One Piece Chapter 446: Doctor Hogback

The crew arrives at a massive, ominous mansion with a tall central tower. A large speech bubble reads "HELLOI ANYONE HOMEI" Nami notes, "IT SEEMS LIKE THIS MANSION HAS A TUNNEL RUNNING THROUGH THE MIDDLE. I CAN SEE A COURTYARD BEYOND THAT." They discover an old well and a spotlight-like light at the end of a corridor. Usopp, Nami, and Chopper react with alarm: "IT'S AN OLD WELL...", "IT LOOKS MORE LIKE A SPOTLIGHT, THOUGH.", "LOOK! THERE'S A LIGHT AT THE END!", "IT'D BE A BIG PROBLEM IF WE HAD TO TURN BACK AND FACE THE ZOMBIES!!", and "ISN'T ANYBODY HERE...I"

A stitched woman with short bobbed hair and a frilly dress appears and calmly says "Welcome." Usopp and the others scream in terror as she hurls plates and dishes at them, with large sound effects "GYAA AAAAA AAA!!" and "KACHIN...". The woman counts aloud while throwing: "Five dishes, Six dishes, Seven... One dish, Two dishes, Three dishes, Four dishes," as the crew ducks and panics. Usopp yells, "EEH—II WHY IS THAT WOMAN THROWING DISHESII"

The woman continues throwing dishes while shouting "You, go away!! Eight dishes!! Nine dishes!!" Usopp screams "GUWA--!!" She tells Nami and Chopper, "You two can come in." Nami asks "EHI WHYI" while Usopp protests "OUCH!! WHY ARE YOU ONLY THROWING DISHES AT MEII You weren't invited into the mansion!" The woman explains in narration-style bubbles that she broke ten dishes long ago to test a man's love, leading to her tragic past, and adds "AS AN EXCEPTION, I WON'T MIND IF IT'S JUST ONE PERSON, CINDRY-CHAN!!" Usopp replies nervously, "YEAH... THAT'S FINE..." Someone shouts "THAT'S ENOUGH!! WAIT!!" and "SOME-BODY'S COMING."

A towering masked figure in fishnet and leather strikes a dramatic pose as spotlights flare. "THE WORLD FAMOUS DOCTOR HOGBACK!!" the narration declares. The figure laughs, "WELL THEN, MY LONG AWAITED INTRODUCTION...!! ALSO KNOWN AS A GENIUS!! FOS, FOS, FOS!!" A sign beside him reads "Master of the mansion (Genius Surgeon) DOCTOR HOGBACK." In a side panel Usopp is struck and sent flying, crying "GYAA!!" "USOPP~~~!!" while a voice yells "Ten dishes!!" amid impact sounds "DOPOING BUU!! ZUN." Cindry stands nearby as Doctor Hogback continues, "IT DOESN'T REFLECT WELL ON ME IF YOU DON'T EVEN LISTEN TO ME!!" Usopp pleads, "WA-WA-WAIT, CINDY-CHAN!!"

Inside the stone corridor the Straw Hats stare in shock. Nami blurts, "THE... REAL DOCTOR HOGBACK!I" Chopper asks, "CHOPPER, IS HE THE ONE YOU MENTIONED...I" Usopp adds, "I KNOW! I REALLY KNOW!! HAVEN'T WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THISII" Someone mutters, "It would be nice if there weren't dishes in this world..." and "HE LOOKS LIKE AN IDIOT." Nami yelps, "ACK!! NAMI!!" The group debates entering. Usopp says, "WELL, IT LOOKS BETTER THAN ZOMBIES OUTSIDE." Chopper wonders, "ANYWAY, SHOULD WE ENTER...I" Sanji questions, "I DON'T GET IT. WHY WAS I NO GOODI" Doctor Hogback gestures grandly, "COME INTO MY MANSION, QUICKLY!! LET'S CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION INSIDE... AS AN EXCEPTION, THREE PEOPLE CAN COME IN TODAY. WELCOME." Cindry lingers by the door as the others hesitate.

In the grand candlelit hall Doctor Hogback spreads his arms. "WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT... FIRSTLY..." he begins. The crew reacts with disgust and suspicion. Nami snaps, "REALLY, YOU PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY FILTHY! WHAT HAS CAUSED YOU TO COME HERE!I" Usopp demands, "WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING ON THIS ISLAND!I YOU SHOULD ANSWER A LITTLE, SINCE YOU LIVE HERE, RIGHT!I" Chopper points out, "FURTHERMORE, WE SAW THINGS THAT MADE ME DISTRUST MY EYES. ZOMBIES...I" Nami explains, "WE CAME HERE WHILE RUNNING AWAY FROM THE ZOMBIES THAT ATTACKED US IN THE GRAVEYARD!!" Doctor Hogback replies calmly, "IT'S A GOOD THING YOU CAME TO MY MANSION!! FOS FOS FOS FOS!!" The man in the cap growls, "THAT I LIVE HERE!!" while Hogback continues, "AND ABOUT THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, IT IS PRECISELY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT... INDEED!"

Doctor Hogback explains, "HOWEVER, THEY WON'T SUBSTITUTE IT FOR 'RESURRECTION OF THE DECEASED'!! IF PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD 'ZOMBIE,' THEY'LL GET FRIGHTENED. INDEED!!" Chopper gasps in realization. Hogback continues, "HOWEVER, MEDICAL SCIENCE MANIPULATING LIFE AND DEATH IS CONSIDERED AN OFFENSE TO GOD...!! THAT'S THE REASON WHY I VANISHED SECRETLY FROM SOCIETY AND CONTINUED MY RESEARCH ON THIS MARVELOUS ISLAND. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT THEIR RELATIVES TO BE BROUGHT BACK FROM DEATH AND STAY WITH THEM..." Chopper beams, "E—H!I I—I'M NOT GLAD AT ALL BECAUSE YOU SAID THAT, DOCTOR. THANKS FOR BEING SO FLEXIBLE, DOCTOR CHOPPER. DAMN YOU." Hogback answers, "THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THAT WILL BE GRATEFUL!!" Chopper replies eagerly, "I'D LIKE TO HELP, DOCTOR HOGBACK." Nami and Usopp watch warily from the side.

Chopper stares up eagerly and asks, "SHOW ME YOUR LAB!I" Hogback replies, "YES, OF COURSE!!! AND THEN COULD YOU... CAN YOU GIVE ME YOUR AUTOGRAPHI" Hogback suddenly looms forward with a fierce glare, shouting "PEEK INTO MY LAB... NEVER" as sweat drips and Chopper reacts with shock. On the lower level, Hogback sprawls on the floor yelling "NO NEED TO BE WORRIED WHATSOEVER, SINCE THIS TABLE CLOTH WAS CLEANED TO DEATH FOR AN OCCASION LIKE THIS!" while Cindry remarks, "It would be nice if there weren't dishes in this world..." Hogback pleads, "HEY, CINDY-CHAN, YOU COULD AT LEAST SERVE THE PUDDING ON A DISH!! CAN YOU GRANT ME THAT ONE WISH!I" as Cindry calmly answers, "Here is the pudding."

Perona stands by an ornate bath and tells the group, "YOU SHOULD ENTER SINCE YOU'RE DIRTY. THE BATH IS READY." Inside, Luffy and others devour food as someone exclaims, "OH! IT'S SWEET AND DELICIOUS!!" and another asks, "CAN'T YOU USE A SPOON!I" with the reply "WELL, ITADAKIMASU!" Franky sweats and wonders aloud, "YES... A SKINNY ONE... WITH AN AFRO... AND STRANGELY CHEERFUL... SKELETONI" while noting, "DIDN'T A WEIRD SKELETON COME IN JUST BEFORE USI BY THE WAY, OLD MAN... THAT'S ALL RIGHT, BUT..." Hogback stares at a portrait and mutters, "COULD IT BE...I NO... IT'S NOT POSSIBLE...!!! N... NO, NOTHING AT ALL. DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING...I" as a voice answers, "WELL, IT'S STRANGE ENOUGH THAT A SKELETON CAN TALK AND WALK, BUT..."

Rain pours outside the mansion as a sign reads "Mansion's Bath." Inside, Usopp sits bound and declares, "YOU'RE JUST LIKE A KID THAT'S AFRAID OF GOING TO THE BATHROOM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. WE DO HAVE TO STAND WATCH FOR YOUI" while Nami stands nearby. Usopp continues, "BY THE WAY, NAMI... I DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN A HUMAN WOMAN'S NAKED BODY... HOWEVER, I'D SURE LIKE TO PEEK INTO DOCTOR HOGBACK'S LAB..." Nami, covered in suds, reacts with surprise as Usopp adds, "WE'LL LEAVE HERE. WHEN NIGHT COMES, YEAH... BUT WE'LL GET DIRTY AGAIN, ANYWAY." Nami snaps, "YOU SEEM VERY CALM AFTER BEING TOUCHED BY ZOMBIES, YOU KNOWI THAT'S FILTHY. IF YOU'RE AFRAID, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ENTERED." Usopp panics, "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, IDIOT!I"

In the dark mansion hallway, Nami insists, "IT'S FINE! LUFFY WILL COME TO SAVE US, FOR SURE!! WE WON'T MOVE AN INCH FROM HERE!" Usopp worries, "AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'LL BE LIKE IF WE GO OUTSIDE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!I BUT WE HAD SO MUCH TROUBLE GETTING HIM TO LET US STAY HERE." A cat-like creature named "NUA" taps along the floor. Usopp's sixth sense activates as he scans corridors, stating, "CORRIDORS AND ROOMS... IF MY SIXTH SENSE IS RIGHT... HAVEN'T YOU WANDERED AROUND INSIDE THIS MANSIONI OUTSIDE OR INSIDE; THEY'RE THE SAME. SAME FOR ME! I DON'T WANT TO GO OUTSIDE AGAIN!! I DON'T LIKE THE FOREST OR THE GRAVES!!" He concludes, "IF I'M RIGHT, THE MOST SUSPICIOUS PERSON WOULD BE HOGBACK HIMSELF!! HE'S LYING. THERE'S NO WAY HE COULD LIVE IN THIS MANSION OR ON THIS ISLAND WITHOUT HAVING SOME KIND OF RELATION WITH THE ZOMBIES!!" as zombies burst from a door, prompting Usopp to scream, "W—WHERE ARE THEY!!!I THEY'RE ALREADY FILLED WITH ZOMBIES!!"

Nami stares ahead with wide eyes and a bead of sweat, reacting to strange gurgling sounds. GURU-RURU... NUNU...!!! DODO... Someone whispers, "Anyway, we'll act as if we're not aware of it. When night comes, we'll run away." A figure on a small boat moves through thick smoke inside a brick-walled room as a voice notes, "Fairly clever..." Nami and the others react with shock. "!!!" In the lower panels, Usopp thrashes in a tub yelling "EH!I WHAT'S THISI MY HANDS...!" while Chopper covers his nose. "THAT STINKS, USOPP!!" "THAT WAS A FART!!" Nami sweats heavily and asks, "USOPP, CHOPPER, DID YOU SAY SOMETHING!I" Usopp replies, "...NOTHING AT ALL." Nami gasps, "WHAT...!I"

Nami suddenly reacts in panic, hands raised, shouting "!!!I" as impact sounds erupt: EN, PA...!!!, GWUKU. A close-up shows her alarmed face with "A VOICE... IS SOMEBODY HERE!I" and "...!!!I" She sits in the tub and hears, "COMPARED TO THE WOMAN ON THE BOAT... GARURU... YOU'RE WEAK, AND I LIKE IT..." Usopp and Chopper stand in the smoky room looking around. "I CAN'T SEE ANYBODY...!!!" "WHAT'S GOING ON!I" Nami stands up in alarm, declaring "MY BRIDE!!!" while an unseen voice says "BECOME..." Usopp and Chopper react in shock as Nami yells, "!I UGH USOPP!!! CHO..."

A massive impact shakes the room as Nami is sent flying backward. "UWOOOH!!!" Usopp and Chopper panic, "DID THE SMELL OF USOPP'S FART REACH OVER THERE!I" "SOMETHING WRONG, NAMI!I" Nami shouts desperately, "STUPID!! HELP ME!!!" while Usopp questions, "...NUISANCE... WHAT ARE YOU THANKING FORI" A shadowy figure in a top hat appears and says, "THANK YOU VERY MUCH." Nami cries out, "HELP ME, USOPP, CHOPPER!!!" as the figure attacks with rapid strikes. "THIS...!!!" Usopp and Chopper burst through a door. "THERE'S SOMEBODY IN HERE!!" Nami is struck again. "AUGH!!!"

Usopp operates a crossbow-like device at the window. "GACHA!!" He yells, "IT'S RUNNING THROUGH THE WINDOW!!" while the others react: "I CAN SMELL A PERSON!!!" "NOT YOUR FART!!" "STILL!I I'M SORRY!!" "IT'S TRUE! I CAN SMELL IT!!" Usopp fires his attack. "KAYAKU-BOSHI" and "HISSA-TSU" explode outward with the note "CERTAIN DEATH GUNPOWDER STAR." The shadowy figure is hit amid the blast. Nami stands watching and concludes, "CERTAINLY, THERE WAS... AN INVISIBLE PERSON." Usopp and Chopper confront the smoke-filled area as Nami remarks, "HEY, NAMI, THIS... WHAT'S THE MEANING OF IT!I" "BUT IT HEARD ALL OF OUR CONVERSATION!!" "SEEMS LIKE IT GOT AWAY..."

The Thousand Sunny remains trapped in a massive spider web stretching across the waters near a towering stone castle. A narration box reads, "Meanwhile, in the thousand sunny, Luffy and the others..." Usopp's voice declares, "WE'VE BEEN PATIENT, BUT THERE'S NO CHOICE." Nami adds, "THERE'S NO WAY THIS SHIP CAN GET AWAY FROM THIS GIANT SPIDER WEB." Inside the ship, the crew notes, "WHERE USOPP, NAMI, AND CHOPPER SHOULD HAVE COME BACK... EVERYTHING IS IN THE SPIDER WEB... EVEN THE MINI MERRY... EVEN THE SKELETON GUY'S GHOST SHIP..." At the island entrance marked "THRILLER BARK," Luffy grins widely and shouts, "WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO LOSE HERE! C'MON!! THE BENTO IS DIVIDED ALREADY!!" Zoro stands with arms crossed, asking, "WHAT ARE YOU JABBERING ABOUT, ZORO!I" Luffy retorts, "YOU'RE COMING TOO!!" A voice continues, "CONVENIENTLY, THE ENTRANCE TO THE ISLAND IS INVITING US. RIGHT AT OUR FRONT... I CAN ALMOST SEE GHOSTS BECKONING TO ME." Large SFX "ドーン!" punctuates the scene.

Luffy charges ahead into a dark stone corridor as a three-headed wolf creature (Cerberus) lunges from the shadows. "WAN!!! WAN!!! GO—NII!" the beast roars while Luffy yells, "THERE'S SOMETHING AT THE END!" and "WAHU" as he reacts in surprise. He questions, "WHY IS THERE SUDDENLY A STAIRCASE GOING DOWNI NO MATTER HOW YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ENTRANCE, THERE'S NO OTHER OPTION." The group confronts the monster: Zoro asks, "HOW IMPERTINENT... IS IT TRYING TO PICK A FIGHTI" while Luffy stares with tongue out, exclaiming, "OH, IT'S CUTE." Nami remarks, "EH... CERBERUSI THAT'S SUPPOSED TO MAKE HELL SAFERI" Sanji wonders, "IS IT TASTYI" A massive impact SFX "ズゴゴゴゴ~ッ!!" erupts as the creature attacks, prompting shocked reactions of "EH /!!I" and "!!I" from the crew.

A mostly blank page features a small framed chibi-style drawing of Luffy in the lower right, his mouth stretched extremely wide with sweat drops and motion lines. Japanese text "にょーーん" appears above the panel, accompanied by a large SFX effect suggesting a comical stretching or silly sound.

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