One Piece Chapter 159: Come Up

A wide view of a port town shows a large ship docked at the pier with "MARINE" visible on its hull. Palm trees and buildings line the shore. A speech bubble asks, "JUST WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THEREI" A thought bubble shows only "……". On the ship deck Mr. 11 sits tied to a post. Nearby panels show a man in a top hat saying "Well… Doesn't bother me, heh heh." and "Now's the perfect chance to escape…!" Other voices remark "Did some trouble break out in the cityI" and "All the marines suddenly left their boats…" A woman with long hair reacts with "Mr. 11." and "HmI" while Mr. 11 remains bound.

Two agents confront the bound Mr. 11. One in a wide hat says "We're Billions." The other with a fur collar declares "We're still members of BW, but we ain't Millions." and "Then you must be the Millions, right!I" Mr. 11 replies from his post, "You know my codenameI" The agents continue, "Well don't just stand there! Hurry up and untie these ropes!" and "In other words, we're next-in-line for future numbered agents." Mr. 11 answers, "Mr. 11… A bottom-rank numbered agent like you isn't exactly in a position to order us around." Tension rises as one agent grabs him, shouting "I'D RATHER HAVE YOU LEAVE AN AVAILABLE POSITION FOR A NUMBERED AGENT." Mr. 11 yells "WHAT!I NO, WAIT!" The top-hatted man interjects, "DON'T BE STUPID." and "O-oh, sorry about that, Billions. In any case, would you mind untying these ropes for meI"

Luffy, wearing his straw hat, stands with the crew on the dock. He shouts angrily, "GET BACK ON THE SHIP! ARE WE LEAVING THIS ISLAND!I" while raising a fist. Nami and others react with surprise. A large sound effect "だだだだだ!!" emphasizes the outburst. Luffy continues, "The only reason why we stopped by in Nanohana was to buy some supplies!" Vivi replies, "No, we'll take the ship to travel along the river so we can dock further inland. From there, the desert we need to cross is right ahead!" Usopp and Chopper react nearby. In a following panel Luffy sits on the ship smiling, saying "Never thought I'd meet Ace in a place like this!" and "Wow!" Crew members raise the anchor as someone yells "Hurry up! The marines are coming!" Luffy grins and declares, "I'll stop these guys in the meanwhile." and "Since we can't talk like this just run along ahead. I'll catch up with you later."

High above the city street, a cloaked woman points downward and shouts, "Let's go!" and "NOW GO!" Below, Luffy dashes forward on the pavement as bystanders react in shock. "What!I Who's heI" someone yells. In the next panels, Carue the duck startles with a loud "びしっ! QUACKI" while Vivi turns to him. "There's a task that I can ask only you to do," she says. Carue replies, "Carue, wait!" Luffy calls out, "Oh, right. Luffy! Hurry up and get onboard!" Vivi hands Carue a letter and explains, "That Igaram and I dug up, while we were undercover. Head north to Alubarna and deliver this letter to my father. This has all the information about Baroque Works and Crocodile."

Standing by the shore with the Going Merry in the background, Vivi asks Carue, "...Can you do itI You'll have to cross the desert all alone." Carue quacks, "QUACK!" Vivi continues, "Other than that, I've written down how I'm still alive. And will return soon to Alabasta with reliable friends." Carue lets out a loud "QUAAACK!" Vivi smiles and declares, "That we can still save this country! Then hurry up and send the word to my father!" She adds, "Good, just remember to conserve your water in the desert." Carue gulps water frantically with "GULP GULP GULP!" and dashes off at top speed, kicking up sand with dramatic motion lines and sound effects.

On the deck of the ship, Luffy points toward the distant vessel and asks, "That guy earlier... Is your brotherI" Ace replies, "Yeah, he's my older brother." A sudden impact occurs as Ace strikes a cloaked figure with "ゴズッ!!" and "YOU TOO!" while warning, "Don't waste the water we just bought!" Later, Luffy and Ace sit together. Luffy says, "He's a pirate. He's also searching for One Piece." Ace responds, "I'm not surprised by the fact that you have a brother, but what's he also doing in the Grand LineI" The crew reacts with surprise. "Yeah, that surprised me too, HAHA!" Luffy laughs. "To think that both brothers would end up eating a devil fruit..." Ace notes, "So he left our hometown 3 years earlier than me. Ace is 3 years older."

Luffy grins widely and exclaims, "Ace is really strong! He didn't have a devil fruit ability back when we lived together. But even then, I could never beat him in a fight. Not even once." Ace laughs, "DAHAHAHA! Yeah, I got my ass handed to me!" while others react. "But I could take him on now," Luffy claims. Someone questions, "Do you have any evidence to back up that bluffI" and "Guess the brother of a monster is an even bigger monster. Y-you couldn't beat him even onceI When he was just a normal humanI" In the final panel, a masked figure is struck hard with "ズバァ!" and "AGH!" flying backward as Luffy watches from the railing.

A ship with a striped sail and a figure standing on its deck approaches the snowy shores of Drum Island. A large speech bubble declares "ACE!" while a smaller one says "'Sup." On the dock, Ace sits casually with his hat and backpack, speaking with Luffy who stands facing him. Ace says, "Ah, whatever. It's not too important." Luffy asks, "HmI Did you not get my message at Drum IslandI" Ace replies, "So what're you doing here in this countryI" A hooded figure notes, "Oh, but first- Thanks for taking care of my troublesome little brother. Yes, he really is quite a handful." Ace leans in close, asking Luffy, "Luffy... What d'ya say to joining the Whitebeard Pirates that I'm inI" Luffy answers, "'Course, all your friends are welcome too." Ace continues, "And I thought it'd be nice to see you once before sailing off again. I've been sailing the seas around here for a little business I have to take care of. I'm just glad I met up with you."

Ace grins widely and declares, "Yeah, it's my pride and honour..." Luffy reacts with shock, eyes wide, exclaiming, "Then that mark on your back is the real thingI Whitebeard!I" Ace laughs, "Ahahaha... I knew you'd say that. Just wanted to ask, that's all." Luffy turns away, saying, "I dun' wanna." Ace reassures him, "It's fine. I'll just fight him later then! He's by far and above the best pirate I've ever known. And I want to make him the Pirate King, not you, Luffy!" On the ship, Ace's crew notes, "Yeah, that's because I took care of 'em with my 'Mera Mera' abilities." Ace adds, "Hmm, there aren't any marines chasing us. Nah, it's fine. No need to mind me. If you wanna talk, why don't you come aboardI I'll pour you some tea. I'm not gonna be here for too long, anyways." A note reads "mera mera is the Japanese onomatopoeia for a burning flame."

In a swirling sea scene, a marine reports, "Captain! We just received a report that Mr.11 who we left tied up onboard has been killed!" Another marine asks, "What should we do, captainI" A third states, "We've lost all sight of the Straw Hat pirates thanks to his fires!" Smoker reacts angrily, "DAMN IT! THERE'S A HUGE WALL OF FIRE!" In Alabasta, Smoker sits smoking two cigars and says, "Capt. Smoker! Forgive me for arriving late. What happened to the Straw Hat PiratesI Alabasta's a large country... It's gonna be tough to find them again after letting them get away once. Damn that Portgas..." Tashigi asks, "What do you make of this...I" A subordinate reports, "Well, in the other side of town... Vivi was with them..." Tashigi hisses, "Sssh! Sseargent, please! Just where the hell have you been all this time, Tashigi..."

Smoker stands with Tashigi in the town square. He says, "You know how much I hate the Shichibukai... There's also one other guy in this country... A man I have a very bad feeling about... That's what I'm trying to figure out right now." Tashigi reacts in shock, "You mean Princess Nefertari Vivi...!I What would she be doing with the Straw Hat pirates!I VIVI!I" Smoker continues, "He's always been a cunning one, since his pirate days... He's definitely not the type to quietly follow the Government's orders. But as a Shichibukai, he's technically on the same side of the World Government and us marines." In a close-up, Smoker glares intensely and declares, "A pirate... Will always BE a pirate! Tashigi... Remember this well...!"

Luffy stands on the deck holding out a small object. "I wanted to give you this." Ace, perched on the railing with his back to Luffy, tosses something small with a "ポン" sound and says, "Here." In close-up, Ace grins and warns, "Hang onto that tight, y'hearI" Luffy stares at the item in confusion, murmuring "HmI" Luffy clutches it and blurts, "N-no, I'll keep it!" Ace asks, "Don't want itI" Luffy hesitates, "Uhh..." A large close-up of Ace's face continues, "Yes, and that piece of paper will bring us together in the future." Luffy looks down at the tiny scrap and repeats, "A scrap piece of paperI"

From the deck of the Going Merry, Ace looks back at the crew. "Is stressful to an older brother's heart." He adds, "Having a naive and reckless little brother," while Luffy watches silently from the railing. Ace leaps onto a small boat below. "You're leaving already!I" someone shouts. Ace smiles up at them, "I'm sure the rest of you have your hands full trying to take care of him." Sanji replies, "Yeah." Ace continues, "But I hope you'll continue to take care of him well..."

Ace stands on the shore explaining, "In short, he's my subordinate. But he used to be a member of the Whitebeard Pirates' 2nd division. He's apparently been calling himself 'Blackbeard' these days. I'm currently chasing after somebody... He committed the worst crime you can commit on a ship... Killing a fellow crew member and then running away." The crew listens in shock. Ace continues from the boat, "If it weren't for something as serious as that, I'd never sail all the way back the other way on the Grand Line. As the division commander, it's my responsibility to see that he meets his end." In a large close-up Ace smiles fiercely at Luffy and declares, "The next time we'll meet, Is when you're at the pirates' 'top.'"

The crew reacts in astonishment. "IF WE CAN KILL HIM, THEN OUR PROMOTION TO NUMBERED AGENTS IS ALL BUT GUARANTEED!" someone yells. "I AIN'T KIDDING! I SAW 'FLAME FIST ACE' WITH MY OWN TWO EYES!" "THE 2ND DIVISION COMMANDER OF THE WHITEBEARD PIRATES IS HERE!I" Sanji exclaims, "Well, whaddya know... The world's a strange and mysterious place." Nami adds, "He's... Such a good older brother!" Usopp cries, "Brother-hood's a wonderful thing, isn't it!I" Vivi gasps, "What...!I There's no way such a polite and rational guy, Could actually be Luffy's older brother!" Ace speeds away on his boat with a loud "ブォオオオオ" engine roar. Luffy waves from the railing, "SEE YA, ACE!" Ace looks back one last time with a small "!" and a faint smile.

Baroque Works ships close in on their target across the waves. A commanding voice shouts, "LET'S DO THIS! THERE'S 50 OF US BILLIONS AND 5 SHIPS!" Another agent yells, "TRY TO ESCAPE IF YOU CAN! WE KNOW YOUR WEAKNESS IS THE SEA!" as cannon fire erupts. A lone figure leaps high from the deck. Agents panic, "AGHH! HE JUMPED! SHOOT!" and "IT'LL BE OUR VICTORY IF HE FALLS INTO THE SEA!" Massive impact sounds shake the panels while the ships rock violently from the barrage.

A colossal fiery explosion erupts across the enemy vessel, shattering wood and sending debris flying as the words "FLAME FIST!" blaze across the panel. Crew members scream "AGHH HHH!" amid the destruction. In a close-up, Luffy grins and calls out, "Hurry and come up to the top." The next panel shows him standing atop a cannon on the deck, staring ahead with determination as faint sound effects linger.

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