One Piece Chapter 303: The Rich Pirates

On the beach of Jaya, a group discusses their search. Speech bubbles state: "So there's no point in looking for it on the ocean floor anymore...", "The city of gold is in the sky,", "It's only natural, rightI", "Call off the search...". A sign reads "Blue seas, Grand Line, Jaya". Two crew members react in shock: one with goggles yells "BOSS!", the other in a helmet says "Boss...". Mont Blanc Cricket stands before his men, gesturing as he says "Well, then... WHAT!I DON'T START ACTING LIKE WE'RE JUST STRANGERS NOW! I'm surprised you managed to stick with my stubborn search for years and years... Thanks for... Everything until now, all of you." His crew reacts with surprise and emotion.

Mont Blanc Cricket, muscular with a topknot and cigarette, grins widely and declares "WHAT KIND OF ROMANCE, SHALL WE CHASE AFTER NEXTI". His crew erupts in cheers, with one member shouting "BOSS!" and others raising fists. In the background, the ruined tower stands as the crew yells "We'll follow you no matter where, boss!" with excited cries of "Ook ook!" and "Woohoo!". Impact lines and motion effects emphasize their enthusiastic response.

Chaos erupts on the western shore of Jaya in Mock Town. A massive fight sends buildings flying with huge sound effects "わああああああああ" and "ああああああん". A long-haired man with sunglasses yells "WHY'RE THOSE TWO GOING AT EACH OTHER IN THE TOWN!I" while a bloodied blond man shouts "RUN OR YOU'LL BE CAUGHT UP IN THEIR FIGHT!". Townspeople flee as debris flies. A cloaked figure warns "GET AWAY FROM THEM!" amid the destruction. A sign notes the location.

In the ruined streets of Mock Town, a frantic crowd pleads amid the wreckage. A long-haired man in a fur coat shouts desperately, "Please stop this!" while others cry out "Sarquiss! Bellamy!" A spiky-haired man with a bandana stares in shock, asking "WHAT'S GOING ON!I" Nearby, a sunglasses-wearing figure with flowing hair screams repeatedly, "PLEASE STOP THIS! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO-" as sweat flies from his face. Sarquiss looks like he's suffering. In the next sequence, a large black-and-white Jolly Roger symbol is touched by a hand as a voice declares, "UPON MY SYMBOL, WHAT OTHER REASON IS THEREI IT'S BECAUSE YOU PAINTED A BLACK STAIN..." Bellamy and Sarquiss exchange tense words: "Why, you askI" "Bellamy..." "Sarquiss..." "WhyI" A laughing voice echoes, "FUFUFU! FUFUFUFU!" as blood drips from a clenched fist.

Bellamy towers in a dramatic full-page spread, arms spread wide with a fierce grin. His thoughts and words fill the air: "Or does not... Whether sky island exists, Whether the city of gold is a mere fantasy, Or not..." He continues, "Differing opinions can always be used... AND TWISTED AROUND! I could care less about such questions. You see, Bellamy..." The imposing figure looms over the town square as his philosophy echoes.

Onlookers react in shock. One asks, "What's a guy like him doing here...I A pirate with a former bounty of over 300 million..." Another recognizes, "AIN'T THAT ONE OF THE SHICHIBUKAI!I Donquixote Doflamingo..." Bellamy glares and retorts, "FOR WEAK UNDERLINGS, YOU LITTLE BRATS...! I have no need..." He launches into a brutal assault, kicking violently as the victim cries, "BELLAMY!" The beaten man screams in agony, "...! DAMN IT! MY BODY... NGHHH! AHHH! PLEASE LET ME STOP! I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS!"

The beaten man begs on his knees in the dirt, "Bellamy! WE'LL FOLLOW YOU NO MATTER WHAT! I... PLEASE... GIVE ME ONE MORE CHANCE...!" A woman shouts, "Bellamy, that's enough!" Bellamy smirks coldly, replying, "........Oohh! Oh, how you make me tear up, my obedient little lackey. I'LL EXTERMINATE EVERY FUSHOWER AS NEEDED, BUT I NEVER INTENDED TO GO AGAINST YOUR WISHES! I SWEAR UPON YOUR SYMBOL TO REACH WHERE YOU ARE SOME DAY! THIS IS... JUST MY OWN WAY OF HANDLING THINGS! I MAY HAVE LOST..." In the background of Mock Town, he laughs, "Fufufufufu! The 'New Age' is already right before us! Do as you wish. However, Bellamy, I really do like that part about you!"

Blackbeard looms in close-up, face twisted in rage as he points forward and rejects the offer outright: "I don't need you as one of my men." The rejected man with sunglasses recoils in pain, blood spraying as he cries "AGHHH!" Below, a flashback panel shows a battered Bellamy with the caption noting his 55 million bounty as a hotshot rookie. Blackbeard laughs "Mnn... Fufufufu!" while the defeated figure is hurled aside amid impact lines and "KYAAA!" screams. The scene shifts to a massive close-up of Blackbeard in full pirate regalia, arms spread wide beneath his grinning skull jolly roger. He declares triumphantly, "FUFUFUFU! IT'S HERE AT LAST! QUICK, QUICK! PREPARE YOURSELVES! THOSE WITHOUT STRENGTH ARE BETTER OFF FLEEING! ALL WILL BE SWEPT AWAY BEFORE THE POWERFUL, AND THE NEW AGE THEY HERALD! FUFUFUFUFU! A WORLD IN WHICH ONLY TRUE PIRATES WILL BE ABLE TO SURVIVE DAWNS BEFORE US!"

The page opens on empty sky panels filled with drifting clouds and faint, echoing cries of "あぁぁ..." A small round object tumbles through the air amid the repeated wails "あぁぁぁぁぁ". The view widens to show a massive streaking descent with heavy motion lines and metallic debris. Enormous stylized sound effects explode across the bottom panels: "ドゴォォォン...!!!" accompanied by impact bursts, smoke, and scattering fragments as something crashes violently into the sea below.

The Going Merry plunges through churning water as the crew struggles aboard. Luffy yells "WHOAAAA! IT'S COLD!" while gripping the rail. Nearby crew members cry out "GAHH!" and "OWWW!" as icy waves crash over them. An octopus clings to the ship; Luffy grabs it with a grateful "Thanks, little guy!" while the creature splashes and shrinks. The crew catches their breath on deck. Luffy sits up panting, "We managed to get down alive..." as Nami and Robin recover nearby. Someone wonders aloud, "That was a shock! Who knew that octopus would shrink so suddenly...I Perhaps it ran out of air..."

The battered Going Merry floats on the open blue sea under scattered clouds. Speech bubbles drift across the waves: "The sea... Is blue... Is everyone fineI" The crew stands on deck reflecting on their descent. Nami notes, "It truly was a distant place... From one hell of a place." Zoro mutters, "I gotta say... We came back." Luffy grins widely and declares, "Alright then..." while the others react: Usopp wonders if dying would send them to heaven or close to it, Chopper calls it "A real dreamland... I wonder if we'll ever be able to go there again..." and Robin observes, "It's almost as if it were all a dream..."

The Going Merry sails across the open sea under a bright sky. Luffy stands at the bow and shouts, "IT'S TIME TO SET SAIL FOR THE NEXT ISLAND!" Someone calls out, "Hang on, Luffy! give us a little time to rest at least!" Luffy then yells, "RAISE THE SAIL, CREW!" Nami, at the helm, orders, "TURN AT FULL SPEED!" The crew reacts with surprise as the ship surges forward. "AGHHHH!" cries one. "See, it's here!" says another. Crew members discuss the strange waves: "No one would have difficulty sailing it! The waves are acting a little odd." "Yeah, I know but-" "If you could simply rest whenever you wanted in the Grand Line." "Don't be naïve!" Nami commands, "Everyone on your feet! Take the helm!" The ship suddenly encounters a massive whirlpool. "IT'S A HUGE WAVE!" someone shouts as the vessel is pulled into the swirling vortex. "Sea monkeys! And there's something inside the waves too!" the crew yells amid the chaos.

Seagulls fly over the now-calm ocean as the Going Merry drifts peacefully. "The seas calmed down," notes a crew member. "But we can't let our guard down..." replies another. The ship rocks gently. Below deck, Usopp bursts in dramatically, coughing and covered in water: "POCTOOORR! I THOUGHT I MIGHT AT LEAST BE ABLE TO RIDE IT HERE... EVEN IF I COULDN'T DO IT ON THE WHITE SEAS..." Luffy, also drenched, laughs weakly, "See, I told you it was impossible. Haha." Usopp slumps against the wall with a "SLUMP" as water drips everywhere. Chopper stands nearby looking concerned.

Nami stands on deck aiming a large blue-dial device, declaring, "I can use this even on the blue seas!" The crew cheers, "Thank goodness!" and "Naaammm!!! Be careful!" Usopp adds, "Looks like Nami's the only one who can ride it even down here." Chopper exclaims, "THAT'S ME!" Inside the ship, the crew gathers around a table piled with food and treasure. Sanji complains, "AHH! BREAD-STICKS!I HEY SANJI! I WANT SOME TOO!" Usopp notes, "You still got plenty of other strange and rare dials, so it's still good..." Nami remarks on the sky island atmosphere while Chopper is told, "Chopper, raise the waver up." In the treasure room, Nami stands triumphantly amid mountains of gold, shouting, "Obviously, pirates should split their loot equally! Look at all this gold! We're rich! It's time for the long awaited division of spoils!" She adds, "Now then."

The crew erupts in excitement over their newfound wealth. Luffy yells, "WOOHOO! I'M GONNA BUY A HUGE STATUE!" Usopp shouts, "CAN I BUY BOOKS!I" Sanji dreams, "Let's see... A new pot, frying pat, and... a giant rat trap." Zoro wants "Unlimited booze!" and Robin simply says, "FINALLY!" Nami interrupts firmly, "WAI-WAI-WAIT A SEC... But first, 80% will go to my savings." The crew reacts with shock and sweat drops. Luffy stares in horror, exclaiming, "IT BETTER BE! You mean the Going MerryI The shipI AS IF YOU COULD JUST TAKE ALL THAT FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAVINGS! It's already in a cracked and creaking mess. That sounds good!" Nami stands with hands on hips, unmoved, as the others protest.

The Straw Hats stand on a grassy shore gazing up at the battered Going Merry as Luffy declares, "LET'S REPAIR THE GOING MERRY!" Everyone shouts "100% AGREED!" with the ship shown in a wide shot. A speech bubble notes, "So... since we don't know how much the repairs will cost yet, let's put off dividing the treasure for now." Inside a tavern the crew sits around a table. Nami asks, "Ohhh! So there are people better than Usopp at fixing thingsI" Sanji adds, "And get it repaired by a professional shipwright." Usopp protests, "Yeah... We ought to go to a legitimate dockyard. Must I remind you that I am a 'SNIPERI'" while someone mutters about his shoddy repairs. Usopp leans forward with a serious expression, saying, "Then how about... If we don't give it our support in return every now and then, we'll run into some major trouble for sure. Now that I think about it, this ship's been supporting us ever since our hometown in East Blue."

Luffy's face fills the panel with a huge grin as he yells, "FOR OUR NEXT CREW-MEMBERI WE GET A SHIPWRIGHT," with dramatic impact lines. The crew reacts with excitement. Chopper and Usopp cheer, "So let's look for a shipwright who can take care of Merry! As well as our life! Merry's our home." Nami smiles and says, "And it's a skill we do eventually need. Our journey still has a long way to go." Luffy pumps his fist, "I HOPE WE CAN FIND A GOOD GUY! Then it's settled! That sounds great! Let's do it! AND WE NEED A MUSICIAN!" Usopp panics, "Uhh, no, leave that one out. WHA!I" In the background the Going Merry sails away with a small explosion effect. The scene shifts to a tavern where Sanji stands and remarks, "Sure does know how to hit the mark right on the money at times... He..."

At Marine Headquarters a marine reports, "Vice admiral! He's not here!" Another shouts, "Well, sir, his bicycle isn't here so I'm guessing... He left for the seasI Contact the Gorousei at once! AT LEAST FIND OUT WHERE HE'S GONE THEN! DON'T JUST TELL ME HE'S NOT HERE!" Inside an ornate office Sengoku sits with crossed arms while a tall figure in a dark coat stands nearby. Sengoku mutters, "Hmph... Just how lightly does he take his position!I We can't just have him wandering off as he pleases....That man againI He's probably gone off sightseeing again." A hand clicks a Den Den Mushi. The scene cuts to open sea where Admiral Aokiji pedals a bicycle across the water, a seagull flying beside him. A large WANTED poster of Monkey D. Luffy flutters with the caption "ADMIRAL AOKIJI... MARINE HQ'S STRONGEST POWER." A voice sighs, "Not a single decent person in this family..."

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