One Piece Chapter 664: Master Caesar Clown

Smoker stands with a serious expression, smoke curling from his cigars. "...There have been a number of child kidnapping incidents on the islands around this area," he states. A nearby marine reacts in shock: "KIDNAPPINGSI!" Another panel shows Smoker continuing, "If I recall correctly, over the past few years..." The G-5 marines erupt in panic, one yelling "I can't help it, can II! Just bear with it for the moment!!" while others shout "More importantly, we can't get used to you like this, Captain-chan!!" Tashigi sits with her arms crossed, smoke rising, addressing the group: "Oi, Tashigi. What's this about kidnappingsI I never heard about any kids getting abducted." A marine snaps back, "Can you please fasten up that shirt, Smoker-sanI!" Tashigi replies, "And this very 'open' Captain-chan has all the looks......But what's inside is too scary!!!"

In a snowy cavern filled with shipwrecks and distant figures, a voice notes, "Now you mention it, I've noticed that too!" Another adds, "The only incidents I remember cropping up a lot in these parts are shipwrecks. Though come to think of it, I do remember thinking that kids seem to die a lot around here." Smoker adjusts his sunglasses with a "squeak" sound effect, saying "But by the time these incidents make it into the newspapers......They are always reported as accidents at sea, or pirate raids, or simple disappearances... Ah... I don't have any glasses..." He continues, "The thing is, I've been spending a fair amount of time in the communications department......And I can tell you for a fact that G-5 receives a lot of reports of child kidnappings." In the cavern below, Tashigi stands with her back turned as a marine in a hat declares, "Enough stumbling over your words, Tashigi!" while another figure with a Japanese character on his back gestures amid the group.

Tashigi sits with arms crossed, smoke around her, stating firmly, "I presume you're trying to say that after the crowd of children we just witnessed......You suspect that the kidnapping reports may have been right on the mark after all." She demands, "If you have a theory to voice, then tell it to me loud and clear!!!" Close-ups show intense expressions as the discussion continues: "It implies the information that got out to the public was faked. In other words... Someone inside G-5 has been covering up all these kidnappings...!!!" "But if that turns out to be true...!!!" "And the kidnapper responsible may be true on this island." The G-5 marines explode in outrage, one shouting "Now hold on there, Smoke-san!! We can't have you looking down on us like that! Sure, we may be a bunch of misfits... But we still have some pride in our station as marines!!" Another yells "You mean... Someone inside G-5 is working for the kidnapperI!" as the group reacts with shock and anger.

In a chaotic swirl of smoke and motion, a group of G-5 Marines panics as an unseen speaker roars, "YOU REALLY THINK I CAN BE BOTHERED WITH SUSPECTING A BUNCH OF IDIOTS LIKE YOUI!!" Another voice bellows "SHUT UP!!!" while a terrified Marine cries "AGHH HHHHH HH!!!!" and "TOO SCARY!!" A calm voice interjects, "THAT SAID, I WOULDN'T ADVISE YOU TO PLACE TOO MUCH FAITH IN THE MARINES EITHER!!" The Marines scream "EHHH HHHHH HHI!" and "WHAAAA!!" In the next panel Tashigi glares forward, cigar in mouth, declaring "MAKE ASSUMPTIONS, AND THE ENEMY WILL SLIP THROUGH YOUR GRASP!! DON'T BE TAKEN IN BY APPEARANCES!!" She continues, "AS LONG AS HUMANITY DIVIDES ITSELF INTO FACTIONS, NO ORGANISATION IN THIS WORLD CAN BE PERFECT...!!" Below, the Marines slump in defeat. One mutters "...OH, FORGET IT." Another insists "I'M THE CAPTAIN!" while the rest chorus "YES SIR, CAPTAIN-CHAN!!" and "OH, YEAH!! WE WERE TAKEN IN BY APPEARANCES...!!!" as one Marine clutches his head in shock, "AHH HHHH...!!"

Tashigi stands before Smoker, smoke curling from her cigar. She states firmly, "I CAN'T LEAVE THIS ISLAND JUST YET." She adds, "AT ANY RATE, LAW HAS TAKEN MY HEART AND MY BODY FROM ME." Turning slightly she continues, "DON'T FRET YOURSELF. IT'S A THEORY WORTH KEEPING IN MIND, THAT'S ALL." Smoker remains silent as she admits, "BUT, SMOKER-SAN, I... I REALLY CAN'T SAY WITH ANY CONFIDENCE..." A Marine in the background shouts, "I TOLD YOU THE ENEMY HAS A SHIP, DIDN'T II SO STEAL IT." Another Marine retorts, "OF COURSE!! WHY DIDN'T WE THINK OF THATI! YOU'RE A VILLAIN THROUGH AND THROUGH!!!" while a third complains, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, VICE-ADMIRALI! OUR SHIP HAS BEEN SLICED TO PIECES..." Tashigi finishes with resolve, "...AND EXPOSE THE TRUE MASTERMIND BEHIND ALL THIS!!!" She warns, "BUT TAKE IT SLOW AND CAREFUL, BEFORE THIS GETS OUT AND BECOMES A MAJOR INCIDENT, I INTEND TO TAKE BACK MY HEART AND BODY..."

At the former Vegapunk research facility on Punk Hazard, a small Den Den Mushi labeled CC reports, "FINALLY, WE'VE RECEIVED WORD." The snail continues, "...JOKER WILL MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A MERE ACCIDENT AT SEA. THAT'S JUST WHAT I WAS HOPING TO HEAR...!!" Nearby figures react as one states, "NO MATTER WHO DIES ON THIS ISLAND..." Another adds, "THE STRAW HAT CREW... THE MARINES OF G-5... AND KITSUNE BI NO KIN'EMON. WE HAVE PERMISSION TO TAKE THEIR LIVES." In the lower level, subordinates discuss their captive. One asks, "WHERE IS LAWI" A reply comes, "HE LEFT THE ROOM JUST NOW AND..." Another warns, "HOWEVER, IF SOME PROVE TOO DIFFICULT TO CAPTURE ALIVE, FEEL FREE TO POISON THEM TO DEATH." The leader answers, "YES, MASTER!!" and orders, "WE CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY SUBJECTS FOR OUR EXPERIMENTS...!!" while another adds, "CAPTURE AS MANY OF THEM AS POSSIBLE..." A subordinate notes, "NO MATTER. IT SEEMS WE'RE UP AGAINST AN ENEMY WITH A 400 MILLION BOUNTY. DON'T PUSH YOURSELVES TOO HARD."

Monet lounges in the facility, wings folded, reporting to Caesar, "THOROUGH AS ALWAYS, I SEE, MONE." She continues, "HOWEVER, FOR A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS......IT SEEMS THE CREW HAS BEEN ENTIRELY INACTIVE. THEIR BOUNTIES HAVE NOT BEEN RAISED DURING THIS PERIOD, SO THEIR ACTUAL STRENGTH MAY EXCEED WHAT THE NUMBERS SUGGEST." She adds, "THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CREW ARE ALSO ALL BOUNTY HEADS......WITH BOUNTY VALUES RANGING FROM 120 MILLION TO 50 BELL. THE TOTAL BOUNTY OF THE CREW AMOUNTS TO 800 MILLION AND 50 BELL." Brownbeard, bandaged and furious, pleads, "THEY WENT AND KIDNAPPED OUR BOSS, BROWNBEARD...!!" and "OUR CLOTHES WERE STOLEN BY THE PIRATES...!! BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY... PLEASE... YOU HAVE TO HELP HIM...!!" Monet replies coolly, "OH...I WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUI DID YOU JUST COME IN FROM THE FREEZING COLD WITHOUT EVEN A COAT FOR PROTECTIONI!" Brownbeard's men cry "MASTER!!" and "HAA HAA" as Monet offers, "REALLYI! THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL... PLEASE, HELP THE OTHERS TOO..." She produces a vial, "YOU ARE VERY LUCKY; AS IT HAPPENS, I HAVE JUST PERFECTED A NEW MEDICINE. IT WILL WARM YOUR BODY AND SOOTH YOUR WOUNDS...!!" Brownbeard gasps, "OF COURSE I WILL, BUT FIRST, HEAL YOURSELF." Monet smiles, "DEAR ME, HOW TERRIBLE THAT MUST HAVE BEEN...!! BUT NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT BROWNBEARD. I WILL TAKE HIM BACK, MARK MY WORDS...!! FOR NOW, HEAD INTO THE INNER CHAMBER."

The Straw Hats stand amid the snowy ruins as someone shouts, "AND WHAT THE HELL DO YOU CALL THIS, USOPPI!!" In the next panel the crew erupts in confusion. Nami cries, "SORRY, BUT THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP US ALL GETTING TOTALLY CONFUSED!!" Usopp answers, "THANKS FOR THIS, USOPP!!" while another voice adds, "I DON'T EVEN CARE ANY MORE..." Nami beams, "I FEEL QUITE SUPER!!" and someone else yells, "YOU'RE SPOILING NAMI-SAN'S BEAUTIFUL LOOKS!!" A massive impact SFX "ドドーン!!" shakes the frame. Below, the chained man with the enormous beard reacts in shock as a small voice asks, "BROWN BEARD"I He roars, "THAT'S RIGHT! I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD IT BEFORE THAT'S THE NAME I USED TO GO BY!!!" Chopper snaps, "THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY P!!" and the man replies, "NOPE, NEVER HEARD OF IT."

Brownbeard, still bound in chains, glares and declares, "I CAN'T STAND MOST PIRATES OF YOUR GENERATION, BUT LAW IS AN EXCEPTION! YOU PEOPLE ARE ALL GOING TO BE KILLED SOON ENOUGH. LAW IS GOING TO COME AND SAVE ME, YOU WAIT AND SEE!! WOOHOOHO!!" Zoro eyes him coolly while a voice wonders, "WHAT'S MADE YOU SO TALKATIVE ALL OF A SUDDEN...I" Brownbeard continues, "...ALL ELEVEN OF YOU WITH BOUNTIES ABOVE 100 MILLION, THAT IS, PLUS BLACKBEARD... THOSE CRAZY ROOKIES WHO GATHERED ON SHABONDY ISLAND TWO YEARS AGO... YOU DON'T EVEN KNOWI! IGNORANT FOOL! WHAT D'YOU MEAN, 'OUR GENERATION'I" A caption explains, "A GENERATION OF OUTRAGEOUS PROBLEM CHILDREN, BORN IN THE VOID BETWEEN THE END OF ONE AGE AND THE START OF ANOTHER, BEARING A FATE OF CONFLICT AND STRIFE!!!" The crew listens as Brownbeard names the "Terrible Generation": "BLACKBEARD!! KIDD!! LAW!! DRAKE!! HAWKINS!! THAT ACCURSED BASIL HAWKINS WAS THE MAN WHO ANNIHILATED MY CREW, THE BROWNBEARD PIRATES!!" He adds, "AFTER THE FALL OF WHITEBEARD, THEY STORMED INTO THE NEW WORLD AND LEFT CHAOS AND TURMOIL IN THEIR WAKE...! WHENEVER A MAJOR INCIDENT OCCURRED, YOU COULD BE SURE THAT A PIRATE FROM THE TERRIBLE GENERATION WOULD BE RIGHT AT THE CENTRE!!!"

Brownbeard points at the shattered landscape and shouts, "AND THIS PLACE, PUNK HAZARD, IS WHERE I WOUND UP!! THANKS TO HIM, I LOST MY LEGS AND WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO CONTINUE MY LIFE OF PIRACY...! MY WHOLE CREW DEVASTATED, I FLED DESPERATELY FOR MY LIFE... DO YOU PEOPLE EVEN REALISE WHAT THIS PLACE ISI!" Luffy stares in disbelief as Brownbeard explains, "LONG AGO, THEY SAY IT WAS A VERITABLE TREASURE TROVE OF GREENERY AND LIFE..." A panel shows the ruined facility marked "055". Brownbeard continues, "AND USED THEM IN HIS HORRIFIC EXPERIMENTS...! HE HAD MANY PRISONERS BROUGHT HERE INSTEAD OF BEING TAKEN TO JAIL, HE USED THEM TO FURTHER HIS RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION ON ALL KINDS OF WEAPONS AND DRUGS. THE FACILITIES YOU SEE HERE ORIGINALLY BELONGED TO THE GOVERNMENT SCIENTIST, VEGAPUNK."

Brownbeard recounts the disaster: "...IS THE REMAINS OF ONE OF THOSE FACILITIES!!! THE PLACE WE'RE STANDING NOW... BUT THEN, FOUR YEARS AGO, AN EXPERIMENT INVOLVING A CHEMICAL WEAPON VEGAPUNK WAS DEVELOPING WENT HORRIBLY WRONG... AND TWO OF THE THREE RESEARCH FACILITIES ON THE ISLAND WERE LAID TO RUBBLE!!!" The crew stares at the devastated island as he continues, "NO WONDER IT'S SO MESSED UP NOW...! BUT THE GOVERNMENT RESEARCHERS SAILED AWAY WITHOUT A THOUGHT FOR ALL THE PRISONERS THEY LEFT BEHIND... AND SEALED OFF THE ISLAND COMPLETELY. THE EXPLOSION COVERED THE ISLAND WITH SCORCHING HEAT AND POISONOUS CHEMICALS, WIPING OUT ALL TRACES OF LIFE." A caption adds, "DUE TO A POWERFUL NERVE GAS, EVEN THOSE WHO DIDN'T DIE OUTRIGHT WERE MOSTLY PARALYSED FROM THE WAIST DOWN... AND THEIR FUTURES SEEMED BLEAK AT BEST...! THE ABANDONED PRISONERS SOUGHT REFUGE IN THE ONE RESEARCH LAB THAT WAS STILL STANDING. THEY TOOK SHELTER THERE FROM THE POISONOUS GASES THAT HAD FLOODED THE ISLAND OUTSIDE."

Using his special abilities, he cleansed the island of the poisonous gases that plagued it... And with the power of science, he granted the former prisoners the use of their legs once more, taking them in as his own subordinates!! But then, one year after the accident, a man arrived on the island once more. That man was none other than our great and merciful master...!!! A massive bearded centaur recounts his past: I didn't even have the strength of will to go on living. I thought my life was over then and there. But then they appeared before me... the former prisoners who had lost their legs, just like I had, and their master...!!! It was another year later that I found my way to this island. There were still traces of poisonous chemicals in the air, and breathing the air made me horribly sick. Masteeeer!!! AAAH HHHH!! MASTEE EEER!! The centaur weeps with joy....Then our master is a benevolent god and saviour...!!! If the evil Vegapunk who stole our comrades' legs is a demon... Thanks to his kindness, my life was saved just as theirs had been before me...!!! A dark-haired woman with a slight smile and a small child listen nearby.

Trafalgar Law, who had become a member of the Shichibukai......came to this island. And finally, just a few months ago... our second saviour arrived. The centaurs and harpies continue their tale with tears: We had long since given up all hope of ever walking again... The joy of it brought us all to tears!!! The legs of all kinds of animals!!!...And used his ability to replace them with wonderful new legs!! He took pity on me and my comrades who had lost our legs... WHAT A TOUCHING STORY!! The group reacts emotionally. The centaurs and the harpy all make sense now... but hang on a minute. The goat-legged people we saw at the facility must have been created with his ability, too... I never knew Vegapunk was such a monster...!!! I know Tra-dude was a nice guy really!! He helped me out too, after all! WHAT ABOUT THE DRAGONI Luffy grins widely in the foreground while the others react with surprise.

If you see it again, you should run for your lives. It's a vicious beast. I seem to recall the Tenryuubito took a liking to it and gave it some kind of name... I can't remember what, though. It can survive in any harsh climate. That thing is an artificially-engineered creature originally created by Vegapunk to guard this island. Oh, you saw the dragon, did youI ALL RIGHT. WE ALREADY ATE IT, THOUGH... The centaur leader laughs loudly: WOHOHO HOHOHO HO...!!! YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY!!! At any rate, I hope you understand now who calls the shots on this island. We won't allow anyone else to invade our territory! Punk Hazard belongs to our master, and our master alone!! THERE'S NO ESCAPE FOR YOU NOW!! WOHOHOHO HOHOHOH!! All of you will get to become research subjects for the sake of his glorious goal!! Our master is carrying out a grand research project for the sake of humanity's future...!!! Luffy, the dark-haired woman, and others stare in shock as the centaur declares their loyalty.

You've gotta... AHHHHH... let me... UGH... out... HOLD ON A LITTLE LONGER!! What kind of... UGH... medicine is this...I!I! MASTER...!!! MASTER, IT HURTS!! WHAAAA... GHHH... COUGH* COUGH* The scene shifts to a dark facility interior where several figures suffer violently from injections or gas. The room... it's full of... giant snakes...!!!! It hurts... the painnn... Does your head hurtI! Retching... coughing... I see, very good!! UEEEEE GHHHH!! COUGH* COUGH* HOW DO YOU FEEL RIGHT NOWI! I SEE!! HOW ABOUT YOUR EYESI ARE YOU SEEING ANY HALLUCINATIONSI! SHURORORO... of course it isn't. That's enough. I'll put you out of your misery. DID YOU SAY 'FAILURE'I! DON'T YOU DARE USE THAT WORD!! NO EXPERIMENT OF MINE HAS EVER BEEN A FAILURE!! AND THAT INCLUDES MY EXPERIMENT FOUR YEARS AGO!! OH, THEY ALL THINK THEY'RE SO CLEVER, CALLING IT A GIGANTIC SCREW-UP...!!! A woman with flowing hair rages while a massive explosion rocks the facility in the final panel.

Caesar Clown looms in a massive close-up, his face twisted in rage as swirling gas forms around him. "AND YOU CALL THAT A FAILURE, WORLD GOVERNMENTI!I! I CAN KILL MY ENEMIES MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN ANYONE ELSE!!!" he roars. Smaller panels show his gas-transformed limbs reaching out. A wanted poster appears: FORMER GOVERNMENT SCIENTIST "Master" Caesar Clown BOUNTY 300,000,000 BELI (USER OF THE GAS-GAS NO MI). Caesar continues, "FAILED EXPERIMENTSI! HAH!!! MY WEAPON WIPED OUT ALL LIFE ON THIS ENTIRE ISLAND...!!!" He declares, "YOU JUST WAIT... SOON ENOUGH, I WILL SHOW YOU ALL WHO IS TRULY THE WORLD'S GREATEST SCIENTIST!!!" while an unseen voice adds, "SHURORORORORO...!!! I HAVE EVEN TAKEN THE TROUBLE TO MONITOR AND INSPECT THE STATE OF MY WEAPON'S VICTIMS...!!!"

Flashback panels show the massive gas explosion on Punk Hazard. A voice states, "THE ONE WHO WAS REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT MASSIVE ACCIDENT WAS...I!!! IT WAS CAESAR CLOWN WHO CREATED THE WEAPON, AND CAESAR CLOWN WHO SET IT OFF." Smoker, Tashigi, and G-5 Marines react with shock. "HUHI! BUT THEN, SMOKE-SAN...!!! THE MARINES" reads a box. Narration explains Caesar's rivalry with Vegapunk, his arrest, and escape from a prison transport. Tashigi leans forward intensely, declaring, "...THEN WE HAVE TO STOP HIM, NOW. BECAUSE WHATEVER HE'S WORKING ON, YOU CAN BET THE RESULTS AREN'T GOING TO BE PRETTY...!!!" Other voices note, "HE HELD THE NO. 2 POSITION... HE ALWAYS HAD THE MOST TWISTED IDEAS" and "IF CAESAR REALLY IS HERE ON THIS ISLAND, CONTINUING HIS RESEARCH..."

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