One Piece Chapter 1, page 3-5: Romance Dawn

The title page for Volume 1, Romance Dawn. A black-and-white illustration shows Monkey D. Luffy standing proudly on a small wooden boat sailing across the sea. A banner above him reads 'ONE PIECE' with a small bird wearing a pirate hat perched on the end of the scroll.

The story begins with the legendary execution of Gold Roger, the King of the Pirates. Standing on the gallows, he smiles defiantly at the massive crowd gathered below. Narration boxes declare: "Gold Roger, the 'King of the Pirates,' had achieved it all. Wealth, fame and power had all been his." Before his execution, Roger shouts to the crowd: "My treasure? Why, it's right where I left it... It's yours if you can find it... but you'll have to search the whole world!" The crowd erupts into a massive roar as the executioners strike. The narrator concludes: "Not surprisingly, the final words he spoke before they lopped off his head inspired adventurers throughout the world to sail the seas. The world......is about to witness a great era of piracy!