant! I want to go back there again!" Koby is deeply unsettled, saying, "Everyone is so jumpy! I'm getting a bad feeling about this!" Koby tries to analyze the situation, "I can understand why they get nervous when they hear Roronoa Zolo's name-- he might escape at any moment! But why did they get nervous hearing the captain's name?" Luffy casually suggests, "Who knows!? Maybe they just got carried away!" Koby sighs, "I'm trying to think seriously here..." Luffy and Koby arrive at the massive Marine Base. Koby is hesitant and nervous about entering, saying, "B-but I haven't mentally prepared myself yet... And those people sure were scared when they heard the captain's name..." Meanwhile, Luffy climbs up the stone wall with a "SHUMP" to peer inside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the "demonic beast" Roronoa Zolo. Koby tells Luffy, "You won't find him just by peeking over the fence. He's probably deep within the bowels of the prison..." but Luffy spots someone tied up in the middle of the courtyard. Koby climbs up to look and is instantly paralyzed with fear. He recognizes the black bandanna and haramaki sash, confirming that the menacing figure tied to the post is indeed the infamous Roronoa Zolo. A dramatic full-page view of Roronoa Zolo tied to a wooden crucifix-like post in the middle of the hot, empty courtyard. Luffy, looking over the wall, casually suggests, "So that's him. Hmm! I could just untie those ropes and set him free..." Later page summaries: Zolo asks Luffy to feed him the dirty, trampled rice ball. Luffy is shocked, pointing out it's mostly dirt, but Zolo fiercely demands to eat every single grain. Zolo chews and swallows the dirty rice ball, coughing violently from the dirt. Despite the pain, Zolo tells Luffy to tell the little girl that he ate it all and that it was delicious. Luffy smiles warmly and laughs. Luffy, Koby, and the little girl are sitting outside. Luffy tells her that Zolo ate all of her rice balls, making her incredibly happy. Koby wonders if Zolo is truly evil, but the girl strongly defends him, explaining that Zolo saved her from Helmeppo's wild, terrifying pet dogs. Zolo was arrested solely because he struck Helmeppo's dog to protect her. Koby realizes that Zolo is actually a good person who only targets criminals with bounties. An adult woman sits with them, explaining that Captain Morgan and Helmeppo are the real villains who execute people for no reason. Suddenly, Helmeppo struts through the town street, demanding that citizens bow lower. He loudly boasts that they will hold a public execution for Zolo in three days to make an example of him. Luffy is shocked, remembering Zolo's belief in the one-month promise. When confronted, Helmeppo laughs and dismisses the promise as a joke, calling Zolo a stupid beast for believing it. Enraged by Helmeppo's cruel deception, Luffy punches Helmeppo squarely in the face, sending him flying. Koby desperately tries to hold Luffy back, warning him that attacking Helmeppo means making an enemy of the Navy. But Luffy, completely determined, declares that he has made his decision: he is going to ask Zolo to join his crew.